Great Cars: GTO

John Delorean and a group of rebellious young engineers ignored the corporate edicts about building fast cars and secretly created the Pontiac GTO. They raced against kids at night and took what they learned back to their offices the next day. The result --- the GTO - gave America’s young people a car that really looked good and went fast. It was more than that. The GTO was the culmination of Pontiac's decade long drive to remake its image. After years of sagging sales Pontiac had to perform a miraculous turnaround or GM would drop the division. Its new leadership was animated by one thought -- "You can sell an old man a young man's car but you can't sell a young man an old man's car." The GTO was the clean break from the old and stodgy. It was action, power, beauty and youth -- the perfect vehicle to set young hearts racing.
EP 303

[@johnwebb167]

Pontiac was at the top of their game in the early to mid 60’s, every model had style, class, performance. If you wanted it you got it with this brand. And don’t forget how many 66 GTO’s that we’re sold that year. I’ve always been a B.O.P. Guy but caught the Pontiac bug really bad about 6 yrs ago now I have a 60 Bonneville 4 dr hardtop, 63Bonneville, 64 Catalina, 66 GTO, (2) 67 GTO’s a 73 Firebird Formula and the hits just keep coming. Pontiac created a look that just draws you in. When I drive one of these baby’s it’s like dating a SUPERMODEL every weekend. They never fail to draw crowds and thumbs up.

[@Bix12]

I've owned a 66 Parisienne sport coupe, 67 GTO, a 68 LeMans, a 73 Firebird Formula 400, a 76 Formula 400 & a '78 Trans Am....then in '81 I switched to trucks. Pontiac is the only car I've personally owned.

[@rickkephartactual7706]

My first car was a 1971 GTO. What a way to start my driving. Ended up making it a streetable drag car. A lot of fun memories.

[@glenncurley680]

High compression clutch 4 speed, 389 V8 3 deuces. Massive power!

[@izenguarr5236]

The greatest aspect of all of the old classics is that they captured an era, each unique to its time. Ever since the 80' began, there hasn't been a single decent car built in the U.S. Even those with great performance, they're all just shadowy reflections of true greatness. The garbage being made and pushed today is exactly the same shit as the rice burners.

[@jakekaywell5972]

The one 1980s American car that was actually good was the AMC Eagle. It defined the crossover market for decades.

[@jrg7951]

My father owned those wide track Pontiac's in the early 60s. He had the Grand Prix and then the Catalina, they were extremely powerful cars and really flew. Very thirsty for gas though.

[@DoubleOSeven007]

Ask a 5 year old to draw a car ... this era for American cars to the rest of the worlds eyes.

[@pierre.rolex1141]

long live GTO forever classic #American thanks for the great automobile history lesson..

[@billfeld5883]

I'm laughing at them pouring water over the windshield and the wipers just going like hell, real stock car racing!!! My second car was a 1965 GTO 3 Deuces 4 speed, O' the fun times of youth!! 2021

[@nellyfarnsworth7381]

How I wish we could return to 1955.

[@richardmarty9939]

Pre-Cuban Missile Crisis? No Thanks.

[@dj33036]

When someone wears a toupee so bad that you can't help but stare at it.

[@Bix12]

it's so bad it looks like a gag toupe'.... I never could understand how one could be so disconnected they'd adorn themselves with something that's actually shocking?!

[@lorisbarbieri7771]

I have a 2006 GTO. I LOVE IT!

[@bryantcurtis2665]

Kangaroo Cameron 💩💩💩💩🤮👎🏿

[@myfriendpete]

Thanks for all the great uploads of automobile history you give us. It’s awesome 👏!!

[@garthlocklin6355]

Who knew you have time to watch videos too........Do you ever sleep?

[@jackdawsonyt8764]

R.I.P GTO

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

Rip Pontiac

[@usmale4915]

Thank you for the short documentary of the GTO! Excellent!!!

