Muscle Cars in Detail: 1964 Pontiac GTO

 

By the mid-1960s, the American automotive market was yearning for faster, more responsive, and sportier cars, and a crew of high-performance enthusiasts at Pontiac recognized this. Large V-8s were commonly installed in full-size cars, but performance was hampered by pure chassis weight. Under the guidance of Bunkie Knudsen, John DeLorean, Bill Collins, and others, Pontiac installed the high-performance 389 V-8 into the nimble and lightweight, intermediate-size LeMans chassis. It was a watershed moment for Pontiac; the 1964 GTO delivered astounding performance and created the muscle car blueprint that the Detroit manufacturers followed in the 1960s and 1970s.

 

With a 389 V-8 engine, dual exhaust, and a standard 3-speed or optional 4-speed manual transmission, the GTO supplied extraordinary performance. To harness the power and provide superlative handling, the GTO was fitted with stiffer springs, a limited slip differential, large-diameter front sway bar, and wider wheels. And to give it panache, the GTO was adorned with distinctive badges and hood scoops. The 1964 GTO is a landmark car, and this book goes well beyond the glossy overview in other books.

 

 

Appendix I: Production Figures 

 

Appendix II: Interior, Exterior and 

Cordova/Convertible Top Colors 

 

Appendix III: 1964 Pontiac LeMans 

Options List