Cars » Austin Blodgett's Amazing 1968 GTO Tribute

A Tribute to Pontiac, Family, and Butler Performance

Before I joined the military, my father and I bought this car as a final project together, before I set off on my own path. We didn’t get too far into the build before I was off to basic training. My dad would send me letters saying he’d have it ready for the car shows that next summer. I thought it was just wishful thinking, until I came home from my second deployment and he already had it painted and ready for car shows.

Fast-forward a few years and a couple more deployments, and we made a trade; his GTO tribute car for my classic. This trade was more than just keys changing hands, it was a sign of trust and legacy between my father and I. But there was one condition- he wanted to keep the drivetrain.

I got to work, and after a handful of mistakes, I finally ended up replacing the 200 hp worn out 400, and personally built a fuel injected, forged 461 stroker (ram air IV block) with 13 heads packed with nothing but the best from Butler. I wanted the car to not only live up to his legacy but to carry it forward. With the help of Butler Performance I turned a rolling shell into a Pontiac and family tribute, something worthy of the bond my father and I forged underneath cars over decades.

After my fifth deployment, we finally rode together again, just like we did when I was a kid.

Huge thanks to Butler Performance for making this more than a build. This car isn’t just a tribute to Pontiac, it’s a tribute to family, persistence, legacy, and the power of shared passion.