[@cmscms123456]

At 16 years old in 1974, I bought a 1965 GTO for $500. Looked and run perfect. 389, 3-2 carbs with 4 speed. Great car to drive to high school, and my first job. At 17 I jointed the Air Force, moved away, at my first base, I bought a 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner.... BEEP BEEP... I never thought about that Pontiac again... Im a Mopar guy every since. Hint for Ford, Chevy and Pontiac owners, NEVER drive a Plymouth or Dodge.. you will never be the same again.

[@vincentmcentee8020]

I used to polish my Dad's "67 GTO. I remember every inch of it!

[@glenncurley680]

My Dad had a 67 Navy Blue!

[@denniskennedy3311]

I had a 67 grand prix with 421 4 speed 411 rear end 8 lug wheels 🛞 I wish I had never got rid of that car 🚗

[@zzeuss87]

The 1965 body is beautiful.

[@TheCardhold]

I agree all GTO’s were beautiful but the 65 stands out as the best year.

[@orgami100]

Had a 389 Pontiac engine.. unfortunately it was in a Bonneville that my father gave me, my first car..

[@dennisstevens5100]

Those 389’s were awesome engines!

[@sergebaron9086]

Hell yeah GTO is bad ass !!!!!!

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

I had a 66 a 67 convertible and a 69 GTO ....loved them

[@wmcbarker4155]

rich kid , huh ?

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

@@wmcbarker4155 nope , built my own business young

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

@@wmcbarker4155 I both the 66 and 67 convertible for $4100 combine in 1986 .... 1500 for the 1969 2 years later .

[@ronhoffstein8142]

Once had me, bought new, a '68 GTO, '85 Fiero, and prior to that a couple of used Pontiacs. I was addicted to the brand. Today, I wouldn't accept a GM vehicle even if it was a gift.

[@michaelweizer7794]

Ron Hofstein I ve never forgiven GM for dropping Pontiac!!!!!.

[@paulmc3457]

Exactly, never can recreate such beautiful, artistic automotive originality in today's world, I would never let go of my 68! It's my beautiful batmobile in your rear view mirror, and coming up fast! 😲

[@vmat1000]

Just a '64 Le Mans in the family when i was 8. Great car.

[@Sturminfantrist]

imagine you buy one of this beautys in 65 and then you are drafted and send to vietnam.

[@789pokey]

Happened to quite a few.

[@Rollercoaster555]

@@789pokey yeah me

[@jamesd.lethgo6988]

HEY THIS IS THE BEST CAR GM EVER MADE

[@billyvon666]

I miss my 66 Pontiac lemans with a 326.

[@Hot80s]

Seeing the blue 65 reminds me of the one always seen in the background throughout the Mannix T.V. series

[@tcreed1143]

I loved the 1964 Pontiac 2 door hardtop , my mom had one bk in the day..😀😀

[@kenprice1961]

My 1966 GTO is still winning trophy's at car shows. All stock with no "resto-mods."

[@ron5935]

Early 60`s I was tasked to teach a girlfriend how to drive. Her father offered the use of his wide track ! It was a Star Chief 4 door family car with tons of room inside. Star chief was a Bonneville with less expensive interior. We drove it all over town and on highways. I would give most anything to own a wide track forever. Two door Catalina was my favorite..

[@KingRoseArchives]

Thanks for sharing your memories.

[@RivetGardener]

Beautiful car, beautiful memories. Thanks for sharing!

[@toinimoore3463]

My Favorite was a 1960 Pontiac Bonnie Sport Sedan and My Parents had a Red One !!🤩😃

[@johnnyhawkins43]

Ain't nothing like an old muscle car!!!!!!!!!

[@Pgcmoore]

outstanding!!!

[@johnhalchishick7094]

Paid $600 for my 67 GTO in 76.Loved that car

[@tomkeuffer7407]

Barely buy the hood for that now days.

[@kurttaylor5895]

My dad had a 66’. Loved that car!

[@glenncurley680]

My Dad 67. I was 14 and use to steal it!

