for sale 1968 Pontiac Grand Prix *SOLD*

[Matt Harwood]

 

*SOLD* Oh, just another big old '60s near luxury car? Nothing special, right? Please take another look at this awesome Poncho. It comes from one of the most impressive collections I've ever seen, one composed entirely of immaculately preserved original, unrestored cars. When this person calls and says he has a car to sell, I don't even ask what it is--I just say, "I'll take it." 

 

Seriously, just look at this thing. It's gorgeous. It's had just two owners from new, and the original owner was an employee at the dealership where it was delivered--that's why it's wearing 15-inch 1969 Rally II wheels, which he ordered through the parts department when the car was just 7 months old. He even bought a matching spare which is still wearing an unused 1969 bias-ply Firestone. He was tragically injured in a snowmobile accident, but he could not part with the car until it was purchased by the second owner in the early 2000s. As a result, it has covered only about 800 miles since 1985. The paint is Vedoro Green, which was the most popular color that year and it's handsome on the big coupe. That's original factory Magic Mirror enamel and aside from one or two little chips that have been brush touched, it's virtually unmarked. Dig how straight it is and that shine is for real. Don't let anyone tell you that old paint wasn't as shiny as the stuff we have today. The black vinyl top is like new with no bubbles or other issues, and all the chrome sparkles. Hell, the front windows even still have 'GP' etched on them, a 1968-only detail! Demerits are limited to a few scratches on one piece of trim at the base of the windshield and a replacement nose emblem which came from a different model and had the mounting tabs relocated to fit the Grand Prix. And yes, the headlights work.

 

The black interior is Pontiac near-luxury with a hint of sportiness. Buckets and a console in a full-sized car is kind of cool, and you'll note this one is loaded up with options: ice cold A/C (still pumping R12 through its veins), tilt wheel, AM/FM radio with working reverb and power antenna, remote mirror, and somewhat rare cruise control. It all works except the clock. Dig how bright and crisp the burled walnut appliques are, the dash pad is unmarked, and things like the carpets and even the seat belts are like new (the seat belts still have their GM tags at their base). No sags or rips in the headliner, and even the silver mylar on the edges of the seats hasn't yellowed--most cars you see look gold and everyone assumes it was gold from the factory. It was not. I don't think anyone has ever sat in the back seat. The trunk has its original mat and cardboard bulkheads, plus the aforementioned 15-inch Rally II wheel and Firestone bias-ply tire with factory jack assembly.

 

The engine is the original, numbers-matching 400 cubic inch V8, same one found in the GTO, and it makes 350 horsepower. In the big coupe, it's plenty potent--this car is too fast to be a luxury cruiser but too comfortable to be a muscle car. The engine bay is beautifully detailed and completely original aside from maintenance items like belts and hoses. The block is wearing factory Pontiac Turquoise enamel, although it has been touched up on the heads and intake where the exhaust heat had burned off the original stuff over the past 53,125 miles. But the air cleaner, inner fenders, all the decals, and hardware were all placed there in 1968 and never touched again. The chrome valve covers were added by the same original owner who installed the wheels, and they look right. It starts easily and idles so smoothly you are tempted to hit the starter again. The TH400 automatic shifts buttery-smooth but serves up a quick downshift with just a quick prod of the throttle. The suspension rides like only an original car can and power steering and brakes are obviously standard equipment. At some point the exhaust must have been replaced because it looks almost new, but maybe not. It was extensively serviced just recently, including fresh shocks all around, the brakes were rebuilt at all four corners, all the fluids were just changed, and the gas tank was cleaned and sealed. It also has new ignition parts, a rebuilt carburetor, a freshly cleaned radiator, and more. There's a light dusting of factory undercoating, but you can see this car has never seen snow or salt. It features newer Uniroyal whitewall radials on those wheels, so it's 100% ready to roll.

 

Documentation includes the original build sheet, manuals, Protect-O-Plate, title history, service manual, and factory brochures.

 

Another spectacular survivor that runs and drives like new. Original cars are simply better, and this car will convince you with just one drive. Is $27,900 too expensive for a '68 Grand Prix? I don't know, but it buys you the nicest one in the world and if you can own the best of anything for so little cash, maybe you should go for it. Thanks for looking!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 24, 2019 by Matt Harwood (see edit history)

[neil morse]

This looks like a great car, and I wish you the best of luck with this sale, Matt.  Your spiels are the best!

[Malo48]

Oh my goodness.  I especially dig the shape of the high beam indicator. Wow!

[daniel boeve]

Very nice car ! It takes me back to 1969 when i was in Canada -Ontario working on  a tabacco farm as a Belgian student helping the farmers to get the harvest inside .On the weekend we where taken to town and in one street there was a car like this one parked on the side of the street .It was a yellow one .I hope this one finds a good home .

[Matt Harwood]

Yes, they really did etch "GP" on the front windows. I've never seen this before, but apparently they did it on most Pontiacs in 1968. You can just barely feel the etching on the inside of the glass. How cool is that?

 

 

 

Here's a video, too:

 

 

[TexRiv_63]

Wow, what a beauty...very tempting. How about a trade for my 63 Starfire?

 

The reason it's so shiny is that GM Magic Mirror paint was still lacquer in 68, not enamel. Nothing like lacquer for a great shine as long as you don't really use the car! 

[Ed Luddy]

14 hours ago, daniel boeve said:

Very nice car ! It takes me back to 1969 when i was in Canada -Ontario working on  a tabacco farm as a Belgian student helping the farmers to get the harvest inside .On the weekend we where taken to town and in one street there was a car like this one parked on the side of the street .It was a yellow one .I hope this one finds a good home .

Were you in Tillsonburg or Delhi Ontario?

[daniel boeve]

To  be correct i was there 2 seasons and one time in Glen meyer and one time in Tillsonburg .In the weekend we came to the belgian house and i believe that was in Delhi .people told me that all tabacco is gone now .Our first farmer had a ford galaxie 500 and the other one a big 1960 chrysler .I would still like to go back one day but i don't know if this will ever happen in this life .

[Matt Harwood]

SOLD! Thank you!