| Pontiac GTO | |
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| Manufacturer | General Motors |
| Production | 1964–1974 2004–2006 |
| Predecessor | Pontiac Firebird Pontiac Grand Prix Coupe Pontiac G8 |
| Class | Muscle car |
| Body style(s) | 2-door convertible 2-door hardtop 2-door sedan |
| Related | Pontiac Tempest Pontiac LeMans Pontiac Ventura Chevrolet Chevelle Buick Gran Sport Holden Monaro |
The Pontiac GTO was an automobile built by Pontiac from 1964 to 1974, and by General Motors Holden in Australia from 2004 to 2006. The automotive industry is the industry involved in the design development manufacture marketing and sale of Motor vehicles In 2007 more than 73 million motor vehicles General Motors Corporation ( GM) ( is a multinational automobile manufacturer founded in 1908 and headquartered in the United States. The Pontiac Firebird was a Pony car built by the Pontiac division of General Motors between 1967 and 2002 The Pontiac Grand Prix was an automobile that was produced by the Pontiac division of General Motors. The Pontiac G8 is a Rear-wheel drive sedan produced by General Motors released for the 2008 model year (2009 in Canada) Car classification is subjective since many vehicles fall into multiple categories or do not fit well into any Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only A convertible is a type of automobile in which the vehicle's roof can retract and fold away converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle A hardtop is a term for a rigid rather than canvas Automobile roof The Pontiac Tempest was an entry-level compact Automobile produced by the Pontiac Motor Division of General Motors, introduced in September 1960 The Pontiac LeMans was a model name applied to compact and intermediate-sized Automobiles offered by the Pontiac division of General Motors from 1962 The Pontiac Ventura was an automobile produced by the Pontiac Motor Division of General Motors. The Chevrolet Chevelle (pronounced "sha-vell" is a mid-sized Automobile from Chevrolet debuting in 1964 The Buick Gran Sport or GS was a high-performance option package available on a number of Buick models including the Riviera and Wildcat. The Monaro is an Automobile which was produced by Holden, the Australian branch of General Motors from 1968 to 1977 and then re-introduced Pontiac is a Brand of Automobiles produced by General Motors that has been sold in the United States, Canada and Mexico General Motors Corporation ( GM) ( is a multinational automobile manufacturer founded in 1908 and headquartered in the United States. GM Holden Ltd is an Australian automaker based in Port Melbourne Victoria. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. It is often considered the first true muscle car. From 1964 until midway through 1973 it was closely related to the Pontiac Tempest and for the 1974 model year it was based on the Pontiac Ventura. The Pontiac Tempest was an entry-level compact Automobile produced by the Pontiac Motor Division of General Motors, introduced in September 1960 The Pontiac Ventura was an automobile produced by the Pontiac Motor Division of General Motors. The 21st century GTO is essentially a left hand drive Holden Monaro, itself a coupe variant of the Holden Commodore. The Monaro is an Automobile which was produced by Holden, the Australian branch of General Motors from 1968 to 1977 and then re-introduced The Holden Commodore is an Automobile manufactured by the Holden division of General Motors (GM in Australia and formerly in New Zealand
Contents |
Origins
The GTO was the brainchild of Pontiac engineer Russell Gee, an engine specialist, and Pontiac chief engineer John De Lorean. John Zachary DeLorean ( January 6 1925 &ndash March 19 2005) was an American engineer and executive in the U Shane Wiser was the first to think of the idea of the GTO. In early 1963, General Motors management issued an edict banning divisions from involvement in auto racing. General Motors Corporation ( GM) ( is a multinational automobile manufacturer founded in 1908 and headquartered in the United States. Auto racing (also known as automobile racing, motor racing or car racing) is a Motorsport involving Racing Cars It At the time, Pontiac's advertising and marketing approach was heavily based on performance, and racing was an important component of that strategy. Jim Wangers proposed a way to retain the performance image that the division had cultivated with a new focus on street performance. It involved transforming the upcoming redesigned Tempest (which was set to revert to a conventional front-engine, front transmission, rear-wheel drive configuration) into a "Super Tempest" with the larger 389 in³ (6. 5 L) Pontiac V8 engine from the full-sized Pontiac Catalina and Bonneville in place of the standard 326 in³ (5. From 1955 to 1981 the Pontiac Division of General Motors manufactured its own unique V8 engines distinct from Buick, The Pontiac Catalina was part of Pontiac 's Full-sized Automobile line The Pontiac Bonneville was an Automobile built by the Pontiac division of General Motors from 1957 to 2005 3 L) Tempest V8. By promoting the big-engine Tempest as a special high-performance model, they could appeal to the speed-minded youth market (which had also been recognized by Ford Motor Company's Lee Iacocca, who was at that time preparing the Ford Mustang). Ford Motor Company is an American Multinational corporation and the world's fourth largest automaker based on Worldwide vehicle sales, following Lido Anthony "Lee" Iacocca (born October 15, 1924) is an American businessman most commonly known for his revival of the The Ford Mustang sports coupe, manufactured by the Ford Motor Company, was initially based on the Ford Falcon
The name, which was DeLorean's idea, was inspired by the Ferrari 250 GTO, the highly successful race car. Design and development The 250 GTO was designed to compete in GT racing. It is an acronym for Gran Turismo Omologato, Italian for homologated for racing in the GT class. Acronyms, initialisms, and alphabetisms are Abbreviations that are formed using the initial components in a phrase or name Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. Homologation is a technical term derived from the Greek homologeo (ὁμολογέω for "to agree" which is generally used in English to signify The name drew protest from purists, who considered it close to sacrilege.
The GTO was technically a violation of GM policy limiting the A-body intermediate line to a maximum engine displacement of 330 in³ (5. The General Motors A platform (commonly called A-body) was a Mid-size car Automobile platform. A mid-size car (occasionally referred to as an intermediate) is the North American and Australian term for an Automobile with a size between 4 L). Since the GTO was an option package and not standard equipment, it could be considered to fall into a loophole in the policy. Pontiac General Manager Elliot "Pete" Estes approved the new model, although sales manager Frank Bridge, who did not believe it would find a market, insisted on limiting initial production to no more than 5,000 cars. Elliot Marantette "Pete" Estes ( January 7, 1916 - March 24, 1988) was an American automotive engineer and executive most Had the model been a failure, Estes likely would have been reprimanded. As it turned out, it was a great success.
