Some of the Northern California GTO Club members will be showing their cars at a car show at Mel’s Diner in Auburn, Ca. on the evening of June 19th, 2013. Come on out!
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Here are pictures of some Nor Cal GTO Club members’ cars on display at the Thunder Valley Car Show on May 31st, 2013. Enjoy!
Rick heading to the Thunder Valley Car Show in his 1965 GTO
Some Nor Cal GTO Club Members’ GTOs at Thunder Valley
A Row of GTOs at the Thunder Valley Car Show
A Row of GTOs at the Thunder Valley Car Show
Rick driving through the Thunder Valley Car Show in his 1965 GTO
Terry’s 1969 GTO at the Thunder Valley Car Show
Phil and Sandy’s 1967 GTO at the Thunder Valley Car Show
2005 GTO
Like the 2004 GTO, the 2005 model was once again a Holden Monaro CV8 imported from the GM subsidiary in Australia and fitted with Pontiac and GTO emblems for the U.S. For the 2005 model year, GM had the necessary time to design and implement a hood with scoops and split dual exhaust tailpipes that would exit both sides of a GTO labeled rear valance. This of course gave the new GTO some cosmetic reminders of the classics that the 2004 model didn’t have. Late in the 2005 model year, 18 inch wheels became an available option. An optional dealer installed Sport Appearance Package became available and differed visually by having a different lower rear fascia that sported quad chrome exhaust tips, louder aggressive sounding mufflers, a modified spoiler, a modified front lower fascia extension, recessed grilles, and modified rocker panels. Customers had the option to order the 2005 GTO without hoodscoops, although only 24 were produced this way. Another change for 2005 was the replacement of the LS1 engine with the LS2 engine, which was rated at 400 hp. The standard transmission was a four-speed overdrive automatic, but a six-speed, close-ratio manual transmission was a popular option.
2005 GTO Production Numbers:
6,809 with the optional manual six-speed transmission
4,260 with the Hydra-Matic four-speed automatic transmission
Total Production: 11,069
2005 GTO
2005 GTO with the recessed grilles
2005 GTO
2004 GTO
After a 30-year hiatus, the Pontiac GTO returned in 2004. Built in Australia by GM subsidiary Holden, the 2004 GTO is based on the Monaro CV8. Holden rebadged the Monaro CV8s with all new “GTO 5.7 Litre” emblems at their Elizabeth plant as 2004 GTOs for export into the United States. Adding a split front grille with a Pontiac crest in the middle and a “GTO” nameplate on the driver’s side grille gave the 2004 GTO a relation to the GTOs of the ‘60s and ‘70s. The 2004 GTO was offered in only one body style. Unique to the 2004 GTO, the hood has no hoodscoop design and the dual exhaust tailpipes exit together on the driver’s side rear of the car.
The 2004 GTO is powered by an LS1 5.7 Litre aluminum block V8 (the same engine as in the Corvettes of the time) rated at 340 hp. The transmission choices were a six-speed manual (the same transmission as in the Corvette ZO6 of the time) or an electronically controlled Hydra-Matic four-speed automatic.
2004 GTO Production Numbers:
8,466 with the manual six-speed transmission
7,262 with the Hydra-Matic four-speed automatic transmission
Total Production: 15,728
2004 GTO
2004 GTO – Rear (Photo courtesy seriouswheels.com)
1974 GTO
For the 1974 model year, the GTO was moved from the LeMans family to the smaller Pontiac Ventura (cousin of the Chevy Nova) platform to make the GTO an economical alternative after the fuel crisis of 1973 and the shaky economy of the time. For the first and only time during its run, the GTO was no longer Pontiac’s top performance car taking the backseat to the Pontiac Trans Am. Available in a coupe or hatchback model, the 1974 GTO was identified by the shaker hoodscoop it borrowed from the Trans Am and unique to 1974 Red, White, and Blue “GTO” decals affixed to the fenders, nose, and tail. The GTO identification on the nose was on the passenger side and the identification on the tail was on the driver’s side, opposite of where the front and rear identification appeared on all the previous model years of the GTO. Unique to the 1974 GTO hatchback model was a tent option. Yes, you read that correctly, Pontiac made the most of the hatchback utility feature by offering an optional strap-on tent. An optional four-speed transmission and Rally II wheels were nice reminders of previous GTOs.
The 1974 GTO’s one and only engine was a four-barrel carbureted 350 rated at 200 hp.
