Worn-out 1966 GTO 389 Tri-Power

[DizzyDigger]

If it was truly a numbers matching drivetrain, and you could get it for $10k, you're still looking at a massive investment to get that GTO restored and back on the road.

My first fear would be about how much actual car would come back after media blasting the frame and body. The floor pan is shot, and aside from the obvious rust, there is no way of knowing how much bondo it's got on the front/rear quarters.

Even buying it at $10k, I don't think the cheese would be worth the squeeze.

 

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[BennyV]

No shot it’s numbers matching. But I still think there’s value there. It’s a GTO.

There are plenty of non-matching number cars out there going for top dollar. Wayyy more than numbers matching.

 

[tamrock]

No shot it’s numbers matching. But I still think there’s value there. It’s a GTO.

There are plenty of non-matching number cars out there going for top dollar. Wayyy more than numbers matching.

Yeah all factory original classic cars of this era are very rare and limited these days compared to the recreations of a say a 66 Tempest coupe turned into a GTO.

 

[pepperj]

If it was truly a numbers matching drivetrain, and you could get it for $10k, you're still looking at a massive investment to get that GTO restored and back on the road.

My first fear would be about how much actual car would come back after media blasting the frame and body. The floor pan is shot, and aside from the obvious rust, there is no way of knowing how much bondo it's got on the front/rear quarters.

Even buying it at $10k, I don't think the cheese would be worth the squeeze.

This is the smartest thought towards this car.
Not worth the squeeze.
Ballpark restoration is $40-60K if a shop rate is involved.
Sure if a person is equipped with a hoist, welder, tools, time, 💰 is still a factor.
Though the pleasure of working with the car is the driver in most restoration projects.
I have my eye on a lovely P/U a neighbor has restored.
But I know the $$$ is a driver for his toy.

 

[Tesorodeoro]

This is the smartest thought towards this car.
Not worth the squeeze.
Ballpark restoration is $40-60K if a shop rate is involved.
Sure if a person is equipped with a hoist, welder, tools, time, 💰 is still a factor.
Though the pleasure of working with the car is the driver in most restoration projects.
I have my eye on a lovely P/U a neighbor has restored.
But I know the $$$ is a driver for his toy.
View attachment 2119746

Dang! That looks very similar to something sitting in my driveway. Same color even. Appears to be a 56. Interesting that it has the chrome strip running around the back of the cab. I thought that only came with the big window.

 

[pepperj]

Dang! That looks very similar to something sitting in my driveway. Same color even. Appears to be a 56. Interesting that it has the chrome strip running around the back of the cab. I thought that only came with the big window.

Could be a Canadian version of the truck also.
I should of taken a few more photos-but the owner was well into the afternoon bubbly pops and time was short.

Just found this info:
"1430 is a Canada built truck which is the same as a American made 3800 your should have the stab nose are flat -face cowl."

 

[Tpmetal]

I wouldn't even show up to look at it with that price, to restore that thing will be very very costly. The price I would need would probably be considered insulting to the owner if he's listing at such a high price. Wouldn't pay any more than 7 or 8 k, and still would be hesitant

 

[releventchair]

Them 500 -2000 cars of our youth are fetching a pretty penny if they run down the road today.
And prices for rotted out bodies are ridiculous. I been watching some real ghosts of trucks.
Time to buy seems to be 40 years ago.

For you and this particular rotted out body and it's potentially restorable non guaranteed engine...
Like a house restoration or any other someone needs to have the material ,skills, and time , and money , and knowledge to restore the turd.
And within that all and most of all if you are doing it yourself , it has to have the right things wrong with it to compliment your skill set and patience/time tolerance .

I see (from pictures offered here) a heck of a lot of time and money to go for a ride.

She's showing the deep creep rot when door panels roll away from the doors. Integrity of every piece is suspect. That's trunk and floor boards and rear rockers toast. Now we're looking to see if the frame still has integrity. Check below that door panel by drivers foot when seated. I had a 66 Chevelle (sedan) cracked there. A daily usually driver an ex said she sold for 100 dollars after our divorce.
Frame wasn't cracked from rust. But still an added cost if your body is going on a rotisserie and drivetrain and frame are getting gone over.

A sloppy rear end has to be suspected on that GTO.. And most anything else that was getting torque applied to or run through. It just doesn't look Grandma owned.
With the H.P. the powerplant used to generate , there was some twist somewhere.
Depending on multiple factors the front axel and components might be toast too from bounce or landings.
That is a lot of parts being replaced or reworked. If that suits you you can see how much the seller will wiggle.

