Wish my first GTO had been a ‘64 Convertible. Was asleep at the switch and bought a ‘64 TR-4. Big Mistake!
A year later, I traded it in on a ‘65 4-speed GTO hardtop, and ran the wheels off of it for the next 10 years. Best 1/4 mile time, after spending a lot of money to make it faster and keep it looking like an “A” stocker, was 12.25. Got challenged (Pontiac 389s did not rev like mine did!), refused to tear it down, and lost the race on protest. No problem! Still have the time slip, some where!
Was forced to leave it in Texas in ‘75, and was without GTO wheels until 1983. Bought another ‘65 hardtop, used it for a daily driver for 10 years, semi-retired it and have recently mechanically restified it, stem to stern.
It is now a badass Sunday driver with a lot more motor than I planned on!
HST, you can never have too much motor!
Lesson learned — NEVER! NEVER! Give your hot rod buddy race car engine builder too much FReedom to perfect his craft on your street machine!
Will probably leave it to my son — maybe we’ll drive it FRom Flori-Duh to Kali-Fornia when the time comes.
The hottest car I have ever ridden in was probably something like your first GTO except it was an SS 396 Chevelle.
I used to kid this guy who had a VW because my 55 Ford would eat his VW alive. Some time around 1967 or 68 he got the Chevelle. I have no idea what he did to it but it must have been running 500-600 HP.
He took me for a drive and going around 30, he floored it. It threw me back into the seat like I have never experienced. Much hotter than the stock GTO.