In the summer of 1974, Pontiac made the decision to end the GTO’s run. It was a nice 11 model years!
1974 GTO Production Numbers:
5,335 Coupes
1,723 Hatchbacks
Total Production: 7,058
1974 GTO Coupe
1974 GTO Hatchback with Tent Option
1974 GTO Hatchback with Tent Option – Rear
Hooters Cruise Night
Every Thursday evening from May through August at Hooters – 10750 Olsen Drive, Rancho Cordova, Ca.
Hooters Girls with a GTO
John and Rick with their cars and a couple of the Hooters Girls
1973 GTO
The new body style that was originally intended for the 1972 LeMans and GTO ended up being introduced for the 1973 model year. The GTO was a $368 option on the new LeMans Sport Coupe and Coupe models. GTO equipment included a unique hood with NACA-type hoodscoops, a blacked out grille, heavy duty suspension, chrome dual exhaust tips, and GTO identification decals and badges.
The standard engine for the 1973 GTO was a four-barrel carbureted 400 rated at 230 hp. A four barrel carbureted 455 was an optional engine that was rated at 250 hp and only available with an automatic transmission. GTOs with the 400 came standard with a Hurst shifted three speed transmission while a four speed or an automatic were options.
1973 GTO Production Numbers:
4,312 Sport Coupes
494 Coupes
Total Production: 4,806
1973 GTO Sport Coupe
1973 GTO Sport Coupe – Rear Shot
1973 GTO Sport Coupe in Black with Honeycomb Wheels
1972 GTO
In 1972, the LeMans and GTO were to take on a completely new body style, however, labor strikes at GM delayed the introduction of this new body style until the 1973 model year. The 1972 GTO, downgraded back to a LeMans option rather than its own separate model, was a carryover of the 1971 GTO with a couple of minor differences. The nose and the hood were unchanged from the 1971 model, but the grilles were recessed and air-extractor vents were added to the rear part of the front fenders. For the first time since the 1967 model year, a post coupe model was available. The standard hardtop model remained, but convertibles were no longer an option. The honeycomb wheels and the Rally II wheels were still available.
The standard engine for the 1972 GTO was a four-barrel carbureted 400 rated at 250 hp. A four barrel carbureted 455 and a four barrel carbureted 455 HO (the latter teamed with the Ram Air system) were optional engines that were both rated at 300 hp.
1972 GTO Production Numbers:
5,673 Hardtops
134 Coupes
Total Production: 5,807
1972 GTO Hardtop
1972 GTO Hardtop – Rear
1972 GTO Post Coupe (Photo courtesy ultimategto.com)
1971 GTO & 1971 GTO Judge
The 1971 GTO took on the 1970 body style but with differences to the hood and front-end. The Endura front-end was restyled with bumperettes under the headlamps and mesh grilles that came out to the forward edge of the grille openings. The hood was restyled with large twin hoodscoops at the leading edge of the hood. The front valance, parking lights, and front side marker lights were also different from the 1970 model. The hood-mounted tachometer remained as an available option. New honeycomb wheels were a $63 option and the Rally II wheels were still available.
With regulations aimed at removing lead from gasoline, engine compression ratios were dropped, which of course resulted in decreased horsepower. The base engine for the 1971 GTO was a four-barrel carbureted 400 rated at 300 hp. A four barrel carbureted 455 with 325 hp was an option. With the Ram Air 400 gone for 1971, Pontiac created a new four barrel carbureted 455 HO that was rated at 335 hp as the top engine option. Along with the fading horsepower, the engine appearance had also lost some of its excitement. The valve covers were now painted the engine blue instead of being chrome as in the past years and the air cleaner tops were black instead of chrome.
The Judge option was available in 1971, however, this would be the last year. The Judge again had functional Ram Air hoodscoops, a rear-deck spoiler, stripes, and “The Judge” decals.
All 1971 GTO Judges were powered by the 455 HO engine. This engine ID was marked in the narrow sides of the rear deck spoiler.
1971 GTO Production Numbers:
9,497 Hardtops
661 Convertibles
357 Judge Hardtops
17 Judge Convertibles
Total Production: 10,532
1971 GTO Hardtop
1971 GTO Judge Hardtop
1971 GTO Convertible (Photo courtesy scenicreflections.com)
1971 GTO Judge Convertible (Photo courtesy examiner.com)
