![]() The moniker is an Italian abbreviation for Gran Turismo Omologato ("grand tourer homologated"), designating being certified by the FIA for racing in the grand tourer class as a production car with at least a hundred units made. ![]() The name, GTO was inspired by the Ferrari 250 GTO. Pontiac general manager Elliot "Pete" Estes approved the new model with sales manager Frank Bridge limiting initial production to 5,000 cars. The development team discovered a loophole in the policy which did not restrict the offering of large engines as an option. ![]() The GTO disregarded GM's policy limiting the A-body intermediate line to a maximum engine displacement of 330 cu in (5.4 L). By promoting the big-engine option as a special high-performance model, they could appeal to the youth market (which had also been recognized by Ford Motor Company's Lee Iacocca, who was at that time preparing the Ford Mustang variant of the second generation Ford Falcon compact). It involved transforming the upcoming second-generation Pontiac Tempest (which reverted to a conventional front-engine with front transmission configuration) into a sporty car, with a larger 389 cu in (6.4 L) Pontiac V8 engine from the full-sized Pontiac Grand Prix hardtop coupe in place of the standard 326 cu in (5.3 L) V8. 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. With GM's ban on factory-sponsored racing, Pontiac's managers began to emphasize street performance. By the early 1960s, Pontiac's advertising and marketing approach was heavily based on performance. This followed the 1957 voluntary ban on automobile racing that was instituted by the Automobile Manufacturers Association. In early 1963, General Motors' management banned divisions from involvement in auto racing. 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 Commodore. The GTO was selected as the Motor Trend Car of the Year in 1968. For 1974, the GTO was an optional trim package on the compact-sized Ventura. It became an optional package again for the 19 intermediate LeMans. The GTO became a separate model from 1966 to 1971 (VIN 242.). The 1964 GTO vehicle identification number (VIN) started with 22, while the 1965 GTO VIN started with 237. įor the 19 model years, the GTO was an optional package on the intermediate-sized Pontiac Lemans. The Pontiac GTO is considered by some to have started the trend with all four domestic automakers offering a variety of competing models. The first generation of the GTO is credited with popularizing the muscle car market segment in the 1960s. The Pontiac GTO is a front-engine, rear-drive, two-door, four- or five-passenger automobile manufactured and marketed by the Pontiac division of General Motors over four generations from 1963 until 1974 in the United States - with a fifth generation by GM's Australian subsidiary, Holden, for the 2004 through 2006 model years.
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