Garage Find One Family Owner '66 GTO Convertible
 

I wasn't looking for another GTO....I have a '65 hardtop and a '67 Ragtop that I've been driving for the past 40+ years, and sold my '66 hardtop in 1990 to buy a house. A gentleman appeared on a GTO forum asking about selling the family GTO and I jumped on it. The family bought it new off the lot in Amarillo, TX in September, 1966, when he was a 16 year old HS student. They were shopping for a lesser second car for the wife, but the GTO was discounted due to the year's end coming up, and they all liked it. It became the wife's car and daily commuter until 1982, when she parked it in the garage. The son who I got it from moved it from her garage to his in 2008. It started and ran at that time.
He then removed the trim and interior to start the restoration process, but lost interest due to his wife not liking the car and his son's lack of interest. The car sat. On October 3, I drove from Fresno to Bend Ore. and bought the car. On Oct. 4, I loaded it on the trailer and drove back home. Long uneventful trip. The car is a weathered desert car....the family was USAF. So it lived in Texas, Colorado, California, Idaho, and Oregon. I have the paperwork all the way back to day one, including the Protect-O-Plate with it's own protective fly leaf, which I have never seen.
The car: 1966 GTO convertible. Montero Red, Metallic Red interior, white top. 4 speed trans, console, rally clock, AM radio, 2 speed wipers, PS, tinted front window, 3.55 open rear end. Car has 114k miles on it and has never been apart or opened up. The owner's mom babied the car and the son was not allowed to hotrod it, so it was never beat on. The interior was stored inside the house, so is still very nice. New carpet is on the way. The top may need to be replaced, as it is kind of rough. I've already restored the brakes and the fuel system and got it running and going through the gears on the lift. It runs like it was shut off last week. The plan is to get the mechanicals sound (quite a lot more to do) and drive the car as-is, old paint and all. The car has no rust except for under the windshield trim at the dash and all of its original sheep metal and pans. A dry, northern desert car. I can't believe the steering wheel has no cracks. I will keep this thread updated as I move along. This i my first '66 in over 30 years and IIRC, my 5th. Attachment 622159

Attachment 622160

Attachment 622161

Attachment 622162

Very nice.

This is one of those cars you jump on before someone else does.

Great addition to your collection, enjoy!

The guys on the other forum are mostly across the country and I let the seller know I was within a day's drive of him and I wanted the car. The other forum members basically told the owner I would be a great custodian for the car and stepped aside to let me make a deal. I am indebted to them for their generosity and good sportsmanship. The car has a lot of dings on the driver's side from decades of bikes and ladders and shovels falling on it, the passenger side is straight as an arrow. I will have a 'paintless dent removal' guy another GTO friend used take a look at it. I've never owned an original stick GTO before, with the born-with engine and drivetrain. They were always blown up or on their 3rd engine by the time I got them as used cars 45 years ago. This thing is a time capsule down to the studded bias ply snow tires.Attachment 622165

Fantastic! Another great true "barn find" lands with the right caretaker.

Those dings and dents are what my friend calls, "character." Shows that the car has lived! Well, that and the studded snow tires. :D

Congrats!! :)

Nice find, congrats!! I lived in Bend & LaPine from the fall of 1994 to 2002 and I don't recall ever seeing that one. That car will make a fun driver for sure!

Great find!
I'll be following along and hoping you'll post detailed photos of this true survivor '66. I'm just starting to dig into my '66 4-spd with the same goals in mind. Safe to drive and not hard to look at...but mine is a lot further from that than yours!
Build location and date?

Attachment 622178

Attachment 622179

Attachment 622180

Attachment 622181Car was built 3rd week of July, 1966 in Kansas City. The first GTO I've owned that came from that plant. Also the first 3.55 open diff GTO I've ever had. Car has 114k original miles. Was stored in a garage in Boise Idaho from 1982 until 2008, when the owner trailered it to Bend and stuffed it into his garage. Has not been on the road for 41 years.
The original owner used it as a 'tool' to commute and run errands and did not worry about washing and waxing, etc. But she did not abuse it. I got it running literally after replacing the fuel sender, lines, and filter. I primed the carb and it fired up and died, then re=primed and it fired up and pulled fuel and idled. I ran it through the gears on the lift and it was quiet and smooth. Unreal. Like I drove it the week before. It had leaded premium in the tank that was still pink and smelled like gas. I got most out (8 gallons).

Wow, that's amazing about the gasoline. Haven't smelled leaded premium in a long time.

