Project GTO SC History

GTO History

The Pontiac GTO, in all respects a muscle car, debuted in 1964 and continued until 1974. John Zachary DeLorean, best known for the Delorean automobiles, was the individual who forced the development of the legendary GTO. The vehicle was very successful because it was able to capitalize on a segment of the market that had not been fully realized. Most of the muscle cars during this time were full-size cars. They had large engines, but due to the weight they were usually slow to accelerate. Pontiac offered a combination of 389 cubic-inch engines in their mid-size Tempest line and called it a GTO. The name GTO comes from Ferrari. It means Gran Turismo Omolgato.
The GTO package included the V8 engine, premium tires, special hydraulic lifters, dual exhaust, manual three and four-speed transmission with a Hurst shifter, heavy-duty clutch, improved suspension, a 3.23:1 rear axle ration, dual hood scoops, GTO emblems, and bucket seats. The 389 cubic-inch engine was rated at 325-348 horsepower depending on the configuration and modification of the engine. The 428 ft-lbs of torque were even more astonishing. Placing this mammoth engine in a mid-size sedan created a vehicle that was untouchable. It was available in either the coupe or convertible body styles. Pontiac sold nearly 32,500 GTO's during the first year.
The 1967 model year featured only minor styling changes for the 1967 GTO, as compared to the 1966 model, mostly in the front grill and taillights. However, a GM corporate wide mandate prohibited multi-carburetor engines, except for the Corvette, so the Tri-Power was no longer available. Good news arrived in the form of a 400 cubic inch motor, a bored out version of the 389. Dramatic new Rally II wheel appeared and a new 3-speed automatic transmission resulted in a major increase in sales of automatic transmission-equipped cars. The 1967 GTO is considered by many GTO enthusiasts to be the 'Best looking' and most desirable of all GTOs. Also, in 1967 the Monkees TV show featured a 1967 GTO, the famed 'Monkeemobile' which resulted in major exposure for the car. The '67 GTO is one of the rarest surviving Goats today

Project GTO SC History

I bought our Project Car when I was 16 or 17 years old. It was bone stock, yet one of the fastest cars I ever owned! GTO's have enough torque to pull out tree stumps, or smoke the tires for a block! The perfect car for a "Teenage Gear Head". The car did need a paint job though. The Metalic Marron was left over paint that someone had given me (my brother probabley), and then I snazed-it-up with Metalic Blue flames! I think the blue was left over from the paint job on my mom's car. The combination was a little gross, but all it cost me was time and thinner!

A short time later another GTO crossed my path, this one was Metalic Silver and had mag wheels, I bought the second Goat and begain Hot Rodding it. Before long the first GTO became the parts car for the second GTO. The second car, soon became my favorite project car I ever built. A good buddy, Steve Santos help me build a bored and stroked 400 that cranked out some nasty horsepower! The car took me two years to build, but when it was done, it was beautiful. It drew crowds wherever it went!

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Roy's History

When I was a kid, my older brother and sister's use to put me in the back seat of their cars and go cruise the local strip. You see, they usually had to "baby sit" on Friday or Saturday nights, so I spent a lot of time cruising the local strips long before I could drive. My dad was a mechanic, and brother built hot rods. It was in my genes, it was in my blood to be a hot rodder!

When I was fourteen I was building a Morris Minor coupe with a small block chevy in it, my daily driver to high school was a mile high '55 Chevy wagon, I've had over 20 different cars in my life (most of them before the age of 21). I was president of the local car club (East Bay Street Diggers, still have my club jacket), an NHRA member, NSRA member, etc., I volunteered at Hot August Nights for a number of years. Let's face it, I'm a "Gear Head" and proud of it! I was a brake & front end specialist for many years at Big "O" Tires, but ended-up publishing my own magazine for another 12 years, I'm currently a sales coordinator for the Ford office at one of the biggest auction houses on the West Coast.

I've also done a lot of freelance photo journalism for hot rod magazines all over the world, including; Popular Hot Rodding, American Rodder, and many more.

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