Only 50K Miles: 1968 Pontiac Grand Prix
I was drawn to this 1968 Pontiac Grand Prix for two reasons, First, it’s the last of the full-size B-bodied hardtops before migration to a stretched A-Body platform occurred for ’69. And two, it’s that beak! As much as I have tried to appreciate GM’s 1968 “Excitement’ division line-up, I just can’t get around that full-sized proboscis – weird attraction, right? Anyway, every car tells a story and this one is no exception so let’s take a closer look. This Grand Prix is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado and is available, here on craigslist for $19,850. Thanks to T.J. for this tip!
The seller advises, “Appears to be a repaint from 40 or more years ago. Has fisheye spots in some areas that were common to repaint jobs done to GM cars from the 1960s and early 1970’s“. It’s more than just GM finishes, it’s the way the surface is prepared and the paint is applied. I used to know a body and paint guy who was derisively referred to as “Fish Eye Tom”, he could fish eye any finish, his “work” knew no marque exclusion. Anyway, the Verdoro Green finish shows well at a distance, but its true condition is obscured by a coating of garage dust. Same with the chrome – the dust hides its real condition. The hubcaps are a surprising twist – they’re Pontiac pieces but not what was originally part of this Grand Prix’s presentation. Good to see is the condition of the vinyl top covering, it’s in sound condition and there is no reason to suspect underlying rust.
Stated to be a 50K mile example, This Grand Prix’s 350 gross HP, 400 CI V8 engine has been treated to an aluminum intake manifold but is still running its original Quadrajet carburetor. The running condition is never stated, but the seller suggests, “Car needs some tuning work, the gas Tank dropped, cleaned, and fuel lines flushed out“. This is an item that will require an inquiry on the part of any interested parties. As is usually the case, a Turbo-Hydramatic 400, three-speed automatic transmission handles gear changes.
The interior shows Pontiac quality through and through. The split-bench seat’s morrokide black vinyl upholstery has held up quite well and appears to still be well padded. The seller mentions that the fuel gauge, radio, and cabin light rheostat are on the fritz. And though the A/C system has been converted to 134a refrigerant, it will need a charge to function properly.
And finally, a word about that nose. Styling is always subjective but when I spy a ’68 Pontiac nose the first thing that I see is a cross between a log splitter and a railroad locomotive snowplow. I will say that at least it’s nice and straight and doesn’t appear to have tagged a parking lot wall or another bumper. Regardless, I think this Grand Prix is a nice find. The later ’69-’70 versions seem to be more collectible but these last of the full-size GP’s just don’t turn up that often so finding one, in decent condition, is a treat. So, what’s your Grand Prix preference, full-size or later midsized?
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Comments
Pontiac had one heck of a tilt column in 1968- that steering wheel trajectory looks more like a school bus!
My first car was an identical copy of this car. I have a lot of fond memories of high school escapades in the car that my buddies nicknamed “The Green Shark”.
Tilt…telecopic dummy
Huh??
Looks like he’s talking about some sort of tilting and telescoping mannequin.
Pontiac didn’t have a tilt/tele wheel!
A relative of mine ordered one of these while stationed in Newfoundland, in Verdoro green w/ white top, interior, buckets/console, and the “infamous” hood mounted tach. The tach was sent back three times for repair, but never functioned properly! I was taught the proper way to merge into highway traffic in the car, and the 400 had no problem getting up to speed! GLWTS!! :-)
I learned to drive in my Uncle Garfield’s! I would take it out while he was at the Skin’s game! Good times!
Owner of the bakery in the small town I grew up in had one of these. Same color I think. I always liked the fact that the rear and roofline was completely different from the Bonneville and Catalina. Hidden headlights were a nice touch also.
Hi, ACD, unless I missed it, nobody said anything about the silly wheels, and how out of place they look on a car like this. Like a supermodel wearing army boots. Hidden headlights look nice, but were troublesome feature in the cold.
Hi Howard,
He probably had some nice rims on the car, but took them off when he decided to sell. Dog dish belongs on entry level cars, not a GP IMO
Now I need to watch ” Goodfella’s” again!!!
I had a 69 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ with a 400 engine, Turbo 400, 12 Bolt Posi, It had a Hurst Gate shifter many fun times.
Someone correct me if I am wrong – but I don’t believe the 1968 Pontiac Grand Prix was a B body car. It was a 1 year only body style. I know someone who had a 67 Grand Prix and it was a totally different car than this. However, with the 67 and previous model years you could tell the Grand Prix was a B body – it looked a lot like a Catalina or a Bonneville. In 1968 they made it slightly smaller, not as small as the 69 Grand Prix though. However, the 69 model was not a hit with buyers and the sales figures were much lower than expected. In a rare move, after offering this body style Grand Prix for 1 year, Pontiac replaced it for 1969 with a new body style. I guess with John DeLorean still running the division in 1968, these things could be done. But generally GM did not turn around and come out with an all new body after only one year due to slow sales of a particular model.