Great find, good for you! Keep us updated

I sent you a PM, Scarebird. I do need a bit to repair the driver's side seat bolster. Thanks. The rest of the interior is very nice. Attachment 622182

Attachment 622183

If the console is any indication I'd say it's just about perfect.

Congratulations Mr. Vietzke !

I think you recently retired and now you added a New Toy to a man’s toy box.

I’m happy you were able to secure this ‘66 Convertible that you had been talking about.
Damn cool car for a good guy.

I know you have always been fond of the Red interior and now you have your own.

Take photos and show us all how you bring it back to life.
Do you have the PHS breakdown?

Chris.

Attachment 622217Man, I forgot how NEW your interior looks, Chris. I'd kill for a dash like that. The owner posted part of the PHS on the other site but not the front part with the small details. It's not a high option car. Kind of middle of the road. I have the original wheels and standard wheel covers that are 'meh' in appearance. Better looking on a Catalina than a GTO. This car does not have power brakes, remote mirror, Safe-T-Track, or soft ray side glass. I am re-installing the dealer plate on the trunk lid. I hate these normally, but this is part of the car's history.

Come on Jeff,

Those vintage “dealer plates” are super cool and provide important history.

Post a photo of that dealer plate after your reinstall and post several photos of the engine bay. Does it still have the louvered air cleaner.

Thanks, Chris

I'm for as many detail shots as you feel like taking, especially agree regarding underhood shots....and I'll add, interior shots.

Original pancake air cleaner is MIA. Has an oversize incorrect filter. I have an extra pancake air cleaner assembly that's not too nice, but the filter elements are no longer being made or available. So likely I will install something else in order to drive the car. Photos on the way.

I thought I saw where someone said that this one works?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/33228855888...mis&media=COPY

Attachment 622233

Attachment 622234

Attachment 622235Photos of engine and dealer plate.

You're awesome, Greg! Just ordered two of them. I have 3 cars that take this filter!! Thanks!!!

Jeff

Great find, and I really like the red/red color combo. Over here on the east coast, my son is patiently pursuing a neighbor's one-owner blue/blue 66 convertible bought new in California. It's nice to see them coming to light again.

Another nice ‘66.
Fontaine Blue met. with Ivory Top.
Dark Blue interior.

Plus a #616 A.I.R. car.

Good luck to your son hoping he can secure it someday.

Looks much nicer than mine, at least body and top-wise! Engine has been repainted '65 turquoise, so may be rebuilt. Super cool cars. Keep us updated!!

What are people doing with the single reservoir manual brakes? Anyone OK with just leaving them as-is?
My first car had them and I don't recall being afraid but I was 16.. .;-)

Not sure of your question?
Both my OEM ‘65 and ‘66 single master cylinders were sent out to be s/s sleeved and seals.
They work perfectly fine just as they were intended when the cars were new.
Also did the same to all 4 wheel cylinders.

That's exactly what I'm asking about, that is, how many have chosen to skip a dual master, power brake upgrade and drive it as it was designed.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...661e92ed34.jpg

Been running original single pot master cylinders on all my cars that came with them for 45+ years. 1930's and 40's cars, my '61 Corvette, '65 and '66 GTO's over the years, etc.
The drum brakes will lock a wheel as well as a disc on a panic stop....just not many times in a row. Disc brakes up front are a legit upgrade, in the rear are a waste and a down-grade, IMO. I drive 4 wheel drums both power and manual and have for decades and hundreds of thousands of miles and I'm still here. But then, I don't talk on the phone or eat while driving.

Well, that's about the way I feel about it, just wondered if I was the lone ranger here. I'm a pretty conservative driver anyway so I don't foresee many sudden stops at the end of a quarter mile. Like everything else on the car, maintenance is the key to proper operation.

My only complaint with the single pot is what happens when you have a slow leak somewhere? One stop, you have brakes. The next stop, you don't.

I know, keep an eye on the level, proper maintenance, all that. But more than one time, I've had a leaky wheel cylinder or a pin hole in an old line, oozing soft line, etc... and sure enough. Empty Master! :eek: But I just checked it last week?! Oh wait, I guess that was a few hundred miles and dozens & dozens of stops ago... :doh:

With the dual reservoirs, it's never a problem. You still have two wheels doing the stopping, and you can feel the difference in the pedal the first time the cylinder goes dry. Easy fix after that, and I have no worry factor.

Granted, all of mine are 67 and up, so all factory equipped with dual Master's, but if I had a 66 or older, I'm pretty sure that would be the first thing I would change if I was planning to drive it all the time. That's just been my experience.

