Pontiac produced 81,722 GTOs for the 1967 model year, so when someone starts looking for a restoration candidate, the challenge isn’t to find a project. The hardest thing is to come across an all-original GTO that deserves the time, money, and work hours to return to the road.
Someone on Craigslist says they have “the most original ’67 GTO you will find today.” The car was parked in a barn in 1988, so it’s been sitting for at least 35 years.
It’s a one-owner example with matching-numbers drivetrain and PHS documentation. It flexes the original paint, unsurprisingly showing its age, and comes with a working engine that requires the typical maintenance work.
A 56-year-old car sitting for nearly four decades can’t bring good news regarding the metal. However, this 1967 Pontiac GTO is the exception that proves the rule. The car exhibits typical GTO rust, but the floors and the trunk are still very solid. The owner says they keep the car up in the air to allow every potential buyer to inspect the undersides.
The body isn’t perfect, and the seller says the GTO comes with a rust sport on the passenger door and a few other occasional imperfections that the next buyer must resolve as part of a complete restoration.
The biggest surprise is the working engine. The 400 big-block with 335 horsepower starts, runs, and drives properly, though the car can’t be considered road-worthy due to faulty brakes. The mechanical problems aren’t exactly surprising, given the long tenure in storage.
Otherwise, this GTO’s main selling point is how original it continues to be after all these years. The owner explains the vehicle even comes with the factory resonator exhaust system (though you won’t get the original tires, as the car now wears 1980 rubber).
I’m particularly impressed by the interior, as the seats don’t exhibit significant damage. There’s a small rip on the driver’s seat, but the cabin otherwise looks good and complete. The odometer indicates a little over 98,000 miles (157,000 km), and they are all original, as the engine has never been molested, rebuilt, or replaced.
The GTO rolled off the assembly lines with many options, including headrest seats, a rear defogger, an AM/FM radio, a rear speaker, and air conditioning. It’s unclear if all these parts are still in place, but I assume they are, considering how much the owner insists on this GTO’s original magic.
The selling price makes sense for such a solid GTO. The seller says anyone can buy the car for $22,000. You can find it in Creston (close to Bakersfield), and despite the working engine, you’ll have to bring a trailer to take it home, considering the braking problems.