Pontiac GTO

What is a Pontiac GTO?

Introduced in 1964 as an option within the Tempest range, this intermediate bodied muscle car was powered by the largest engine Pontiac had to offer at the time a 389ci V8, which had powered many a race car to success in previous years on the NASCAR tracks. The GTO is generally credited as being the first in a long line of specialised manufacturers performance saloons heralding the start of the muscle car era. Available as a two-door hardtop coupe, Sports coupe or convertible and priced between $2751- $3500 the GTO was also the best selling muscle car of all time with 96,946 sold in 1966 alone.

History

The concept of the GTO, an abbreviation for Gran Turismo Omologato borrowed from Ferrari, was the brain child of Pontiac’s General Manager John Z. DeLorean (remember him?). He decided it would be an excellent idea to install a 389ci V8 into its Tempest Le Mans Sport Coupe and convertible. With uprated suspension, brakes, quick steering, floor shift, and lots of options such limited slip differential, heavy duty radiator, and metallic brake linings it was a real flyer and definitely appealed to the same young buyers that Ford targeted with the Mustang. If the Mustang had not been launched at the same time, then GTO sales would probably have gone on to reach an even higher zenith. With an excellent advertising campaign overseen by drag racing ad man Jim Wangler, the GTO was an instant hit with 32,450 cars sold in the first year which far exceeded expectations. The car seated five people in comfort and had a performance of 0-60mph of under 9.5 seconds with a top speed of 115mph.

With a steel unitary body construction, the GTO technical specification featured coil sprung suspension front and rear, drum brakes (front discs an option) and transmission options were either three or four-speed manual or three speed automatic. In 1966 the GTO became a model its own right and received a facelift with more flowing body styling. The very attractive frontal aspect incorporated the Pontiac trademark bisected full width front grille (first seen back in 1958 on the Bonneville) with twin stacked headlamps which arrived a year before in 1965. The car still sported the 389ci V8 engine though depending on carburation set-up offered 335- 360bhp, though a 400ci V8 became available in 1967 ‘economy’ rated at 255bhp or tuned to 360bhp with Ram Air package. Interiors sported vinyl covered bucket seats with wooden dashboards, power steering and air conditioning was an option and convertibles had power hoods.

In 1968 the third generation GTO was introduced on GM’s new Abody platform with an all-new bodyshell design in either two-door hardtop fastback coupe with popular period Coke bottle styling or convertible and a pronounced snout nose. The stacked twin headlamps gave way to more conventional in-line design with the ‘Hideaway’ option available. Engine options were the 400ci V8 rated at 350bhp or 360bhp with Ram Air and 455ci V8 in various states of tune.

A GTO Judge model arrived in 1969 of which the first 5000 produced all came painted in Carousel Red, which strangely enough takes on more of an orange hue! The model got its name from the popular American TV show Rowan and Martin Laugh In and the hip soul song “Heah come da Judge” by Pigmeat Markham and its base engine was a 400ci V8 Ram Air III rated at 366bhp. The rear deck spoiler was questionably aesthetically pleasing, though the new Endura front bumpers caused much interest. Colour co-ordinated with the bodywork, the bumpers were made from high density Urethane and impact resistant against minor knocks, the age of the plastic bumper had arrived!

In 1970 the GTO received a facelift, which didn’t do it any favours at all from any angle, especially the frontal aspect and by 1972 the Judge and convertible were discontinued with the GTO reverting back to an option package just as it had started in 1964. Sales were now more targeted at the extremely successful Firebird series of cars introduced in 1969, which was already flying the high performance flag for Pontiac.

Driving

These are big powerful cars and hard cornering can be a tad wallowy on the earlier models with the ride quality being on the softer side and is more akin to that of a Cadillac which is no bad thing. Later GTO’s offer more taut handling and with the disc brake option they definitely have the edge over stopping than all round drums, which from high speed you need to be extra alert! With the colloquially known “His & Hers” Hurst dual gate shifter, in manual shift the GTO then becomes a lively performer for “Him” on favourite winding B roads, but for “Her” automatic shift means that local shopping trips to the supermarket become a much more relaxed and leisurely cruise and there’s ample accommodation for the family. Convertibles offer the best of both world’s, wind in your hair motoring on sunny days and an impressive turn of speed as well.

Prices

In the USA these cars are fetching top dollars at the moment, though in the UK they may not fetch as much. A rough car needing a full restoration will be worth £2000 - £3000, while one in excellent condition will be £10,000 - £12,000. Concours cars command a higher premium upwards of £15,000.