72 GTO 455HO project value
 

Hi. My buddy found this car while doing a job at the owners house. It has been sitting for a while and has rust. It is original and unmolested. It is a 455HO auto car. He.still has all 5 of the original KR wheels. The owner is getting up in age and is open to selling the car. I am trying to determine what the car may be worth as it sits. It obviously needs a restoration but will run and drive in its current state. All original engine parts are there. Sorry I only have a few pics. I am a F body guy and don't know these cars that well which is why I amooking for some input.

If its a WW5 car it is worth a fair amount more than otherwise. This car will cost more to restore than it will be worth so whoever buys it is buying it for the love.

I'd think something between $8k-$18k depending on buyer and whether it is WW5.

PHS will confirm WW5. From what is visible, I believe the WW5 options are shown. Check in dash tach/gauges, formula wheel, disc brakes

The value is as a parts car.

Engine, Wheels, Rearend, AC parts and dipstick, fenders, hood and frame if good.
Dash, gauges, seats and to a degree Cowl.

I say that only because it’s been stored badly and has the rust that costs a bunch to fix....

Don't like how this '72 has been stored, either, but also don't know how long it's been out in the elements, but sure dont see it as a "Partscar". Until a perspective buyer gets the car up on pavement & carefully jacks the car up, its going to be very hard to analyse what condition the floor pans, rockers, & the frame are in. Looking over the pics, the sheetmetal in the pics doesnt appear that bad, near all '71 & 72 endura cars, as projects are going to need metal work in the front of the hood. Lwr fenders, in the heel, very typical rust spot, not something that would scare me off, neither do rusty catwalks. What I don't like are total rotboxes.

Whether its a WW5 optioned car or a Y99 equipped 72 455 HO GTO with Sport mirrors, appears to be a good color numbers match '72 455 HO car. Those factors alone, in my opinion, are going to put it In the high teens (& I really don't like saddle interiors).

its sunk so deep its prob a parts car, they dont do good when the frame lays on the ground

Thanks for the replies. I plan on looking at it in person this weekend and getting a better look at the extent of rust damage.

Have to agree with Roger. I sure don’t see that being a parts car. The hood and fenders look better than most that you will find. Should bring good money if that’s the original engine.

A thorough inspection will tell the story, but if this car is in the Northeast and has been sitting outside long enough to sit that deep in the dirt, the odds are it's too rusty to restore without the buyer being way upside down. Even if bought for $7k. Plus it's an automatic.

Sundance Orange with Sandalwood, numbers 455 H.O. is a good find. Hope it hasn’t been sitting on the frame and that the rust is minimal. Would be a great one to save.

BJ

Sundance? Looks more like one of the golds to me:

http://ultimategto.com/72colors.htm

The OP asked about value. I see value in parts. But, I Love all round ports. I personally hope there’s someone out to save all round ports...

RPM.....Round Ports Matter :)

Hope I don't get in trouble for this.

I do sound like a activist....

On both of my IPads, the exterior color appears to be Canyon Copper, which is a very desirable '71 color. Possible thats the color & it was special ordered, be nice to see a pic of the trim tag. Interior is definitely Saddle. Sandalwood was a lighter '70 & '71 offering. The lighter beige interior offering for '72 was Covert, it's an odd color, even has a tinge of light green in it.

Agree car needs to be saved. Good color numbers matching roundport cars get restored in my shop, not cut up or stripped of parts. Sure the M40 sets this one back some in value over being an factory HO M22 car, but not everyone wants to row through the gears.

Interested to see how the inspection goes. Having hauled in & processed hundreds of partscars over the last 38 years, the condition of the lower body & the chassis is all going to come down to how long the car set there, & how sandy the soil is. Even the partial buried KR wheels may just have a mild pitting on their contact line not rust pocked bad. Have to look them over close.

Looks like Anaconda Gold to me. 72 color too. BTW: Canyon Copper is a great color.

I hope its not too bad. Looks complete and fairly straight. Awsome car!

Neat find.
Hope it gets restored.

That’s funny. I actually looked at the 72 colors on TUGTOPS before I posted. All the golds looked too dark to me.

All Ports Matter!

Canyon Copper was my first thought, but I OVERULD it because this is a 72...didn’t think about a special order paint. That would make this one pretty special!


Still think the golds are all too dark. Gotta be Canyon Copper or Sundance.

BJ

definitely not sundance. it is a gold color. a friend of mine from way back right out of high school days. got one of these and he still has it. he was a member on here a few years ago but I cant remember what his avatar name was. it is a dark gold with I guess a little orange tint to it. for all the money I cant remember the name but this is the color im thinking it is.

72 GTO 455HO project value
 

Roger, I think that is Canyon Copper. Here are the 1972 Gold Colors from TUGTOPS:

Quezal Gold

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...a2b61e45de.jpg

Shadow Gold

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...ae913915d5.jpg

Brasilia Gold

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...96fb5403e4.jpg

Anaconda Gold

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...b698155a06.jpg

Original Photos

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...bb3baeb572.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...9a967603a4.jpg

And Finally, Sundance Orange

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...535cc4b033.jpg

Now that I see all the colors together, I believe that it is either Canyon Copper from 1971 or it is Anaconda Gold from 1972. It almost looks like it could be the Anaconda Gold

The trim tag will tell the tale!

BJ


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