Vehicle Description
This 1968 GTO is the Ram Air II model and is one of 199 built in
1968, with only a handful being convertibles. The Ram Air II
package consisted of special round-port cylinder heads, exhaust
manifolds and hi-lift camshaft, a close-ratio 4-speed manual
transmission and heavy-duty Safe-T-Track 4.33:1 rear axle. This car
still retains the original transmission and rear axle components;
however, the original engine was damaged many years ago and has
been replaced with a correct "SR" service replacement 400ci
8-cylinder Ram Air II engine. It was built at the Arlington, TX,
assembly plant on May 27, 1968. It was then shipped to Haskell
Pontiac in Coolidge, AZ, for delivery to the first owner. This car
has been pampered and remained in Arizona and California for more
than 50 years. The current owner has had the car for the last 32
years. The car received a recent no-excuse frame-off restoration
completed in the 2019-20 timeframe. The car was completely
disassembled and stripped to bare metal, the frame was removed and
the entire drivetrain was rebuilt. The body of this vehicle was
gone over from front to back and the body fit is laser-straight.
Once the body was prepared, everything was given a fresh coat of
correct Verdoro Green (code Q) using DuPont base coat/clear coat
paint. The frame was stripped and all chassis components were
replaced and/or refinished in the correct original factory
finishes. In all instances any parts replaced were NOS where
possible. While the engine was out of the car, it was disassembled
and completely rebuilt. The block was honed, and new pistons, rings
and bearings were installed. The crank was checked and lightly
refinished. The Ram Air II "96" cylinder heads were checked and
given a valve job, along with new valves and valve springs.
Everything was reassembled and the entire engine assembly was given
a coat of the correct Pontiac silver-blue engine paint. No stone
was left unturned, and the black bucket seat interior and
convertible top were completely redone, using nothing but the best
available correct materials. All instruments and gauges were
checked for operation and repaired or replaced if necessary. All
wiring harnesses were replaced with new. The restoration on this
GTO is factory-correct, down to the correct T3 headlamps and
original-style red line tires. The car comes with a complete set of
the PHS paperwork and a Pontiac Division Window Sticker.