I already researched it before I wrote the post. Every GP from ’62 to ’68 rode on a 120 or 121 inch WB B-Body platform. It went to the stretched A platform in ’69.
https://butlerperformance.com/n-13494-pontiac-cars-body-types.html
JO
1967 and 1968 Grand Prixs are both B-body cars and are very closely related. Take a photo of each and cover the nose and tail. You’ll be hard pressed to tell which is which.
My folks had this exact car when I was in high school, including the bench seat. Whenever I got to take it, I would remove the hubcaps and fender skirts so it didn’t look so much like my parent’s car, and then flip the lid on the air cleaner for “better air flow.” It was a great car and we had fun in it. But yeah, I never was comfortable with “the beak”.
Nice car, to high a price by my thinking.
In 1974 my wife’s Vista Cruiser was totaled while parked at the curb. It was one week before moving into our first home. So we needed a replacement pronto. I was working at a Pontiac store at the time and we had a 1968 GP traded in with 140,000 miles on the odo. (I knew the actual miles as the car had all it’s services done at our dealership. (including the timing chain/gear set) It was this same green as this one here, only with a light green vinyl top. It had all the factory options including bucket seats and an added 8 track and a reverb set-up. Not to mention air shocks and a trailer hitch. It looked like brand new. I paid $400 for it and considered it a temporary car. I was always going to sell it next month. I removed the link on the carburetor for the secondarys, as my wife could never keep her foot out of the throttle. I/we drove that car for 4 years and i never once did any maintenance to it. Including an oil change. (ashamed to admit that) It looked great, bu the trunk floor was rusted out (lived in the rust belt and the car had been Ziebarted) so the heater/defroster/A/C fan had to be cranked up all the time to keep the cabin pressurized and the exhaust fumes out. I finally decided to really sell the car when I replaced it with a 1967 Camaro convert. I hooked the carb.link backup and a buddy and I decided to give it one last run. He watched the speedo. as I was too busy trying to keep it on the road, but the needle went right passed the 120 MPH figure and bottom of the needle went passed the odo readout. (130 MPH?) I remember reading somewhere many years ago that the Pontiac speedometers were very optimistic back then when pushed over 100 MPH. So who knows what the actual speed really was. But the car was still VERY strong.
Second story, same car. By the way, ALL Grand Prixs through 1968 were “B” body cars.
I was parked behind the local Burger King eating my lunch and watching the rain come down. I had just finished and was bagging up my wrappers when a jerk in a small Japanese car (B210 maybe) pulled sideways right in front of me and proceeded to leave the car there, blocking my exit. I rolled down the window and politely explained that I was leaving and needed him to move his car. He flipped me the bird and left, with the car still blocking my departure. So I decided to leave anyway. I gently brought the massive bumper up to his driver’s door and proceeded to push his car sideways across the parking lot until the right side of his car met the curbing. Once that happened I gave it a little more throttle just for good measure. When I left, I guarantee that there was no way to open the drivers door and it would have been difficult to drive with the door caved in halfway across the driver’s seat. I loved that Pontiac torque!!!!
I just knew that Pontiac beak was good for something!
JO
The ’69 model is good looking and was a hit when released, but I would take this ’68 any day over the later models.
My neighbor had one of these same colors was a beast, I prefer the 69 model year better, but I do love the full size 69 Bonneville w a 428 in it and all the factory toys, I like the steering wheels on 69 up cars, lil smaller, and the locking steering column
After my grandmother was widowed and moved to Miami, she started dating an old friend from Connecticut who was a former high-ranking state Highway Patrol officer. He was a tall, imposing man with the friendly name of Adolph with a gruff demeanor to match. But he loved big, fast cars and in ’68 showed up at my parents house with my grandmother and a new ’68 Bonneville 4dr. Hardtop. White with a black vinyl top and black bench seat interior, but Adolph was most proud of the new 400 4 barrel and Turbo Hydra-matic he’d ordered the car with. As he took my Dad and I for a ride around the block, dad asked why he didn’t just get a Cadillac? Adolph was firm in his reply that the Pontiac was a superior performing car and as if to prove the point, came to a full stop and floored it. The right rear wheel spun pretty furiously, white smoke billowed from the wheel well and I was hooked! I wanted a Pontiac ever since and finally fulfilled my wish with a ’79 Trans Am WS6/L78. Oddly, Adolph replaced the rusted Pontiac in ’73 with a new Grand Marquis with a 429. Nice, but by then emissions and weight killed the performance and he always complained that the Mercury didn’t have the “punch” the Bonneville had. Still mad GM killed Pontiac after mis-managing the brand for it’s final decade.
I prefer the 1969-77 stretched intermediate Grand Prix styling and handling. Although it was well equipped, the 1968 GP just looks like any other 2 door full size GM car. The Pontiacs of the 1960s and early 1970s were known to be very reliable and a good value for having bigger standard engines at its price point. Endura bounce back nose not withstanding, this1968 lacks bucket seats, floor shift THM and Rally II wheels that gave the later GP models some style.Conclusion: strong and might be still reliable but another boring and dusty old family car.