First generation
1964
The first Pontiac GTO was an option package for the Pontiac LeMans, available with the two-door sedan, hardtop coupe, and convertible body styles. The Pontiac LeMans was a model name applied to compact and intermediate-sized Automobiles offered by the Pontiac division of General Motors from 1962 For US$ 296, it included the 389 in³ V8 (rated at 325 hp (242 kW) at 4800 rpm) with a single Carter AFB four-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust, chromed valve covers and air cleaner, 7 blade clutch fan, a floor-shifted three-speed manual transmission with Hurst shifter, stiffer springs, larger diameter front sway bar, wider wheels with 7. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been The watt (symbol W) is the SI derived unit of power, equal to one Joule of energy per Second. A carburetor (North American spelling or carburettor ( Commonwealth spelling) is a device that blends air and Fuel for an Internal An exhaust system is usually tubing used to guide waste Exhaust gases away from a controlled Combustion inside an Engine or Stove. Chrome plating, often referred to simply as chrome, is a technique of Electroplating a thin layer of Chromium onto a Metal object A fan clutch is a thermostatically-controlled device that exists as an integral component of the Automotive cooling system A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift or just 'stick' 'straight drive' or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in Hurst Performance Inc of Warminster, Pennsylvania, manufactured products for enhancing the performance of Muscle cars These included Manual transmission A sway bar (also stabilizer bar anti-sway bar roll bar or anti-roll bar ARB) is an Automobile suspension 50 x 14 redline tires, hood scoops, and GTO badges. A bonnet/hood scoop is an air vent on the bonnet of an Automobile that either allows a flow of air to directly enter the engine compartment or appears to do Optional equipment included a four-speed manual transmission, two-speed automatic transmission, a more powerful "Tri-Power" carburation rated at 348 hp (260 kW), metallic drum brake linings, limited slip differential, heavy-duty cooling, ride and handling package, and the usual array of power and convenience accessories. An automatic transmission (commonly "AT" or "Auto" is an Automobile Gearbox that can change Gear ratios automatically as the vehicle From 1955 to 1981 the Pontiac Division of General Motors manufactured its own unique V8 engines distinct from Buick, A drum brake is a Brake in which the Friction is caused by a set of shoes or pads that press against the inner surface of a rotating A limited slip differential ( LSD) is a modified or derived type of differential gear arrangement that allows for some difference in rotational Velocity With every available option, the GTO cost about US$ 4,500 and weighed around 3,500 pounds (1,600 kg). The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been
Most contemporary road tests used the more powerful Tri-Power engine and four-speed. Car Life clocked a GTO so equipped at 0-60 miles per hour (0-97 km/h) in 6. 6 seconds, through the standing quarter mile in 14. For the Transformers character see Drag Strip. A dragstrip is a facility for conducting Automobile and Motorcycle acceleration events such 8 seconds with a top speed of 99 miles per hour (158 km/h). Like most testers, they criticized the slow steering, particularly without power steering, and inadequate drum brakes, which were identical to those of the normal Tempest. Power steering is a system for reducing the Steering effort on vehicles by using an external power source to assist in turning the roadwheels. Car and Driver incited controversy when it printed that a GTO that had supposedly been tuned with the "Bobcat" kit offered by Royal Pontiac of Royal Oak, Michigan, was clocked at a quarter mile time of 12. Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast Magazine. Royal Oak is a city in Oakland County of the US state of Michigan. 8 seconds and a top speed of 112 mph (179 km/h) on racing slicks. Later reports strongly suggest that the Car and Driver GTOs were equipped with a 421 in³ (6. 9 L) engine that was optional in full-sized Pontiacs. Since the two engines were difficult to distinguish externally, the subterfuge was not immediately obvious. Frank Bridge's sales forecast proved inaccurate: the GTO package had sold 10,000 units before the beginning of the 1964 calendar year, and total sales were 32,450.
Bobcat
Throughout the 1960s, Royal Pontiac, a Pontiac car dealer in Royal Oak, Michigan, offered a special tune-up package for Pontiac 389 engines. A car dealership or vehicle local distribution is a business that sells new cars and/or Used cars at the Retail level based on a dealership contract The Royal Oak is the name given to the Oak tree within which King Charles II of England hid to escape the Roundheads following the Many were fitted to GTOs, and the components and instructions could be purchased by mail as well as installed by the dealer. The name "Bobcat" came from the improvised badges created for the modified cars, combining letters from the "Bonneville" and "Catalina" nameplates. Many of the Pontiacs made available for magazine testing were equipped with the Bobcat kit. The GTO Bobcat accelerated 0-60 in 4. 6 seconds (this 0-60 time is now equalled by the factory 2005-06 GTO with automatic transmission, fuel injection, and no modifications).
The precise components of the kit varied but generally included pieces to modify the spark advance of the distributor, limiting spark advance to 34-36° at no more than 3,000 rpm (advancing the timing at high rpm for increased power), a thinner head gasket to raise compression to about 11. A distributor is a device in the Ignition system of an Internal combustion engine that routes High voltage from the Ignition coil to the A head gasket is a Gasket that sits between the Engine block and Cylinder head in an Internal combustion engine. 23:1, a gasket to block the heat riser of the carburetor (keeping it cooler), larger carburetor jets, high-capacity oil pump, and fiberglass shims with lock nuts to hold the hydraulic valve lifters at their maximum point of adjustment, allowing the engine to rev higher without "floating" the valves. A gasket is a mechanical seal that fills the space between two objects generally to prevent leakage between the two objects while under compression. Fiberglass (also called fibreglass and glass fibre see Spelling differences) is material made from extremely fine Fibers of Glass. Properly installed, the kit could add between 30 and 50 horsepower (20-40 kW), although it required high-octane superpremium gasoline of over 100 octane to avoid spark knock with the higher compression and advanced timing. Octane is a straight-chain Alkane with the Chemical formula CH3(CH26CH3 Knocking (also called knock, detonation or spark knock, pinking in UK English or pinging in US English in spark-ignition
1965
The Tempest line, including the GTO, was restyled for the 1965 model year, adding 3. 1 inches (79 mm) (7. 9 cm) to the overall length while retaining the same wheelbase and interior dimensions. In both road and rail Vehicles the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels It sported Pontiac's characteristic vertically stacked quad headlights. Overall weight increased about 100 pounds (45 kg). Brake lining area increased nearly 15%. The dashboard design was improved, and an optional rally gauge cluster ($86. 08) added a more legible tachometer and oil pressure gauge. A tachometer is an instrument that measures the rotation speed of a shaft or disk as in a motor or other machine Oil pressure is an important factor in the longevity of most Internal combustion engines With a forced Lubrication system (invented by Frederick Lanchester
The 389 engine had revised cylinder heads with re-cored intake passages, improving breathing. Rated power increased to 335 hp (250 kW) @ 5,000 rpm for the base 4—barrel engine; the Tri-Power was rated 360 hp ((268 kW) @ 5,200 rpm. The Tri-Power engine had slightly less torque than the base engine, 424 [[Foot-pound force|ft·lbf]] (574 N·m) @ 3,600 rpm versus 431 ft·lbf (584 N·m) @ 3,200 rpm. Transmission and axle ratio choices remained the same.
The restyled GTO had a new simulated hood scoop. A rare, dealer-installed option was a metal underhood pan and gaskets that allowed the scoop to be opened, transforming a cosmetic device into a functional cold air intake. Cold Air Intakes A cold air intake is a device used to bring down the Temperature of the Air going into a car 's Internal-combustion The scoop was low enough that its effectiveness was questionable (it was unlikely to pick up anything but boundary layer air), but it at least admitted cooler, denser air, and allowed more of the engine's formidable roar to escape. In Physics and Fluid mechanics, a boundary layer is that layer of Fluid in the immediate vicinity of a bounding surface
Car Life tested a 1965 GTO with Tri-Power and what they considered the most desirable options (close-ratio four-speed manual transmission, power steering, metallic brakes, rally wheels, 4. 11 limited-slip differential, and Rally Gauge Cluster), with a total sticker price of US$3,643. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been 79. With two testers and equipment aboard, they recorded 0-60 miles per hour (0-97 km/h) in 5. 8 seconds, the standing quarter mile in 14. 5 seconds with a trap speed of 100 miles per hour (160 km/h), and an observed top speed of 114 miles per hour (182. 4 km/h) at the engine's 6,000 rpm redline. This article discusses the term "redline" as it applies to internal combustion engine technology Even Motor Trend's four-barrel test car, a heavier convertible handicapped by the two-speed automatic transmission and the lack of a limited slip differential, ran 0-60 mph in 7 seconds and through the quarter mile in 16. Motor Trend is one of the oldest Automobile magazines still publishing. 1 seconds at 89 miles per hour (142. 4 km/h).
