Delaware Dealer Keeps 1970 Pontiac GTO Hardtop Coupe, Refuses To Sell for Just $47,000

Pontiac produced the second-generation GTO between 1968 and 1972, and in terms of design, things got bolder towards the end of their run, especially once the 1970 model year car was introduced. That’s when the carmaker ditched the hidden headlights in favor of more exposed units and a narrower grille.

In terms of mechanical upgrades, the rear suspension gained an anti-roll bar (the same one used on the Oldsmobile 442 and Buick Gran Sport), while the front anti-roll bar got stiffer. This resulted in less body lean while cornering, as well as a slight reduction in understeering.

Now, what we have here is a stunning 1970 GTO Hardtop Coupe model, refurbished within an inch of its life back in 2008. The car looks mint, and you can tell just how much time and money went into this project. That said, this GTO failed to sell at auction recently, when its owner (a dealership out of Delaware) refused $47,000, deciding to keep the car instead.

Usually, I try not to pass judgement this quickly (no pun intended), but $47k for such a nice spec can seem a bit short of what it might fetch during different circumstances. We don’t know what the reserve was, but if I had to guess, I’d say $50-55k. Whether or not it will fetch more than $47k is a different story, considering today’s market.

Let’s run through the specs quickly, starting with the exterior. Here, highlights include the Cardinal Red paint, Judge-style graphics, a color-keyed Endura front bumper, Ram Air hood (with a hood-mounted tachometer), a rear wing, quad exhausts, plus a set of 15” Rally II wheels with BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires. This classic muscle car also comes with power steering and power-assisted front discs.

Meanwhile, the interior features red vinyl seats, faux woodgrain trim, a padded dashboard, AM radio, air conditioning, and a three-spoke steering wheel.

As for what’s going on underneath that beautiful hood, that’s where you’ll find the 400 ci V8 unit, featuring a four-barrel carburetor and a Ram Air induction setup. The power is sent to the rear wheels via a three-speed Turbo Hyra-Matic automatic transmission and a limited-slip differential.

How much is this really worth?

While the Judge decals are nice, this GTO wasn’t equipped with the Judge package from the factory. If this was a real Judge, the asking price would have reflected that reality in spades.

Case in point, this 1969 GTO Judge in Carousel Red. Its owner said “no, thanks” to $78,000. So yeah, whole different ballgame.