Pontiac set the standard for mid-size muscle cars to follow when it rolled out its Tempest/ LeMans-based GTO in 1964. Anticipating there was a market for 20,000 cars annually, the GTO quickly quadrupled those figures. This ’66 edition was stashed away in a barn for 20 years before being discovered by the seller. Though the engine is not original, the rest of the car looks like it may be and presents well considering its exile. Located in Laytonsville, Maryland, this Pontiac is available here on craigslist for $20,000. Our hats off to Anthony M. for this 1960s tip!
The GTO became so popular that Pontiac promoted it to series status in 1966, the same year that the cars got their first styling refresh. The autos would wear stacked headlights for the next two years before the second generation debuted in 1968. GTO production would flirt with 97,000 units in 1966, including this rather rust-free example. The street racers came with a 389 cubic inch V8, but this one sports one from the following year when the displacement changed to 400 CI. We don’t know whether the engine change occurred on the seller’s watch.
Not a great deal of information is offered on this Pontiac. We’re told the seller pulled it out of a barn last year where it had been living for two decades. Despite that, the car seems to have escaped the ravages of time and Mother Nature that you might otherwise expect. The seller says there is no rust, but the original paint is flaking in a few places and a dent resides in the passenger side rear quarter panel.
Besides an engine swap, the 4-speed transmission has been replaced by an automatic. The smaller brake pedal from the manual is still present instead of being replaced by the more uncommon wider one. The seller does not indicate if the car runs or how well. It appears this project has a good foundation to work with, as long as you don’t mind the GTO not being numbers matching.
Good starting point for me.Pull the motor do some speed upgrades go through the car overall and enjoy it . Cruise nights…
Stacked headlights began with the ’65 model year. Know your GTO information! :)
Eric, maybe you need to re-read the headlight info, it doesn’t say ‘66 was the first year for stacked headlights, it says that the stacked headlights would be used for two more years, so apparently the writer does know his GTO information!
If that body is as solid as it appears and the engine turns freely, it’s priced very reasonably compared to other 1966 GTO featured here.
I’d guess that it’s been repainted at some point in its original Mission Beige (Paint code V).
Nice car. I always wanted one.
Got to love the Genesee beer!!! “Its one brewery makes it the best.”
Hmmmm, do they sell that stuff in DC? Perhaps a Congressman from Upstate NY?
Genesee 12 Horse Ale. Oh yeah.
Back in the day, $1.79 for a sixer.
Loved Genesee cream ale myself but MANY kegs back in the days of parties in our basement!!
Sweet car but I would go back to the four speed or even go with a tremec 5 speed since it’s not original way more fun
Wheel covers are 1965-vintage Tempest/LeMans/GTO (RPO P02) “Custom Wheel Discs” … like the look of them on a ’66!
NIce car for the money. If I wasn’t midway into a project, I would jump on that!
I spy……. some 2 bbl carb parts in the trunk! Wonder if a tri-power intake is buried in the trunk somewhere? This looks like a very solid GTO! The interior isn’t that bad either and if it is a ’67 400 it should have the “670” heads, valuable to Pontiac nuts (myself included!). Get it runnin’, find a Muncie (or keep the auto), new carpet set, throw some speakers in the door panels since they’re already cut and go have fun.
Whoever is “selling” this GTO does not respond to emails about it. It is fake. I’m not the only one who has tried to communicate with the “seller”.