Major criticisms of the GTO continued to center on its slow steering (ratio of 17. 5:1, four turns lock-to-lock) and mediocre brakes. Car Life was satisfied with the metallic brakes on its GTO, but Motor Trend and Road Test found the standard drums with organic linings to be alarmingly inadequate in high-speed driving.
Sales of the GTO, abetted by a formidable marketing and promotional campaign that included songs and various merchandise, more than doubled to 75,342. It was already spawning many imitators, both within other GM divisions and its competitors.
1966
Pontiac's intermediate line was restyled again for 1966, gaining more curvaceous styling with kicked-up rear fender lines for a "Coke-bottle" look, and a slightly "tunneled" backlight. Coke bottle styling is a style of automobile bodies with outward curving fenders with a narrow center The tail light featured a rare louvered cover, only seen on the GTO. Overall length grew only fractionally, to 206. 4 inches (524 cm), still on a 115 inch (292 cm) wheelbase, while width expanded to 74. 4 inches (189 cm). Rear track increased one inch (2. 5 cm). Overall weight remained about the same. The GTO became a separate model series, rather than an optional performance package, with unique grille and tail lights, available as a pillared sports coupe, a hardtop sans pillars, or a convertible. A performance package is a set of functional enhancements to the Driveline of a vehicle sold and priced as a unit A hardtop is a term for a rigid rather than canvas Automobile roof A convertible is a type of automobile in which the vehicle's roof can retract and fold away converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle Also an automotive industry first, plastic front grilles replaced the pot metal and aluminum versions seen on earlier years. Pot metal is a slang term that refers to alloys that consist of inexpensive low-melting point metals used to make fast inexpensive castings New Strato bucket seats were introduced with higher and thinner seat backs and contoured cushions for added comfort and adjustable headrests were introduced as a new option. A bucket seat is a seat contoured to hold one person distinct from Bench seats which are flat platforms designed to seat multiple people The instrument panel was redesigned and more integrated than in previous years with the ignition switch moved from the far left of the dash to the right of the steering wheel. Four pod instruments continued, and the GTO's dash was highlighted by walnut veneer trim.
Engine choices remained the same as the previous year. A new rare engine option was offered: the XS engine option consisted of a factory Ram Air set up with a new 744 high lift cam. A cam is a projecting part of a rotating Wheel or shaft that strikes a Lever at one or more points on its circular path Approximately 35 factory installed Ram Air packages are believed to have been built, though 300 dealership installed Ram Air packages are estimated to have been ordered. On paper, the package was said to produce the same 360 hp (270 kW) as the non-Ram Air, Tri Power car, though these figures are believed to have been grossly underestimated in order to get past GM mandates.
Sales increased to 96,946, the highest production figure for all GTO years. Although Pontiac had strenuously promoted the GTO in advertising as the "GTO Tiger," it had become known in the youth market as the "Goat. " Pontiac management attempted to make use of the new nickname in advertising but were vetoed by upper management, which was dismayed by its irreverent tone.
1967
The GTO underwent a few styling changes in 1967. The louver-covered tail lights were replaced with eight tail lights, four on each side. Rally II wheels with colored lug nuts were also available in 1967. The GTO emblems located on the rear part of the fenders were moved to the chrome rocker panels.
The GTO also saw several mechanical changes in 1967. The Tri-Power carburetion system was replaced with a Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor. In Automobile mechanics the Quadrajet is a 4 barrel Carburetor made by the Rochester Products Division of GM that was widely used in General Motors A carburetor (North American spelling or carburettor ( Commonwealth spelling) is a device that blends air and Fuel for an Internal The 389 engine received a wider cylinder bore (4. 12 inches, 104. 7 mm) for a total displacement of 400 in³ (6. 6 L). The 400 cubic inch engine was available in three models: economy, standard, and high output. The economy engine used a two-barrel carburetor rather than the Rochester Quadrajet and produced 255 bhp (190 kW) at 4400 rpm, and 397 ft·lbf (538 N·m) at 4400 rpm. In Automobile mechanics the Quadrajet is a 4 barrel Carburetor made by the Rochester Products Division of GM that was widely used in General Motors The standard engine produced 335 bhp (250 kW) at 5000 rpm, and the highest torque of the three engines at 441 ft·lbf (598 N·m) at 3400 rpm. A torque (τ in Physics, also called a moment (of force is a pseudo- vector that measures the tendency of a force to rotate an object about The high output engine produced the most power for that year at 360 bhp (270 kW) at 5100 rpm, and produced 438 ft·lbf (594 N·m) at 3600 rpm. Emission controls were fitted in GTOs sold in California. Automobile emissions control covers all the technologies that are employed to reduce the Air pollution -causing emissions produced by Automobiles Exhaust emissions California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean.
The two-speed automatic transmission was also replaced with a three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic TH-400. Turbo-Hydramatic is the registered tradename of a family of Automatic transmissions developed and produced by General Motors. The TH-400 was equipped with a Hurst Performance Dual-Gate shifter, called a "his/hers" shifter, that permitted either automatic shifting in "Drive" or manual selection through the gears. Hurst Performance Inc of Warminster, Pennsylvania, manufactured products for enhancing the performance of Muscle cars These included Manual transmission Front disc brakes were also an option in 1967. The disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a Wheel.
GTO sales for 1967 remained high at 81,722.
Second generation
1968
GM redesigned its A-body line for 1968, with more curvaceous, "fastback" styling. The General Motors A platform (commonly called A-body) was a Mid-size car Automobile platform. The previous 115 inch (292 cm) wheelbase was shortened to 112 inches (2,800 mm) (284 cm) for all two-door models. Overall length was reduced 5. 9 inches (150 mm) and height dropped half an inch (12 mm), but overall weight was up about 75 pounds (34 kg). Pontiac abandoned the familiar stacked headlights for hidden headlights behind the split grille (actually a US$52. Hidden headlamps are an automotive styling feature that conceals an Automobile 's Headlamps when they are not in use The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been 66 option, but seen on many GTOs). The signature hood scoop was replaced by dual scoops on either side of a prominent hood bulge extending rearward from the protruding nose.
A unique feature was the body-color Endura front bumper. It was designed to absorb impact without permanent deformation at low speeds. Pontiac touted this feature heavily in advertising, showing hammering at the bumper to no discernible effect. Though a rare option, a GTO could be ordered with "Endura Delete", in which case the Endura bumper would be replaced by a chrome front bumper and grille from the Pontiac Le Mans. This model year further emphasized the curvacious "coke bottle" styling, as viewed from the side.
Powertrain options remained substantially the same as in 1967, but the standard GTO engine's power rating rose to 350 hp (261 kW) @ 5,000 rpm. At mid-year, a new Ram Air package, known as Ram Air II, became available. It included freer-breathing cylinder heads, round port exhaust and the 041 cam. 'Official' power rating was not changed, although actual output was likely much higher. Another carry-over from 1967 was the 4-piston caliper disc brake option. While most 1968 models had drum brakes all around, this rare option provided greater stopping power and could be found on other GM A-Body vehicles of the same period. 1968 was also the last year the GTOs offered separate vent, or "wing", windows—and the only year for crank-operated vent windows.
