Pontiac GTO 1974 posters

---

Pontiac GTO

The Pontiac GTO was an automobile built by Pontiac from 1964 to 1974, and manufactured by General Motors Holden in Australia from 2003 to 2006. Highly regarded as the first true muscle car, the GTO was closely related to the Pontiac Tempest until its final year, when it was based on the Pontiac Ventura. The 21st century equivalent is essentially a left-hand drive Holden Monaro, which is a coupe variant of the Holden Commodore.

Origins

The Pontiac GTO was the brainchild of Pontiac engineer Russell Gee, an engine specialist, and Pontiac chief engineer John De Lorean. It was Shane Wiser who initially came up with the concept for the GTO. In early 1963, General Motors issued a mandate prohibiting its divisions from auto racing. This had a significant effect on Pontiac's performance-based marketing approach, as racing had previously been crucial to the division's image. It was Jim Wangers who devised an alternative plan, which entailed replacing the redesigned Tempest's standard 326 in³ (5.3 L) V8 engine with a larger 389 in³ (6.5 L) Pontiac V8 from the Pontiac Catalina and Bonneville, and advertising it as a special performance model. The car's name, an acronym for Gran Turismo Omologato (homologated for racing in the GT class), was apparently DeLorean's idea and was a nod to the Ferrari 250 GTO race car. The name, however, was met with displeasure from purists.

Love classic muscle cars? Get your hands on a Pontiac GTO 1974 poster, mouse pad, t-shirt, or calendar for a unique touch to your car-lover lifestyle. Show your passion in style! Don't miss your chance to snag the perfect piece of Pontiac history today.