Pontiac is a branch of General Motors, engaged in the production of sports cars. The Pontiac GTO was produced by the company from 1964 to 1974. Besides, General Motors Holden released the GM Pontiac GTO from 2004 to 2006 in Australia.
GTO is often called the first muscle car. From 1964 to 1973, the Pontiac Tempest served as the base for the car, and the 1974 year Pontiac GTO model was built on the basis of the Pontiac Ventura.
Its name GTO or Gran Turismo Omologato was adopted from the Italian company Ferrari. In 1967, GM Pontiac GTO acquired a new 6.6-liter engine in several versions:
- Standard 335 hp
- Deformed 255 hp
- Forced 360 hp
As a more powerful option, Pontiac offered the L67 Ram Air package, which included stiffer valve springs and an improved camshaft.
An interesting fact: in 1963 a decision was made by the leadership of General Motors Corporation to ban the participation in races of all types. Of course, this caused some difficulties for the work of the team of carmakers.
First Generation 1964 – 1967
The appearance of the novelty impressed contemporaries: Powerful lines, brutality and excellent style. Before it turned out to be very long, and it was decorated with 4 head optics, in brilliant bezels, as well as a forked grille with a horizontal line and a GTO nameplate. At the end – a chrome front bumper.
The hood flaunted a pair of air intakes and protruding stamping in the center. The wings also stood out in a similar bend and the wheel arches and sills with chrome trim. The body of the first generation was not yet distinguished by a roof cluttered back, which became fashionable later. It was flat, and the rear wings and trunk lid were long and massive. The taillights occupied the entire length of the trunk rib.
The car was originally produced in 3 bodies:
- Sedan
- Coupe
- Cabriolet
In 1965, during a small restyling of the GM Pontiac GTO, the front and rear were changed – the hood received a different air intake, the headlights were located vertically, and the exhaust also changed.
Initially, the Pontiac GTO was equipped with a 325-horsepower V8, a volume of 6.4 liters with a 4-chamber Carter type carburetor. As an option, an even more powerful, 6.4-liter V8 Tri-Power at 348 hp was available.
The following 1965, the motors were modernized. The power of the base engine rose to 335 hp, but the Tri-Power – up to 360 hp.
Second Generation 1968 – 1973
Significant changes are taking place on this Pontiac GTO modification. For example, the vertical arrangement of headlights of the head optics changes to horizontal. Also there is a new air intake on the hood, not so convex. And a new bumper is installed, which absorbs shock, but does not allow permanent deformation of the body. Besides, the machine is noticeably reduced in size – its length is now 150 mm less.
In 1971, a slight restyling of the Pontiac GTO occurs, during which it grows slightly in length, receives other moldings, a new hood equipped with a pair of slots in the front, and a new grille.
The base power unit was slightly modernized, its power increased to 350 hp. But most importantly, an additional Ram Air II package was developed, which significantly increased power, although officially it remained the same.
In 1969, a motor with a Rochester Quadrajet power system in the Ram Air III package was already delivering 255 hp, 335 hp or 366 hp. And as part of the package, Ram Air IV acquired a 4-chamber carburetor, a new camshaft, a modified intake manifold, hydraulic lifters and other components. The following year, the 7.4-liter, 360-horsepower Pontiac’s HO engine appeared.
And then in 1971 the company’s leaders ordered the engines to be low-octane fuel, which reduced the power of the top engines to 300 liters. from. and 325 liters with., respectively.
Third and Fourth Generations 1973 – 1974
GM Pontiac GTO was an optional package for LeMans and was an updated A-body with a Colonnade rigid roof design, which excluded the true design with a folding rigid roof, but retained frameless door windows. The rear side windows now had a fixed design and a triangular shape. New federal laws of 1973 required front bumpers to withstand impacts at 5 mph without damaging the body. The result was the use of outstanding and heavy chrome bumpers front and rear.
To save the model, in 1974 they released a new GTO modification, created on the basis of Pontiac Venture. All changes were aimed at entering the compact Muscle car segment, as well as to avoid competition with the Pontiac Grand Am.
However, the model came out mediocre – with a rather inexpressive design that did not correspond to the former glory of the model.
The engine was relatively low-power, for Muscle Cars, it was a 5.7-liter engine that produced 200 hp at 4400 rpm and 400 Nm of torque at 2800 rpm. The power unit could be equipped with a mechanical 3- and 4-speed gearbox or a Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission.
Fifth Generations 2004 – 2006
The Pontiac GTO was revived in 2004, in the back of a two-door coupe, on the platform of Holden Monaro’s V. Its design was at the highest level – modern, stylish and moderately aggressive.
When creating the exterior of a new generation, designers decided to completely abandon previous achievements and developments. And if the Ford Mustang V or Dodge Challenger can see the signature features inherent in the first generation, then in the case of GTO, everything is completely different.
The car body received streamlined lines that give it a sporty character. Two air intakes flaunt on the hood as if emphasizing that we have a representative of a family of sports cars. The front bumper also has a large air intake. At the rear, the car is equipped with a small spoiler, a streamlined rear bumper, and the same brake lights. The car was equipped with 8-cylinder, V-shaped engines from the LS V8 Corvette series.
In 2004, the LS1 was put on the model, with a volume of 5.7 liters and a power of 355 hp and 495 Nm of torque. But already in the next year, 2005, the plant switched to a Pontiac GTO complete set with an LS2 power unit with a volume of 6 liters, the power of which was already 405 hp, and the torque reached 542 Nm at 4000 rpm. This power unit was able to accelerate the car to a speed of 100 km / h in just 5 seconds.