1968 Pontiac GTO

Pontiac redesigned its entire lineup for 1968, with the image-leading GTO awarded with Motor Trend's Car of the Year award. Its wheelbase was shortened to 112-inches and the body introduced Coke-bottle-inspired 'fuselage' styling with a long hood, short deck stylistic treatment. The bold frontal styling included a tough body-colored Endura bumper and optional concealed headlights.

With over 87,000 examples of the GTO sold in 1968, it helped Pontiac maintain its strong third-place in the U.S. sales race with nearly an 11 percent share of the new car market. The GTO was affordably priced from just $2,996 with the basic 400 cubic-inch V8 delivering 350 horsepower. The RAM Air I 400 cubic-inch option was rated at 360 horsepower, which was quickly succeeded after March 1968 by the Ram Air II with a 366-horsepower rating and upgrades including lightweight valves, forged pistons, and free-breathing cylinder heads with round exhaust ports. Ram Air-equipped GTOs received a dealer-installed fresh-air induction kit with functional hood scoops.

The Pontiac GTO came with a three-speed manual transmission with Hurst shifter, dual exhaust, all GM safety features, fastback redline tires, disappearing wipers, and sports-type springs and shock absorbers. Interior amenities included an ignition alarm, carpeting, cigar lighter, panel courtesy, ashtray and glovebox lamps, and deluxe steering wheel.

Pontiac's 1968 model lineup included the Tempest resting on a 112-inch wheelbase for its two-door body styles and 116-inches for the four doors. The sporty Firebird had a short 108-inch wheelbase and was priced from in the high-$2,000s. The Grand Prix, Catalina, and all station wagons rested on a 121-inch platform, while the Executive and Bonneville had the largest wheelbase at 124-inches. The Tempest and firebird came standard with an overhead cam six-cylinder engine displacing 250 cubic inches and delivering 175 horsepower. The Grand Prix and GTO shared the 400 CID V8 with 350 hp, and the Catalina and Executive were powered by a 400 CID V8 with a Rochester two-barrel carburetor and delivering 265 horsepower (290 hp with the Turbo-Hydra-Matic).

The 400 cubic-inch V8 was offered in various states of tune, with horsepower that ranged from 330 hp to 366 horsepower with four-barrel carburetion and 10.5:1 compression. The 428 cubic-inch V8 produced 375 bhp with 10.5:1 compression and 390 hp with 10.75:1 compression.

Performance options on the GTO included Super-Lift shocks, Rally I and Rally II wheels, Turbo-Hydramatic automatic, close-ratio four-speed manual with floor shift, heavy-duty Safe-T-Track differential, power brakes, power steering, and rally stripes. Dual exhausts were standard.

The curvaceous and semi-fastback styling introduced in 1968 would continue through 1972 with styling updates along the way.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2021