1968 Pontiac GTO

Paul Ceasrine · 09-30-2011, 03:58 PM

1968 Pontiac GTO
Motor Trend's 'Car of the Year'

Base Price: $3101

Production numbers of 87,684 units.
Nearly double, the Road Runners 46,054.

1968 Engines available;
400/350HP
400/360HP 'HO'
400/360HP 'Ram Air I'
400/366HP 'Ram Air II'

Gear ratio's available,,,,,,,2.93,, 3.08,,3.23,,3.55,,3.90,,4.33

Note: The 4.33 Gear's were standard with the 400/366HP Ram Air II.

In 1968, the 400/350HP was classed in E/S or E/SA, while the more powerful
400/360HP 'HO' and 400/366HP 'Ram Air II' cars were classed in D/S or D/SA.
More than a few tackled SS/F or SS/FA in 1968.

Geerhead55 · 09-30-2011, 11:45 PM

I don't have a GTO story,,,I'm curious to see if this thread will run like the Roadrunner thread, Paul. Lets find out.
Danny Durham

Dick Butler · 10-01-2011, 09:03 AM

I was in school in Indy and owned a 67 Chevelle SS396 . It was stolen and never found. So I was impressed with the Ad for the car of the year and ordered one. Red with black interior and white walls. Standard engine and 4 speed. I ordered a 3.55 posi rear. This was one of the best cars I ever owned for comfort, and Performance.
I have actually looked for a restored one for fun.

Paul Ceasrine · 10-01-2011, 10:52 AM

Danny,

I think the Road Runner thread will get more hits,,,,,,,,,

Though the GTO was the '1968 Car of the Year', there were quite a few mixed reviews for the car.
Hot Rod Magazine called it, 'the best balanced car Pontiac's ever built'

Car Life Magazine stated, 'a nose-heavy, under-steering lump'

Performance Results;
15.93 @ 88 MPH,,,,,,(Car Life),,,,,,,,,,400/350HP, Automatic, w/3.23 Gears

15.50 @ 90 MPH,,,,,,(Car & Driver),,,400/360HP, Automatic, w/3.55 Gears ('HO')

15.10 @ 94 MPH,,,,,,(Hot Rod),,,,,,,,,,,400/360HP, Automatic, w/3.90 Gears ('HO')

14.70 @ 97 MPH,,,,,,(Motor Trend),,,,,400/360HP, 4-Speed, w/4.33 Gears ('Ram Air I')

14.50 @ 98 MPH,,,,,,(Car Craft),,,,,,,,,,,400/360HP, 4-Speed, w/3.90 Gears ('HO')

14.25 @ 99 MPH,,,,,(Super Cars),,,,,,,,400/366HP,,4-Speed, w/4.33 Gears ('Ram Air II')

Note: All performance tests were performed in a stock dealership car, with G70 x 14" tires.

When comparing apples-to-apples, the 68' GTO 400/350HP and the
Road Runner 383/335HP were pretty much equal in the 1/4 mile
with 4-Speed transmissions, but when comparing Automatic transmissions, the Road Runner could outrun the GTO.

442OLDS · 10-01-2011, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

When comparing apples-to-apples, the 68' GTO 400/350HP and the
Road Runner 383/335HP were pretty much equal in the 1/4 mile
with 4-Speed transmissions, but when comparing Automatic transmissions, the Road Runner could outrun the GTO.

Is this why the 68' GTO 400/350 HP is now rated by NHRA at 325?

Run to Rund · 10-01-2011, 11:51 AM

Pontiac's front end treatment worked well with the new rounded body style. They "pushed" the Endura front bumper, but iirc it was a lot heavier than the standard chrome bumper. Like with Olds, the Ram Air option had gone "mainstream" in the option book for 1968.

Paul Ceasrine · 10-01-2011, 12:00 PM

The 'most famous' 1968 Pontiac GTO print ad.

This ad was pulled, as the Woodward Avenue reference was all you needed to know,,,,,,,'Street Drag Racing'

GM Management realized the issue, and pulled the ad after only
'one' printing.

Dick Butler · 10-01-2011, 12:58 PM

I ran 14.25 at Orange county 99 MPH with the 350HP 400 4 spd. NO CHANGES. Full exhaust and Air cleaner on it.

Paul Ceasrine · 10-01-2011, 03:29 PM

1968 Pontiac GTO Price List;

Base Price; $3101

Primary Options:
* Power Steering: ($95)
* Power Brakes: ($35)
* Disc Brakes: ($63)
* Retractable Headlight Covers: ($52)
* AM Radio: ($61)
* Hood Tach: ($63)
* Dash Rally Guage Cluster: ($84)
* Dual Exhaust Extensions: ($21)
* Custom Rally Wheels: ($50)
* Safe-T-Track Differential: ($42)
* Special Axle Ratio's: ($63)
* Speedometer Gear Adapter: ($11)
* Center Console: ($68)
* Rear Super-Lift Shock Absorbers ($48)
* Turbo-Hydra-Matic Transmission: ($236)
* Close Ratio 4-Speed: ($185)
* Ram Air Hood Scoop: ($50)
* 400/360HP 'HO' Engine: ($76)
* 400/366HP 'Ram Air II' Engine: ($342) {available mid-year production}

Mark Yacavone · 10-01-2011, 03:47 PM

When comparing apples-to-apples, the 68' GTO 400/350HP and the
Road Runner 383/335HP were pretty much equal in the 1/4 mile
with 4-Speed transmissions, but when comparing Automatic transmissions, the Road Runner could outrun the GTO.

