Gorgeous Barbados Blue LS1 GTO Available in the Marketplace

LS1-powered Pontiac GTO looks great on the outside, runs well and has some basic upgrades.

The return of the GTO as a rebadged Holden Monaro was short-lived, but as the GM muscle car that filled the gap during the absence of the Camaro and Firebird, these sleek Pontiacs are still sought after in the modern marketplace. Fortunately, one of the rarest of the Holden-built GTOs was listed in the LS1Tech Marketplace recently, giving the community a shot at one of the last LS1-powered Pontiac muscle cars and while it is modified, the upgrades are basic, common things that are easy to change after purchase.

The Introduction

This 2004 Pontiac GTO was posted to the forum marketplace by “rlchv70”, who shared a handful of pictures of his gorgeous Barbados Blue LS1 car, along with all of the key details, including aftermarket modifications.

Excellent condition 2004 Pontiac GTO
I’ve owned it since almost new at 900 miles.
LS1 V8, 350HP. 6-speed Manual
Rare Barbados Blue color. Only approx. 500 made in this color.
Aftermarket Elbrus wheels with 265 tires in the rear. Have some stock wheels as well.
Bassani cat-back exhaust
Upgraded brakes: 05-06 front calipers. Drilled & slotted rotors. Performance pads.
Rear spoiler delete (filled and painted, still have original)
LS7 clutch
B&M Short-throw shifter
Runs and drives great. Everything works. AC blows cold.
As you would expect on a car of this age, some minor nicks and scuffs here and there. Rear seat stitching coming out (common on these cars and is an easy fix).

So a great, rare exterior color, the engine and transmission that many buyers would prefer, the car is in proper running order and it has been modified and maintained by the original owner.

The Rarest GTO

Of the 15,000+ GTOs built for the 2004 model year, only 573 were painted Barbados Blue, making this the rarest color not just for 2004, but for the entire three-year run of the Aussie-built Pontiac muscle car. No other color was offered in such limited numbers, and when coupled with the manual transmission and the LS1 V8, this is the modern GTO that many gearheads want to find.

Of course, it has been modified, but all of the upgrades are tasteful and if you don’t like any of them, they are all easy to remove. The only appearance upgrade is the Elbrus wheels, but it comes with stock rollers as well. It seems unlikely that any buyer will complain about the newer front brakes with performance rotors, the LS7 clutch or the short-throw shifter, and while the Bassani cat-back exhaust system might not be your thing, that is easily swapped-out for a system that the buyer prefers.

The two worst things about this 2004 GTO is the common issue with the rear seats and the dirty engine bay, but the seats are easily repaired and a shiny engine will only require a little elbow grease.

In any case, if you have been dreaming of an LS1 GTO, this LS1Tech Marketplace post provides a great chance to score the rarest of the exterior colors with the key options and some basic upgrades.

Join the LS1tech forums today!

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com