Vehicle Description
1966 Pontiac GTO Hardtop
Born of the brainchild of John DeLorean, the initial concept was to
upgrade the Tempest, morphing it into an early version of the
muscle car, which was the up and coming trend in a niche market of
buyers who were hungry to go fast. Internally, it was initially
called the "Grand Tempest Option", one of many automobiles in the
Pontiac line up with a 'Grand' in it. In 1966, GTO became a
separate model and no longer just an option package.
For consignment, a 1966 Pontiac GTO hardtop with a title verified
101,286 actual miles. This car was delivered to Jones Pontiac in
nearby Lancaster, Pennsylvania and was $3,389 out the door back in
'66. How do we know? The original window sticker and build sheet
come with the car along with the PHS documentation.
Exterior
The Goat still clings to the single stage Cameo Ivory exterior and
while not perfect, it still looks good from 20 feet. Stacked quad
headlights flank the split grille which house the marker lights and
our driver's side light is slightly askew, almost like a wink. The
arrowhead is in line with the hood scoop and from the front, the
asymmetric profile is due to the single side mirror, as was typical
for the time. The tail lights are extra special, a series of nine
slits on each side that form a single unit with plenty of white
space in between at the end of a long decklid. Our wheels here are
Pontiac Rally II's and they carry 70 series tires with a mid 2024
date code. Imperfections begin on the door corner where some uneven
filler is found, there's bubbling in spots especially at the rocker
panel, cracking paint, and general patina.
Interior
Red vinyl is the choice here and while it appears clean and intact
on the door panels, the driver's seat is torn and compressed, and
the passenger side has a tear. Conversely, the rear bench looks as
if no one has been back there. Red covers the steering wheel and
dash surround while wood veneer backs the instrument cluster
fronted by the tachometer on the column and this wood shows some
age. The AM radio and fan controls appear as they did in 1966 and a
pair of more modern gauges are added under the dash to monitor oil
and water. A Hurst shifter is offset in the center console to cater
to the driver and look original while semi plush red carpet floods
the floor, showing a touch of age and the headliner is in great
shape, also red. The trunk is clean and contains a period plaid mat
and spare tire.
Drivetrain
Pontiac Blue colors the block of the 350ci V8 under the hood topped
by legendary Tri-Power carburetors and backed by a period-correct
Muncie M20 4-speed manual transmission. Power is sent to the 10
bolt rear axle with 3.55 gears and the optioned Safe-T-Track
differential. All four hubs are equipped with drum brakes.
Undercarriage
Mainly clean underneath with some driver quality elements including
some surface rust on the exhaust and driveshaft and some oil on the
rear differential. The pans are dry and the knuckles are clear.
Dual exhaust runs through glasspack style mufflers before finding
an exit via steel pipes out back. Coil spring suspension occupies
the front independent system while a 4 link with coil springs is
equipped out back.
Drive-Ability
We almost bow in respect before entering this relic from the
origins of the muscle car movement. A prime of the gas delivery
system and a turn of the key and we were off onto the test loop
where many GTO's have come before. This one performs with no
surprises, delivering good power, confident tracking, and decent
handling for a relatively large car. We note the radio, heater
blower, and reverse lights are not working but all other features
work as they should.While Classic Auto Mall represents that these
functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot
guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your
purchase.
1966 saw more GTO's leave the factory than any other year, nearly
100,000 in total. They remain strong players in the collector
market and are favored by those who were around when they were new.
If you were a kid in the 60's but old enough to catch the energy of
the muscle car wave that was happening, the GTO has always been on
your radar. This one presents a great opportunity and if trends
hold, this one will absolutely find a new home. Whether that's at
your address or not is your decision!
242176B121691
2-Pontiac
42-GTO
17-2 Door Hardtop
6-1966
B-Baltimore, MD Assy Plant
121691-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
01D-4th Week January
ST 66 24217-1966 GTO 2 Door Hardtop
BODY BAL 4614-Baltimore Body #
TR 222-Red Vinyl
PAINT CC-Cameo Ivory
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
listening. You can also watch on YouTube!
