Pontiac GTO

Pontiac GTO generations

Gross ratings were used until 1971 and net ratings from 1972, so the drop in the table partly reflects the new way of measuring. The story of the brand is in Pontiac's history.

Origins: an option package that broke the rules (1964)

The GTO is credited to John DeLorean, Bill Collins and Russ Gee, with Jim Wangers of Pontiac's advertising agency promoting it. The team offered the big 389 V8 as an option package on the Tempest LeMans rather than as a separate model. Production began on 3 September 1963 for the 1964 model year. The name came from the Ferrari 250 GTO, the initials standing for Gran Turismo Omologato.

The package added sports tyres, quicker steering and dual exhausts to the 389 V8, and a low price did the rest. Pontiac had planned 5,000 cars and sold 32,450 in the first year. Of these, 24,205 had the four-barrel 389 and 8,245 the Tri-Power version with three two-barrel carburettors; by our count, the more powerful option made up about 25% of first-year sales.

First generation (1964–1967)

For 1965 the car received a new body with vertically stacked quad headlights. In 1966 the GTO became a model in its own right and had its best year, with 96,946 cars sold. Compared with 1964, that was 199% more. The 1966–1967 cars have the "Coke bottle" side profile with curved rear wings. In 1967 the 389 was enlarged to 400 cu in. A bonnet-mounted tachometer, lit at night, arrived as an option. Buyers could choose three- and four-speed manual gearboxes or two- and later three-speed automatics.

Second generation (1968–1972)

The 1968 GTO had a new body and a body-coloured Endura front bumper made of energy-absorbing plastic, which could take small knocks without damage. Hidden headlights were optional but fitted to most cars. The 1968 GTO was Motor Trend's Car of the Year, and 87,684 were built.

In 1969 Pontiac added The Judge, a performance and appearance package. It accounted for 6,833 of the 72,287 GTOs sold that year, or about 9.5%, and returned in 1970, when Pontiac built 3,797 Judges, and in 1971. From 1969 the ignition lock moved to the steering column as an anti-theft measure. Tighter emissions rules and higher insurance costs for muscle cars cut output and demand from 1971, and in 1972 the GTO became an option package on the LeMans again.

Gross and net horsepower explained

Pontiac, like other American makers, quoted SAE gross horsepower until 1971. Gross figures were measured on an engine running on a test stand without the full exhaust system, air cleaner and driven accessories, so they flattered the output. From 1972 the industry switched to SAE net ratings, measured with the engine as installed in the car. That change explains part of the fall from 276 kW (370 hp) in 1969 to 186–224 kW (250–300 hp) in 1972; tighter emissions rules explain the rest. Comparing a 1969 and a 1972 GTO on paper therefore overstates the real difference.

The final years: 1973 and 1974

For 1973 the GTO moved to the new Colonnade-style LeMans body with a 400 V8 of 172 kW (230 hp net) or a 455 with 186 kW (250 hp net), and sales fell to 4,806. In 1974 Pontiac moved the name to the compact Ventura, with a 350 V8 (5.7 l) of 149 kW (200 hp net); 7,058 were sold. The option was then dropped, and the muscle-car era ended with it.

Production by year

By our count, the classic years listed here add up to more than 498,000 cars, and 1971–1972 production comes on top.

The 2004–2006 GTO revival

The name returned in 2004 on a coupé imported from GM's Australian division Holden, based on the Holden Monaro and built at Holden's Elizabeth plant. It had rear-wheel drive and a GM V8. The 2004 car used the 5.7-litre LS1 with 261 kW (350 hp). From 2005 the 6.0-litre LS2 gave 298 kW (400 hp), 37 kW more. Of 15,728 cars imported for 2004, 13,569 were sold. Production was 11,069 in 2005 and 13,948 in 2006. GM stopped imports in September 2006 because the car would not meet new airbag rules for 2007. The last GTO was built on 14 June 2006. Compared with the 1974 Ventura-based car, the 2005 GTO had twice the power: 298 kW against 149 kW.