Patina Project: 1968 Pontiac GTO
The Pontiac GTO got its first major redesign for the 1968 model, and while the car was a bit shorter than its predecessors the lines were still clean and sporty, with a color-matching front-end treatment designed to withstand low-speed impacts coming as standard equipment, although a chrome bumper was still an option if that wasn’t your style. This 1968 Pontiac GTO here on Craigslist has one of those years-in-the-making type finishes that portrays a don’t mess with me attitude, and this is one of those situations I can see going both ways, either preserving the outside as-is or doing some bodywork and getting this one back up to more of a gentleman level. The goat is in San Diego, California, and comes with an asking price of $10,000.
T.J., thanks for spotting this one and bringing it to our attention! The outside panels sort of speak for themselves, with a love-it-or-hate-it exterior all the way around and some rust to go along with that patina as well. If the next owner chooses to go for a restoration, I’m guessing it’s going to be a fairly big job to get all this repaired and prepped-out enough for a fresh paint job, but the good news is the car seems pretty much complete on the outside. I’m still trying to figure out what the raised component is on the trunk lid.
If it’s just driver status you’re going for, things inside really don’t look all that bad overall, nowhere near perfect by any means but not rag-city, either. This one’s got the console with that cool shifter and I’ve seen plenty of buckets that look a lot worse than these do. A couple of areas that are stated as needing attention are the floors and trunk, with no explanation as to what exactly needs to be repaired on the floor but a new trunk pan is included with the sale, so hopefully that area will be a not too difficult removal and installation.
The owner says the 400 is still the factory motor and that it’s running well, with a few new parts mentioned such as an alternator, starter, and fuel pump. There are also new mufflers and a short video provided where we get to hear the engine, but the seller reminds us this one is not past the project stage so there’s still work that will need to be done, whether you retain the present looks or take them to a higher level. What would you do with this 1968 Pontiac GTO?
Auctions Ending Soon
1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1Bid Now1 days$7,100
2003 Porsche Boxster SBid Now1 days$4,000
1966 Lincoln ContinentalBid Now1 days$500
2000 Jaguar XJ8LBid Now5 days$1,250
1977 Datsun 280ZBid Now6 days$275
Comments
I guess patina is another way to say needs paint
Depends! It’s in the eyes of the beholder! Moving on…next
The engine is the wrong color for 1968. The original engine could have been rebuilt and painted the wrong color, but a closer inspection is need to verify if it’s numbers matching.
Yeah I think those engines had like a more metallic light blue color. This one looks like the color of my old Mopar small block, like Corporate blue.
my son has a 68 GTO with the Pontiac 400, and it was painted the correct color when it was rebuilt 20 years ago, and that is exactly how it looks today, That particular paint does not stick or cover at all, and after a very few years had faded and peeled to what you see in this photo
Idt $10k is a bad starting point for a 68 GTO, provided the rust mentioned isn’t overwhelming. Original engine. Buckets. Console. O yea. Could make this something presentable.
That odd component on the tunk deck.. Best guess an aftermarket 3rd break light. Why is different question.
The bump on the trunklid is probably a center high mount stop light.
I think that may be a trunk mounted antenna for a CB radio. Seen many of those in the late 60’s and thru the 70’s.
When I was in high school a kid who lived around the corner from me had a beautiful red 68 GTO like this one in near perfect condition.. He always parked it at the curb in front of his house and when I would see it there on a sunny day it glowed as red as a Ferrari. It’s a nice combination of shape and color.
I wonder when the patina fad will fade away, hopefully while we still afford paint
Patina needs to be stopped. It’s not cool, it’s not fun, it’s not different or unique, it looks terrible. Flat black rattle can would look better.
This car does NOT have patina. It has rust and NO paint. Patina is a ”little” fade and maybe some thin paint. Patina is about as overused as the phrase: one of one. Give me a break.
Why are you so hostile ?
This is a beautiful, un-restored, original car, needing nothing. Way underpriced. Should bring 50 to 70 thousand bucks, easy. We all apologize for the hostile comments. What were we thinking? Feel better now?
I’m still trying to figure out WTH is this doohickey is on the dash!
https://images.craigslist.org/00I0I_iYjYwflhARa_0CI0lM_1200x900.jpg
lol
3rd brake light on the trunk – better to put inside on the package shelf.
Or remove it – if a modern plastic appliance on wheels hits this in the back, there wont be much damage to this goat.
The doohickey on the dash is a boat compass. You would swing it up to level to read it, that’s why it’s on a ball and socket arm. Made of brass to resist the salt water air. Paired with the CB, which seems like the antenna base is still on the trunk lid, that’s about the best in travel tech you could get in the early 70’s.