Journeys with the ’68 GTO: Tales of Restoration, Resilience, and Passion

The 1968 Pontiac GTO holds a legendary status among muscle car enthusiasts, representing a peak era of performance and style. Beyond the raw power and iconic design, these cars often become deeply embedded in the lives of their owners, transforming from mere vehicles into members of the family and symbols of personal achievement. Here are two such compelling stories from owners who have invested decades of passion, sweat, and tears into their beloved Gto 68 models.

Steve Burrowes’ Enduring Connection with His ’68 GTO

I acquired this GTO in 1982 while still in college. It was in a rather sad state, purchased for a modest $900 – a sum I had to piece together by borrowing $100 from a friend and $800 from the bank. My initial motivation for taking on this seemingly daunting project was, admittedly, to impress a girlfriend who would later become my wife.

I plunged into the restoration headfirst. By the start of the fall semester the same year, the car was complete, at least cosmetically. What I didn’t fully grasp at the time was the significance of this accomplishment. Friends and family were genuinely surprised, even shocked, that I had managed a mostly cosmetic restoration in just a few short months, despite lacking proper tools, ample funds, or significant prior experience. I was driven by the desire to impress one special lady, and against the odds, I pulled it off.

Looking back, finishing that restoration marked a turning point. I had rarely completed a project before. This success gave me a surge of confidence that galvanized me to improve my academic performance, raising my GPA from a mediocre 2.0 to a level that eventually secured me a job. It’s a lesson worth noting for anyone: achieving a 3.0 or better can be tough even when you excel in your final years, as I learned firsthand.

A year later, the original engine gave out. I replaced it with a $75 junker engine just in time for the car to serve as the perfect getaway vehicle for my sister and her new husband after their wedding in September.

After graduating from school in Wisconsin and a brief work stint in Milwaukee, I moved south to Dallas, still pursuing that same lady. The car joined me a year later, making the journey without a hitch, its original block traveling safely in the trunk. Marriage followed in 1989. By 1992, I decided it was time for a comprehensive chassis rebuild, including repainting the frame without removing the body. With improved stance, handling, and braking, I felt substantial progress was being made towards my goal of a complete restoration. Readers interested in similar classic muscle cars might also find value in exploring information about the 60s gto era generally.

A red 1968 Pontiac GTO parked outdoors, showing the driver's side profile.

By 1994, the car, with its engine block once again in the trunk, was headed north to the Twin Cities. Our first child was on the way, and my wife and I wanted to be closer to family. We settled into a new house, and child number two arrived, but the GTO remained part of the family. An attempt to rebuild the numbers-matching block stalled in 2000 when my family moved overseas for a couple of years. This was in the nascent days of online used parts sales, but while in Belgium, I managed to secure two factory consoles and dual-gate shifters in anticipation of an interior restoration planned for our return.

By the end of summer 2002, the interior project was complete, featuring fresh upholstery and carpet, incorporating the best components from the two consoles I sourced.

The engine rebuild effort resumed in 2006 with assistance from Total Engine Service, but another overseas opportunity interrupted the process. The finished short-block was carefully stored away for the next five years. While abroad, I continued to plan the final stages of the engine build and the subsequent phases of the comprehensive restoration I had long envisioned.

My return to the USA in 2010 meant the restoration project had to wait slightly longer due to home remodeling needs. However, by the end of 2011, the teardown began. What started rather naively as a plan to rebuild only the front clip and engine bay quickly escalated; before long, I was fully committed to a frame-off restoration. Two and a half years later, thanks to a significant investment of tools, time, and money—and crucially, the unwavering support of my wife—the car was finished. Its debut at the 2014 Land of Lakes Muscle Car Classic was triumphant, taking First place in its class.

Holding onto this automotive icon for over 32 years has meant navigating life’s usual challenges, plus a few extras unique to car ownership. It’s more than just a car; it’s truly a part of the family, even though my sons, now old enough to drive, won’t get behind the wheel until they’re at least 25! One of my sons shows a keen interest in cars, and we’ve enjoyed working on this project and his ’93 fullsize Blazer together. This passion, which I inherited from my father, is now being passed down to another generation. To today’s young enthusiasts, heed this advice: our generation of muscle car owners wonders who will care for our cherished “babies” when we eventually lose interest or are no longer able. Let your passion for these cars be known to them. You might be the first person they think of when that day arrives. For those particularly interested in specific performance variants, information on the 1968 pontiac gto judge is also highly sought after.

