1964 Pontiac GTO that’s been parked for 54 years discovered in surprisingly good condition
- The Pontiac GTO is one of the models that started the muscle car trend of the 1960s, making it a collector’s dream car
- Shockingly, one was found in a barn, having been parked in 1969
- We don’t know what’s more surprising – the fact that it hadn’t been driven for 54 years or the state it was found in
Published on May 21, 2024 at 7:05 PM (UTC+4)
by Andie Reeves
Last updated on May 22, 2024 at 12:09 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
The Pontiac GTO is revered as a legend in car culture.
It’s widely regarded as the first true muscle car, with its powerful V8, aggressive styling, and performance-oriented design.
So it was pretty shocking when one was found abandoned in a garage.
We don’t know what’s more surprising – the fact that it hadn’t been driven for 54 years or the state it was found in.
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By definition, a barn find is a classic vehicle that is found after being abandoned, often in a barn or shed.
It’s alarming to see some of the incredible cars that people have left to rot in a garage.
Such as this Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II that hadn’t been driven for 20 years.
Or the 1966 Impala SS that had been parked since 1975.
Over the past few years, the definition has expanded to include any highly desired car discovered in a derelict condition.
Like the Corvette Z06 found in an abandoned car dealership, next to two other supercars.
But the recent discovery of a Pontiac GTO is a textbook barn find.
The iconic vehicle was produced from 1964 to 1974 and was briefly revived in 2004.
The first GTO came with a powerful 6.4-liter V8 engine, which delivered 325 horsepower.
Its design was distinct and aggressive, featuring hood scoops, dual exhausts, and Coke bottle styling.
This Pontiac GTO is often credited as one of the models that started the muscle car trend of the 1960s, making it a collector’s dream car.
So finding one in perfect condition in a barn was quite astonishing.
It was discovered in Massachusetts having been parked in a leaky barn in 1969.
That’s right: it was only driven for five years, during which it clocked up just 38,506 miles.
It’s now up for sale, and the new owner will need to do a lot of work to restore it to glory.
While it’s covered in rust, there are no major holes and you can still see the factory blue paint beneath.
Inside also doesn’t look too bad, aside from all the dust.
However, the driver-side door panel seems to be missing, and the trunk pan is heavily rusted.
The seller attempted a partial restoration at some stage, fixing some interior parts and installing a 7.5-liter V8 engine.
That said, the original engine comes with the sale of the car.
This is music to a restorer’s ears, as the 6.4-liter V8 is a highly coveted piece of machinery and looks like it could be rebuilt.
It won’t be an easy fix or a quick one, but the challenge is there for anyone who fancies it – and has $21,500 to spare.
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Andie is a content writer from South Africa with a background in broadcasting and journalism. Starting her career in the glossy pages of Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire, Andie has a broad portfolio, covering everything from sustainability solutions to celebrity car collections. When not at her laptop Andie can be found sewing, recording her podcast, taking board games too seriously or road-tripping in her bright green Kia.