Well, it'll be a long way before I get to that point. I know I'm not doing discs anywhere but I may go dual and I may be convinced to go power while I'm doing it. Been a long time since I've had a manual brake car.

40 years ago I blew the left front rubber brake hose on the '65 after I pulled of the freeway near the end of my 51 mile drive to work. Was on a local expressway about half a mile from my shop when the light was turning red and I applied the brakes, but the pedal kept on going and the car kept on going. I was in third gear going 40-ish mph and shifted down into second and applied the parking brake gently and got the car stopped. When the light changed, I limped it into our parking lot and changed out the hose at lunch time. I was a mechanic at the time and kept everything ship-shape, and still do, but this was a first. In the 40 years since, I have never blown another rubber brake line. I've had them get clogged internally and get brittle and cracked and signal needed replacement, but never had one blow out. At the time, the car was 20 years old and so was the rubber line. I am ok with running single pot master cylinders. But hey, I drive 100 year old cars with no seat belts and motorcycles, too. That said, there is NO disadvantage other than appearance of upgrading to a dual master. And it is FOR SURE safer.

Drove the GTO yesterday to get gas and shake it down. About 4 miles. Tires are petrified and not safe. The clutch was stuck but freed up easily by putting it in reverse and hitting the starter with my foot on the brake. The engine runs like a Swiss watch, but has blowby out of the breather. On hard acceleration, I get blue smoke from both pipes. It's whisper quiet, with the smoothest, most silent Muncie I've ever driven. No vibrations, rattles, etc. The plan now is to replace the broken front windshield, fix the windshield gutter area, install the new convertible top, install the new interior, buff out what's left of the paint, put new tires on it, and start driving it. If the rings don't 'come around' and it keeps pumping oil, I'll pull the engine and rebuild it. But at least by then it will be a complete car and not just a resurrected shell, which is what it is now.

I knew I liked you, Jeff. :D

Incidentally, great to hear you have the 66 out and about! More pics too, please. :)

Thanks for taking the time to document this amazing car! Agree with your approach, enjoy! Is all the exhaust original?

Did a panic stop on my van many years ago... heard a pop and the pedal dropped further, but it stopped. rear line blew due to rust.

I won't trust a single reservoir master.
I understand keeping a car original but draw the line at safety improvements.

George

Congrats!! Cool car

The manifolds have never been off, and the headpipes look original. The mufflers were replaced in the '70's and the resonators were not re-installed with the new tailpipes at that time. As it is, it's whisper quiet. No exhaust leaks at all. Attachment 623621

Attachment 623622

Attachment 624683

Attachment 624684

Attachment 624685

Attachment 624686Did the front Upper A arm bushings. They were the originals. Original ball joints were/are still nice and tight, so were left alone. I've never had a set of bushings fight me so bad, but then, these have been in place since 1966. I noticed the factory paper tags are still on the front springs. LOL.

Nice original car that just needs a few things as one might expect.

You hit the jackpot on this sweet ragtop GTO. :thumbup:

Attachment 624723I agree. Most stuff is simply worn out or tarnished. Nothing was really broken or abused. Just honest wear and tear from being used as 24/7/365 transportation for 15 years and then, thankfully, parked inside a garage with the interior stored inside the house!
Windshield channel and glass next on the list, then onto re-installing the interior and some new tires. I have an original set of old Rally I's for the car I'm going to use.

Wow...wonderful find.
As the second owner of my '67, I would have love to have all that paperwork.
I have repair records dating back to the 80's with mileage on the invoices. Would love to have the Protecto-Plate.

Good luck

Attachment 626417

Attachment 626418

Attachment 626419The power steering gearbox started to leak with me driving the car. The engine still is smoking, but not leaking oil at this point. Yet. So I ordered a master overhaul kit for the gearbox and I will rebuild it to keep it original to the car and to maintain that overboosted power steering feeling that was factory. I did remove a pair of 1960's Air Lift drag bags and replaced them with new ones that have the air hose. The old ones are all self-contained. Still hold air, but the valves are damaged from wear against the car body. Pulled the original spring sleeve pads too, but they are pretty crusty. Note how the ends are capped but the rest are open. I've never seen the original ones. The front springs still have their paper tags on them.

Attachment 626421

Attachment 626422Forgot the spring pad photos.

Attachment 626423Can't wait to get the windshield channel fixed and the new glass in place so I can start in on the interior and get some miles on this thing. An engine freshen-up may be in the near future. Dead stock, of course.

Jeff,
I think you’re having fun with your new toy.

Gotta love those ‘66 GTO tail lights.

Any updates on this?