In over 50 years of driving, I have owned and still owned several very exciting, fine cars including my current daily driver a 600hp Jaguar XKR, my weekend canyon carver, a 500+hp 1972 De Tomaso Pantera, but my favorite car of all time is the 1968 Pontiac GTO. I purchased one about ten years ago that was very nice driver quality and when I noticed a small rust bubble forming under the paint on my roof, I gave it to a tenant on my property to restore since he was doing a friend's son's GMC Blazer. He took the car apart and we sent the engine out to be machined, and then soon afterwards, he took off and left the project. It sat for several years that way while I was busy with other things (like my Pantera restoration/modification). About a year and a half ago, my new tenant, a large body and paint shop was having some difficulty making rent payments, so I gave him the option of restoring the car if he could do it in a year. Obviously, he has gone over the time, however, we did a complete body off restoration that required quite a bit of new metal in the floor pans and rockers, we added disc brakes to all four corners, 17" wheels and tires. By Tuesday of next week, the old Goat comes out of the paint booth, and I'll be there, camera in hand, to take its first pictures after the restoration. There will still be a few things to finish but the end is in sight. The '68 GTO, complete with its Endura plastic bumper changed the way future cars would forever be built without huge chrome plant on bumpers but instead a molded, integrated design element. Of course, the GTO is a big car that handles about as well as a Cadillac limousine, but I have nimble, fast cars to handle that duty, this will be my Sunday Car Show Cruiser, and I'll be a proud owner. Hopefully, I will add pictures next Tuesday afternoon. I can't wait to have her home.

 

First pictures after the clear coat was applied. The clear coat significantly changed the color for the better. When I first saw the car without the clear, it was lighter and much more silvery than the original Verduro Green for which we were aiming. After the clear, deeper, richer, almost identical color to the original. I love it and the gold 17" wheels that still look somewhat classic and period correct. Today, hood and hood tachometer get painted and then a race to finish the engine and interior. I can't wait to be driving her in the next few weeks.

 

Updated pictures taken a couple days ago. Slowly progressing! In the buffing, polishing, wet sanding stage. Next week, hopefully, engine assembly and interior installation.

 

My classic Muscle car came back to me last night after a multi-year restoration. It's my all time favorite automotive design, the 1968 GTO. I've been dreaming of this day for 52 years. Here are a few pictures as I was picking her up last evening.