Jeff Reichel’s Journey with a ’68 LeMans Turned GTO

This is the story of an unassuming ’68 LeMans that underwent a significant transformation starting in the early ’90s in upstate New York. My late brother, Darin, and a friend decided to clone it into a GTO. They undertook all the work themselves, achieving a respectable result given the resources they had. They kept the original Pontiac 350 engine, giving it a “poor man’s rebuild” – essentially a clean-up and repaint – and retained the original two-speed automatic transmission.

As a LeMans, this car was quite well-optioned for its time, including power windows, a rear power antenna, an eight-track player, factory air conditioning, bucket seats, and a floor console shifter. My brother, despite having limited funds, successfully cloned most aspects to resemble a GTO. However, he either forgot or chose not to tackle changing the taillights and their housings from the LeMans style to the correct GTO configuration – something I’ve since discovered is far more challenging than it appears.

A gold 1968 Pontiac LeMans parked outdoors, showing the front driver's side view.

Following our older brother’s passing at age 42, the car was transported to my younger brother in Arizona during the summer of 2004. While not a dedicated car enthusiast, he cherished the car in memory of our brother. Over the subsequent years, he invested considerably to fix various neglected issues. He also drove it extensively, perhaps more than ideal for a 40-year-old classic. It’s a driver, and always will be, but he used it for his daily commute from Maricopa to Scottsdale for about six months, cruising at 80 mph down I-10 every day!

In 2007, his company relocated him to Madrid for a few years, and the car remained stored in his garage starting that August. To prevent further deterioration, we decided it would be best to ship the car to me in Alaska. That’s when the story took an unexpected turn.

While the car was en route, being towed on a trailer behind a GMC Jimmy, they were navigating a particularly windy, frost-heaved section of highway just outside Watson Lake, Canada. Suddenly, one of the rear tires detached from the towing Jimmy. The tire spun off the road, and somehow, the GTO came off the trailer. The driver and his dog were ejected from the truck. Miraculously, the driver survived with multiple injuries, including bumps, cuts, bruises, cracked ribs, a dislocated shoulder, a broken nose, a concussion, and a sprained wrist, among others he couldn’t recall. The dog, astonishingly, escaped with only a broken toenail!

As for the GTO, it fared remarkably well, all things considered. The driver-side front fender was crumpled, as were the hood and the front end structure. It didn’t roll over but pitched off the trailer, landing nose-first on that front side, and somehow remained on all four wheels. The front tire popped off the bead upon impact. None of the glass was damaged, and the rest of the body remained in incredibly good shape.

The damaged truck, trailer, and the GTO were towed to a shop in Watson Lake. Eventually, the GTO made its way to me. Over the past year and a half, I’ve been dismantling the front end to assess the full extent of the damage. The most significant issue is that the frame is tweaked just behind the passenger-side A-arm. The only salvageable front-end body panel was the driver-side front fender. Those interested in similar restoration projects or comparing era vehicles might look into a mercury cougar gte for sale for context on the market for classic muscle cars.

I have also begun sourcing replacement parts for the rebuild effort piece by piece. The interior is in surprisingly good condition, requiring only some touch-up work which I completed this past summer. Currently, I’m focused on finding a decent set of correct ’68 GTO taillight housings to finally complete the cloning project. I understand this car will likely never achieve show-quality status, but it has always been a driver. My prayer is that one day, it will return to that condition, cruising the roads once more. For those looking for specific model details, searching for a royal bobcat gto provides insight into specialized versions of the GTO.

A rear view of the gold 1968 Pontiac LeMans, showing the taillights.

These stories highlight the deep personal connection owners share with classic cars like the Gto 68. They are not just metal and glass; they are woven into the fabric of family history, personal growth, and overcoming adversity. Whether undergoing a full frame-off restoration or recovering from an unexpected accident, the dedication to preserving these iconic machines is a testament to their enduring legacy and the passion they ignite. Exploring options like a royal bobcat gto for sale can reveal the ongoing desirability and value placed on these remarkable vehicles in the collector market today.