If you’re the kind of car buff who likes to look at their car and drive it too, this numbers matching 1970 GTO is a whole lot of fun for not much money. Painstakingly restored to better than showroom condition, and expertly detailed with a Judge stripe package added (the crew at the RKM Performance Center will gladly remove the Judge striping if you want a pure OEM look), it was awarded a perfect score at the 2007 All Pontiac Nationals in Orlando, Florida and featured in the January 2009 issue of Muscle Car Review. If you’re in the market for an exclusive 4-speed GTO with a highly desirable color combination that is as much fun to drive as it is to show, this is YOUR car!

For the sake of authenticity, I’ll go ahead and break down the VIN and cowl tag.

VIN: 242370P259500

2 – Pontiac
42 – GTO and Judge
37 – 2-door hardtop
0 – 1970 model year
P – Assembled at GMs Pontiac, Michigan facility
2 – V8
59500 – Sequence number

COWL TAG:

70 – 1970 model year
24237 – 2: Pontiac, 42: GTO and Judge, 37: 2-door hardtop
PON – Assembled at GMs Pontiac, Michigan facility
159496 – Sequence number
250 – Blue interior
28 – Atoll Blue lower paint
28 – Atoll Blue upper paint
04D – Assembled during the fourth week of April, 1970

According to the Pontiac Historical Services documentation included with this 1970 GTO, the car was originally produced at GMs Pontiac Michigan assembly plant and delivered to Price Motors Inc. of Morristown, Tennessee. Recently, it underwent a highly detailed nut and bolt, frame-off restoration which transformed it into a great performing and high scoring show car. The restorers began by stripping the cars solid body all the way down to bare metal and making it as smooth as possible. Once the body was prepped and primed to virtually spotless condition, a bright base-coat of signature Pontiac Obit Orange paint was sealed under a thick, protective clearcoat. When that clearcoat dried, a thorough wet sand and buff created a brilliant shine which was topped with a new set of authentic blue, orange and pink decals. Today, the cars body is straight and well aligned from virtually every angle, and all of its moving parts function as well as the day it left the showroom. Its paint is vivid, defines the cars muscular lines with excellent reflections, and displays no sign of orange peel, waviness or major defects anywhere.

At the front of the car, Pontiac’s highly renowned body-matched Endura front bumper houses narrowed stainless trimmed twin grilles and a pristine white inlayed “GTO” emblem between four correct, chrome seated T3 headlights. Below those headlights, the cars curved front valence holds more showroom quality stainless trim above a black chin spoiler and clear, ornate parking lights. Above those headlights, a fully functional Ram Air hood incorporates satin black Pontiac ‘twin nostrils’ next to a fully functional hood mounted tachometer, and hidden windshield wipers clear like-new glass that’s surrounded by excellent looking stainless trim. At the sides of the car, expressive ‘coke bottle’ lines are highlighted by body-matched sport mirrors and dent free stainless moldings which add just the right amount of detail to the bright orange paint. And on the front fenders, pristine “The Judge” decals perfectly match the cars vivid blue, orange and pink fender brows. Out back, an upfitted GTO decklid spoiler floats above another “The Judge” decal which is branded on the passenger’s side of the trunk lid. And below that trunk, a show-worthy, body width chrome bumper hangs showroom fresh tail lights above great looking, quad outlet stainless exhaust tips.

Pop the hood on this awesome GTO and you’ll find an original, numbers matching Pontiac WS 400 which has been completely rebuilt to Ram Air III specifications. Turning stout 10.8 to 1 compression into 365 horsepower and 455 lb./ft. of torque, this performance bred V8 utilizes open chamber heads, bigger valves, a hotter cam, a cast crank and cast rods to provide legendary Pontiac performance. At the top of the motor, a correct, fully functioning Ram Air system forces air into a satin black air cleaner and correct 4-barrel Carter carburetor. At the back of the motor, a correct points distributor sends power though fresh high temperature wires that snake around correct, fully restored cast iron exhaust manifolds. At the front of the motor, a correct heavy duty radiator holds a correct fan shroud between reproduction GM hoses with correct tower clamps and a correct seven blade fan. Aesthetically, the engine bay is fully sorted and completed to a high level of detail. The fenders, firewall and hood are covered in a smooth coat of GM satin black paint, and niceties such as a correct yellow carburetor spring, correct chrome valve covers, correct heat shields, correct decals and a reproduction Delco battery can be found in all the right places. The big Pontiac block displays a slick new coat of turquoise paint from its intake to its oil pan and according to the previous owner, carries this car down the quarter in a swift 14.60 seconds at a cool 99.55 mph.

Take one look underneath this GTO and you’ll really begin to appreciate the amount of time spent restoring this car to a better than factory appearance. Spotless satin black floor pans sit above a super clean frame that is held together with new stainless hardware. Traveling up and down the floorpan is new stainless fuel and brake lines that run to either a new stainless fuel tank or correct power front disc and power rear drum brakes. In the middle of the chassis a modern Borg Warner Super T10 close ratio 4-speed sends power through a fresh driveshaft to a fully restored 10 bolt Safe-T-Track rear end with tall 4.11 gears. The cars original double A-arm front and four link rear suspension has been completely restored to factory specifications and features correct variable ratio power steering, correct new shocks and correct GTO anti-roll bars. New bushings and body mounts give the car a showroom slick ride, and a fresh mandrel bent true dual exhaust system lines up an X-pipe with dual chamber Flowmaster mufflers to create one of the toughest exhaust notes in the classic car hobby. At the corners of the car, black and silver 14 inch Pontiac Rally II wheels wear reproduction G70x14 Firestone Wide Oval tires and feature cool red lettered “PMD” center caps that are mounted in the middle of new chrome lug nuts.

Inside this killer Pontiac you’ll find an essentially new black vinyl interior which, when combined with the cars Orbit Orange paint, creates the ultimate GTO color palete. In front of the driver, a straight and crack-free dash wears awesome looking engine turned silver trim below bright wood applique and correct Rally gauges. At the bottom of that dash, you’ll find a knob to actuate the cars Ram Air system; in the middle of that dash, you’ll find a correct AM radio; and on the passenger’s side of that dash, you’ll find a correct “The Judge” emblem. At the center of the car, a straight black console holds an optional 8-track player and a chrome Hurst T-handle shifter between fully restored and stainless trimmed black vinyl bucket seats. At the sides of those seats, good looking black door panels which are set of by correct stainless trim and correct red inlayed, satin finished “GTO” emblems, and feature new chrome handles for both the doors and windows. Below those seats, like-new carpet runs from under the chrome trimmed foot pedals to the plush rear seat. And in front of those seats, a deluxe steering wheel features satin finished spokes between a bright PMD horn button and a weather-free wood rim. At the back of the cockpit, a fully restored trunk holds a covered spare tire and covered jack assembly between a correct houndstooth mat and correct decklid decals.

Included with this sale of this GTO is the car’s Pontiac Historical Services documents, receipts and photos from the recent restoration, a reproduction owner’s manual and two copies of the Muscle Car Review in which the car was featured.

This might be one of the nicest numbers matching GTOs we’ve ever featured. And most folks who love the GTO will agree that 1970 is a high-water mark in terms of styling, performance and exclusivity. With a perfect scoring restoration and a numbers matching V8 engine, nothing will interfere with this car being both a weapon on the street and a winner in the show field!