Auto A Go-Go: Violating GM Policy = Good Idea

GTO. Gran Turismo Omologato. Built for racing as it was for cruising the streets. Many consider the GTO to be the first true muscle car.

The GTO has known two lives, first produced from 1964 to 1974 and then resurrected in 2004. Lets put the focus on the earlier real and raw muscle car. During its original 10 year run, the car went through six generations. Other manufacturers were focusing on producing full-size vehicles, but Pontiac saw potential in another project: taking a large, big block engine and dropping it in a medium framed car and selling it at a budget price. Thus, the muscle car was born. In order to get the project on the road, Pontiac had to sneak their way around GM rules and regulations. Was the outcome going to be worth the trouble? You bet...

In 1964, the road was dominated by full size vehicles. GM specifically stated that mid-size vehicles were strictly prohibited to be fitted with an engine greater than 330 cid -- Cubic Inch Displacement ( switched to the metric system in the 80s -- liters). Engine Displacement refers to the volume swept by all the pistons in the engine from a single movement from Top Dead Centre (TDC) to Bottom Dead Centre (BDC). There is some math involved, but it's a simple equation:

Displacement = (π/4) x (bore²) x stroke x number of cylinders

Bore is the diameter measurement of the cylinders inside and engine.
Stroke refers to the distance the piston travels.
Dead Centre refers to the point at which a piston is the furthest (top dead centre) away or nearest (bottom dead centre) to the crankshaft.

Pontiac took it upon themselves to throw the book out the window and put a 389 cid engine in their Tempest model, but presented it as an option for the Tempest, and called it the GTO. Did they name it after the famed Ferrari 250 GTO? Perhaps... and what a car to be named after! It was a long shot and Pontiac aimed at selling 5,000 units but far exceeded their expectations and sold over 32,000 units! It was the hottest performance machine yet! This novel idea fueled the competition between GM, Ford and Chrysler and gave way to a thriving muscle car industry.

The success of the 1964 Tempest GTO prompted Pontiac to keep on producing and improving the car through 1965. In 1966, Pontiac made the GTO its own model, which reached sales of almost 100,000 units, the highest number sold for any true muscle car.

In 1968, however the GTO was very much restyled. Its most prominent feature was actually its "lack of bumper" look. The car was equipped with the Endura Bumper, which was made of rubber and gave it the bumper-less look.

In 1969, the famous Judge was introduced. The new option packet was named after the TV show "Laugh In, and came complete with a more powerful engine, a larger spoiler and showy body paints and decals.

The body was once again drastically restyled in 1970, and in 1971, the already declining sales crashed along with the car's performance as GM was strict in following government regulations on emissions and noise pollution. 1971 was also the GTO's last year being its own, separate model. in 1972, the GTO was back to being an option to the LeMans and LeMans Sport. The Judge was also discontinued as well as the convertible option. Rumor has it that one convertible was produced as well as a handful of... GTO station wagons?!?! (If you have evidence, please share!) The 1973 GTO was still based on the LeMans, but it was so ugly (really), it didn't even reach 5,000 units in production. Finally, in 1974, the once dominating GTO was reduced to an option on the compact Ventura, with a 350 V8 engine that shamed its proud predecessors.

Despite its dwindling sales and progressively worse oh-so-70s homely looks, the GTO's name still represents the image of the Great One that lead to an American phenomenon: the muscle car era.

Snapshots of two 1966, 1967 GTOs at the auto show in Culver City last weekend.