[goatwgn]

Back around 1986/87 Pontiac had a styling exercise using a 2 door Grand Am, with '65 style patterns in the seats and door panels, and a "Super Duty" Iron Duke 4 cylinder engine. Thank goodness Pontiac had enough respect for the GTO nameplate at that time to not produce that thing. Also too bad that the Grand Prix 2+2 didn't have an engine with some real power when they produced that. If weak kneed management hadn't thrown out all the V8 tooling in 1981, they could have produced a port injected 301 turbo with a reinforced block that would have really did the 2+2 justice. And would have made a potential muscle car out of the regular "formal" roofline Grand Prix, along the lines of what Buick did with the Regal T type and GN.

[The Champ]

Originally Posted by goatwgn

Back around 1986/87 Pontiac had a styling exercise using a 2 door Grand Am, with '65 style patterns in the seats and door panels, and a "Super Duty" Iron Duke 4 cylinder engine.

IIRC, that was actually in the early 90's when the discussion was bringing it back for the 30th anniversary (1994).

I'm proud that Pontiac refused to play the 4 or 6 cylinder game with the GTO, like Ford and Chrysler have done with their heralded "names".

A GTO always meant at 5.7L or larger V8 engine, 2 doors and a manual transmission option.

[goatwgn]

Originally Posted by The Champ

IIRC, that was actually in the early 90's when the discussion was bringing it back for the 30th anniversary (1994).

I'm proud that Pontiac refused to play the 4 or 6 cylinder game with the GTO, like Ford and Chrysler have done with their heralded "names".

A GTO always meant at 5.7L or larger V8 engine, 2 doors and a manual transmission option.

I still have an old issue of HPP with the "1987" GTO on the front cover. I'll see if I can find it and post a picture of it.

[The Champ]

Originally Posted by goatwgn

I still have an old issue of HPP with the "1987" GTO on the front cover. I'll see if I can find it and post a picture of it.

Wouldn't be the first time I was wrong...

I know that I had already purchased my '64 (purchased in June 1992), but not driven it (first drive Oct 1994) when I read about it in a then current magazine.

I definitely remember it had the Iron Duke and it was a stylized Grand Am.

[goatwgn]

Here it is.