Another feature was concealed windshield wipers, hidden below the rear edge of the hood. They presented a cleaner appearance and were another Pontiac first for the industry. Another popular option, actually introduced during the 1967 model year, was a hood-mounted tachometer, located in front of the windshield and lighted for visibility at night. An in-dash tachometer was also available, but the hood tachometer became something of a status symbol.
Redline bias-ply tires continued as standard equipment on the 1968 GTO, though they could be replaced by whitewall tires at no extra cost. This article is about tires used on road Vehicles including pneumatic tires and solid tires. Whitewall tires or white sidewall (WSW tires are Tires having a stripe or entire sidewall of white Rubber. A new option was radial tires for improved ride and handling. A radial tire (more properly a radial-ply tire) is a particular design of automotive Tire (in British English, tyre) However, very few were delivered with the radial tires because of manufacturing problems encountered by supplier B.F. Goodrich. Goodrich Corporation (formerly the BF Goodrich Company), is an American Aerospace manufacturing company based in Charlotte North Carolina The radial tire option was discontinued after 1968. Pontiac did not offer radial tires as a factory option on the GTO again until the 1974 model.
Hot Rod tested a four-speed standard GTO and obtained a quarter mile reading of 14. 7 seconds at 97 mph (156 km/h) in pure stock form. Motor Trend clocked a four-speed Ram Air with 4. 33 rear differential at 14. 45 seconds @ 98. 2 mph (158. 0 km/h) (158. 0 km/h) and a standard GTO with Turbo-Hydramatic and 3. 23 gears at 15. 93 seconds @ 88. 3 mph (142. 1 km/h). Testers were split about handling, with Hot Rod calling it "the best-balanced car [Pontiac] ever built," but Car Life chiding its excessive nose heaviness, understeer, and inadequate damping.
Now facing serious competition both within GM and from Ford, Dodge, and Plymouth—particularly the low-cost Plymouth Road Runner—the GTO won Motor Trend's Car of the Year award, and sales remained strong at 87,684 (which would ultimately prove to be the second-best sales year for the GTO). Ford Motor Company is an American Multinational corporation and the world's fourth largest automaker based on Worldwide vehicle sales, following Dodge is a United States -based brand of Automobiles Sport utility vehicles and Trucks manufactured and marketed by Chrysler LLC Plymouth (founded 1928 - dissolved 2001 is a Marque of Automobile based in the United States, marketed by the Chrysler Corporation The Plymouth Road Runner was the no-frills Muscle car version of intermediate Belvedere and Satellite built by the Plymouth division of In the USA Motor Trend magazine was the first to give a Car of the Year award doing so to Cadillac in 1949 (the earliest awards were
1969
The 1969 model did not have the vent windows, had a slight grille and taillight revision, moved the ignition key from the dashboard to the steering column, and the gauge faces changed from steel blue to black. In addition, the rear quarter-panel mounted side marker lamps changed from a red lens shaped like the Pontiac "V" crest to one shaped like the broad GTO badge.
The previous economy engine and standard 350 hp 400 in³ V8 remained, while the 360 hp (270 kW) engine was in its last year. The 400 in³ Ram Air III was rated at 366 hp (273 kW) @ 5,100 rpm, while the top option was the 370 hp (276 kW) Ram Air IV, which featured special header-like high-flow exhaust manifolds, high-flow cylinder heads, a specific high-rise aluminum intake manifold, larger Rochester QuadraJet four-barrel carburetor, high-lift/long-duration camshaft, plus various internal components capable of withstanding higher engine speeds and power output. In Automotive engineering, an intake manifold or inlet manifold is the part of an Engine that supplies the Fuel / Air mixture to Unlike the big-block Chevy and Hemi motors, the Ram Air IV utilized hydraulic lifters. "Big block" is the term used to describe the large displacement V8 engines that were developed in the USA during the 1950s and 1960s A Chrysler Hemi engine, known by the trademark Hemi, is an Internal combustion engine built by Chrysler that utilizes a hemispherical As a result, it did not overheat in traffic, nor did it foul spark plugs, which set it apart from the large-displacement performance engines seen in other muscle cars.
By this time, the gross power ratings of both Ram Air engines were highly suspect, bearing less relationship to developed power and more to an internal GM policy limiting all cars except the Corvette to no more than one advertised horsepower per 10 lb (4. 5 kg) of curb weight. The higher-revving Ram Air IV's advertised power peak was actually listed at 5,000 rpm—100 rpm lower than the less-powerful Ram Air III.
The Ram Air V was introduced in 1969. It was a special 400 block with newly designed high compression tunnel port heads and a special high rise intake manifold. A prototype GTO so equipped could go 0-60 mph in 5. 2 seconds, and the quarter-mile time was 11. 5 seconds at 123 mph (198 km/h). Ram Air Vs were not installed in GTOs at the factory; it was available only as an "over-the-counter" product, and most went to Pontiac racers of the time.
The significant event of 1969 was the launch of a new model called 'The Judge'. The Judge name came from a comedy routine, "Here Comes the Judge", used repeatedly on the "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In TV" show. Advertisements used slogans like "All rise for The Judge" and "The Judge can be bought. " As originally conceived, the Judge was to be a low-cost GTO, stripped of some gimmicks to make it competitive with the Plymouth Road Runner. During its development, however, it was decided to make it the ultimate in street performance and image. The resulting package ended up being US$337. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been 02 more expensive than a standard GTO, and included the Ram Air III engine, styled wheels, Hurst shifter (with a unique T-shaped handle), wider tires, various decals, and a rear spoiler. Pontiac claimed that the spoiler had some functional effect at higher speeds, producing a small but measurable down force, but it was of little value at legal speeds except for style. The term downforce describes the downward pressure created by the aerodynamic characteristics of a Car that allows it to travel faster through a corner by holding The Judge was initially offered only in "Carousel Red," but late in the model year a variety of other colors became available.
The GTO was surpassed in sales both by the Chevrolet Chevelle SS396 and the Road Runner, but 72,287 were sold during the 1969 model year, with 6,833 of them being The Judge. The Chevrolet Chevelle (pronounced "sha-vell" is a mid-sized Automobile from Chevrolet debuting in 1964
1970
The Tempest line received another facelift for the 1970 model year. Hidden headlights were deleted in favor of four exposed round headlamps outboard of narrower grille openings. The nose retained the protruding vertical prow theme, although it was less prominent. While the standard Tempest and LeMans had chrome grilles, the GTO retained the Endura urethane cover around the headlamps and grille.
The suspension was upgraded with the addition of a rear anti-roll bar, essentially the same bar as used on the Oldsmobile 442 and Buick Gran Sport. The Oldsmobile 442 (pronounced four-four-two was a Muscle car produced by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors. The Buick Gran Sport or GS was a high-performance option package available on a number of Buick models including the Riviera and Wildcat. The front anti-roll bar was slightly stiffer. The result was a useful reduction in body lean in turns and a modest reduction of understeer. Understeer is a term for a Car handling condition in which during cornering the circular path of the Vehicle 's motion is of a greater radius than the circle indicated
Another handling-related improvement was optional variable-ratio power steering. Power steering is a system for reducing the Steering effort on vehicles by using an external power source to assist in turning the roadwheels. Rather than a fixed ratio of 17. 5:1, requiring four turns lock-to-lock, the new system varied its ratio from 14. 6:1 to 18. 9:1, needing 3. 5 turns lock-to-lock. Turning diameter was reduced from 40. 9 feet (12. 5 m) to 37. 4 feet (11. 4 m).
