The 1966 gto was slightly bigger than the 19641965 gto. A brief history of pontiac performance from mid 1950s to 1960. Gran turismo omologato, is what it stood for, inspired by the ferrari 250 gto, the first muscle car is what it was a 389cid v8 stuffed into a re sized tempest body is how it was made. This included 26,922 tempests 84,590 customs, 104,116 lemanses and 72,287 gtos of which 6,833 were judges. Auction results and sales data for 1970 pontiac gto.
The complete book of pontiac gto gives you a yearbyyear, modelbymodel exploration of the worlds first muscle car, all in full color photography, most of which has never been published. Credit for convincing gms top brass to let the gto exist, which may have met the letter of the law but not the spirit, goes to pontiac general manager elliot pete estes. This goat might be a bit rough, but its all original and still owned by the original owner. Given the death knell of pontiac, the remembrances and stories of those times brought to. A new history of the world, 18501960 01 by dan jones, marina amaral isbn. The engine is a fresh 455 cubic inch, the transmission a 4 gear manual, the orange paint is nice, disc. In the early 1960s, pontiac was remaking its image and needed a bold, sporty. At any rate, the 250 gto ranks among the best sports racing cars ever built. What kind of car in the late 70ies had the lowest fuel consumption. Also, a total of 96,946 pontiac gto units were sold in 1966.
In 1964, a group of passionate and slightly rebellious men at general motors pontiac motor division led by john z. Sales were both strong and consistent, starting at about 396,000 for 1960 and reaching near half a million by 65. What kind of auto related to a series of sports, youth brands. The pontiac gto judge was actually an option package that consisted of a new 400 ci v8 with a ram air intake. The model year 1966 was of great significance for the pontiac gto. This included 26,922 tempests 84,590 customs, 104,116 lemanses and 72,287 gto s of which 6,833 were judges. That is a description of the history of cars pontiac history of pontiacpedigree of the worl. According to gto collector and restorer randy cooper, who has owned three 1964 gtos and two 1966 models, the post and hardtop cars feel the same from behind the wheel, but the post cars are a little lighter.
Gm created pontiac in 1926, naming it after a local indian chief who led a failed rebellion against the british. It was a sign that the golden era of the muscle car was officially over and the gto would soon be put out to pasture. The pontiac gto is an automobile that was manufactured by american automobile manufacturer pontiac from the 1964 to 1974 model years, and by gms subsidiary holden in australia from the 2004 to 2006 model years. The gto was the cornerstone of pontiac performance. Thatcher fire up this genially narrated history of the early 1960s. Pontiac was building some of the bestlooking, besthandling standard cars in all of 60s detroit. For 1972, the gto was back to being an option package not a separate model. At 70, the owner just cant take on a restoration, so they want to find a new home for it. Jul 01, 2017 the gto made its debut as a 1964 model when a fourbarrel 389cubicinch v8 engine was tucked under the hood of a pontiac tempest, carselling website says in a history of the gto. Sales of the 1972 gto were pretty dismal at only 5,807 units. Owner john romano took serious steps to protect the car. Fairfield, ca 94533 631 miles from you 1970 pontiac gto. Pontiac began the decade with facelifted versions of the successful wide track 59s, bearing high twin.
In 1968, the pontiac gtos overall length and wheelbase were shortened and a new styling theme gave it a marked resemblance to the smaller pontiac firebird. This is the highest ever recorded for any true muscle car. The companys first car was an inexpensive sixcylinder companion to gm s more expensive oakland brand. Get the inside story of the long and distinguished history of pontiacs gto on the streets and race tracks of america as statham traces the evolution of the gto from 196474 through all models, including the tripowers, ram air models, royal bobcats, the judge and more. A collection of three diecast 1960s pontiac gto cars. This 1970 gto ram air iv received a full frameoff professional concourslevel restoration, retaining its original numbers matc more. Opgi carries thousands of classic gm restoration parts and accessories offered in 14 free catalogs. It is very technical and has lots of illustrations and the oem part numbers and points out the differences by year. Bring the history, equipment, and options of the 19641967 pontiac gto into sharp. Pontiac s great one is jampacked with information, but as with any great automotive story its the people who make the legend of the gto that much more special.
In 1964, pontiac designers debuted the gto, a worldbeating package of options for the pontiac tempest, in an attempt to appeal to younger buyers and sell vehicles. Tempest production sagged noticeably to 287,915 units in 1969. Gto production for 1965, more than doubled over 1964 figures, 75,352 was the final tally. The first generation of the gto was a muscle car produced in the 1960s and the 1970s. For 1970, the gto retained the same basic shape and endura nose, but reverted to exposed. In 1969, probably the most famous version of gto in its entire history was launched. Delorean built a car that not only launched an entirely new market, but also started an automotive revolution.