[@pontiacgrandprix733]

If u look at the icon to the left, I own a 73 Pontiac Grand Prix, I was born and raised on Pontiacs, watched them from the 60s muscle to 70s Luxo cruisers, to the 80s trash with a Chevy motor in them, for shame, the new GTO had a shot at saving Pontiac, if they had did like Ford , Chevy and Dodge did, make the car look similar to what people missed in the original, look at the Challeger, actually a close recreation of what was, not that Junk the tagged a GTO, running a Chevy engine, they lost me a long time ago

[@michaelszczys8316]

I used to say many many years ago they need to make some new cars that look like old classics. Then Ford made little bitty T- birds again which were pretty cool but then they followed that up with the new Mustangs which were a LOT like the older ones and nobody bought any T-birds because they all wanted one of them new Mustangs. But as years go by once again Ford is making them bigger and bigger and soon they will be as big as a big Lincoln.

[@pontiacgrandprix733]

Michael Szczys I was really hoping the new Continental was going to be a big hit, but it’s not a big seller, cause I loved Lincoln’s, I think it’s so much prettier than the Cadillac, but hey, at least they tried

[@tubester4567]

That new GTO was actually a good car and very reliable. There are still thousands of the sedan versions on Australian roads 17 years later, with hundreds of thousands of km's on the clock. I get that people didnt like the styling but it wasnt junk. People also forget that most 60's cars rusted out in 3-4 years had crap dangerous brakes and guzzled fuel like there was no tomorrow. The 1960's was the peak of car crash fatalities.

[@summoning111]

Beggining : To welcome a clone of an aussie holden vxr8 ... 😂

[@sergebaron9086]

That didn’t changes us we became nights riders !

[@packrcch]

i actually like that old pontiac a lot. have not seen one of those for many years.

[@billybobhobnob101]

agreed, I like curves better than knife edges

[@matthewpingor8040]

A Pontiac GTO Judge cruise should be called a cruise en banc.

[@brucecarney4416]

The movement started in 57 with fuel injected Bonnies and continued with the Grand Prix in 62 .

[@789pokey]

The movement started with the 1955 model year and the first Pontiac V8. The 287ci.

[@doughaas9007]

My third car was a 66 GTO 4 speed . For some reason Z28's used to want to try it , never worked for them !

[@dustylover100]

GM's racing ban was the worst thing they ever did.

[@sdushdiu]

Sadly, it's going to take more than a car show to restore a blighted Pontiac, Michigan to its past status.

[@dougmartin8664]

I had a 64' GTO. Three deuces, four speed, 389. It didn't have air conditioning, power steering or brakes, but man, it went. And went through gas. I unhooked two of the deuces so I wouldn't be tempted to punch it all the time because I couldn't afford the gas. Lol.

[@jamesd.lethgo6988]

BUT YOU GOTTA REMEMBER DELORIAN WOULD HAVE HAD NOTHING WITHOUT MALCOM MCKELLER THE FATHER OF THE PONTIAC V8 ENGINE

[@haroldgreen4416]

Would that be the 389 or an earlier engine? Elaborate please. Thank you.

[@789pokey]

@@haroldgreen4416, the Pontiac V8 came out for the '55 model year. 287ci, if memory serves.

[@sliderulelover]

Back in the late 60's I had a 64 GTO with the 389 Tri-Power with Hurst 4 speed installed. It had a duntov grind 3/4 cam and 10.5:1 pistons. No headers, but just the dual exhaust. I had 41 street races with it and won 39. And the two that I lost I lost at the very top end. I would race starting at 30mph because I had really high gears (2,80) and off the line it was sluggish. But when you're moving, it was a beast and accelerated like you wouldn't believe! I loved that car and wish I had it today.

[@789pokey]

Odd, considering they had a 10.75 cr stock from the factory.

