You’ve seen it in the movies, maybe parked at a local diner on a Saturday morning, or gleaming under the harsh lights of a Barrett-Jackson auction. The 67 Pontiac GTO convertible isn't just another old car. It's the "Goat." For a lot of people, this specific year represents the absolute peak of the muscle car era—the sweet spot where raw power finally met a bit of sophisticated engineering.
Back in the mid-sixties, Pontiac was basically the "rebel" child of General Motors. They were the ones stuffing massive engines into mid-sized cars when they weren't supposed to. By 1967, they weren't just experimenting anymore. They had perfected the formula. If you’re lucky enough to find one of these with the top down today, you’re looking at a piece of history that still manages to out-cool almost anything on the road.
The Heart of the Beast: Moving from 389 to 400
Most people remember the GTO for the 389 Tri-Power, but 1967 was a year of massive transition. GM actually banned multiple carburetors on everything except the Corvette that year. Basically, the famous "Tri-Power" setup was dead. But Pontiac didn't just give up. They bored out the 389 to create the legendary 400 cubic inch V8.
Honestly, it was a win for drivers. The new engine was more reliable and, in many ways, more driveable. The standard 400 delivered a solid 335 horsepower. If you really wanted to scare yourself, you went for the High Output (HO) version or the Ram Air package, which were both rated at 360 horsepower. These numbers were arguably underrated to keep insurance companies from losing their minds.
👉 See also: Desi Bazar Desi Kitchen: Why Your Local Grocer is Actually the Best Place to Eat
What’s under that hood?
- Standard Engine: 400 CID V8 with 335 hp (Single 4-barrel Rochester Quadrajet).
- Economy Option: A weird 2-barrel version that only made 255 hp—rare, because who bought a GTO to save gas?
- High Output (HO): 360 hp with a hotter cam and freer-flowing exhaust.
- Ram Air: The king of the mountain. It had functional hood scoops and was a beast on the drag strip.
Why the 67 Pontiac GTO Convertible is a Rare Breed
While Pontiac pumped out over 81,000 GTOs in 1967, only 9,517 were convertibles. That’s a tiny fraction. When you start looking for surviving examples that haven't been wrapped around a tree or lost to the "rust gods," the numbers get even smaller.
Finding an authentic one is the real challenge. You’ll see plenty of "tribute" cars—basically LeMans models with GTO badges slapped on. To know if you’re looking at a real 67 Pontiac GTO convertible, you have to check the VIN. A real GTO VIN from '67 starts with 24267. The "2" is Pontiac, "42" is the GTO series, and "67" signifies the 2-door convertible body style. If it starts with 23767, it’s a LeMans. Still a cool car, but not a GTO.
Real-World Driving: It’s Not Just About Straight Lines
Classic muscle cars usually handle like a shopping cart full of wet cement. But the '67 GTO was actually a bit of an outlier. This was the year Pontiac finally ditched the old-school two-speed automatic for the three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic 400. This was huge. It gave you better acceleration and a much better cruising experience on the highway.
✨ Don't miss: Deg f to deg c: Why We’re Still Doing Mental Math in 2026
Then there were the brakes. For the first time, you could order front disc brakes. If you've ever tried to stop 3,500 pounds of American steel using four-wheel drums, you know why this matters. It was the difference between a controlled stop and a "please let me stop before I hit that fence" moment.
Inside, the cabin was actually pretty plush. You had bucket seats (standard, mostly), a woodgrain-covered dash—though it was actually a vinyl applique, let's be honest—and that iconic Hurst shifter if you opted for the floor-mounted gears. The "Hurst Dual-Gate" shifter, or "His and Hers" shifter, let you leave it in Drive for a relaxed cruise or slide it into a separate gate for manual shifting. It was pure 60s theater.
What to Look for if You’re Buying One Now
If you’re scouring the market in 2026, be prepared for some sticker shock. These cars have become serious blue-chip investments. A clean, "Number 3" condition 67 Pontiac GTO convertible—meaning it looks great and drives well but isn't a museum piece—is currently hovering around $45,000 to $55,000. If you want a numbers-matching HO or Ram Air car in concours condition? You're looking at six figures, easy.
🔗 Read more: Defining Chic: Why It Is Not Just About the Clothes You Wear
Common "Gotchas" and Issues
Rust is the primary enemy here. Check the trunk floor and the rear quarter panels. These cars didn't have the best drainage, and water tends to sit in the bottom of the convertible top well. If the trunk looks like Swiss cheese, the rest of the car might be hiding some nasty secrets.
Also, watch out for "Franken-cars." Because these parts are interchangeable with Chevelles and Oldsmobile 442s of the same era, people have spent decades mixing and matching. Always ask for PHS (Pontiac Historical Services) documentation. It’s the only way to prove a car was born as a GTO and verify exactly which options it had when it left the factory.
The Actionable Roadmap for Enthusiasts
If you are serious about getting into a 67 Pontiac GTO convertible, don't just jump at the first shiny paint job you see on a Facebook Marketplace ad.
First, join a dedicated community like the GTO Association of America. The members there have seen every trick in the book and can help you vet a potential purchase. Second, invest in a PHS document search before you hand over any cash. It’s a small fee to ensure you aren't paying GTO prices for a LeMans clone.
Finally, if you already own one or just picked up a project, focus your restoration efforts on the mechanicals first. A GTO that stops and turns is worth infinitely more—and is way more fun—than a trailer queen with a perfect paint job and dead brakes. Keep the 400 V8 tuned, check those body mounts, and keep the top down as much as the weather allows. This car was meant to be seen, but more importantly, it was meant to be heard.