Two pristine Pontiacs that are now on Dennis Collins' YouTube Channel and also in his physical garage may make fans of GM's defunct division shed a tear or two.
A new Collins video shows how a 1970 GTO and 1979 Trans Am highlight the peak efforts of a once-mighty brand - it's a half-hour presentation involving a trip to Massachusetts to retrieve a pair of automotive time capsules.
A Rare Barn Find 1970 Pontiac GTO For Dennis Collins
Collins tempers his use of the "holy grail" label for the classic cars he encounters, but a look at the particulars for this 1970 GTO helps justify the characterization.
To begin with, Pontiac built less than 3,700 GTO convertibles for that model year.
Of those, only 174 came with the Ram Air III 400-cubic-inch engine (larger heads, high-flow exhaust manifolds, and an iron intake) - add in the car's full options list (including air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, and power top), unique color combination, and four-speed manual gearbox, and Collins is confident this is a one-of-one Pontiac GTO.
A Low-Mileage Barn Find 1979 Pontiac Trans Am
With just 5,511 miles on the clock and a perfect-looking exterior (we don't see much of what's inside), this 1979 Trans Am 10th Anniversary Edition is a textbook example of a time-capsule classic car.
Beneath the hood sits a 6.6-liter 403-cubic-inch V8 borrowed from Oldsmobile and paired with an automatic transmission - versions with the four-speed manual came with Pontiac's 400 V8.
Despite being off the road for a decade, the Trans Am starts and runs without issues.
Further adding to Collins' excitement is an extensive roster of options and a detailed notebook containing the car's original documentation, service records, and marketing materials.
A Pontiac Trans Am With Growing Appeal And Value
While the GTO is among the most memorable Pontiacs (and Collins remarks that the 1970 GTO is his favorite), many prime examples are now six-figure cars.
This has led collectors to less-expensive alternatives.
Collins mentions that the 1979 Trans Am 10th Anniversary Edition isn't the most expensive Pontiac but is increasing in popularity among collectors; the numbers bear this out.
A look at recently sold 1979 Trans Ams over on Bring a Trailer reveals a range from $20,000 to $45,000 - but in 10th Anniversary Edition form, the selling price skyrockets to as much as $84,000.
Source: YouTube/Dennis Collins, hagerty.com, hemmings.com