Pontiac GTO again flexes its muscles

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | May 2, 2005 | DAN JEDLICKA AUTO WRITER

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The 66 had the best option...the mechanical lifter/special head 389 that had 360 advertised horspower. It was more like 460 horses...

[Pharmboy]

Nice...front wheel drive would have kept him from fishtailing!

[wizr]

Ah, yes. Wazoo City. When I was at Ft. Bliss in '69, we got Juarez passes. There was a place called the Kentucky Club. Tequila shots - 15 cents. Regular mixed drinks - 30 cents. Zombies - 70 cents and soooo smoooooth.

I'd like to go into that wrecking yard and reminisce, one of these days. Maybe I can drag back a hulk to work on.

I'd also like to see if that old theater, on the circle in El Paso, still has the pipe organ. It was great. Came up from below the stage between movies. Played "The Yellow Rose of Texas", and others, like nothing I had seen, or heard, before.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

What was the name of the theater ?

[wizr]

Great job on the Bug. Are there any more like you? Uh, oh yeah. I'm happily married my wife tells me.

I've had three Bugs, a '59, '61 and a '60. Then there was the '62 '356' coupe, a '66 912 and two '914's. I was hooked on air cooled engines.

You know how to remove a Vdub engine, right? First, raise the rear of the car. Next undo the accelerator linkage and ignition wire. Then place a block of ice under the engine and undo the four bolts holding the engine to the transaxle.

After the ice melts, pull the engine from under the car. To reinstall, just reverse the process.

This was an ethnic joke. I left out the ethnicity to protect the innocent. Hope it's still funny.

[wizr]

Don't remember, but it was on the circle, near the border I think.

[An American Patriot]

"No car, however, will ever replace the '67 GTO with a 400 cu. in. fire-breather. They can fool around with the exhaust system (on the new one) all they want, but nothing - NOTHING - can replace cubic inches when it comes to exhaust note. The new GTO is "techno" music. The old Goat is a symphony."

Spoken like a "true" Goat Aficionado and "Authority!"

Only "one" who has owned/ridden-in (or even been around "back then") can really appreciate "la difference."

The "sound" of a (Real) GOAT, is akin to a Harley (who, by the way, considered trying to patent that sound) and there is NOT/will NEVER be, a duplicate--unless those IDIOTS at GM, ever came to their senses and decided to design and build a replica of the original GTO's; including similar engines, pipes, headers, and all!

Trying to compare today's (Australia-made-ugally-generic-looking) GTO, with the "real thing," is like comparing a "velvet painting" to a Picasso.

QUICK: WHICH ONE IS THE GTO?

Top Left: Honda Top Right: Mazda Center: GTO Botton: Mustang

MY 67 GOAT WHICH I PICKED UP AT THE FACTORY IN PONTIAC MICHIGAN WHEN I RETURNED FROM NAM

WITH REGARDS TO PERFORMANCE: Here are some stats:

As there is ONLY a .1 difference in 0-60 between my 67 and this 2005, I would venture to posit that in my “heyday” (long time ago) it more often than not, had to do with the driver, than the car and I was pretty good at “banging the gears!”

VERDICT:

I would take one if offered for FREE. Spending good money on something like this? I’ll leave that up to the Gen X and wannabe, has-beens!

[Fresh Wind]

Back in the early 70's there was a gold '64 GTO in the same apartment complex where I lived, driven by (I swear to God) a little gray-haired old lady. This was NOT Pasadena. I don't think she ever drove over 35 mph!

[Pete'sWife]

Cubic inches RUMBLE.

These tuners and other poseurs sound like an extended fart.

[An American Patriot]

"Back in the early 70's there was a gold '64 GTO in the same apartment complex where I lived, driven by (I swear to God) a little gray-haired old lady. This was NOT Pasadena. I don't think she ever drove over 35 mph!"

I can believe it. A Goat was a fun car to drive, regardless of age or year of car (especially, 64-67).

This lady probably had an auto, which is a waste, although whether 4-speed or auto, it still "went."

35 mph? Gee, I never shifted out of 1st until I hit today's legal speed limit. LOL

The Good Lord was watching out for me--both while in Nam and (just as dangerously) after my return, and driving my GTO!

[Eagle9]

Nice...front wheel drive would have kept him from fishtailing!

Yeah, that engine would've added a lot more weight right above the drive wheels and improved the traction. But this was 1969 and the only front wheel drive made by Detroit's big three that I remember was the Olds Toronado, which came with the same engine as the '69 Hurst Olds. The Toronado, being more of a personal luxury car, was heavier but still barely in the muscle car category.

BTW, the parking lot of my high school in 1968-70 could've filled a pretty good sized classic muscle car museum today. A photo with a little description of what I was riding back then is at the link below.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1383656/posts?page=126#126

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Agree with your comments on the sound these big mills made. The only Goat to ever whip the Caprice was a 67 2 dr sedan 4 speed that always ran hard and made an awesome scream as it went by in 3rd at about 85 or 90. The 396/425 Chevy I owned made this noise.

[CholeraJoe]

This is my 2004 Goat. A local place sells 111 Octane gasoline. You'd be amazed what this mother can do when it's juiced up.

[Clemenza]

I would have loved to have heard the recently deceased John DeLorean's thoughts on the new GTO. Unfortunatly, his success with the original model went to his head and we all know what happened. The GTO was a good car all around. The Deloreans on the other hand were fun to drive, although way overpriced considering the amount of shop time needed to protect your investment.