Clash of the Classics - 1968 Pontiac GTO

[@rogozzy1]

At 6:16 there was no 68 Judge or orange color or spoiler until the 69 model.

[@jeantetreault132]

Personally, with all due respect, i prefer the earlier design of the GTO with the 389 cubic inch motor, as opposed to the newer model that came out in 1968. The 1967 GTO had more of a boxy square shape design look and the front grill looked pretty neat as well, with its duel head lights that were mounted on top of one another. The reason i’m saying this is because General Motors came out with so many car models, during that same time period, that most of their vehicles looked so much alike, in terms of molded round shapes, from the front fenders all the way back to the quarter panels. In other words, when you compare the Buick Skylark 1971-72, with the Oldsmobile Cutlass, as well as the Chevelle SS 1969 and the Pontiac Lemans, from the same era, they all seem to present that same generic body style design. But in the final analysis, needless to say that they were all beautiful performing muscle cars. It’s only a matter of opinion. Lol! I love your show. Stay safe and thank you for this prestigious presentation. Johnny, Montreal Canada 👍👌❤️😁

[@josephgeorgeejr7039]

Can tell ur Canadian lol, just joking, but the 68 body styles are better than designs of new cars!

[@wolfsden3812]

Probably one of the best GTO videos I've seen ....thanks

[@wolfsden3812]

And I love GTO's

[@santaclaushawkeyenj3878]

2:00 1968 GTO had wrap around front signal lights. That is a 1969 GTO next too a 1967 GTO. At 2:45 that is a 68 goat.

[@johnrunion7258]

Another misleading point was that the 360 horse RA III was replaced by the RA II.The original RA III option was the most ordered option on all these GTO's.An additional RA II performance option was offered in only 1968 and was replaced with a higher performance RA IV option afterwards.The RA II had the first round port exhaust heads on it ,but still used the stout RA III cam.The RA IV, however, had the same basic heads configuration with much wilder cam and valvetrain components.In not having hands on experience with these RA IV prototype RA II's,nothing I've read gives great detail on their valve train specs other than the rockers were the standard 1.5's.I can tell you that My RA IV crate engine had dual valve springs(purple and brown code)with harmonic damper coils.1.65 rockers,rocker oil deflection girdle, locking adjuster nuts, and hardened ball end 11/32nds pushrods topped it off.I'd never seen so much hardware under the valve covers of my previous GTO's as these heads had.Also in 1966 my good friend bought a new midnight blue GTO which had the words RAM AIR III painted on the sides of the hood scoops.It was a 360hp RAM AIR III with a 3.90 differential four speed muncie.It was the RA II that was dropped the next year,making it a very rare icon.

[@thegreenerthemeaner]

@@johnrunion7258 RA IIs showed up in a very few late 67 Firebirds. They were found more often in Firebirds than in GTOs in 68. The RA III actually mislead the buyers thinking it would perform above the II. The IV lost out due to the expectation being the same as the II to III. It was not true at all and aside from the V program, was the pinnacle up to that point. The SD was originally built with the II/IV camshaft but Emission Standards could not be met. Point is that Pontiac showed everyone what could be done with correctly matched ports and camshaft timing on 400 cubic inches. Compare camshafts to the other top end machines and where a RA IV fell in the 1/4 mile run. If only they had done a little more work on the reciprocating end for more RPM. Too many got scattered because they could not RPM. A 428 with RA IV goods was simply hard to beat and few took up that venture.

[@joequillun7790]

Pontiac dropped forging their cranks after the 1963 421 SD engines. (with the exception of RAVs, which were basically none existent. ) There weren't any 400s, or even the 73-74 SD 455s that had forged cranks.

[@johnrunion7258]

@@joequillun7790 RA IVs were all forged from crank to pistons.The designation RA V refered to the tunnel port heads which were installed on a number of different blocks.The RA V 400 used the existing RA IV block and rotating assembly.The port configuration of these new heads required a new intake,exhaust manifold,camshaft,and distributor.Most of these very rare engines were assembled at performance dealerships.The 303's required a special short deck block,as so,they were assembled at the factory in numbers to qualify for SCCA cars.I wrenched and raced one of the RA IV's in stock blueprinted form in the day and I can tell you my car was still pulling hard at 7,000rpm.Forged bottom end and four bolt mains.

[@johnrunion7258]

@@joequillun7790 The qualifier for the term RA V is in the tunnel port head itself.The 400cu in version of the RA V used the existing RA IV 400 blocks and their rotating assembly.It is a forged, four bolt main assembly from crank to pistons.I raced one in the day and it was still pulling hard thru the traps at 7,000rpm.Stock engine balanced and blueprinted.All parts related to these heads( intake and exhaust manifolds,camshaft,and distributor) were specific RA V parts procured from Pontiac by dealers ,who then assembled the engines in shop.These were more rare than the 303cu in RA V short deck engines Pontiac had to build,as there were no existing production blocks.Factory built these engines in sufficient quantities to qualify them for SCCA Firebirds.I heard many of these were never delivered, as by the time development was completed ,SCCA was in shambles,and most were destroyed.I think some high ups made off with a few,however.

