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The Pontiac GTO was a muscle car from Pontiac manufactured from 1964 to 1974. Many consider it to be the first true muscle car, since it was the first based on a mid-size platform rather than the full-size cars that earlier performance models had been based on. Pontiac got the name from Ferrari's GTO (Grand Turismo Omologato), although fans of the car sometimes maintained that it meant "GreaT One."
Staying true to the original concept—a muscle car developed off a family sedan platform—the Pontiac GTO nameplate was revived for the 2004 model year on a version of the Australian-built Holden Monaro.
1 1964
At first, the GTO was a performance option on the mid-size Pontiac Tempest, an extra $300 in 1964. The standard engine was a 389 cubic inch (6.4 litre) V8, with a 4-barrel carburetor for 325 bhp (242 kW) or an optional Tri-Power option (three two-barrel carburetors), for 348 bhp (260 kW). Expected sales were 5,000; 32,450 were actually sold.
2 1965
Such success meant an improved GTO for 1965, restyled with stacked headlights; the fake hood scoops could be turned into a functional ram-air induction setup. Power was up (to 360 bhp (268 kW) in Tri-Power form) and so were sales, to 75,342.
3 1966
1966's GTO was its own model series, no longer an option on the Tempest. The car was again restyled, the rear haunches gaining that distinctive late-60s 'coke-bottle' hump while the front end continued the evolution of Pontiac's signature stacked headlight styling. Sales were 96,946. In mid-year the Tri-Power option was dropped due to a corporate-wide edict against multiple carburetion in all GM vehicles (Corvette excepted). To make up for the loss of the Tri-Power option, 1967 saw the engine grow to 400 cubic inches (6.6 litres) and an HO version which matched the previous Tri-Power equipped engine's rating. Sales were 81,722.
4 1968
In 1968, the car was all-new, based on GM's new "A-body" and heavier than the previous year's models. There appeared to be no front bumper whatsoever; actually, the grille surround and front was made of a body-colored rubber compound called an Endura bumper. Hidden headlights were a popular option. It won the Motor TrendMotor Trend is one of the oldest automotive magazines still publishing. It appeared in September, 1949, issued by Peterson Publishing Company in Los Angeles, and bearing the tag line, The Magazine for a Motoring World. Today it is part of the Primedia Gro Car of the YearCar of the Year is a phrase usually considered to have been invented by Motor Trend magazine in the 1950s for their annual award for best automobile. The magazine still gives this award. It also refers to an award given yearly to the new automobile select award, and sales were 87,684.
5 1969
1969For other uses, see Number 1969. For the movie, see 1969 (movie). Events January January 1 Australian media baron Rupert Murdoch purchases the largest selling British Sunday newspaper The News Of The World January 5 The Derry Riots leave over 100 people i saw the launch of a new 'Judge' model of GTO, featuring a more powerful engine, bright paint colors, a rear spoiler, and decals. Optional on both regular and Judge models was a Ram Air IV engine said by the factory to deliver 370 bhp (276 kW) but in actuality significantly more powerful than that. Increased insurance premiums were beginning to hit the muscle car market hard, and manufacturers were starting to under-report horsepower. Sales that year were 72,287.
6 1970s
1970Events January events January 1 Construction begins on Arcosanti, by Paolo Soleri, in Mayer, Arizona, located 65, miles north of Phoenix, Arizona. January 1 Unix epoch at 00:00:00 UTC. January 12 Biafra capitulates, ending the Nigerian civil war. January's GTO featured a restyled front end featuring four exposed round headlamps and a narrower grille, as well as a bodyside crease and restyled rear. A 455 cubic inch (7.5 litre) engine was added to the range. Sales were down to 40,149 as the muscle car market started to decline. This decline became terminal in 19711971 is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). Events January January 1 British divorce Reform Act comes into force January 2 66 die in stairway crush at Rangers v Celtic football match, Glasgow, Scotland. See Ibrox disaster. Janua - only 10,532 GTOs were built that year. Power was down, thanks to emissions regulations and the mandated use of unleaded lower- octaneOctane is an alkane hydrocarbon with the chemical formula CH(CH)CH. It has many isomers; one of these, isooctane (2,2,4-trimetylpentane), is especially important, because its octane rating is by definition 100. It is an important constituent of petrol. gasoline. From 19721972 is a leap year starting on Saturday (click link for calendar). Events January events January 2 the Pierre Hotel Heist Six men rob the safety deposit boxes of the Pierre Hotel in New York City. Loot is at least $4 million January 5 President of the Un, the GTO became just an option package, first on the Pontiac LeMansThe Pontiac LeMans was an intermediate-sized automobile offered by the Pontiac division of General Motors from 1963 to 1981, after which it was renamed the Pontiac Bonneville for the 1982 model year as part of the division's downsizing after the fuel cris and in 1974, the GTO's last year, the compact Pontiac Ventura . The very muscle car concept was dying off, and these cars sold quite poorly indeed.
