So this is the Big Reveal from yesterday’s CC Clue / QOTD. I guess some of you jaded Amerikaners, bloated by a constant stream of car meets consisting mainly of over-restored coupes and watery coffee (the Japanese stuff is just as bad, by the way), will go: “Meh, Ponniac hardtop… very inneresting.” Well at least it’s not another friggin’ ’67 Mustang or Camaro, so there’s that.
And come on, these cars are downright gorgeous. The ’67 is the last year that the GTO nailed it, to my eyes. I know, everyone has a different cut-off date for when Pontiac lost the plot on that sub-nameplate. Our Editor asserted that 1972 was the last year as far as he was concerned. I take his point, but I further like to sort the first-gen cars into two groups: chrome nose (1964-67) and plastic mouth (1968-72). And I’m firmly in favour of the former, which leads me to put my cut-off date in 1968.
The stacked headlights on these early models – well, except the ‘64s – make them all the more appealing, in my view. Sort of like a Cadillac, but without the pointy rear and the ostentation.
The only problem with this one is that it was fairly inaccessible, even when uncovered. I would have loved to have peek inside and get a rear end shot, but alas ‘twas not to be. I did manage a sort of profile shot here, but that’s about as far as I could go without trespassing.
Seven months. That’s how long I had to wait to find out what was under the tarp. I went back to check on my mystery car about once a fortnight, as it wasn’t exactly on one of my regular routes. The slight detour was well worth the effort, though. I made a number of other CC encounters on my way to or from this GTO. Guess I’m going to have to try and find another riddle to crack…
Related posts:
Curbside Classic: 1967 Pontiac GTO – No Supplements Needed, by Joseph Dennis
Curbside Classic: 1965 Pontiac GTO – How To Create a Legend and Build a Brand, by PN
Curbside Classic: 1966 Pontiac GTO – The Perfect Childhood?, by JPC
Curbside Classic: 1966 Pontiac GTO – A Goat or a Mule?, by JPC
Cohort Outtake: 1964 Pontiac GTO Post Coupe – A Wolf In Goat’s Clothing, by PN
Cohort Outtake: 1972 Pontiac GTO – The Last “Real” GTO, by PN
It really is lovely and for once I don’t even mind the non-stock wheels. Thanks for your persistence.
Yeah, if someone just ‘has’ to go with those large diameter rims, getting ones that have a quasi-retro Magnum 500 look are probably the best choice on an old musclecar.
But, personally, I still prefer staying with an authentic, classic original look, meaning a maximum wheel diameter of 15″. It just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to spend the money and effort on a thorough restoration that keeps the stock appearance, then use big-ass, current, large diameter wheels.
Fooled me! I was thinking Chrysler Corp., along with many. I just didn’t think of the Pontiac’s headlight pods as being boxy/prominent like this. Thanks for the reminder of this distinctive styling, which sure seems good from any angle!
Gorgeous car!
As usual my guesses were wrong.
Definitely not an Earl Sheib paint job!
(putting on my Concours-judge hat) Where is the GTO badge on the quarter panel…though the absolutely clean look of the car’s side is appealing
I got so lost in the gorgeous paint that I almost didn’t notice.
Is this a genuine GTO or a replica built from a Le Mans?
I was wondering the same thing. It seems really odd to remove the GTO badge on the real thing.
The angle isn’t quite right but is the GTO badging missing from the grille too?
It does have the badge on the rockerpanel behind the front wheel.
The reason for the badge behind the front wheel (if it’s a clone) is because that sill trim is unique to the GTO, thus the badge is intrinsically part of it.
It is the angle, Jim.
Here’s the grille badge…
Oh good, I was starting to look for the Fiero… 🙂
Using a 1967 GTO for side badge removal is probably the best choice, due to that front fender emblem being incorporated into the chrome rocker molding, as well as the last year with no side marker lights. The result would be a very clean, smooth side, yet one, discreet GTO emblem would remain.
FWIW, I think I recall reading that there were a total of seven (!) GTO emblems on the cars, including not one, but two on each side (one on the front fender and the lettering on the quarter panel). A huge part of the GTO’s appeal was the stellar marketing (adman Jim Wangers gets most of the credit), and all those emblems played a big part of that.
A very interesting comparison with today’s vehicles, many of which might have just one, solitary identifying emblem (and sometimes not even that).
It is interesting that cars for the most part have fewer emblems than they did in the past.
Trucks on the other hand have more emblems and/or stickers than they used to. For example there didn’t used to be big 4×4 stickers on bed sides, you knew it was 4×4 because it sat several inches higher than the 2wd version.
In addition to that there are sometimes quite prominent badges denoting the trim level. See the upper F-150 trims with the individual letters spelling out Limited and Platinum on the bed sides and/or tail gate.
“In addition to that there are sometimes quite prominent badges denoting the trim level. See the upper F-150 trims with the individual letters spelling out Limited and Platinum on the bed sides and/or tail gate.”
Sooner or later someone is going to come up with the bright idea of 8″ tall numerals spelling out the MSRP on the tailgate. Then it’ll be Game On!
Reminds me of the CC on the old Jeep pickup that had ’10-4′ slathered on the sides of the bed.
When 20”+ wheels started getting popular with the aftermarket there were people that put emblems on the vehicles denoting the wheel diameters. They were especially common on first gen Escalades.
@Jim, great idea!
@ XR7 I remember when those were popular but I never saw them that included the little bar that says “size matters” or “rim size”.
Other than the color and the wheels, and the tinted rear quarter windows, I like the car. My family bought a new one when I was 10 and just starting to be car-aware: Linden green with black vinyl top and automatic on column. Those Tempest-based cars, even then, were notorious for rusting fast; the dealer had to do an entire strip-and-repaint within 3 years.
Also: These seemed to be instantly antiquated when the ’68s came out (bodywise, at least; their drivetrains were much the same). The windshield alone made the ’68 seem much more modern.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a color like that on an automobile of any type before, and it’s strikingly eye catching. Almost a cross between mauve and raspberry. Imagine that paired with a cream interior and black carpet. Devine, and I don’t particularly like these GTO’s to begin with…
Knew it! 😁
I was wrong in my IDing those wheels as upsized Rally IIs, interestingly in 17” that subtle tapering spoke shape ends up so thick by the time it gets to the rim it looks like a Pontiac Rally. Traditional Magnum 500s in 14” or 15” the spokes don’t look as tapered in comparison. Good fit with the car, I too am not much of a fan of larger than stock diameters but if you want fatter grippier tires and larger disc brakes you gotta do what you gotta do. I’d feel much more confident driving this around in modern traffic than if it had stock 14s, drums and repopped bias ply redlines that my aesthetic senses would prefer.
Always liked the style of these.
Did all ’60’s GTOs have vinyl seats?