A Bite of History – Mike Thies

Pontiac GTO

Meet the car that kicked off the muscle car era: the Pontiac GTO. Born in 1964, it was basically a Pontiac Tempest with a rebellious twist, a massive 389 V8 engine stuffed under the hood, some attitude sprinkled in, and just enough rule-bending to make it legendary.

Pick of the Day: 1964 Pontiac GTO, first year of the ...

The GTO wasn't supposed to exist. GM had a ban on racing, but John DeLorean (yeah, that DeLorean) and his team found a loophole, offering the big engine as an “option package.” The result? A street-legal beast that could smoke tires and still look good doing it.

Nicknamed the “Goat,” the GTO ruled the streets through the late ‘60s with hits like the ‘Judge’ edition in 1969, loud, bold, and painted in colors that screamed speed.

Though it faded out by the mid-‘70s, and made a short comeback in the 2000s, the original GTO still stands as muscle car royalty, a legend born from a little rule-breaking and a lot of horsepower.

Views: 25

Comment

You need to be a member of SOUTH EAST USA WHEELS EVENTS-Car and Motorcycle Events Calendar to add comments!

Join SOUTH EAST USA WHEELS EVENTS-Car and Motorcycle Events Calendar


Blog Posts

A Bite of History: The Jaguar XK120 by Mike Thies

A Bite of History  by Mike Thies

 The Jaguar XK120

There are moments in automotive history when a single car changes everything, when elegance, engineering, and audacity collide to create something that feels more like a declaration than a machine. We learn that the Jaguar XK120 was one of those moments. When it first appeared at the 1948 London Motor Show, no one…

Continue

Posted by Michael Thies on November 13, 2025 at 4:51pm

© 2025   Created by Global Wheels Events.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service