[@davidallen5776]

If my memory serves me right, most every Goat this year had a plastic nose.

[@dustylover100]

The chrome bumper was an option, but most were sold with the Endura bumper.

[@colinhalliley111]

I had the 69 GTO . Just idling, warmed up,it rocked back and forth when accelerated. It could fly. Next to my 70 Eldo it went hard.

[@stephenmanion3418]

just cool, cool, cool man..!!!!!

[@scott1395]

I've owned 1 67 1 69 and 2 70s. My favorites are 65, 67, 68, 69 and 70! You have some good looking 68 pics here but that red 67 is sharpe as hell!!! The main thing about any of them is you got to get the deep dish pontiac rally's and a set of BFGs makes all the difference in how a goat looks!!! Hide away headlights are a must also! Once you get GTOs in your blood you're hooked for life!!!

[@DavidR-ub2dp]

Love the two red GTOs

[@fvgc454ss]

69 has one piece side window 68 has corner vents. And different lower valance. 68 has the cool arrow head rear corner marker lights

[@Minong_Manitou_Mishepeshu]

At 16 in 1992 I bought a 68' GTO with a 72' 455 HO for $4500. Still have it. Looks better than ever. -2020

[@josephgeorgeejr7039]

The 68 - 72 gtos are probably the sexiest meanest most iconic ahead of its time designs, better than Chevy,Olds, Buick, and still very much relevant today and great platform for restomods, off course my dad had a green 70 gto judge, but I highly doubt my opinion would change even if I had not been around these cars when I was a kid,

[@DavidR-ub2dp]

Wow no endura bumper nice unique GTO

[@mfsb8473]

4:43......that would be a 1969 GTO shown.........not a 68

[@Horsepower4anHour]

Good eye dude!!! You’re exactly right, our production department randomly inserts cars that are inconsistent with the narrative. Keeps folks on point!!! Please send me a mailing address you’re comfortable sharing and I’ll send you a couple Horsepower for an Hour custom coffee mugs. You can text it to me privately at 805.207.5476. Thanks again for checking out our channel

[@donaldmosteller5876]

69 GTO is the best 🏆🏆🏆

[@jeffburgert8929]

Not one shot of the rear bumper., which is why I love the 68 over 69 model. The rear bumper !!!!

[@MostlyBuicks]

The 1968 and 1969 GTO were brilliant works of art. Same goes for the 1968 and 1969 442. I am not a fan of the 1966 or 1967 GTO, but I DO like the same years in GS and SS and 442. But my all time favorites are the 1965 GTO and especially the 1965 GranSport.

[@Holiday48000]

I owned a brand new 1968 GTO (RED with a Black Vinyl Top) it had the 400 CI Quadrojet Carb 360 H.P. engine. 4-speed, Posi-Traction & Hideaway Head Lights... all this for $4,100 dollars brand new. How I wish that I still had my cars from the 1960's..

[@wolfsden3812]

You lived my friend you lived

[@gerald4133]

Tell me about it my dad had a 69' cuda' 440, I picked up a 81' cuda' 383. Dad bought a 351 Mach 1 Cleveland. They was easily accessible back in the 70s' not today. Feel for ya'!

[@gerald4133]

@Robert LaPointe it must have been a mistype it was a 71' with 4headlights & gills on the fender sides. The tail lights was different from the 70' or any other year with reverse lights beside the brake/rear tail lights. I drove it cross country from tx to oh. 383 4bl Holley ,,& Edelbrock manifold. 71' my dad had a 69' 440 which they only made 500. My cousin married a guy with a 440+6 Shaker hockey stick 440 decale. I had billboards in black 383, and the guy before me put a cam in it. Your right 74' was a smog dog so really 71' was the last Real Cudas'.

[@gerald4133]

@Robert LaPointe I only have one pic at my duplex my ex was a cleptomanic Brat! She hated the car but she stole almost every pic I had.

