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

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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?

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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

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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

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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