Some cars are more unusual than others—take our Pick of the Day as an example. Sure, 87,684 of them were built in this particular model year, so it may be difficult to figure out what’s so unusual when it seems everyone and his/her neighbor owned one. But, if you glance at the color combination, you may notice something different about this 1968 Pontiac GTO. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Depew, New York.
Yes, Pontiac built close to 88,000 GTOs in 1968, which stands as a record for the second best-selling muscle car ever (the 1966 GTO is number one, 1969 Chevelle SS 396 is number three). It was a complete redesign after four model years of the previous generation, with Pontiac’s effort garnering recognition from Motor Trend with its Car of the Year award.
And while it is arguable that any COTY award is worthy of bragging rights, the GTO certainly was a fine contender thanks to its curvaceous design and monochromatic styling (at least from the front), the latter due to Pontiac’s use of Endura, an energy-absorbing plastic that could return to form and resist dents in parking lot-grade incidents. For those who were not a fan of the Endura look or suspicious due to imperfect fitment, the chrome version used on Tempests and LeMans was available as a delete option.
For all the hubbub about the GTO, it should be noted that its engines were mostly carry-overs from 1967:
- Standard 400/350 (in 1967, it was rated at 335 horsepower)
- 400/265 two-barrel (rated at 255 horses in 1967)
- 400 HO, rated at 360 horses
- 400 Ram Air, also rated at 360 horses though at a different rpm than the HO
In April 1968, Pontiac introduced a new engine to take over from the 400 Ram Air. Called Ram Air II, its most notable feature was the round-port design for its heads. According to the manufacturer, it was rated six horses more than the engine that it replaced.
An interesting option for the GTO was concealed headlights, a feature that was becoming more popular at the time. It certainly made the GTO appear more contemporary, though only about half of GTO customers opted for the option. Along with the Grand Prix and Bonneville (a mid-year option for the latter), 1968 was the only year Pontiac offered so many cars with concealed headlights.
Despite the number of GTOs built, this 1968 Pontiac GTO is on the rarer side thanks to its trim combination. Sure, a white top paired with Mayfair Maize may run second to yellow and black, but look closer—that is Cameo White paint, not vinyl. Two-tone cars are quite unusual and rare, plus the choice of painting the top gave the opportunity for more combinations (dare I suggest Cameo White with a Mayfair Maize top?). Though the seller offers no information in the description, I spy hidden headlights, Rally II wheels, exhaust tips, center console with Hurst Dual-Gate automatic, three-spoke steering wheel, Rally Cluster, air conditioning, and AM radio with CD player update in the glovebox. From the looks of the engine, it’s likely the standard 350-horsepower version.
Do you know how people sometimes gravitate to filing in line without looking to see if there’s an easier way in? That’s what the average car guy or gal does when shopping for a classic. You? You’re the kind of person to seek another way in, and this GTO does that for you. For $57,900, you can avoid falling into formation with the rest.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