Pontiac gto restoration guide, 19641972 by paul zazarine. Its powered by its original 400 v8 and 4 speed transmission. The first pontiac car made its debut in 1926, but the pontiac divisions history actually dates back to 1893, when edward m. The first generation of the gto was the first muscle car produced in the 1960s and the 1970s. This assemblage features a teal 1969 gto produced by ertl, with a detailed engine bay, black interior and steerable front wheels. After two successful years as a performance option for the pontiac tempest, the gto was finally released as a separate model series. From the chief of the sixes and silver streaks to the famed gto, firebird and trans am, this allnew fullcolor reference chronicles the rich 75year history of pontiac from its introduction in 1926 through the 2000 aztek. Pontiacs great one is jampacked with information, but as with any great automotive story its the people who make the legend of the gto that much more special. Books include gto restoration guide and glory days, how to restore your musclecar, 19671969 camaro exposed, barracudachallenger, gto history 19641967, and pontiacs greatest decade 19591969. Gto, lemans, tempest, grand prix, bonneville, catalina. Research, compare and save listings, or contact sellers directly from 1 1968 gto models nationwide. In the fall of 1960, pontiac expanded the bottom of their line with a compact model called the tempest which would ultimately become the platform the gto.
Phs documentation real gto 242 vin v8 engine 4 speed manual transmi. The gto made its debut as a 1964 model when a fourbarrel 389cubicinch v8 engine was tucked under the hood of a pontiac tempest, carselling website says in a history of the gto. May 03, 2020 in 1969, probably the most famous version of gto in its entire history was launched. Read about the 1964 pontiac gto and view a great photo in this article. Join millions of people using oodle to find unique used cars for sale, certified preowned car listings, and new car classifieds. History of the 19681972 pontiac gto a restyled cokebottle body, available with optional hideaway headlights and a cappedup front with an energyabsorbing endura bumper, made big gto news in 1968.
Shop millions of cars from over 21,000 dealers and find the perfect car. Spinning its headlights to the vertical made the lemans gto conform to other pontiacs while other automotive companies struggled to release muscle cars gto was getting a super star following boosting pontiacs sales to solidify its 3rd place ranking. Find 1960 pontiac catalinas for sale on oodle classifieds. The gto in 1966 became its own model no longer an option package on the tempestlemans. In actuality, each gto was handbuilt, and many variations exist from car to car. The redorange 1969 gto has a small decal near the front which. Happy pinning see more ideas about pontiac gto, gto and muscle cars. It was a car that created the muscle car segment and hit a bullseye with the wants and needs of the emerging youth performance car market back in the 1960s. The 1972 gto was now officially a pontiac lemans with the gto package.
According to chris harvey, author of 250 gto super profile. See more ideas about classic cars, pontiac gto and pontiac cars. Nearly any teen with a job could afford that first gto, which stole its name from a limitedproduction ferrari race car. Given the death knell of pontiac, the remembrances and stories of those times brought to life by holmstrom are especially poignant. The problems with gto sales were the rising sticker price of a gto, higher insurance costs, and competition from its pontiac brother the firebird. Hagertys monthly market rating a numerical rating that reports the status of. Gauge how the classic car market is performing overall. The under25 set at which the pontiac gto and its ilk were aimed could no longer afford them. More info damascus, or 97089 178 miles from you 1968 pontiac gto.
Learn if popular market sectors are slowing down, heating up or verging on a bubble with these industryleading indicators. Today, it represents the division of the american company under the name of general motors. Murphy established the pontiac buggy company in pontiac, michigan. When pontiac created the original muscle carthe gto it reshaped the automotive world like a fourinch piston going through a threeinch cylinder bore. Wedding that massive v8 to a midsize gm chassis created one of the fastest production cars of. The pontiac gto, as introduced in the 1964 model year, was actually an option on the tempest lemans. Delorean bolted a 389cubicinch gto engine into a prototype tempest coupe through the final gto rendition in 2006. A groundbreaking fusion of art and history, the colour of time is the first book to introduce the work of celebrated brazilian artist marina amaral. Apr 18, 2006 hot rod magazine tested a 1967 ram air gto with turbohydramatic and 3. It is fully specializes in the production of sports cars. Apr 18, 2016 this is a board of pontiac gto pictures.
When the 1970 model year rolled along it was becoming clear that the gto was beginning to lose its sales momentum. The 1964 pontiac gto has been called the pioneer of muscle cars. Books include gto restoration guide and glory days, how to restore your musclecar, 19671969 camaro exposed, barracudachallenger, gto history 19641967, and pontiac s greatest decade 19591969. The original muscle car follows the rise of this iconic vehicle from the day in 1963 when chief engineer john z. Fast and furious star michelle rodriguez takes the wheel of a 1968 pontiac gto, which has been in the same family for nearly 50 years. The pontiac gto is an automobile that was manufactured by american automobile manufacturer pontiac from the 1964 to 1974 model years, and by gms subsidiary holden in australia from the 2004 to 2006 model years the first generation of the gto was the first muscle car produced in the 1960s and the 1970s. This is the third in hennessys wonderfully insightful series of books that make up a portrait of a. This italian phrase means homologated for racing in the gt class.
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