G.O.A.T. – greatest of all time, right? While there’s a number of origin stories for how the GTO earned the nickname “Goat”, none of them appear to be from the aforementioned acronym. Arguments can be made for the GTO being the greatest muscle car of all time, but most agree it is, at least, the muscle car that created a pure-play muscle car war among American auto manufacturers. This 1966 Pontiac GTO comes to you courtesy of an anonymous Barn Finds reader who found it here on eBay in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Bids at the time of writing are up to $30,100, but the reserve remained unmet.
No longer an option package on the Tempest LeMans, the GTO became a standalone model in 1966. It’s new found freedom came with a refreshed style, while it maintained nearly the same dimensions as its predecessor. It now looked more curvaceous with sweeping contours, earning it the “Coke bottle-style” nickname. The selling dealer doesn’t indicate if the paint is original or any exterior restoration has been completed, but, regardless, this GTO is dressed to impress in its N-code Burgundy paint and original Rally I wheels.
As seen here, the parchment interior came standard with black carpet. This sets it apart from many cars of the era where the whole interior was monotone. These contrasting colors create a look I admire in many modern cars. Exceptionally well preserved or refreshed? Even though the seller doesn’t specify, I’d be tempted to slip off my shoes before stepping inside to maintain that neat appearance. With bucket seats and a console-mounted manually-shifted 4-speed wide-ratio transmission, what more would you want from the cabin of a true 1960s muscle car?
The heart that pumps this Goat’s blood is a numbers-matching 389, which the seller claims is rated at 335HP. You can see some minor modifications to the engine, but it looks like some of the original items — including the intake manifold, carburetor, and exhaust manifolds — are included, presenting the new owner with the option to leave as-is for a driver or return it to an authentic original.
Of the 96,946 GTOs produced for the 1966 model year, this is one of the 73,785 hardtop versions that rolled of the assembly line. Even though not uncommon, GTOs still has a loyal following and typically a high price of admission. Would you add this clean, numbers-matching Goat to your stable?
My dream car at 11 years old….unfortunately by the time I got to driving age, all the 66 GTOs I could find were pretty rough due to salt in the winters and hard driving… a big car by today’s standards I would still love to take out it for a spin..
I’ve been a gto guy my entire life and own and have owned more than a few. Love them all. But I’ve never figured out why the 66’s, more specifically the 66 rags, seem to bring the highest price at auction even though it was the highest production year. Rarity equals value doesn’t apply here.
Great looking machine decked out in Burgundy with the contrasting interior colors, by ’66 the competition was closing in but the numbers don’t lie. The most popular ride of its type.
I actually see more old chevy iron than GTO’s, there’s news, except at local shows these things come out of the wood work….mostly day 2 machines.
What is that 2 tone colored box in front of the heater core on pass side of motor?
A water injection tank?
I see a lot of these gens at Pontiac car shows – i guess there will not be a dynacorn body, nor 1 for chevelle cousin either.
That’s an Oberg oil filter.
It splits apart and has a metal mesh filter in the middle.
Good looking car. To me the 66 was the real start of the GTO. I know it actually started with the 64, but the 66 to me was when they got visibility and recognition.
I wouldn’t mind having this one in the garage.
Dad had a 66 GTO back around 69/70.
389 3 deuces 4 spd daily driver to his job @ the oil refinery.
Always complained it got terrible gas mileage!
Lol
Still brings that up to this day actually
Sold it and picked up a 66 Bonneville Brougham loaded! Mileage did improve…
I learned to drive in 73 in that beast!
When gas was $.35/gal., in ’69, that wasn’t much of a concern.
Terrible gas mileage might have something to do with the driver.
Bottom line…..You didn’t buy a GTO for the gas mileage.
Great color combo. Might be my favorite on a ’66.
Only 30k with barely an hour to go. This is another one I’d have expected to be much higher. As did the seller as the reserve isn’t met.
Well I owned a 1966 GTO 4-speed 3-2’s same color but black inside in the eightys.I let a friend talk me into selling it to a another friend who had one just like it. big mistake letting it go still mad that I did that. I sold it for $ 7,000 .
Tommy, if you think about it, the guy who gave you 7 Grand for that car should be arrested for Grand Theft Auto l!!! LOL! Ohhhh, how I wish I had Kept my ’55 Olds, 2 dr. Hdtp. Super 88!!!!!
Well, 7k in 1985 translates into about $17,000 today. While they’re certainly worth a lot more now, that was a pretty healthy amount for a 19 year old car back in those days. No one could have forseen how iconic ’60s musclecars would become. They were just starting their rise back then.
“Reserve Not Met”
$32,250 high bid.
Way lower than I’d have thought as discussed above.
I prefer the 67 over the 66 for the fact of the 400 motor and the 400 trani, over the 389 and the power glide, but my favorite year GTO is 69
Nice car. I remeber our high school teacher Jay Tennant had one just like this one. One hell of a great teacher with class. Taught POD and wasn,t afraid to speak his mind. Drove that car with class.1966=RHS. When cars were CARS AND HAD STYLE –CLASS AND MEANT BUSINESS. Plus he had a lady with class too.