Pontiac GTO | 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO History | Gto, Were, Pontiac, Car, Would

2004-2006 Pontiac GTO History

Pontiac revived its iconic 1960s "muscle car" for 2004 as a midsize V8 coupe based on a car built by Holden, GM's Australian branch. A 350-hp 5.7-liter V8 derived from the Chevrolet Corvette drove the GTO's rear wheels via a 4-speed automatic transmission or available 6-speed manual. ABS, traction control, and a limited-slip differential were standard. Seventeen-inch wheels and performance tires were the only available wheel-tire combination. GTO had seats for four and came with leather upholstery, in-dash CD changer, and remote keyless entry. Side airbags, sunroof, and antiskid system were unavailable.

1964-1974 Pontiac GTO History

The Pontiac GTO is considered by many the first true muscle car. Whereas other manufacturers were concentrating on their fullsize lines, Pontiac saw the potential for dropping a big block engine into an intermediate frame and marketing it at a budget price. Pontiac sneaked past the GM restriction on this combination by making the GTO an option on the Tempest model, creating the hottest performance machine yet. The GTO sold in great numbers and would fuel the competition between GM, Ford, and Chrysler that would keep the muscle car industry thriving for years to come. The GTO would later evolve into the Judge, an extroverted option package of the blotted GTO, and would continue the tradition until the GTO died an embarrasing death in 1974.