ALT-3 Pontiac Gto
Once noted as the most famous muscle car in automobile history, the 1964 Pontiac GTO was GM's first attempt at putting together a factory Hot Rod. The Grand Tourismo Omologato (GTO) was also GM's first muscle car to be built on the new A-Body platform. This machine was built with a 389 cubic inch V8 engine, which was rated at putting out 325hp @ 4800 rpm, a four- barrel carb, dual exhaust, and a floor-shift three-speed manual transmission. You were allowed the option of a four-speed manual transmission, a "Tri-power" engine with three two-barrel carbs rating at 348hp, and many more little goodies.
In 1965 the Tempest line was introduced which included the GTO. 3.1 inches were added to the overall length increasing the weight by 100lbs. and improving the dash design. The 389 engine also got an upgrade, with revised heads allowing the car to breath better and increasing the horse-power to 335 @ 500rpm. With the new improved GTO you could blow people away in the 1/4 mile with an estimated 14.5 seconds.
Pontiac restyled this auto again in 1966 with rounder fenders and again increased the length. In this year GTO broke off and became a separate Pontiac model from the Tempest. With new bucket seats and now a unique plastic grill and tail lights, it's no wonder 96,946 GTO's were sold in just two years. Now being marketed as the "Goat" in 1967 GTO's style remained the same. Although you were now offered two new engines, and a new two-speed tranny, replacing the old three-speed model.
1968 brought yet another new design for Pontiac's GTO. This time the A-Body line was shortened to a fastback style. The transmission remained the same, but at mid-year a new Ram Air engine package came out allowing the engine to reach 350hp @ 5000rpm's. 1969 we were introduced to the "Judge" which was supposed to be Pontiacs way of replacing the high priced GTo with a less gimmick type. They were trying to compete with Plymouth and there Road Runner and Chevy's Chevelle. But in this effort Pontiac ended up building a car that was actually $300.00 more than the original GTO.
1970-1971 only had a few handling and cosmetic improvements, but we were given a new option. In 1970 Pontiac debuted there 455. This long-stroke engine wasn't much stronger than the 400 but had a lot more torque (500lb foot @ 2700rpms). In 1971 Motor Trend tested the new 455 and found you could now run the 1/4 mile in 13.4 seconds. Not a bad send off for the "Judge", which only sold 374 cars in this its final year.
In 1972 GTO merged its line with Le Mans, which allowed for the GTO to finally lower its price. A ducktail rear spoiler was planned for the GTO this year, but was canceled after only a few were built. A rare option was released, the 455HO (high output) engine. This engine was similar to the one in Pontiac's Trans-Am, which rated at 300hp @ 4000rpm's. The 72' model was also able to run both leaded and unleaded gasoline. Unfortunately only 646 were sol in this year.
Due to the new federal laws for 1973, which stated that all front bumpers must be able to withstand a 5mph impact with no body damage. Pontiac changed the overall style of the GTO using a heavy chrome front and rear bumper. This new change was not taken well by consumers. Sales dropped and muscle car buyers dubbed this as the worst year for the GTO.
In 1974 with the muscle car market now being taken over by the more compact Nova, Duster, and Maverick style cars, this brought an end to the Pontiac GTO. Car magazine tested the GTO in the 1/4 mile and only got an estimated 15.74 seconds.
Good news, the GTO has been reintroduced to us as of 2003. Equipped with the Chevy Corvette's LS1 engine and your choice of a six-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. Pontiac is now producing a maximum of 18,000 GTO's per year. Proving to consumers that the new muscle cars are back.