[@gerald4133]

@Robert LaPointe my old cuda' was bought in a oil town called Alice Tx. It was a column shift automatic. At some point probably the mechanichic I bought it from cut out the floorboard & put a 4spd transmission in it. The clutch was so weak but it almost put me and a friend in the ditch. I can only imagine a solid clutch and pressure plate. I made some really bad descions in my life ,and selling that cuda' was just one more mistake. I almost bought a 73' 340 Challenger later beautiful electric blue with black vynle top and married someone else but like I said I made some really bad calls in my life. We ended up devorcing anyway! But she practically runiuned my life. That and the starter relay went out in the cuda' which only costs $10-15 but by the time my dad was dying with cancer and we had change the spark plugs ,and wires ,battery, and starter I was at a lost with it and my situation. I hope you never go through it. Cuda' driver 383'

[@ronparker6094]

The 68 is my favorite muscle car hands down if I could afford it I would buy one in a heartbeat I used to have a 71 and I liked it but I've always liked the 68 I just think that is a gorgeous car I like the tail lights are in the back bumper like the 69 it's kind of split between the body and the bumper but I like the 68 I just think that is a beautiful muscle car

[@peckerwood9383]

Pontiac is one of the best cars ever!!

[@peckerwood9383]

Why don't you guys do a bit on the Pontiac Grand prix!! I have the '72 and man,this beast moves out!!

[@mrpaulgrimm6129]

Cars changed back Then. Now they all look alike

[@samuelbarbary8603]

68 and 69 in my opinion were the best design years . Pontiac should have extended this design for a couple of years maybe with a few benign tweaks.

[@John1Brady]

What is the deal with the chrome bumper "GTO"s at the beginning. Never hear or seen a 68+ GTO with chrome front bumper.

[@scbird1]

Someone replaced the bumper from Pontiac Tempest same year but was chrome

[@anthonyfranciose3999]

Ya they had Crome bumpered ones. They didn’t have enough endoro bumpers to go round. I believe they took 32-36 dollars off the price of the car for Crome.

[@joequillun7790]

I believe chrome was optional.

[@Minong_Manitou_Mishepeshu]

Endura delete option.

[@jamesvanscoy7717]

I like the 67 gto better

[@gfoursux9]

'66 best year......and that's coming from a previous owner of a '69.

[@thegreenerthemeaner]

Ram Air cars were 3.90 or 4.33. 4.33 was just too low for the highway in these cars but at the drag strip was a different story. 3.90s were far more popular on the street. Choice of which 4 speed made a huge difference too. The RA II was available in 68. RA III cars were not as potent as a II. When the RA IV came along in 69, that was a totally unsung hero. They would put the slam dunk on an L 78 Chevelle but it was a tight race. Pontiacs always made their move at mid track.

[@gerald4133]

My dad was a Mopar guy bit my cousin she married a guy she had a 67' gto 389 6pk. Her husband had a 68' gto red like the one one the right my dad said it was the most beautiful car. But he drove it to the ground. I use to walk to high school by them and looked at the two gtos' after they had drove them hard. He had the hood tach. 68' was the bees knees.

[@dontellgucci1117]

For anyone reading tri-power wasn’t offered in 67’ that’s every GM muscle car. The Corvette was the only car in 67’ you could get 3 carburetor set up

[@CaptainFALKEN]

4:44 that's a '69, but '68-'69, fantastic either way. I'm 22 and love my '68 Le Mans, GTO clone. 400 4 BBL

[@marvinmartian7281]

Yes! indeed the best of this Pontiac era with Firebird Trans Am until 1978.

[@joequillun7790]

Love the content, even if there are a few inaccuracies in the narration. Some really nice photos of these old goats. Back in the day, I had a hard time excepting the 68 styling, but now am able to tolerate it. The light and lean 64-65 cars were my favorite, but the 67-70 engines were so much better. As for automatics, they were for women only. :D

[@bigbearbland]

There wasnt a bad Goat built between 64'-72', period.

[@thegreenerthemeaner]

Umm, 67 400 2BBL engine. WHAT were they thinking???

[@joequillun7790]

@@thegreenerthemeaner LOL. I worked with a guy in the mid 70s who had a gold one. Disgusting!

[@michaelbates2035]

Had a friend with a goat I never got to own one I had a 67 Ventura two door hard top 400 end I beefed it up it wad a awesome sleeper wish I would not have ever let it go it wad my first car to this day I miss it have that black interior maroon pair jyst a sweet ride back in the 60s and I had upgraded the drive Tran to a monster for its day good memories

[@joedemelo4780]

the two side by side are 67 and 69 not 68

[@scottiusnevious5143]

I like the previous model gto

[@chuckm3034]

just letting you know the Judge you showed was a 69' because that model or version of the GTO was started in 69' and ended in 71'. The 69' Judge would be an awesome Car for you guys to do.

[@joebova3771]

It was a 68 GTO, they just added Judge decals

[@domaleons]

That’s my year! Love it! Check me out

[@donaldmosteller5876]

Chrome Bumper is not real

[@louf7178]

I believe it was possible to get it. Probably an option in case someone was afraid of the new revolutionary bumper.

[@dustylover100]

@@louf7178, the chrome bumper was indeed an option. It just didn't look right compared to the Endura bumper.