[68gtoMN]

Ok Guys, I am in correspondence with a gentleman who is very insistent that the 1968 GTO he purchased from the original owner came equipped with a 1969 endura from the factory. He claims that since it's a late build car, that is explanation enough - see snipet from email exchange below:

The original owner claims he never changed the front bumper and when I got the car it had the original paint. I believe him as the car was never in an accident. Actually this car has been in storage mostly since about 1975.

The date code on one head is E178. I would bet this car was ordered around the 3rd week of June and built later.

May 17 1968 casting date does not support this theory. He has no way to back up his claims of original paint on endura either. I have never heard of such an instance in the 33+ years I have owned a 1968 GTO and been in the hobby. With nearly 88,000 GTOs built in '68 and with the thousands of replacement parts built for repairs, I can't imagine a scenario where this would have been possible.

Anyone have information to the contrary that would support such a claim?