Pontiac GTO
by Mitch Shindelbower
Title
Pontiac GTO
Artist
Mitch Shindelbower
Medium
Photograph
Description
Pontiac GTOThe Pontiac GTO is an American automobile built by Pontiac Division of General Motors from 1964 to 1974, and by GM subsidiary Holden in Australia from 2004 to 2006.
The first generation GTO was a muscle car classic of the 1960s and 1970s era. Although there were earlier muscle cars,[1][2] the Pontiac GTO is considered by some to have started the trend with all four domestic automakers offering a variety of competing models.[3]
From 1964 until midway through 1973, the GTO was related to the mid-sized Pontiac Tempest/LeMans. The 1974 GTO was a one-year only optional package available on the compact-sized two-door Pontiac Ventura.
The GTO model was revived from 2004 to 2006 model years as a captive import for Pontiac, a left-hand drive version of the Holden Monaro, itself a coupé variant of the Holden CommodoreThe GTO was the brainchild of Pontiac engineer Russell Gee, an engine specialist; Bill Collins, a chassis engineer; and Pontiac chief engineer John DeLorean. In early 1963, General Motors' management issued an edict banning divisions from involvement in auto racing. This followed the 1957 voluntary ban on automobile racing that was instituted by the Automobile Manufacturers Association.[4] By the early 1960s, Pontiac's advertising and marketing approach was heavily based on performance, and racing was an important component of that strategy. With GM's ban on factory-sponsored racing, Pontiac's young, visionary management turned its attention to emphasizing street performance.
In his autobiography Glory Days, Pontiac chief marketing manager Jim Wangers, who worked for the division’s contract advertising and public relations agency, states that John DeLorean, Bill Collins' and Russ Gee were responsible for the GTO's creation. It involved transforming the upcoming redesigned Tempest (which was set to revert to a conventional front-engine, front transmission, rear-wheel drive configuration) into a "Super Tempest" with the larger 389 cu in (6.4 L) Pontiac V8 engine from the full-sized Pontiac Catalina and Bonneville in place of the standard 326 cu in (5.3 L) Tempest V8. By promoting the big-engine Tempest as a special high-performance model, they could appeal to the speed-minded youth market (which had also been recognized by Ford Motor Company's Lee Iacocca, who was at that time preparing the sporty Ford Mustang variant of the second generation Ford Falcon compact).
The GTO was basically a violation of GM policy limiting the A-body intermediate line to a maximum engine displacement of 330 cu in (5.4 L). Since the GTO was an option package for the Pontiac Tempest and not standard equipment, it could be considered to fall into a loophole in the policy. Pontiac General Manager Elliot "Pete" Estes approved the new model, although sales manager Frank Bridge, who did not believe it would find a market, insisted on limiting initial production to 5,000 cars.
Name[edit]
The name, which was DeLorean's idea, was inspired by the Ferrari 250 GTO, the successful race car. It is an Italian abbreviation for Gran Turismo Omologato, ("Grand Tourer Homologated") that means officially certified for racing in the Grand tourer class. Other information from GM employees at the time say this is not true. They say The Pontiac Tempest was due for a new name in 1964. It was to be called the Grand Tempest, an optional car, based on the use of Pontiacs Grand Am and Grand Prix, but the name was to be Grand Tempest. Ferrari had not patented GTO in North America, so DeLorean grabbed that designation for the Pontiac Grand Tempest Option. Unfortunately, all the people who were involved are gone, so today the supposition that it was GTO as in Ferrari Gran Turismo Omologato has become commonly accepted. This car has been Grand Tempest Option since 1964. You may choose to believe what you like, but Pontiac does not use Italian words in their cars names. French yes, as in Acadian, Nova, Laurentian, Bonneville etc.
Uploaded
December 15th, 2014
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