Rare Column Auto: 1967 Pontiac GTO
The 1966 model year was always going to be tough to follow as Pontiac’s GTO set a sales record. Although the total dropped significantly for 1967, it wasn’t a disaster for the final year of First Generation production. Our feature car is from that last year, and it carries the hallmarks of a classic that has been a treasured possession of the two people who have been its custodian. It needs a new home and a third owner, with the seller listing it here on eBay in Boise, Idaho. Bidding has raced to $37,100 but remains short of the reserve.
The 1967 GTO was an evolution of the previous year’s model, with only minor cosmetic changes setting it apart from its predecessor. This one is unmodified, although the seller admits it received a repaint in its original shade of Gulf Turquoise thirty-one years ago. The overall presentation suggests the work was performed to a high standard because a low-end approach would see plenty of flaws and problems rearing their ugly heads by now. The paint shines exceptionally well, with only a few small chips and marks preventing it from achieving perfection. The panels are laser-straight with consistent gaps. Rust is not an issue, with this Pontiac retaining all its original steel. The trim and tinted glass are spotless, with the GTO rolling on its original and immaculate Rally II wheels.
It is worth opening the doors to examine this GTO’s interior because its presentation is as impressive as the rest of the vehicle. Aftermarket additions are limited to a wheel wrap and a dealer-fitted radio cassette player from the 1970s. However, the seller includes the original radio for those seeking a more authentic appearance. The Turquoise vinyl upholstered surfaces are free from wear and signs of abuse, and I think the carpet might be new. Other aspects of the interior that are close to perfect include the dash, pad, faux woodgrain, and headliner. It is another aspect of this beauty that needs nothing, but the shifter caught my eye. I’m used to seeing GTOs with floor-mounted units, so this column shifter is something out of the ordinary. I’m unsure how rare it is, but I don’t remember seeing one before. It isn’t weighed down by factory options, although the original owner ordered it with air conditioning.
The GTO is a genuine muscle car, and its mechanical configuration should ensure the winning bidder receives respect from fellow enthusiasts wherever they go. Its engine bay houses a 400ci V8, which sends 335hp to the rear wheels via a three-speed TH400 transmission. The original owner equipped the car with power steering and brakes, ensuring the driver won’t have to wrestle with this classic. If they pointed it at a ¼-mile, the journey would be over in 14.8 seconds. Purists will be pleased to learn that this Pontiac is numbers-matching and in excellent mechanical health. It has what is believed to be a genuine 42,025 miles on the clock, but the lack of certainty suggests there is no supporting evidence. It runs and drives perfectly and is ready for summer fun with a new owner at the helm.
Pontiac sold 96,946 examples of the GTO in 1966, dropping by 16% to 81,722 cars in 1967. That wasn’t due to waning popularity but was more a result of many potential buyers knowing an entirely new model was waiting in the wings for 1968. This beauty needs nothing and has attracted twenty-five bids with plenty of time remaining on the auction. The seller is approachable and suggests they might willingly negotiate a BIN price. Would you pursue that path, or are you the sort of person who would take their chances in the auction?
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Comments
I remember reading a Popular Science review of Pontiac’s new car for 1967. The headline was: FIREBIRD – GTO Gets a Little Brother. It was race driver Mario Andretti, guest-authoring a review article of the pre-production Firebird.
The Firebird, of course, turned into the iconic musclecar, or in the 1970s, faux-musclecare, for Pontiac’s glory era. The GTO, as recalled here just a few days ago, became a trim option for the Nova-based Ventura.
And Pontiac, the image-leader youth-oriented division, became the sacrificial lamb when GM was forced into bankruptcy and divisional-survival became political.
“This beauty needs nothing” except for a little research as to why there’s no belt for the AC compressor.
It may have been built in 1966 but the tail lights are those of a 1967 which is the last year for this very attractive body style.
Love the column auto and roll up windows. 😎 cool goat 🐐
I have a 67 GTO with the base ‘notchback’ bench seat. The odometer shows 62668 miles. A former owner claims the car sat indoors from 1980-2015 so the mileage could be correct. The paint is Tyrol Blue with parchment interior.
Never seen that before,column shift GTO.It does have the correct engine,you can see the number 67 on the cylinder head,on the center exhaust ports.correct 400 for 1967.A great color and a very clean car
Had a white 67 GTO convertible with a bench seat and a column shift. Maybe it was special order than I ain’t sure
I remember one of our neighbors bought a 64 2 door GTO. It was metallic midnight blue with the same color blue vinyl interior. He waited over 5 months for that car to arrive from Detroit. When it did finally arrive, all us kids were all on deck to see it. It was kinda disappointing when I first saw it. It had very little chrome on it, the wheel covers were the small standard issue PMD covers that just cover the lug nuts, and red pinstripes tires.At the time I was 9 years old, I already knew a lot about cars, but I really didn’t think it was all that. I don’t think was all that thrilled with it, because he hardly ever drove it. Then, when the 1965 model year was announced it was an instant hit, now that was a great looking car. It carried the same general looks of the full-size Pontiacs, with the vertically stacked headlights and the taillights that extended the full width of the car and wrapped around the rear quarters behind a grill work of horizontal bars. The new 65s looks changed everything. They were much better looking. Pontiac really nailed it, the DeLorean look could be seen in all of the Pontiacs line up. Four of our neighbors all bought 65s in the Lemans trim. Except for one, that had PMD’s 6 cylinder engine, while the rest had the 326 cid V8s with duel exhaust that sounded great. Really throaty. Yeap it was the year of the Pontiac Lemans in our neighborhood, and it all started with Johnny’s GTO. In my opinion 1965 was Pontiacs best model year ever. The full-size Pontiac 2+2s were gorgeous. After 65, the Pontiacs styling got a little weird. That could have been due to DeLorean becoming a coke head. I’m just saying.
Column shift automatics always look weird to me with bucket seats. GTO’s came with bucket seats as standard equipment but if you didn’t order the console you got the column shift. I have seen several GTO’s like this. I’ve seen MOPAR’s this way too, including Hemi Cudas. If you see a Chevy with buckets, it seems they all have consoles.
I owned a 1970 Judge with buckets and no console, gauges, disc brakes. That option should have mandatory with the Ram Air IV engine. Unfortunately, I lived in central Illinois at the time and the salty winters caused it to rust.
I looked seriously at a ’70 GTO. 400 with a column shifted TH-400, bench seat. VIN confirmed it to be a GTO, but it the car just wasn’t right for me.
Bought a ’69 Skylark instead.