Seller isn't selling a good horse cause it's a good horse.
Seller is offering for sale a dead horse that used to be a good horse.
I say the price is a few grand high.
And restored that car will cost more than my first house easy. Double maybe if someone else did all the work.( Likely so today.)

Gremlin bought new cost a sister $3000 in 76(?)
She really racked up some miles on it.
Rear engine seal leak was a pain , but about it for anything major.
Wasn't no GTO though! Probably why it lasted so long.

 

[tamrock]

Them 500 -2000 cars of our youth are fetching a pretty penny if they run down the road today.
And prices for rotted out bodies are ridiculous. I been watching some real ghosts of trucks.
Time to buy seems to be 40 years ago.

For you and this particular rotted out body and it's potentially restorable non guaranteed engine...
Like a house restoration or any other someone needs to have the material ,skills, and time , and money , and knowledge to restore the turd.
And within that all and most of all if you are doing it yourself , it has to have the right things wrong with it to compliment your skill set and patience/time tolerance .

I see (from pictures offered here) a heck of a lot of time and money to go for a ride.

She's showing the deep creep rot when door panels roll away from the doors. Integrity of every piece is suspect. That's trunk and floor boards and rear rockers toast. Now we're looking to see if the frame still has integrity. Check below that door panel by drivers foot when seated. I had a 66 Chevelle (sedan) cracked there. A daily usually driver an ex said she sold for 100 dollars after our divorce.
Frame wasn't cracked from rust. But still an added cost if your body is going on a rotisserie and drivetrain and frame are getting gone over.

A sloppy rear end has to be suspected on that GTO.. And most anything else that was getting torque applied to or run through. It just doesn't look Grandma owned.
With the H.P. the powerplant used to generate , there was some twist somewhere.
Depending on multiple factors the front axel and components might be toast too from bounce or landings.
That is a lot of parts being replaced or reworked. If that suits you you can see how much the seller will wiggle.

Seller isn't selling a good horse cause it's a good horse.
Seller is offering for sale a dead horse that used to be a good horse.
I say the price is a few grand high.
And restored that car will cost more than my first house easy. Double maybe if someone else did all the work.( Likely so today.)

Gremlin bought new cost a sister $3000 in 76(?)
She really racked up some miles on it.
Rear engine seal leak was a pain , but about it for anything major.
Wasn't no GTO though! Probably why it lasted so long.

That little inline 6 in a Gremlin had little bit of pep in that light body.

 

[releventchair]

That little inline 6 in a Gremlin had little bit of pep in that light body.

A winter lake access unplowed my 1/2 ton truck didn't like.
So I parked at main road.
One day a Gremlin had made it to the lake.
Ran on top of a lot of the deep snow.
I wondered it didn't float quite a bit on it's floor boards! l.o.l..

 

[BennyV]

I’m looking at it as a roller. That’s all that thing is. If the guy says anything about the motor, tell him to pull it. You could put a crate motor in there easily. Just know it’s most likely not going to be a show winner, but if you want to cruise around and go to some shows it will be more then fine.

I myself have been looking at 69’ Chevelle SS matching numbers with bucket seats and a horseshoe shifter for years. The market is nuts. Plus the supply is limited. Seen a few on Barrett Jackson going for 6 figures plus.

Id have to sell both kidneys and my thoroughly abused liver to get me one of them 🤣🤣🤣

 

[tamrock]

I’m looking at it as a roller. That’s all that thing is. If the guy says anything about the motor, tell him to pull it. You could put a crate motor in there easily. Just know it’s most likely not going to be a show winner, but if you want to cruise around and go to some shows it will be more then fine.

I myself have been looking at 69’ Chevelle SS matching numbers with bucket seats and a horseshoe shifter for years. The market is nuts. Plus the supply is limited. Seen a few on Barrett Jackson going for 6 figures plus.

Id have to sell both kidneys and my thoroughly abused liver to get me one of them 🤣🤣🤣

The bidders at Barrett Jackson are really there just to show who out of them all has the deepest pockets. So now all these classic basket case's have crazy asking prices because of them and that show.

 

[Oregon Viking]

360-horsepower 400 Ram Air installed. It didn't have an engine so....
Sold it for 45,000.

So I could waste (some say) more money on the beast.