New ride arrived today...gonna be spending a lot less time on my wagon

As some of you know, I've been looking for a 60-65 Tempest/LeMans wagon.
Of course, life is what happens when you are planning the future....

While reviewing wagon ads, I found this 68 GTO and it "followed me home".

Built at Freemont, California, sold new in LA. Spent its life in California until the seller bought it in 1995. He started on it, then left it sitting (near Reno) for the past 16 years.

It has a 428 with small-chamber heads, TH400 with 3.08 posi. Very few options, but it's cleaner underneath than my Bonneville!

Needs a complete trunk floor and some glass channel repair before it gets painted. Original black/black car...this is gonna be fun!!!











The car was not built with hideaway headlights, but I think I might keep them. One of them kinda works; I love a challenge!

 

About the only real problem I see with this car is that it is not mine

Congratulations. Look forward to seeing the restoration pics.

 

My plan is to protect all the bare metal and drive it this summer with the "dead" black paint on it, then strip and paint it next fall/winter.

First job: get the brakes working properly and install the e-brake cables.
Hopefully, that will get done this weekend, then I just need to clean out all the road dust and tree leaves so I can drive it without all the wind-blown debris smacking me in the head!

 

Congrats, diamonds in the ruff like yours are long gone from my island.

 

I really like hideaway headlights. :2_thumbs_up_-_anima

 

Congratulations...

I really like the marker lights...

 

Thanks for the kind words, folks!
Spent a few hours on it today...some surprises, but no big negatives so far.

Trunk floor and the rear glass lower channel are both pretty cheesy; I'll get to practice my welding skills on this one.

 

Nice find, you have very good taste.
Everybody should have a '68 GTO and a wagon.

 

My buddy and ex-co-worker still has the twin to this he bought new in high school. Forgot what year but his has that nose. I mostly saw the rear as I dropped him off from work. I got to drive it once. When we both retired in 1994 his had around 30,000 miles on it.

 

Congrats jmt, looks like a nice project

 

Cool find Joe, this explains why you've been so quiet.....

 

Nice car jmt. Was the 428 original to that car?

 

Awsome car gunna be nice and cherry when its done. Ummm Reno I live there where at near Reno

 

Ratmaster: Hey, Pat! Welcome aboard.
Actually, I've been quiet because we've been traveling for the past month; just got back a few days ago. I'll be posting some trip pics shortly; we got to visit the Volvo museum in Gateborg, Sweden and I have some nice wagon photos to share.

MotoMike: No, the 428 is a transplant from a 69 full-size car. It was a popular swap back in 68/69; some dealers (like Royal Pontiac here in Michigan) even offered it as a performance mod.

65countrysedan: I'm not planning a full-on restoration any time soon; I just want a dependable driver. But in the long run, I'll probably make it pretty.

 

Looks like a fun project. That is one of my all time favorite models.