The base engine was unchanged for 1970, but the low-compression economy engine was deleted and the Ram Air III and Ram Air IV remained available, although the latter was now a special-order option.
A new option was Pontiac's 455 engine, available now that GM had rescinded its earlier ban on intermediates with engines larger than 400. The 455, a long-stroke engine taken from the full-size Pontiac Bonneville line, was only moderately stronger than the base 400 and actually less powerful than the Ram Air III. The 455 was rated at 360 hp (268 kW) @ 4,300 rpm. Its advantage was torque: 500 ft·lbf (677 N-m) @ 2,700 rpm. A functional Ram Air scoop was available, but even so equipped, a stock 455 was less powerful than the Ram Air III. Car and Driver tested a heavily optioned 455, with a four-speed transmission and 3. 31 axle and recorded a quarter mile time of 15. 0 seconds with a trap speed of 96. 5 mph (155. 3 km/h). Car Life's Turbo-Hydramatic 455, with a 3. 35 rear differential, clocked 14. 76 seconds at 95. 94 mph (154. 40 km/h), with identical 6. 6 second 0-60 mph acceleration. Both were about 3 mph (5 km/h) slower than a Ram Air III 400 four-speed, although considerably less temperamental: the Ram Air engine idled roughly and was difficult to drive at low speeds. The smaller displacement engine recorded less than 9 miles per gallon of gasoline (26. 1 L/100 km), compared to 10 to 11 miles per gallon (23. 5 to 21. 4 L/100 km) for the 455.
A new and short-lived option for 1970 was the Vacuum Operated Exhaust (VOE), which was vacuum actuated via an underdash lever marked "EXHAUST. " The VOE was designed to reduce exhaust backpressure to increase power and performance, but it also substantially increased exhaust noise. The VOE option was offered from November 1969 to January 1970. Pontiac management was ordered to cancel the VOE option by GM's upper management following a TV commercial for the GTO that aired during Super Bowl IV on CBS January 11, 1970. Super Bowl IV was the fourth AFL-NFL Championship Game in professional American football, and the second one (after Super Bowl III) to officially bear CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. Events 1055 - Theodora is crowned Empress of the Byzantine Empire. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In that commercial, entitled "The Humbler," which was broadcast only that one time, a young man pulled up in a new GTO to a drive-in restaurant with dramatic music and exhaust noise in the background, pulling the "EXHAUST" knob to activate the VOE and then left the drive-in to do some street racing. That particular commercial was also cancelled by order of GM management. Approximately (134) 1970 GTOs were factory built with this rare option, all were "YS" 400ci 350hp/Automatics. This particular GTO in the commercial was Palladium Silver with a Black bucket interior. It was unusual in several respects as it also had the under-dash "RAM AIR" knob just to the right of the VOE knob, and it sported '69 JUDGE stripes, as a few very-early '70 GTOs could be ordered with. It also had a remote mirror, Rally II wheels, A/C, Hood Tach, and a new-for-1970 Formula steering wheel. A few 'VOE' mufflers were "Hand-made" for the remaining cars; this occurred in 2006 and 2007, and they are now available from Waldron Antique Exhaust.
The Judge remained available as an option on GTOs. The Judge came standard with the Ram Air III, while the Ram Air IV was optional. Though the 455 in³ was available as an option on the standard GTO throughout the entire model year, the 455 was not offered on The Judge until late in the year. "Orbit Orange" became the new standard color for the '70 Judge, but any GTO color was available on The Judge. Striping was relocated to the upper wheelwell brows.
An Orbit Orange 1970 GTO Judge with the 455 engine and Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission was one of the featured cars in the movie Two-Lane Blacktop, which depicted a cross-country race between the new GTO and a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air. Two-Lane Blacktop is a 1971 Road movie directed by Monte Hellman, starring singer-songwriter James Taylor, Beach Boys The Chevrolet Bel Air is an automobile series produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors from 1953–75
The new styling did little to help declining sales, which were now being hit by sagging buyer interest in all musclecars and by the punitive surcharges levied by automobile insurance companies, which sometimes resulted in insurance payments higher than car payments for some drivers. Vehicle insurance (also known as auto insurance, car insurance, or motor insurance) is Insurance purchased for cars, Trucks Sales were down to 40,149, of which 3,797 were The Judge. Of those 3,797 Judges built, only 168 were ordered in the Convertible form: RA III, RA IV and 455HO. The general consensus is that six of the 168 built were ordered with the 1970-only D-Port 455HO 360 hp (270 kW) engine, a no-cost option, which explains the conflicting production figures over the years as to how many were built; 162 vs. 168. The '69/'70 'Round-Port' RA IV engine, a derivative of the '68 1/2 'Round-Port' RA II engine, was the most exotic high-performance engine ever offered by PMD and factory-installed in a GTO or Firebird. The 1969 version had a slight advantage as the compression ratio was @ 10:75:1 as opposed to 10. 5:1 in 1970. It is widely-known that PMD was losing $1,000 on every RA IV GTO and Firebird built, and the RA IV engine was highly under-rated @ 370 hp (280 kW). Overall, only a precious 37 RA IV GTO Convertibles were built in 1970: (24) 4-Speeds and only (13) automatics. The three-speed manual, nor A/C, was not available with the RA IV engine. The standard axle ratio was 3. 90, with the 4. 33 being a low-cost option. Of the (13) '70 GTO RA IV/Auto Convertibles built, only a precious eight received the Judge option. The GTO remained the third best-selling intermediate musclecar, outsold only by the Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396/454 and Plymouth Road Runner.
1971
The 1971 GTO had another modest facelift, this time with wire-mesh grilles, horizontal bumper bars on either side of the grille opening, more closely spaced headlamps, and a new hood with the dual scoops relocated to the leading edge, not far above the grille. Overall length grew slightly to 203. 3 inches (516 cm).
A new corporate edict, aimed at preparing GM for no-lead gasoline, forced an across-the-board reduction in compression ratios. Tetra-ethyl lead, abbreviated TEL, is an organometallic compound with the formula ( CH3CH2)4 Pb. The Ram Air engines did not return for 1971. The standard GTO engine was still the 400 in³ V8, but now with 8. 2:1 compression. Power was rated at 300 hp (223 kW) @ 4,800 rpm and torque at 400 ft·lbf (542 N-m) @ 3,600 rpm. An engine option was the 455 in³ V8 with four-barrel carburetor, 8. 4 to 1 compression ratio and 325 hp (242 kW), only available with the automatic transmission. The top GTO engine for 1971 was the new 455 HO with 8. 4 compression, rated at 335 hp (250 kW) @ 4,800 rpm and 480 ft·lbf (650 N-m) @ 3,600 rpm.
Motor Trend tested a 1971 GTO with the 455, four-speed transmission, and 3. 90 axle, and obtained a 0-60 mph time of 6. 1 seconds and a quarter mile acceleration of 13. 4 seconds at 102 mph (164 km/h).
The Judge returned for a final year, now with the 455 HO as standard equipment. Only 374 were sold before The Judge was discontinued in February 1971, including 17 convertibles—today the rarest of all GTOs.
Only 10,532 GTOs were sold in 1971.
