Pontiac GTO Values: How Do They Compare by Generation?
Unlike many other muscle cars out there, certain Pontiac GTO models can still be found for reasonable prices.
The Pontiac GTO is a true legend in the car world, one that most consider to be the very first muscle car to ever grace this earth, in fact. Today, that has translated into big demand and interest from the collector car world, not to mention rising values – though luckily, largely not to the same extent as many of its rivals.
These days, one can score a Pontiac GTO for relatively reasonable money, depending on the model, though there are obviously exceptions in the form of rarer or more desirable examples. Thus, we’ve put together a bit of an update on Pontiac GTO pricing from all five of the car’s generations, giving fans a more accurate idea of what they can expect to pay for one in today’s market, based on the most recent valuations from Hagerty.
First Generation (1964-1967)
First up, we have the highly coveted first generation Pontiac GTO, which was produced from the 1964 to the 1967 model years. These early models could be had in convertible, hard top, or coupe form, with either a 389 or 400 cubic-inch V8 and both manual and automatic transmission options. Values of these early cars aren’t actually too terrible, and typically range from $37,000 to around $67,000. Those looking for a project can potentially even score one for less than $20k, while nicely restored examples go for $70k or more.
Second Generation (1968-1972)
Moving on to the second-generation Pontiac GTO, GM transitioned to a curvier exterior design and added larger 400 and 455 cubic-inch V8 options, as well as a Ram Air III package and some impressive performance for the time. The Judge joined the lineup during this generation as well, and quickly became a coveted model among enthusiasts. These days, second-generation Pontiac GTO models go for a bit more money than their predecessors, with a wide range that starts out at around $38,000 for a nice example, all the way up to $136,000 or so for a nicely restored Judge.
Third Generation (1973)
With sales tapering off and a fuel crisis killing muscle cars and sports cars left and right, the Pontiac GTO entered 1973 in a bit of a strange situation, becoming an option package for the LeMans that could still be had with big 400 and 455 V8s, albeit, with far less power – 230 horsepower and 250 horsepower, in fact. Regardless, these cars are quite rare in today’s market, and as a result, sell for a pretty solid $22,000-$36,000 today.
Fourth Generation (1974)
The same is somewhat true of the fourth-generation 1974 GTO, which was an option for the Pontiac Ventura – the Chevy Nova’s twin – and was aimed at the European sports car market. Its 350 V8 also left a lot to be desired in terms of performance, churning out just 200 horsepower, but sadly, the GTO was discontinued following this model year, only to resurface decades later. Today, a 1974 GTO in nice condition can be had for anywhere between $18,000-$34,000.
Fifth Generation (2004-2006)
Finally, we have a favorite of ours here at LS1Tech – the fifth-generation Pontiac GTO of 2004-2006, which as most already know is based on the Australian Holden Monaro. The coupe was a bit pricey for its time when sold new, but thanks to its LS1 powerplant and available manual gearbox, the last-gen GTO quickly endeared itself to enthusiasts and remains a beloved model to this day. However, values are still relatively low, as you can still find solid examples for around $20k – a pretty solid deal in today’s world, for certain.
Photos: Hemmings
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