B.S.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 442OLDS

Is this why the 68' GTO 400/350 HP is now rated by NHRA at 325?

No. That's why the RR 383 is now @ 300 horsepower

09-30-2011, 03:58 PM	#1
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	1968 Pontiac GTO 1968 Pontiac GTO Motor Trend's 'Car of the Year' Base Price: $3101 Production numbers of 87,684 units. Nearly double, the Road Runners 46,054. 1968 Engines available; 400/350HP 400/360HP 'HO' 400/360HP 'Ram Air I' 400/366HP 'Ram Air II' Gear ratio's available,,,,,,,2.93,, 3.08,,3.23,,3.55,,3.90,,4.33 Note: The 4.33 Gear's were standard with the 400/366HP Ram Air II. In 1968, the 400/350HP was classed in E/S or E/SA, while the more powerful 400/360HP 'HO' and 400/366HP 'Ram Air II' cars were classed in D/S or D/SA. More than a few tackled SS/F or SS/FA in 1968. Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 10-04-2011 at 11:20 AM.

09-30-2011, 11:45 PM	#2
Geerhead55 VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tacoma, Washington Posts: 1,632 Likes: 0 Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: 1968 Pontiac GTO I don't have a GTO story,,,I'm curious to see if this thread will run like the Roadrunner thread, Paul. Lets find out. Danny Durham

10-01-2011, 09:03 AM	#3
Dick Butler VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Richmond Indiana Posts: 1,196 Likes: 5 Liked 32 Times in 19 Posts	Re: 1968 Pontiac GTO I was in school in Indy and owned a 67 Chevelle SS396 . It was stolen and never found. So I was impressed with the Ad for the car of the year and ordered one. Red with black interior and white walls. Standard engine and 4 speed. I ordered a 3.55 posi rear. This was one of the best cars I ever owned for comfort, and Performance. I have actually looked for a restored one for fun.

10-01-2011, 10:52 AM	#4
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: 1968 Pontiac GTO Danny, I think the Road Runner thread will get more hits,,,,,,,,, Though the GTO was the '1968 Car of the Year', there were quite a few mixed reviews for the car. Hot Rod Magazine called it, 'the best balanced car Pontiac's ever built' Car Life Magazine stated, 'a nose-heavy, under-steering lump' Performance Results; 15.93 @ 88 MPH,,,,,,(Car Life),,,,,,,,,,400/350HP, Automatic, w/3.23 Gears 15.50 @ 90 MPH,,,,,,(Car & Driver),,,400/360HP, Automatic, w/3.55 Gears ('HO') 15.10 @ 94 MPH,,,,,,(Hot Rod),,,,,,,,,,,400/360HP, Automatic, w/3.90 Gears ('HO') 14.70 @ 97 MPH,,,,,,(Motor Trend),,,,,400/360HP, 4-Speed, w/4.33 Gears ('Ram Air I') 14.50 @ 98 MPH,,,,,,(Car Craft),,,,,,,,,,,400/360HP, 4-Speed, w/3.90 Gears ('HO') 14.25 @ 99 MPH,,,,,(Super Cars),,,,,,,,400/366HP,,4-Speed, w/4.33 Gears ('Ram Air II') Note: All performance tests were performed in a stock dealership car, with G70 x 14" tires. When comparing apples-to-apples, the 68' GTO 400/350HP and the Road Runner 383/335HP were pretty much equal in the 1/4 mile with 4-Speed transmissions, but when comparing Automatic transmissions, the Road Runner could outrun the GTO. Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 10-03-2011 at 08:44 PM.

10-01-2011, 11:51 AM	#6
Run to Rund Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 583 Likes: 8 Liked 54 Times in 27 Posts	Re: 1968 Pontiac GTO Pontiac's front end treatment worked well with the new rounded body style. They "pushed" the Endura front bumper, but iirc it was a lot heavier than the standard chrome bumper. Like with Olds, the Ram Air option had gone "mainstream" in the option book for 1968.

10-01-2011, 12:00 PM	#7
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: 1968 Pontiac GTO The 'most famous' 1968 Pontiac GTO print ad. This ad was pulled, as the Woodward Avenue reference was all you needed to know,,,,,,,'Street Drag Racing' GM Management realized the issue, and pulled the ad after only 'one' printing.

10-01-2011, 12:58 PM	#8
Dick Butler VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Richmond Indiana Posts: 1,196 Likes: 5 Liked 32 Times in 19 Posts	Re: 1968 Pontiac GTO I ran 14.25 at Orange county 99 MPH with the 350HP 400 4 spd. NO CHANGES. Full exhaust and Air cleaner on it.

10-01-2011, 03:29 PM	#9
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: 1968 Pontiac GTO 1968 Pontiac GTO Price List; Base Price; $3101 Primary Options: * Power Steering: ($95) * Power Brakes: ($35) * Disc Brakes: ($63) * Retractable Headlight Covers: ($52) * AM Radio: ($61) * Hood Tach: ($63) * Dash Rally Guage Cluster: ($84) * Dual Exhaust Extensions: ($21) * Custom Rally Wheels: ($50) * Safe-T-Track Differential: ($42) * Special Axle Ratio's: ($63) * Speedometer Gear Adapter: ($11) * Center Console: ($68) * Rear Super-Lift Shock Absorbers ($48) * Turbo-Hydra-Matic Transmission: ($236) * Close Ratio 4-Speed: ($185) * Ram Air Hood Scoop: ($50) * 400/360HP 'HO' Engine: ($76) * 400/366HP 'Ram Air II' Engine: ($342) {available mid-year production} Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 10-03-2011 at 06:27 PM.