1972
In 1972, the GTO reverted from a separate model line to a US$353. 88 option package for the LeMans and LeMans Sport coupes. On the base LeMans line, the GTO package could be had with either the low-priced pillared coupe or hardtop coupe. Both models came standard with cloth and vinyl or all-vinyl bench seats and rubber floor mats on the pillared coupe and carpeting on the hardtop, creating a lower-priced GTO. The traditional seat installed in American Automobiles was the bench seat. The LeMans Sport, offered only as a hardtop coupe, came with Strato bucket seats upholstered in vinyl, along with carpeting on floor and lower door panels, vinyl door-pull straps, custom pedal trim and cushioned steering wheel, much like GTOs of previous years. Other optional equipment was similar to 1971 and earlier models. Planned for 1972 as a GTO option was the ducktail rear spoiler from the Pontiac Firebird, but after a few cars were built with that option, the mold used to produce the spolier broke, and it was cancelled. The Pontiac Firebird was a Pony car built by the Pontiac division of General Motors between 1967 and 2002 Rally II and honeycomb wheels were optional on all GTOs, with the honeycombs now featuring red Pontiac arrowhead emblems on the center caps, while the Rally IIs continued with the same caps as before, with the letters "PMD" (for Pontiac Motor Division).
Power, now rated in SAE net hp terms, was down further, to 250 hp (186 kW) @ 4,400 rpm and 325 ft·lbf (440 N-m) @ 3,200 rpm torque for the base 400 engine. The optional 455 had the same rated power (although at a peak of 3,600 rpm), but substantially more torque. Most of the drop was attributable to the new rating system (which now reflected an engine in as-installed condition with mufflers, accessories, and standard intake). The engines were relatively little changed from 1971.
A very rare option was the 455 HO engine, essentially similar to that used in the Trans Am. It was rated at 300 hp (224 kW) @ 4,000 rpm and 415 ft·lbf (562 N-m) @ 3,200 rpm, also in the new SAE net figures. Despite its modest 8. 4:1 compression, it was as strong as many earlier engines with higher gross power ratings; yet like all other 1972-model engines, it could perform on low-octane regular leaded, low-lead or unleaded gasolines. Only 646 cars with this engine were sold.
Sales plummeted by 45%, to 5,811. (Some sources discount the single convertible and the three anomalous wagons, listing the total as 5,807. ) Although Pontiac did not offer a production GTO convertible in 1972, a buyer could order a LeMans Sport convertible with either of the three GTO engines and other sporty/performance options to create a GTO in all but name. Even the GTO's Endura bumper was offered as an option on LeMans/Sport models, with "PONTIAC" spelled out on the driver's side grille rather than "GTO. "
1973
Once again an option package for the LeMans, the 1973 GTO shared the reskinned A-body with its "Colonnade" hardtop styling, which eliminated true hardtop design because of the addition of a roof pillar but retention of frameless doorwork. Rear side windows were now of a fixed design that could not be opened and in a trianglar shape. New federal laws for 1973 demanded front bumpers capable of withstanding 5 mile per hour (8 km/h) impacts with no damage to the body (5 mph rear bumpers became standard in 1974). The result was the use of prominent and heavy chrome bumpers front and rear. The overall styling of the 1973 Pontiac A-body intermediates (LeMans, Luxury LeMans, GTO and Grand Am) was generally not well received by the car buying public. The Pontiac Grand Am was originally a Mid-size car and later a Compact car that was produced by the Pontiac division of General Motors.
In contrast, the Pontiac Grand Prix and Chevrolet Monte Carlo, which were also derived from the intermediate A-body, were much better received because of their squared-off styling and formal rooflines with vertical windows. The Pontiac Grand Prix was an automobile that was produced by the Pontiac division of General Motors. The Chevrolet Monte Carlo was an American-made automobile Originally introduced by Chevrolet for the 1970 model year (as competition with the Ford Thunderbird Pontiac's sister division, Oldsmobile, received better reviews from the automotive press and the car-buying public with the similar-bodied Cutlass. Oldsmobile was a brand of Automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. The Oldsmobile Cutlass was an Automobile made by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors.
Again, the 1973 GTO option was offered on two models including the base LeMans coupe or the LeMans Sport Coupe. The base LeMans coupe featured a cloth-and-vinyl or all-vinyl bench seat while the more lavish LeMans Sport Coupe had all-vinyl interiors with Strato bucket seats or a notchback bench seat with folding armrest. The LeMans Sport Coupe also had louvered rear side windows from the Grand Am in place of the standard triangular windows of the base LeMans.
The standard 400 in³ V8 in the 1973 GTO was further reduced in compression to 8. 0:1, dropping it to 230 hp (170 kW). The 400 engine was available with any of the three transmissions including the standard three-speed manual, or optional four-speed or Turbo Hydra-Matic. The 455 in³ V8 remained optional but was dropped to 250 hp (186 kW) and available only with the Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission. The 455 HO engine did not reappear, but GM initially announced the availability of a Super Duty 455 engine (shared with the contemporary Pontiac Trans Am SD455), and several such cars were made available for testing, impressing reviewers with their power and flexibility. Nevertheless, the Super Duty was never actually offered for public sale in the GTO. Also, eight (8) 455SD Grand Ams were also built for testing, and eventually all were destroyed as well.
Sales dropped to 4,806, thanks in part to competition from the new Grand Am and the lack of promotion for the GTO. By the end of the model year an emerging energy crisis quashed consumer interest in muscle cars. An energy crisis is any great bottleneck (or price Rise) in the supply of energy resources to an economy.
1974
Wanting to avoid internal competition with the "Euro-styled" Pontiac Grand Am, and looking for an entry into the compact muscle market populated by the Plymouth Duster 360, Ford Maverick Grabber and AMC Hornet X, Pontiac moved the 1974 GTO option to the compact Pontiac Ventura, which shared its basic body shell and sheetmetal with the Chevrolet Nova. The Pontiac Grand Am was originally a Mid-size car and later a Compact car that was produced by the Pontiac division of General Motors. }The first Plymouth Duster was a semi-fastback version of the Plymouth Valiant automobile produced in the US from 1970 to 1976 The Ford Maverick was compact car manufactured from April 1969-1977 in the USA, Canada, Mexico and from 1973 to 1979 in Brazil &mdash employing a The AMC Hornet is a compact Automobile made by the American Motors Corporation (AMC beginning with the 1970 model year and continuing through the 1977 model The Pontiac Ventura was an automobile produced by the Pontiac Motor Division of General Motors. The Chevrolet Nova or Chevy II was an American Compact car introduced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors in 1962 Critics dubbed it "a Chevy Nova in drag. "
The US$195 GTO package included a three-speed manual transmission with Hurst floor shifter, heavy-duty suspension with front and rear anti-roll bars, a shaker hood, special grille, mirrors, and wheels, and various GTO emblems. A sway bar (also stabilizer bar anti-sway bar roll bar or anti-roll bar ARB) is an Automobile suspension A shaker scoop (sometimes inaccurately called a shaker hood scoop or a shaker hood) is an Automobile term for an air intake for combustion The only engine was the 350 in³ (5. 7 L) V8 with 7. 6:1 compression and a single four-barrel carburetor. It was rated at 200 hp (149 kW) @ 4,400 rpm and 295 ft·lbf (400 N·m) @ 2,800 rpm. Optional transmissions included a wide-ratio four-speed with Hurst shifter or the three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic.
The GTO option was available in both the base Ventura and Ventura Custom lines as either a two-door sedan or hatchback coupe. Hatchback is a term designating an Automobile design containing a passenger cabin with an integrated Cargo space accessed from behind the vehicle by a single The base Ventura interior consisted of bench seats and rubber floor mats, while the Ventura Custom had upgraded bench seats or optional Strato bucket seats along with carpeting, cushioned steering wheel, and custom pedal trim.