[@v8valiant68]

That red car is a Holden Monaro, rebadged as a Pontiac, none the less the 64 Pontiac Grand prix is my favorite

[@Gohot229]

And we all know what happened to Pontiac....... RIP

[@honestbutugly]

dont think the 50's pontiacs were dull at all. Least to a a MFer to restore because of all that chrome

[@onlythewise1]

the time of great class in America

[@giuseppenero110]

By the time I was a teen, the muscle car drivers were more famous for never having a hair out of place... we called them grease-balls

[@stephenborda1425]

What classic movie were they showing around the 19 minute mark?

[@BOBFORDD]

if pontiac was so great, why is it not here anymore?

[@eazystreet5507]

Had a 1966 built to the moon. DAM THAT WAS A FUN CAR! Now I have a SAAB 9000 running at 570 hp on a 4 banger DAM ITS A FUN CAR!

[@patmang1338]

my pontiac

[@samurai1833]

Great memories, I have both a 66 and 70, but they are clones.

[@logicsfinest3471]

GM decided not to “clean sheet” a new GTO and the Holden Monaro that was brought here and called the new GTO suffered massively. I think it could have done very well if it weren’t named GTO. And had GM created a clean sheet design. The Chevy Malibu of the mid 2000’s was a world leader and recognized as such. But it wasn’t designed in America, it was designed by a foreign car company that GM owns. Shows a few things. When given a better product, americans will buy and drive them. And American designers refuse to design or build quality cars.

[@wiiambarnarx8485]

The 2004 GTO was awesome performance wise but it didnt look good. Thats important to GTO fans. It looked like just another Grand Am. As time went on cars got more boring and the general attitude of the country changed. It was never the same. Its like when they tried to do another Woodstock, it didnt work because you could never recapture the original feeling. I grew up in the seventies and eighties. I wish i were 10 years older to have really been a part of the original muscle car era. Chevelle and GTO, oh my God, those vehicles were a freak of nature in a good way.

[@brucefulper4204]

Let me add some REAL action. 1965 action. Perk this doc right up

[@bobpierce115]

I like the styling on the 2004 era GTO. It captured its essence without trying to copy (say) the '67. It was kind of comparable to the SSR retro truck in that sense. It's too bad Chevy didn't do that with the 'revived' 5th gen Camaro of 2009-2105, which was this fat, grotesque caricature of the '69. They fixed that with the 6th gen 2016-2022. Yes, the Camaro is going away again in a couple of years due to further erosion of the coupe market, declining sales (Mustang too!) with the corona virus speeding up the process. The Challenger may have that market all to itself in the not too distant future.

[@MrOlgrumpy]

2004 GTO was a rejigged Australian Holden Monaro

[@nickfowler9022]

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwsome

[@MrAddiebaddie]

1:48 haha what

[@danialhowe9814]

2020 and everything i love about this country is one by one going away... i remember when they killed pontiac. im too young for the glory days but i've owned and loved several models over the years.... even back then i had a feeling our world was changing and not for the better

[@peternicholson233]

Wow, voiceover sounds like a cross between Sean Connery and ...

[@davandstudios]

I had a 66 and 69

[@agentsmith1527]

rip pontiac

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

It came back and disappeared again with the whole pontiac brand! My only favorite gto, is the 69 judge carousel red.🥰👍

[@pumpkindog1]

25:03 and he never mentioned what the acronym GTO stood for. Hmmm

[@KingRoseArchives]

Gran Turismo Omologato, (grand tourer homologated) which means officially certified for racing in the grand tourer class. They say DeLorean was inspired by the Ferrari 250 GTO. If you're going to steal, steal from the best.

[@pumpkindog1]

I knew what it meant. My point was that in the whole story he never mentioned what it meant.

[@getsmarter5412]

King Rose Archives Thanks for clarifying.

[@johnhalchishick7094]

Gas tires and oil lol

[@NCDesperado1965]

Wow. Nothing on your page about Oldsmobile. They had the car to beat the Corvette before there was a Corvette but heads at GM shut it down.

[@clooperman3745]

The original GTO had [still has] the looks and the performance, the new GTO [Vauxhall Monaro] has got the performance but it sure as hell aint got the looks.

