1968 Pontiac GTO

General Motors redesigned its A-body line for 1968, with a lot of busty, semi-fastback styling. 

The distance was shortened to 112.0 in (2,845 mm) on all two-door models. Overall length was reduced five.9 inches (150 mm) and height born [*fr1] an in. (12 mm), however overall weight was up concerning seventy five avoirdupois unit (34 kg). Pontiac abandoned the acquainted vertically stacked headlights in favor of a horizontal layout, however created hidden headlights accessible at further price. The hid headlights were a well-liked choice. The signature hood scoop was replaced by twin scoops on either facet of a outstanding hood bulge extending rearward from the jutting nose.

A unique feature was the body-color Endura front bumper. 

It had been designed to soak up impact while not permanent deformation at low speeds. Pontiac touted this feature heavily in advertising, showing blow at the bumper to no discernible impact.[13] although a rare choice, a GTO may well be ordered with "Endura delete", during which case the Endura bumper would get replaced by a chrome front bumper and grille from the Pontiac LE Mans.

Powertrain choices remained considerably constant as in 1967, however the quality GTO engine's power rating rose to 350 HP (260 kW) at five,000 rpm. At mid-year, a replacement Ram Air package, called Ram Air II, became accessible. It enclosed freer-breathing cylinder heads, spherical port exhaust and also the 041 cam. The 'official' power rating wasn't modified. Another carry-over from 1967 was the four-piston caliper hydraulic brakes choice. whereas most 1968 models had drum brakes all around, this rarely ordered choice provided larger stopping power. The 1968 model year was conjointly the last year the GTOs offered separate crank operated front entrance vents.

Another feature was hid screen wipers, hidden below the rear fringe of the hood. 

They conferred a cleaner look and were a North yankee initial, following British Leyland's earlier debut on capital of Texas and Triumph models. Another common choice, truly introduced throughout the 1967 model year, was a hood-mounted measuring device, situated before of the screen and lit for visibility at nighttime. Associate in Nursing in-dash measuring device was conjointly accessible.

Redline bias-ply tires continued  as normal instrumentality on the 1968 GTO, although they might get replaced by whitewall tires at no further price. a replacement choice was radial tires for improved ride and handling. However, only a few were delivered with the radial tires as a result of producing issues encountered by provider B.F. Goodrich. The radial choice was out of print once 1968. Pontiac failed to provide radial tires as a mill choice on the GTO once more till the 1974 model.

Hot Rod tested a four-speed GTO equipped with the quality engine and obtained 1 / 4 mile reading of fourteen.7 seconds at ninety seven mph (156 km/h) in pure stock type. Motor Trend clocked a four-speed Ram Air with four.33 rear differential at fourteen.45 seconds at ninety eight.2 mph (158.0 km/h) and a regular GTO with Turbo-Hydramatic and a three.23 rear shaft magnitude relation at fifteen.93 seconds at eighty eight.3 mph (142.1 km/h). Testers were split concerning handling, with Hot Rod job it "the best-balanced automotive [Pontiac] ever designed," however automotive Life chided its excessive nose heaviness, understeer, and inadequate damping.

Royal Pontiac, situated in Royal Oak, Michigan, offered a 428/Royal Lynx rufus conversion of the 1968 GTO. For $650.00. a 390-horsepower 428 displacement unit engine was put in in situ of the four hundred. The 428 CI engine was disassembled and blueprinted to supply quite the publicised mill 390 HP and simply spinning to 5700 revolutions per minute. automotive and Driver road tested the 428 CI hopped-up automotive with the Turbo-Hydramatic transmission and three.55 gears. It might do 0–60 MPH in five.2 seconds, 0–100 in twelve.9 seconds, and also the 1/4 mile in thirteen.8 seconds @ 104 MPH. This compared to a automotive Life trial of a four hundred CI hopped-up GTO with a Ram Air engine, four-speed transmission, and 3.90 gear that did 0–60 in six.6 seconds, 0–100 in fourteen.6 seconds, and also the 1/4 mile in fourteen.53 @ 99.7 MPH. automotive and Driver wrote that the 428 CI hopped-up automotive was "a fine, exciting automotive for either moving or tooting around in traffic. Not to a fault fussy. Not tough to drive–-up to some extent. an excessive amount of throttle at the incorrect time can spin the automotive, or send it rocketing off the road and into the farmer's field. you'll remove darkness from the car's tires love it was Associate in Nursing AA-fueler anytime the notion seizes your fancy." On the opposite hand, in keeping with automotive Life, the Ram Air hopped-up automotive "likes to run between 3000 and 6000 revolutions per minute. Below 3000, the GTO ran flat and slightly rough. Part-throttle driving at 2000 revolutions per minute around city was tough and unsightly. expressway cruising at 4000 revolutions per minute is something however pleasant and guarantees short life for exhausting operating engine parts. Also, driving the GTO on wet roads with this deep intermeshed shaft was thrilling. Rear tire breakaway may well be aggravated by a small jab at the accelerator, causing the automotive into a minor skid that sometimes worn-out quite one lane of house."

Like all 1968 traveler vehicles oversubscribed within the us, GTOs currently featured front outboard shoulder belts (cars designed once January one, 1968) and facet marker lights. To befits the new 1968 federal vehicle emissions standards, the GTO was currently equipped with emissions controls.

Now facing competition each among weight unit and from Ford, Dodge, and Plymouth—particularly the low-priced Plymouth Road Runner—the GTO won the Motor Trend automotive of the Year Award. Sales reached eighty seven,684 units, which might ultimately influence be the best sales year for the GTO.

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