Bias-belted tires were standard equipment, but a radial tuned suspension option added radial tires along with upgraded suspension tuning for improved ride and handling.
Cars Magazine tested a 1974 GTO with the optional four-speed and obtained a 0-60 mph time of 7. 7 seconds and a quarter mile reading of 15. 72 seconds @ 88 mph (142 km/h).
Sales were an improvement over 1973, at 7,058, but not enough to justify continuing the model.
1975 to 1999
Pontiac had planned to offer a 1975 GTO, again based on the compact Ventura and powered by a Pontiac-built 350 in³ V8. The Ventura and other GM compacts underwent substantial styling and engineering changes, the latter including front and rear suspensions similar to the sporty Firebird. In the end, however, the GTO was discontinued following a corporate decision to switch to Buick V8 engines on the 1975 Ventura line, though Pontiac V8s were continued in all other division models. Like its sister General Motors divisions Buick produced its own family of V8 engines to replace its straight-8 engines.
In 1975, an enterprising Pontiac dealer in the Eastern United States reportedly decided to "create" a new GTO. The Eastern Half of The United States, the American East, or simply the East is traditionally defined as the states east of the Mississippi River. Sensing that the 1974 GTO should have continued on the intermediate LeMans platform rather than downsized to the Ventura line, this dealer advertised and sold an undetermined number of 1975 Pontiac GTOs. These cars were factory-ordered by the dealer as LeMans Sport Coupes equipped with the 400 or 455 in³ V8s with four-barrel carburetors, Turbo Hydra-Matic transmissions, Strato bucket seats and console, power steering, power disc brakes, Rally II or Honeycomb wheels, and Radial Tuned Suspension with whitewall or white-lettered radial tires. The dealer replaced the Pontiac and LeMans nameplates with "GTO" badges inside and out. This dealer-made 1975 GTO could be ordered with any LeMans exterior/interior combination along with any other extra-cost options available on the regular LeMans.
In 1976, Jim Wangers reportedly presented a LeMans Sport Coupe as a new GTO Judge prototype with a 400 in³ V8 that was painted Carousel Red to Pontiac division officials as a possible GTO revival to supplement dramatic sales increases for the Firebird Trans Am (now accounting for 50% of Firebird sales) for those buyers who wanted a sporty performance car but needed a roomier back seat and larger trunk. However, division officials turned down the idea of an intermediate-sized GTO, but the concept was considered and approved for production; not as a GTO revival, but as the 1977 Pontiac Can Am. The Pontiac Can Am is a mid size muscle car based on the LeMans.
During the subsequent 30 years, Pontiac considered several plans to revive the GTO nameplate, but none came to fruition. In 1988, when Oldsmobile planned to create a 442 based on the Cutlass Calais, Pontiac built a prototype GTO based on the Grand Am, equipped with a Quad 4 engine. Oldsmobile was a brand of Automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. The Oldsmobile Calais, renamed the Cutlass Calais for 1988 was a Compact car produced by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors from 1985 The Quad 4 (called Twin Cam after 1995 was a DOHC and SOHC Straight-4 Automobile engine produced by General Motors The revived 442, introduced for the 1990 model year, proved to be a low seller, leading Pontiac to quietly cancel the GTO revival.
Japanese automaker Mitsubishi marketed a GTO coupe, although it was sold in U. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. is the sixth largest Automaker in Japan and the seventeenth largest in the world by global unit sales The Mitsubishi GTO is a sports grand tourer built by Japanese Automaker Mitsubishi Motors between 1990 and 2001 although in most export markets it S. and Canada as the Mitsubishi 3000GT to avoid legal conflicts with Pontiac. The Mitsubishi GTO is a sports grand tourer built by Japanese Automaker Mitsubishi Motors between 1990 and 2001 although in most export markets it Fans of the original GTO considered the appropriation of a famous muscle car by a Japanese automaker to be sacrilegious, much as sports car fans of the 1960s had been infuriated by Pontiac borrowing the name of the Ferrari racer.
1999 concept car
During the 1999 Detroit Auto Show, a GTO concept car with a heritage-inspired Coke-bottle shape, grille, and hood scoop, was introduced to the world. The North American International Auto Show (previously called the Detroit Auto Show and often abbreviated NAIAS) is an annual Auto show held in It was only a design experiment and had no engine. The concept never made it into production.
Revival
2004
The Pontiac GTO was relaunched in the United States in 2004, based on the Holden Monaro's V platform. The Monaro is an Automobile which was produced by Holden, the Australian branch of General Motors from 1968 to 1977 and then re-introduced The Monaro is a 2 door coupe variant of the Australian developed VT/VX Holden Commodore. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The Holden VT Commodore, released in 1997 was the tenth model of the Holden Commodore, a Full-size car built by Holden, the Australian subsidiary The Commodore was in turn developed by enlarging the European designed 1994 Opel Omega B, which was marketed in its original form in the U. There was also an Oldsmobile Omega, an unrelated vehicle that was produced during the 1970s and 1980s The Opel Omega was an Executive car S. from 1997 to 2001 as the Cadillac Catera. The Cadillac Catera was a Mid-sized automobile that was largely a rebadged version of the Opel Omega MV6 made in Rüsselsheim The revival was prompted by former GM chairman Bob Lutz,[1] who drove a Holden Monaro while on a business trip in Australia. Bob Lutz may refer to Bob Lutz (tennis, American tennis player of the 1970s Robert Lutz Vice Chairman at General Motors
![[1]](http://leadership.wharton.upenn.edu/l_change/trips/Lutz_Bobb.jpg){kind=link}
The GTO was produced by GM's Holden subsidiary in the suburb of Elizabeth, South Australia. GM Holden Ltd is an Australian automaker based in Port Melbourne Victoria. Elizabeth is a suburb in the northern extent of Adelaide, South Australia. It was equipped with the Corvette's LS1 ('04) and LS2 ('05-'06) V8 engine with a choice of a 6-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic. The LS series is a new design intended as the only V-8 engine utilized in General Motors ' line of RWD cars and trucks The same model was sold in the United Kingdom as the Vauxhall Monaro and in the Middle East as a Chevrolet Lumina SS. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Vauxhall Motors is a British automobile company It is a subsidiary of General Motors Corporation (GM and is part of GM Europe. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. This is the article about the Lumina sedan and Coupe. For the Lumina minivan see Chevrolet Lumina APV. GM North America made a deal with Holden to produce a maximum of 18,000 vehicles per year starting in late 2003 and going through to the end of the 2006 model year. The 18,000 units was the production limit for the model at the Australian assembly plant.
GM had high expectations to sell 18,000 units, but the Monaro-based GTO received a lukewarm reception in the U. S. In a perplexing contrast to its more modern, sportier design, the styling was frequently derided by critics as being too "conservative" and "anonymous" to befit either the GTO heritage or the current car's performance. In addition, the GTO faithful felt further insulted by GM's failure to present a U. S. -built car that incorporated any design lineage from the muscular icons of the 1960s and 1970s. Given the newly revived muscle car climate, it was also overshadowed by the Chrysler 300, the Dodge Charger, Dodge Magnum and the new Ford Mustang, which all featured more traditional "muscle" aesthetics. The Chrysler 300 is a Full-size car designed by Haitian-Canadian Ralph Gilles. The Dodge Charger is an American Automobile manufactured by Chrysler, under the Dodge brand name The Dodge Magnum name has been used on a number of different Automobiles The most recent is a large Rear-wheel drive Station wagon introduced in 2004 The Ford Mustang sports coupe, manufactured by the Ford Motor Company, was initially based on the Ford Falcon Sales were also limited because of dealer tactics, such as initially charging large markups and denying requests for test drives of the vehicle. A car dealership or vehicle local distribution is a business that sells new cars and/or Used cars at the Retail level based on a dealership contract By the end of the year, the 2004 vehicles were selling with significant discounts. Sales were 13,569 of 15,728 cars for 2004.
