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Now that I've finally gotten my '72 Pantera back and on the road, it's time to put my 1968 Pontiac GTO back together. It was taken apart about 5 or 6 years ago for restoration, and the guy took off and left it unassembled. The '68 Goat was my favorite car of all time and I spent countless hours in high school drawing them in class to keep myself awake. It really was a landmark car that changed forever how cars would be built. That Endura front bumper replaced the chrome one and was the precursor to replacing metal parts with non-metal ones. I still love the look of the old goat and can't wait to have her back to cruise around in. We'll do a few upgrades like disc brakes, new control arms and springs, and a rebuild of the original engine, but I want it to look fairly stock. It will even be repainted in the original Verduro Green in which it was "born." Estimated time frame is about a year. I'll post pictures along the way. It should look something like this when finished.
Saw my goat yesterday. Body is off and the new disc brake system and drilled and grooved rotors all installed. Engine is coming back from the rebuilder, and I've got to purchase larger wheels and tires to clear the newly installed calipers. Progress is being made, and hopefully soon, engine install, body back on frame, and going to paint. Looking for end of the year completion. Can't wait to see her done.
After years of being taken apart amd sitting, my '68 Goat is nearing completion of its body off restoration. It is finally in the paint booth, and yesterday, I got to see and choose paint samples attempting to match its original Verduro Green, and it's finally in the paint booth. During its restoration all rust was repaired in rockers, floor pans, frame painted, new shocks, disc brakes added, new 17" wheels and tires. I should get it back sometime early next month and am excited beyond words. It was/is my favorite car of all time.
Front bumper and hidden headlight assembly reinstalled, panel gaps all adjusted, full body primer going on this week, and maybe, but maybe paint next week. In the age of Covid 19, it's nice to look forward to a happy event.
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Without any doubt, of the dozens of cars I have owned in over 50 years of driving, and many nice ones including my current X150, my spectacular 1972 De Tomaso Pantera, and my beautiful X100 'vert, the 1968 GTO remains my favorite design of all time. That front Endura bumper introduced with the '68 model year dramatically changed how cars would be built forever going forward. That beautiful nose with the hidden headlights, hood tachometer and bulging hood scoops was more exciting sitting still than anything out on the market today. Sure it handles like a Cadillac limousine, but it's so stylish. I can hardly wait. There will be pictures once the paint is on. I promise.
Today, I was told that the GTO will be out of paint booth on Tuesday of next week. I will be there with camera in hand to see if it's true. I told the shop owner that I wanted to drive the car before I'm dead from the virus or otherwise. Heavy anticipation.....
Here are the first few pictures of the GTO coming out of paint. I took them yesterday afternoon. The clear coat significantly changed the color for the better. When I saw the car pre-clear coat, the color was much lighter and more silvery. After clearcoat, much deeper color and less silvery, much, much closer to the original Verduro Green we were after. I love the color now, and I really like the gold wheels against the green paint. Today, the hood and the hood mounted tachometer get painted, and then a mad rush to put the engine back together and re-install the interior so that I can drive it maybe a month from now. Can't wait!!
Thanks, guys. This is my favorite car design of all time. Drawing pictures of it in high school 52 years ago kept me awake through three years of boredom. And Pontiac's brilliant engineering feat of making a 5mph resistant bumper an actual integrated design element of the front of the car, forever changed how future cars would be built. And this was 5 years before federal standards required them. It still looks fresh today and certainly better than the giant rubber blocks that were added to bumpers to comply (like Porsche did) Pontiac's original commercials had a man swinging a sledge hammer into the bumper with no lasting damage. Can't wait to drive it next month. More pictures as it gets more completed.
Stopped by the shop this morning to take a picture of the VIN tag so that I could add the GTO to my classic car insurance policy (as it's about to renew), and I snapped a couple of pictures. It's in the buffing, polishing, and wet sanding stage, and hopefully they start the engine assembly today or tomorrow. It's coming around (slowly). Can't wait to drive her home.
12-15-2018, 05:30 PM
1968 Pontiac GTO
