1966 Pontiac GTO

History

The following section is an excerpt from Wikipedia's Pontiac GTO page on 30 July 2010, text available via the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Pontiac's intermediate line was restyled again for 1966, gaining more curvaceous styling with kicked-up rear fender lines for a "Coke-bottle" look, and a slightly "tunneled" backlight. The tail light featured a rare louvered cover, only seen on the GTO. Overall length grew only fractionally, to 206.4 inches (524 cm), still on a 115 inch (292 cm) wheelbase, while width expanded to 74.4 inches (189 cm). Rear track increased one inch (2.5 cm). Overall weight remained about the same. The GTO became a separate model series, rather than an optional performance package, with unique grille and tail lights, available as a pillared sports coupe, a hardtop sans pillars, or a convertible. Also an automotive industry first, plastic front grilles replaced the pot metal and aluminum versions seen on earlier years. New Strato bucket seats were introduced with higher and thinner seat backs and contoured cushions for added comfort and adjustable headrests were introduced as a new option. The instrument panel was redesigned and more integrated than in previous years with the ignition switch moved from the far left of the dash to the right of the steering wheel. Four pod instruments continued, and the GTO's dash was highlighted by walnut veneer trim.

Engine choices remained the same as the previous year. A new rare engine option was offered: the XS engine option consisted of a factory Ram Air set up with a new 744 high lift cam. Approximately 35 factory installed Ram Air packages are believed to have been built, though 300 dealership installed Ram Air packages are estimated to have been ordered. On paper, the package was said to produce the same 360 hp (270 kW) as the non-Ram Air, Tri Power car, though these figures are believed to have been grossly underestimated in order to get past GM mandates.

Sales increased to 96,946, the highest production figure for all GTO years. Although Pontiac had strenuously promoted the GTO in advertising as the "GTO Tiger," it had become known in the youth market as the "Goat." Pontiac management attempted to make use of the new nickname in advertising but were vetoed by upper management, which was dismayed by its irreverent tone.

Photographs

	Subject:  1966 Pontiac GTO Photographer:  Alina Rubo Location:  Moscow, Russia License:  Unsplash View photo of 1966 Pontiac GTO - 5.9MB
	Subject:  1966 Pontiac GTO Photographer:  Alina Rubo Location:  Moscow, Russia License:  Unsplash View photo of 1966 Pontiac GTO - 4.9MB
	Subject:  1966 Pontiac GTO Photographer:  Alina Rubo Location:  Moscow, Russia License:  Unsplash View photo of 1966 Pontiac GTO - 6.3MB
	Subject:  1966 Pontiac GTO Photographer:  Alina Rubo Location:  Moscow, Russia License:  Unsplash View photo of 1966 Pontiac GTO - 3.8MB
	Subject:  1966 Pontiac GTO Photographer:  Bill Crittenden Event:  2018 Gilberts Spring Car Show View photo of 1966 Pontiac GTO - 3.3MB
	Subject:  1966 Pontiac GTO Photographer:  Heidi Walczak Event:  2018 Gilberts Spring Car Show View photo of 1966 Pontiac GTO - 3.7MB
	Subject:  1966 Pontiac GTO Photographer:  Bill Crittenden Event:  2018 Gilberts Spring Car Show View photo of 1966 Pontiac GTO - 2.5MB
	Subject:  1966 Pontiac GTO Photographer:  Bill Crittenden Event:  2018 Gilberts Spring Car Show View photo of 1966 Pontiac GTO - 3.5MB
	Subject:  1966 Pontiac GTO Photographer:  Bill Crittenden Event:  2018 Gilberts Spring Car Show View photo of 1966 Pontiac GTO - 2.9MB
	Subject:  1966 Pontiac GTO Photographer:  Bill Crittenden Event:  2018 Gilberts Spring Car Show View photo of 1966 Pontiac GTO - 2.9MB
	Subject:  1966 Pontiac GTO Photographer:  Bill Crittenden Event:  2010 Indian Uprising View photo of 1966 Pontiac GTO Tigers - 4,304KB
	Subject:  Custom 1966 Pontiac GTO Photographer:  Bill Crittenden Event:  2010 Indian Uprising View photo of Custom 1966 Pontiac GTO - 4,282KB
	Subject:  Custom 1966 Pontiac GTO Photographer:  Bill Crittenden Event:  2010 Indian Uprising View photo of Custom 1966 Pontiac GTO - 3,866KB
	Subject:  Custom 1966 Pontiac GTO Photographer:  Bill Crittenden Event:  2010 Indian Uprising View photo of Custom 1966 Pontiac GTO - 3,371KB
	Subject:  Custom 1966 Pontiac GTO Photographer:  Bill Crittenden Event:  2010 Indian Uprising View photo of Custom 1966 Pontiac GTO - 3,940KB
	Subject:  Custom 1966 Pontiac GTO Photographer:  Bill Crittenden Event:  2010 Indian Uprising View photo of Custom 1966 Pontiac GTO - 3,243KB
	Subject:  Custom 1966 Pontiac GTO Photographer:  Bill Crittenden Event:  2010 Indian Uprising View photo of Custom 1966 Pontiac GTO - 4,680KB
	Subject:  Custom 1966 Pontiac GTO Photographer:  Bill Crittenden Event:  2010 Indian Uprising View photo of Custom 1966 Pontiac GTO - 4,535KB
	Subject:  Custom 1966 Pontiac GTO Photographer:  Bill Crittenden Event:  2010 Indian Uprising View photo of Custom 1966 Pontiac GTO - 4,338KB
	Subject:  1966 Pontiac GTO Scale Model Photographer:  Bill Crittenden Event:  2011 Indian Uprising Model Car Show View photo of 1966 Pontiac GTO Scale Model - 1,044KB
	Subject:  1966 Pontiac GTO Scale Model Photographer:  Bill Crittenden Event:  2011 Indian Uprising Model Car Show View photo of 1966 Pontiac GTO Scale Model - 1,045KB
	Subject:  1966 Pontiac GTO Scale Model Photographer:  Bill Crittenden Event:  2011 Indian Uprising Model Car Show View photo of 1966 Pontiac GTO Scale Model - 1,028KB

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