Photo: eBay seller paradiselane1975
The 455 HO was the icing on the GTO cake in 1972, with the engine producing 300 horsepower (this was the net rating, as Pontiac now aligned with the new requirements in the United States for engine output).
A GTO 455 HO is rare (not to mention the post coupe), so seeing an example rotting away in a yard is incredibly frustrating.
It's what happens with the 1972 GTO in these photos, with the car now struggling with massive rust and missing parts. However, it still believes its place is on the road, with the owner claiming the GTO is fully restorable.
Let's see what this GTO is all about before you submit a bid.
The first thing everybody must know is that the 455 HO muscle is just a distant memory. The engine and the transmission are missing, so if you get this GTO, you'll have to bring your own drivetrain. It's a shame that you're not getting anything under the hood, but if you want to see the glass half-full, the lack of a powertrain makes this GTO more affordable. The owner says the GTO rolled off the assembly lines with a manual transmission.
If you wonder why the GTO looks so bad, the answer comes down to two reasons. First, the rust invasion has made the obvious victims, so the car looks rough in almost every regard. You'll spend a lot of time dealing with the metal issues, though I must admit I'm still impressed with the somewhat solid body.
The second reason is a gas tank fire that burned down the car and produced massive damage. The rear is very rough, and almost the entire cabin is burned, so it's safe to assume it needs a complete refresh.
It's not an easy project, but considering you don't see a 1972 Pontiac GTO 455 HO daily, I'm not surprised many people still check it on eBay. I'm not sure my numbers are correct, so take them with a healthy pinch of salt, but I believe Pontiac produced approximately 645 GTOs with a 455 HO engine under the hood in 1972. Most of them – about 635 – were hardtops, with the production almost evenly divided between manual and automatic.
eBay seller paradiselane1975 posted the GTO on eBay as part of a no-reserve auction, meaning the car needs a single bid to leave for a new home. Someone already made an offer, and if nobody else joins the digital fight, the GTO will go for $4,500. I'm certain the battle will get fiercer as the burned GTO gets more exposure, but meanwhile, you can see the car in person in Rapid City, South Dakota. The auction will end in approximately six days.
It's what happens with the 1972 GTO in these photos, with the car now struggling with massive rust and missing parts. However, it still believes its place is on the road, with the owner claiming the GTO is fully restorable.
Let's see what this GTO is all about before you submit a bid.
The first thing everybody must know is that the 455 HO muscle is just a distant memory. The engine and the transmission are missing, so if you get this GTO, you'll have to bring your own drivetrain. It's a shame that you're not getting anything under the hood, but if you want to see the glass half-full, the lack of a powertrain makes this GTO more affordable. The owner says the GTO rolled off the assembly lines with a manual transmission.
If you wonder why the GTO looks so bad, the answer comes down to two reasons. First, the rust invasion has made the obvious victims, so the car looks rough in almost every regard. You'll spend a lot of time dealing with the metal issues, though I must admit I'm still impressed with the somewhat solid body.
The second reason is a gas tank fire that burned down the car and produced massive damage. The rear is very rough, and almost the entire cabin is burned, so it's safe to assume it needs a complete refresh.
It's not an easy project, but considering you don't see a 1972 Pontiac GTO 455 HO daily, I'm not surprised many people still check it on eBay. I'm not sure my numbers are correct, so take them with a healthy pinch of salt, but I believe Pontiac produced approximately 645 GTOs with a 455 HO engine under the hood in 1972. Most of them – about 635 – were hardtops, with the production almost evenly divided between manual and automatic.
eBay seller paradiselane1975 posted the GTO on eBay as part of a no-reserve auction, meaning the car needs a single bid to leave for a new home. Someone already made an offer, and if nobody else joins the digital fight, the GTO will go for $4,500. I'm certain the battle will get fiercer as the burned GTO gets more exposure, but meanwhile, you can see the car in person in Rapid City, South Dakota. The auction will end in approximately six days.
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