David Bonaskiewich - 1966 Pontiac GTO: Muscle Cars in Detail No. 13

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2021 by David Bonaskiewich

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Edit by Wes Eisenschenk
Layout by Connie DeFlorin

ISBN 978-1-61325-692-3
Item No. CT681

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Bonaskiewich, David 1977- author.

Title: Acumen : 1966 Pontiac GTO : in detail / David Bonaskiewich.

Description: Forest Lake, MN : CarTech, Inc., 2021.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021025974 | ISBN 9781613256923

Subjects: LCSH: GTO automobile.

Classification: LCC TL215.G79 B648 2021 | DDC 629.222/2--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021025974

Written, edited, and designed in the U.S.A.
Printed in China
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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Every book poses certain challenges, and this project was no exception. Time constraints and the corona-virus pandemic were the largest hurdles to overcome because they prevented me from traveling out of state to photograph these great GTOs. I want to give many thanks to the car owners and fellow photographers who aided me in this aspect. This title could not have been printed without you.

As with my previous books, I cited all the greats within the Pontiac community because they laid the foundation on which I built this project. First and foremost is Don Keefe, a mentor and friend who has helped me develop as a writer over the last seven years. Chris Phillip is my guide when it comes to photography, and he always offers constructive criticism or praise when needed. Jeff Denison contributed a small but significant piece on Jack Humbert and his team of designers, which is something that I feel the reader will find quite interesting.

The late Eric Whites book, The GTO Association of Americas Pontiac GTO/GT-37 Illustrated Identification Guide, is an invaluable resource and highly recommended to all GTO enthusiasts. Respected photojournalists Rocky Rotella and Tom DeMauro never hesitated to offer technical expertise from their vast reservoirs of knowledge. I must also recognize the late Paul Zazarine and his enormous contributions to the Pontiac hobby.

I would also like to acknowledge the car owners and the insights on their beloved 1966 GTOs: Andre Rayman, Bill Nelson, James Smith, David Bufalo, Bill and Brenda Rhodes, Jim Norton, Tim Perry, Robert Bennet, Ken Nagy, Tom Southard, Jennifer Murphy, and Gary Conner. Mecum Auctions graciously extended permission to use some of its photos from recent auctions, which allows us to see where our hobby is headed.

Scott Tiemann of Supercar Specialties aided with small but critical details, and Jim Mattison of Pontiac Historic Services was vital in helping me break down the broadcast sheets and other points of interest. Larry Kinsel of the General Motors Media Archive was instrumental in providing crucial vintage photos and advertisements, and the book is much better for it. Tim Dye from the Pontiac-Oakland Museum and Resource Center in Pontiac, Illinois, supplied additional photos and valuable insight, and I extend my gratitude. Bob Adams, Diego Rosenberg, Ashley Skillingstad, and Trent Sherrill all provided key images, and the project would have been incomplete without them.

Finally, my lovely wife, Jenn, took time out of her busy schedule to help me with editing and various details, and I am incredibly grateful.

Most classic car enthusiasts agree that the 1964 Pontiac GTO was the first true muscle car because it had a big engine in a midsize chassis, a racy appearance, and something that the few naysayers often forget: a targeted sales approach to the speed-obsessed youth market. As an option package on the LeMans, the GTO sold 32,450 units in its debut year and 75,352 in 1965. Those strong sales figures prompted Pontiac to designate the GTO as its own model in 1966, which resulted in a staggering 96,946 GTOs sold. That figure that would never be surpassed.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but it is difficult to imagine someone who doesnt view the 1966 Pontiac GTO as a stunningly beautiful automobile. A complete redesign from the previous year, the 1966 models still employed the stacked headlight feature of the 1965 cars, but the sheet metal now incorporated a few more curves, and the iconic flying-buttress rear window design was introduced. Taillights were cleverly concealed by louvers, which gave the GTO a very distinctive rear-end style that is a favorite aspect among aficionados.

Yes, other manufacturers produced powerful and handsome machines, but they were all chasing the GTOs tail, as many brands adopted similar design cues. The 1966 Ford Fairlane was clearly inspired by the 1965 GTO; it displayed a stacked headlight design and an overall silhouette that echoed Pontiacs supercar. The 1968 Chevrolet Corvette and the 1968 Dodge Charger successfully utilized the flying-buttress rear window styling feature two full years after it was introduced on the GTO.