[@babydriver8134]

Dad was wholesaling cars when I was in high school. I didn't have much money, but I drove many, many, GTOs, Mustangs, Camaros, SS396 Malibus. Whatever was hot was selling. The one I remember most was a '69 Dodge Dart 340 Four Barrel. Even faster than The Judge. Then the Saudis cut off the oil. Oh well.

[@taketimeout2share]

Most people didn't clap when they fist saw the 2004 GTO. Fail. Looked completely ordinary.

[@animalcorvair]

i love my Pontiacs

[@animalcorvair]

an i have chevs an cads

[@glenncurley680]

Now I'm embarrassed I had a Sunbird.

[@timothylines3867]

started as aokland,and had a great run.

[@brucerodney3325]

Oakland, can’t you spell dickhrad?

[@michaelszczys8316]

Pontiac made HUGE wide- track Pontiacs that took a whole lane width back in 1959- 1960 they decided to put the drive train for one of those boats into a mid-size car. I found out why GTOs were so legendary, while a Chevelle and even same car LeMans with same motor 389 and same 4-speed were fast cars they came with 3.30 to 1 rear end gear but a real GTO came with a 3.90 to 1 rear end. That extra half a turn made the difference between being able to do an awesome hole shot and being able to pull the front wheels off the ground. I remember a guy telling me about how he was able to still get rubber in all 4 gears even with a car full of his buddies.

[@NYCgirl927]

I had a 1966 GTO convertible. Sorry I sold it.

[@beaulotterman8347]

1957 Super Chief with the Tri Power 389 which was very rare was then to me the finest drag strip and street racer, and I owned then a new 58 ,348 tri power Chevy bel air ....Chevy sold a secret then a 315 hp ,solid lifter... those 2 were the only super stiockers. that beat the 280 hp chevys.

[@jaynareynolds3684]

Sounds like Sean Connery

[@youtubecarspottersguide1]

first of the baby boomers ,lucky to buy a new g.t.o. 1964-70 still have it or bought in the mid 1970s for us young boomers / older gen x ,got our driver lic in the late 1970s -1980s we missed it all , we are the catalytic converter age, new cars in the 1980s we did buy new mustang gt , z28 ,trans am, Formula not the fastest muscle cars

[@peternicholson233]

Should've called it GTAus.

[@mushijian7839]

See? In the 50's crowd will be stomp you, if you do just a reliable car. In 50's this is not enough! So Pontiac needed to move, or GM get rid of it. So that's why we can see GTO and other legendary models. But just like in 50's, 50 years later Pontiac had a new crisis. But because of degradation of autoindustry, all sorts of Knudsen's with great decisions will not needed greedy bosses. And that's why new badge branded, builded by australian's, GTO will not succseed. Because of this GM deemed it necessary to get kick Pontiac's ass of the door on cold street's. But now all we know who we need to blame for this...

[@james1st115]

One more, this time in Queen's english...

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

The 1974 GTo was a Ventura ....a Nova knockoff ...by 72 the GTO was finished

[@carlhawks2915]

Love the classic GTO's, but that Holden derivative, UGH!

[@dustylover100]

The newer GTO was an epic fail.

[@clooperman3745]

That new GTO looked PANTS-(crap)

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

A rebadged Holden is not a GTO

[@rustyaxelrod]

“The new GTO had heritage”? Naw, V8 rear wheel drive and those three letters was all it had. Nobody is gonna write a song about that car, it looks like a Toyota for heavens sake! And it’s “drifting” !?!. what a waste of horsepower and rubber. All these years later and they still don’t understand what they did. At one time in the 1990’s I had a ‘70 GTO with a 455, a 70 LeMans Sport, a Fiero, and the family car was a GranPrix. I had all the Pontiac Racing gear and wore it everyday, like a Harley Davidson motorcycle guy. What GM did to the division killed my brand loyalty and aside from some pictures of the GTO at the strip and a belt buckle, it all gone. I’ve heard it’s better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.

