1964 Pontiac GTO Hardtop Spent 40 Years in Storage, Emerges Like New, Sells for $140,000

Initially, the GTO was only available as an option package for the Pontiac LeMans. Those cars went into production in September of 1963 and proved very successful sales-wise, despite the poor steering feel and inadequate brakes.

If you’re looking to buy such a car today, you can find them for as little as $30,000, on average. It really depends on whether or not it’s a numbers-matching car, and the state it’s in. Nicer ones will easily fetch over $50,000, and if we’re talking about something really special, it’s going to be a six-figure affair.

Case in point, this 1964 example, refinished in Marimba Red during the aforementioned refurbishment.

Other visual highlights include the dual hood scoops, signature quad headlights, the nickel-plated grille, chrome bumpers, GTO badging, plus the brightwork (window, wheel openings, rocker-panel trim).

This also has polished 14” Hurst wheels rocking US Royal Safety 800 red-stripe tires, and drum brakes at all corners – unfortunately, braking has always been a bit of an issue with these early GTOs, but it’s nothing a true driving enthusiast can’t handle.

Moving on to the interior, that’s where you’ll find the parchment vinyl front bucket seats and rear bench, a color-coordinated headliner, white lower dash surfaces (painted), black upper dash, branded mats, front and rear lap belts, a push-button Delco AM radio, a four-spoke woodgrain steering wheel, engine-turned aluminum gauge cluster housing, and a white-knob Hurst floor shifter.

While this vehicle’s true mileage is unknown, the previous owner claims that only 12 miles were put on the odometer since the completion of the refurbishment, two years ago. Basically, this has barely been driven – more likely it just moved around from time to time.

Speaking of moving around, underneath this GOAT’s hood resides a 389 ci V8, surrounded by a satin black engine bay and working alongside a factory-equipped Tri-Power induction system with three Rochester two-barrel carburetors (each with individual open-element AC foam filters and chrome covers).

The engine itself was repainted blue and fitted with chrome valve covers. Other noteworthy features include the Ram Air IV-specific camshaft and a Gardner Exhaust dual system. Power is sent to the rear wheels via an M20 wide-ratio four-speed manual gearbox and a Safe-T-Track rear axle.

Just how much power is being made here? When new, a 1964 GTO with the Tri-Power option would have been rated at 348 horsepower, which was and is still a very decent figure for this type of vehicle. It’s worth noting that this is not a particularly lightweight car, but the same goes for most American classics from that era, short of smaller pony cars such as the Mustang or the Camaro.