Learn about the Pontiac GTO, America's first Muscle Car.
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ON THIS PAGE: ⚪ The First American Muscle Car History of the Pontiac GTO ⚪ James Humphrey on GTO History (video) |
First American
Muscle Car
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⚪ The Pontiac GTO spearheaded the American muscle car era. It was a standout among the most critical muscle autos ever constructed, and set the bar for each muscle car that followed.
From Pontiac's racing origins at Daytona Speedweek, to building a vehicle that everybody needed to purchase. Here are a few things to know about the Pontiac GTO, America's most compelling muscle car. |
The GTO was known to have attitude— a greater V8, hood scoops (fake ones), the thunder of double exausts, a Hurst shifter, racy trim and a name stolen from Ferrari.
Any Ferrari name either as well as that of what many consider the best Ferrari of all, the 250 GTO.
Those three vaunted letters meant "Gran Turismo Omologato," which deciphered signifies "Grand Touring Homologation." as it were, the Ferrari GTO was created just so that Ferrari could race in a "generation" GT class, which the GTO ruled.
Any Ferrari name either as well as that of what many consider the best Ferrari of all, the 250 GTO.
Those three vaunted letters meant "Gran Turismo Omologato," which deciphered signifies "Grand Touring Homologation." as it were, the Ferrari GTO was created just so that Ferrari could race in a "generation" GT class, which the GTO ruled.
HOW IT ALL STARTED
HISTORY OF THE GTO
In 1964, a group of passionate and slightly rebellious men at General Motors' Pontiac Motor Division led by John Z. Delorean built a car that not only launched an entirely new market, but also started an automotive revolution. The car was the Pontiac GTO, and it quickly became a thing of legend.
The GTO is the car that's widely credited as the first true American muscle car, and it was built with a formula that hot rodders and racers had already been using for decades — a bigger engine in a lighter car.
The beginning of the popular "muscle car" era is frequently dated as the minute the 1964 Pontiac GTO went on sale.
It's as great a date as any, yet it's not as though Pontiac's "Goat" was anything especially unique.
The American relationship with V8 motors was at that point somewhere around 32 years old (back to when the 1932 Ford, the primary reasonable V8, was presented), and fair size V8-controlled cars were accessible from each domestic manufacturer.
The GTO is the car that's widely credited as the first true American muscle car, and it was built with a formula that hot rodders and racers had already been using for decades — a bigger engine in a lighter car.
The beginning of the popular "muscle car" era is frequently dated as the minute the 1964 Pontiac GTO went on sale.
It's as great a date as any, yet it's not as though Pontiac's "Goat" was anything especially unique.
The American relationship with V8 motors was at that point somewhere around 32 years old (back to when the 1932 Ford, the primary reasonable V8, was presented), and fair size V8-controlled cars were accessible from each domestic manufacturer.
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Normally, the Ferraristi were set up to brawl around an American carmaker giving an average size car with no pedigree the same name from their legendary sports car. But the Pontiac GTO was arrogant, and it would remain so all through its 11-year first life. Pontiac wasn't the first to drop a big motor in a mid-sized car, but they were the first to market a mid-sized car with a big motor. |
Rivaling anything on the road in straight-line acceleration, the 1964 Tempest-based GTO was wildly successful, prompting others to use the same basic formula.
Every U.S. automotive manufacturer began packaging a factory hot rod with youth-oriented advertising, bringing about the muscle car craze of the sixties.
Every U.S. automotive manufacturer began packaging a factory hot rod with youth-oriented advertising, bringing about the muscle car craze of the sixties.
James Humphrey
on GTO History (video)
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⚪ Muscle cars became popular with young drivers in the mid-1960s.
Not only were they sleek, attractive, and powerful, they were also affordable and able to be driven for everyday street use, as well as formal and informal drag racing. These speedy muscle cars could travel in excess of 120 miles per hour, which made them popular as informal drag racers. They were great for competing. |
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