[@KingRoseArchives]

Probably shouldn't have called it a GTO. But the new version was pretty fun to drive. A real performer and the people who put it into production were gearheads. It's unfortunate that the company had to make a decision to shut down Pontiac. As you point out, a long string of bad decisions.

[@rustyaxelrod]

King Rose Archives - Right on, I haven’t driven one but I’m sure it’s a decent performer. Thumbs up on the video btw. Good editing and audio. Fun to see the old ads.

[@jrvbamafan1]

I owned the 04 and it would run with any car of that year in its price range. The only race I ever lost was to a z06....lighter car with more power so no surprise. The new gto might have looked like a grand prix but it was a grand prix with a corvette engine in it, so it could definitely hold its own

[@kingelvis7035]

There's such a thing as too much perspective. A car made in '64 but 1/3 of the story is in the '50's.

[@CrWood-jm2ci]

Can't improve on old gto yuppies millineals and know it all generation z ( zeros) leave things alone. Stop trying to impress the older generation we know only the 1960s gto to be the real deal

[@danor6812]

The new GTO's look like worked over Grand Am's. The Grand Am was a POS half plastic car and the new GTO's look the same. No style. Just a box with the corners rounded off.

[@josephmeyers3597]

My brother had a 65 gto ragtop with 456 rear and a crazy souped up engine 4 speed Hurst the thing was insane and beautiful at the same time every night he would pull it in the garage cover it with a blanket and kiss it good night

[@jimhamilton3544]

That new GTO NEVER GOT OFF THE GROUND. The styling was pretty sorry 👎🏼

[@micmac1121]

Pontiac killed their brand with the release of the GTO in the late 90's-2000. That car was and is ugly! No one will care for it in the future! They should of released the last generation GTO with angel wings around it's logo!

[@danconlan64]

don't like wangers rug other wise hes OK

[@edgarhelbling6525]

I have to hear about an amazing, beautiful north american car, which I remember, and dearly loved from a vid narrated by a snotty brit? GFYS!!!!!

[@KingRoseArchives]

This series was produced for an international audience and for Public Television in the US. The audience didn't feel the narrator was "snotty" and I agree with them. He's a great guy who's quite knowledgeable about automotive history, is a good writer, has a great voice and is a pleasure to work with.

[@edgarhelbling6525]

You seem new at this. Try producing a product instead of milking old shit just for exposure. Who cares about some accent? The real issue is assholes digging in others trash to find tidbits to gnaw on. Get it?

[@KingRoseArchives]

Not sure I track all of your suggestions. I have been producing films for 37 going on 38 years. Most have proven to be wildly popular all around the world. That said, there's always room for improvement. And as they say; "You can please some of the people all the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time." Or some would modify that to; "You can fool some of the people," etc.. Whichever one you pick, it appears that's where we are in this conversation.

[@paulcost6446]

I Think the narrator fits the bill perfectly on this awesome series, if you dont like it watch something else.

[@goldenretriever6440]

The 2004 GTO is a joke compared to the 60s GTOs I mean look at it It’s a tiny little car based on a Holden chassis And the timing couldn’t be worse for this new GTO because around the same time the 2005 mustang was introduced And while it’s debatable weather or not the mustang is a muscle car The 2005 mustang practically jump started the muscle car wars again As an 08 mustang GT owner all I can say is your welcome

[@K10wNs-Shed]

Because its not a GTO at all... Its an Australian made Holden Monaro with a GTO re-badge. It flopped in Australia too, except to the Monaro die hard loyalists.

[@TheLexiconDevils]

Holes Oil Leaks Dents Engine Noise

[@cincyspin178]

@@TheLexiconDevils Oh, come on...you can do better than that...something more lyrical that just trips off the tongue...

[@danielmatern9162]

Just couldn't agree with you less. "I mean look at it." I have. No disrespect - just a difference of opinion. Apparently, you were right. Look at the sales figures.

[@ronaldss859]

Do you know if somebody didn’t know any better they were square is the car you’re showing at the beginning of this video was the first GTO and it’s not