To help squelch comments about the car's appearance, the hood scoops that originally were slated for production in 2004, were pushed into production as part of an over-the-counter Sport Appearance Package. The 2004 Sport Appearance Package also included a taller and more angular rear spoiler as well as deeper inset grilles.
Closing out the 2004 model year was the W40 package. Rumored to be a stillborn 40th anniversary package, it gave the buyer an exclusive paint color called Pulse Red, red GTO embroidery on the seats, and a grey colored gauge cluster. The last 800 2004 GTOs were built with the W40 package.
2005
The 2005 model year continued with the addition of standard hood scoops, split rear exhaust, and late in the year, optional 18 inch (45. 7 cm) wheels. The major change for 2005 was the replacement of the LS1 engine with the LS2 engine. This 5,967 cc (364. 1 cu in) motor increased power and torque in the GTO to 400 hp (298 kW) with 400 ft·lbf (542 N·m) torque. With this improved powerplant, Pontiac claimed the car capable of 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 4. 6 seconds and a 13. 0 second quarter mile at 108 mph (174 km/h) (automatic transmission). Car and Driver magazine tested the car at 4. Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast Magazine. 8 seconds 0-60 mph and 13. 3 seconds at 107 mph (172 km/h) for the quarter mile[1], so the claims seem justified. Dashboard gauge graphics were also revised. The optional dealer installed Sport Appearance Package became available and differed visually by having a different lower rear fascia that sported quad chrome exhaust tips, louder aggressive sounding mufflers, a modified spoiler, a modified front lower fascia extension, recessed SAP Grilles, and modified rocker panels. This package was available from GM as an accessory in red, silver, black, or primer for other color cars. Nonetheless, production was scaled back to 11,069, primarily because of a shortened model year. Barbados Blue and Cosmos Purple were dropped this year, but Cyclone Grey and Midnight Blue Metallic were added. On a side note, customers had the option to order their GTO without hood scoops, though only 24 were produced this way.
2006
For 2006, two additional colors were added to the line up, Spice Red Metallic and Brazen Orange Metallic, while Midnight Blue Metallic and Yellow Jacket were dropped. Changes for 2006 included revised blacked-out tail lamps, illuminated steering wheel radio controls and an interior power door lock switch. The climate control button for the A/C also had the word "Defrost" added to it for the 2006 model year.
On February 21, 2006, General Motors reportedly told dealers that it would halt imports of the GTO in September, making 2006 the last model year for the current GTO generation. Events 362 - Athanasius returns to Alexandria. 1245 - Thomas, the first known Bishop of Finland Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. This should have come as no surprise since this generation GTO was only intended to be produced for those 3 years from the beginning of the program.
The final production numbers of the 2006 Pontiac GTO are 13,948 cars, an increase from 11,069 from the previous model year.
The last Pontiac GTO, which was also the very last Monaro-based coupe produced, came off the assembly line in Australia on June 14, 2006. Events 1276 - While taking exile in Fuzhou in southern China, away from the advancing Mongol invaders, the remnants of the Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. [2] Total production for all three years was 40,808 vehicles. [2]
Motorsports
- A GTO was driven by stunt and former rally driver Rhys Millen between 2004-2006 in Formula D and D1 Grand Prix. A stunt is an unusual and difficult physical feat or any act requiring a special skill performed for artistic purposes in TV, Theatre, or cinema Rallying is a form of motor competition that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars Rhys Millen (born in New Zealand) nephew of IMSA GTS driver Steve Millen, son of Rod and elder brother of Ryan, is one Formula D is a United States ' drifting seriesIt is not a racing formula the name is taken for vanity's sake only The Autobacs D1 Grand Prix (Japanese D1グランプリ in Katakana, D1 guranpuri in Romaji, abbreviated as D1GP and subtitled
- Several racing GTOs, known as GTO. R, were used in the Rolex Sports Car Series and built by Pratt & Miller. The Rolex Sports Car Series is the premiere series run by the Grand American Road Racing Association. Pratt & Miller Engineering and Fabrication is a company formed by Gary Pratt and Jim Miller in 1989. The Racer's Group won the driver's, team's, and constructor's championship in 2006. The Racer's Group is a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Rolex Sports Car Series racing team located in Petaluma California owned by Kevin Buckler The 2006 Rolex Sports Car Series season was the seventh season of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve These cars, the # 65 driven by Andy Lally, Marc Bunting, and R. J. Valentine, and the # 64, driven by Kelly Collins and Paul Edwards, were GTO-bodied tube-frame racecars powered by GM LS2-based racing motors and sequential five-speed transaxles.
In 2007, the GTO. R was replaced by the Pontiac G6 GXP. The Pontiac G6 is a Mid-size car produced under the Pontiac brand of American automaker General Motors. R.
- Several GTO bodied cars powered by GM's DRCE (Drag Racing Competition Engine) have raced in NHRA Pro Stock and Pro Mod categories, including championship winning Greg Anderson's Summit Racing GTO. "NHRA" redirects here For other uses see NHRA (disambiguation. Greg Anderson (born March 14, 1961 in Duluth, Minnesota) is a current NHRA POWERADE Pro Stock driver for Summit Racing
Greg Anderson Summit Racing GTO, 2007 Pro Stock runner-up
Jason Line Summit Racing GTO 2006 Pro Stock Champion
Warren Johnson's GM Performance Parts GTO
In popular culture
In the Transformers live-action film, a Monaro-based GTO was retrofitted with Camaro Concept-style body parts for the "role" of Bumblebee. Transformers is a 2007 Live-action Film adaptation of the ''Transformers'' franchise, directed by Michael Bay and
In the superhero television show, "Justice League Unlimited", the superhero, "The Question" drives a blue 1965 GTO
References
- ^ Quiroga, Tony (January 2005), “2005 Pontiac GTO v 2005 Ford Mustang GT - Comparison Tests”, Car and Driver, <http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/coupes/21st_century_muscle_cars_comparison_test/>
- ^ a b Dowling, Joshua (July 7, 2006), “The real last Monaro”, The Sydney Morning Herald, <http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=18207>
See also
External links
- LS1GTO.com The #1 04-06 GTO Board on the Net
- abodysite.com The A-Body Site - 1973 Pontiac GTO Info, Forums and 73-77 platform derivatives
- UltimateGTO.com GTO picture site. Events 1456 - A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Monaro is an Automobile which was produced by Holden, the Australian branch of General Motors from 1968 to 1977 and then re-introduced The Monkeemobile is a modified Pontiac GTO that was designed and built by designer Dean Jeffries for The Monkees, a pop-rock band and Television program
- GTOAA.ORG GTO Association of America
- NCGTOA.COM Northern Colorado GTO Association
- Classic GTO history
- Muscle Car Club GTO page
- LSXGTO.net Pontiac GTO Forums
- Pontiac GTO information
- Future vehicles
- Revenge Edition GTO