My 70 GTO Convertible barn find
 

Brought this home today. Original unmolested White/White/ Saddle?? Buckets, column shift, tilt, A/C, power top, power brakes, power steering. Not running. Came with extra drivers side fender, deck lid,4 original rally IIs and 3 NOS wheel well moldings. Going to need quarters and trunk floor but otherwise solid.

Looks like a good project GTO.

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Nice find, good luck with your project. Marc.

Very cool car, what's the plan?

I like it, and I would like them rear wheels if you are getting rid of them

Looks like a viable project. Interesting that it came with column shift and bucket seats. Be sure to inspect the frame closely as the convertible boxed frames tend to rust from the inside out in the rust belt states. It's hard to tell how far gone the quarters are... I'd recommend salvaging the original quarter panels with patch panels if at all possible. Convertible quarters are slightly different than the hardtop quarters and are not reproduced. NOS quarters for convertibles are made of unobtainium.

Nice score!

Looks like Dark Saddle interior to me, like my 70 GTO. If you are going to repaint any interior panels, let me know. I'm having a SEM custom Color Coat mixed up, since the color that supposedly matched my code was a little off. Should be able to save you the $25 mixing fee.

Mine will match the correct Legendary seat covers and interior panels.

Cool Car !
Congratulations on the new ownership :)

I think that is sandalwood (all be it dirty) because iirc saddle was not offered on ragtops.

It's saddle for sure.
Brown was the Non-Convertible color
But i like it better than saddle.

There is a 70 RamAir4 4spd Judge Convertible OrbitOrange with Saddle interior
...and a Gold Top.

I forgot there was a 7th color in 70. So Sandalwood (which was the lightest color available that year) and a little more golden Saddle used the same color dash (sort of beige?) while Brown (hardtop only) was a chocolate type color?

Good point...forgot that 253 (Brown) was not offered on convertibles for 1970. If that's Sandlewood, it's pretty dirty.

For reference, here's my interior before restoration.

https://cdn.dealeraccelerate.com/str...70-pontiac-gto

1970 brown and saddle are like 1969 gold in that most of the repop interior covers and panels and all of the repop paint sprays are so wrong its hard to know what is right without seeing good original interiors

All 3 used a different color dashpad
Chocolate best describes dash/console on Brown - like you said

Here are a Saddle and a Sandalwood to compare
The door panels and carpet tones are best place to look on old/weathered interiors when trying to gauge the color at a glance between Saddle and Sandal

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1610049822
https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1610049822

Some pieces in Courter's interior could pass for 2 or 3 of the shades - looking at the picture with poor lighting.
Seats could pass for sandal or saddle
Door Panels look saddle
The dash could pass for saddle or brown
Carpet could pass for saddle or brown
Pillar posts look like brown

I just went with saddle since brown wasn't supposed to be available.

Yours is Brown , Right ?
Not Saddle

Trim code 255 so saddle it is. Also discovered today that it has power drivers seat. Got the engine started today. Actually runs pretty good. Changed oil and filter. Carb is incorrect as it is a 68. Has Posi so I'm assuming 3:23 gears. Ordered PHS so we will see. I think the A/C may even work????? My wife's cat jumped up on the top and promptly fell through. Was not hurt. Have not tried the power top yet.

Steve, what plant built it? When was it built? Original radiator?

Yes...253 (Brown). Everybody seems to call it something different...Legendary says burnished dark saddle (matched), PUI, OPGI and Ames say dark saddle (did not match) and needed a SEM custom mix.

Like my 70 gto with code 255,,,,the interior is a mix of saddle and dark saddle.

I like that Brown / Dark Saddle / Chocolate interior , you don't see them often either.
It would have been killer in 69 with Expresso Brown exterior.

What color is your exterior going to be ?

A link to the 70 Colors and Interiors booklet

http://www.gt-37.org/gallery/index.php?/category/67

It notes on the first page that all interior colors were fully color matched except Sandalwood which used "dark Sandalwood" carpet, dash etc

I knew a 70 GTO around here that had the brown interior with Burgundy exterior, sharp rich looking combo.

Staying stock...so Granada Gold with 253 Brown.

I really like it/odd colors, although I am aware that in 1970 'Gold' was a popular color. Really like the Brown interior also and seems that Saddle/Dark Saddle is becoming a popular choice for custom interiors on restomods these days.

The body should be going in the booth soon, so will post up pics when able.

HFR Built in Baltimore production date12B Yes I believe it is the original radiator. Have not checked it thoroughly yet. Tried the top and it moved. Didn't want to go too far with it. Verified the the engine is the original.

update
 

Making great progress. Should be paint ready early this summer. Original engine has been rebuilt and awaits paint. Transmission is next. Legendary interior kit is in house after 8 month wait. Knew it as going to be an issue so ordered early.

What did the PHS show? Locate a build sheet?

Looking good; save the original quarters?

I did not find a build sheet. PHS says NO posi. Yes, I was able to repair the quarters with some reproduction sections.
Making good progress for someone who turned 70 last fall!!

I did find a nice build sheet. It was behind the drivers seat back. Motor is painted, transmission rebuilt with some mild upgrades and both are back in place in the car. Starting to get things reinstalled so motor can be started. Those are the original valve covers. They cleaned up real nice!! Body work is complete and ready for paint.

You’ll have it back on the road in no time. Looking forward to pics of the new Legendary interior

impressive job so far what color will you paint it ?

Lots of progress from the starting point, looking good.

Wow! You made quick work of this project. Car is looking good, can't wait to see it painted.

Maybe I missed it earlier about the engine paint color. Is that correct rather than the robin blue or whatever color it's referred to? My 72 I painted the other blue because I thought that was correct, but I like the earlier silver blue like yours instead.

Got everything in the engine bay installed/buttoned up. Completed my exhaust system. Started the motor for the first time and broke in the cam. Everything went well and I am glad to have that behind me!! Installed sound deadener on floor. Need to get some paint ordered and get painting scheduled. Been working on my LS1 powered 69 El Camino sorting out some suspension issues so the GTO has been neglected some.

Well, it took longer than I expected to get it into my painters schedule but it is finally painted. Came out great!! Sanding and buffing is next. Sending the front buckets out to have upholstery installed next week.

From Barn to Beauty Queen :)

Looking great Steve!

Dennis

Excellent!

You must be really happy to see that.

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...4&d=1647830328
Nice find and in good shape. Makes more sense to be behind the seat back than on top of a gas tank really.

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...9&d=1665013791
Looking great!

very nice

couple pictures of it sitting out in the sun.

Question?
 

Did you have to replace the windshield header?

MJZ If you are talking about the front header assembly for the convertible top frame, yes I did have to replace it. It was rusted bad1!

I’ve been putting it off for a couple of years. It just seems it will be a major pain in the butt to repair, was it?

Carpet and front seats installed. The power drivers seat was not fun!!!

Its really looking great.
Congrats on the results

Staying with a White Top ?
That will look Sharp

Damn, that's a nice one.

I'm liking the saddle more and more. Pictures don't do it justice. Yes staying with white top as original.

Finished installing the interior with the exception of window cranks. New ones on the way. Am pleased with how it turned out. Again pictures don't do it justice.
GTO door badges are installed just not in these pictures. Here is rear quarter shot. Spent a few hours getting rear bumper to where I am happy with it

Beautiful.. I would hope you're happy!! Nice job!