Restoring A 1-of-751 '67 Ram Air GTO

Subtle advances in technology didn't end with the engine, as the worn clutch was swapped for a Centerforce unit. The factory M21 trans was rebuilt by Ace Crankshaft. To ensure a positive experience when slamming gears, Pete Serio of Precision Pontiac restored the original Hurst shifter and rechromed the stick.

Though incorrect by factory standards, Joe chose to install a 3.55:1 Safe-T-Track rear since he plans on plenty of highway cruising. While the drivetrain was being rebuilt, restoration of the chassis and sheetmetal were underway as well.

With the body separated from the frame at Pro 1 Restoration, the latter was stripped and treated to powdercoating with an eye toward longevity. All the suspension-wear items were replaced with stock components, right down to retaining rubber bushings. Custom Eaton springs set the GTO's ride height 1 inch higher than stock, and the four-wheel, 9.5-inch drum braking system was rebuilt. Factory colors and textures were re-created on the undercarriage as this GTO was to be concours judged.

Spending its whole life in the Northeast, winter weather and road salt had taken their toll on the steel body of the potent Poncho. Therefore, body repairs were extensive, and all were performed by first-rate metal fabricator Umberto Torres at Pro 1.

The metal was stripped to bare, and both rear quarters received new skins, with the same treatment afforded the outer wheelhouses. On the driver side, the inner wheelhouse was hand-fabricated. The taillight panel and the filler panel between the rear window and the decklid were cut out and replaced with new metal. Patches were required on the front fender heels, and fresh inner and outer rockers were welded in on both sides, with the former custom made. Inside, all the floors were replaced, including the trunk floor and its braces.

Once the welding sparks stopped flying, the welds were ground smooth and filled, the rest of the body was straightened, and tons of blocksanding on PPG K38 primer was performed, it was finally time for paint.

With a coat of PPG sealer laid down, six coats of PPG single-stage urethane paint were applied in the factory hue of Regimental Red. When dried, the finish was wetsanded with 1,000-grit and 1,500-grit paper and then polished to a mirror shine.

The bumpers, though near perfect to begin with by Joe's admission, were rechromed, and the bright trim that was retained was polished. Lower fender and quarter-trim is new, and the vinyl roof is from Ames.

Raising the standard of the interior to that of the now-fresh body, chassis, and drivetrain, Pro 1 restored the cabin of the GTO in black Morrokide, using upholstery, door panels, and carpeting from Performance Years. While the pad and the cluster are original, a rechromed bezel was purchased from Barry Martin of Michigan.