[phoenixpnr]

Anybody out there have an idea of how many 66 GTOs were factory delivered with the red inserts?
Also looking for a WS block if anyone knows of one.
Thanks!

[goatmanmitch]

I believe it was about 2,000 total for both years (66 and 67).

[Tim john]

My car still retains their factory original factory Red Wheel well liners. (67 H.O. four speed GTO).

Tim john---

[phoenixpnr]

My original ones are still there but a little worse for ware. Was there a 50/50 split between 66 and 67, or is there really no way to tell?
Since there was no real HO option in 66, would a close ratio (m21) 3.90 rear set up be as close as you could get?

[graycav56]

My 66 has them. They do take a beating after years on the road, but I have found that a bit of wet sanding with the finest paper you can get does a pretty good job.

Of course, the repro's are almost a thousand bucks, so the effort is worth it!

[phoenixpnr]

Originally Posted by graycav56

My 66 has them. They do take a beating after years on the road, but I have found that a bit of wet sanding with the finest paper you can get does a pretty good job.

Of course, the repro's are almost a thousand bucks, so the effort is worth it!

Being right around the corner from me, what color combo is your car?
Mine is not on the road right now but was originally Martinique Bronze with black vinyl top and black interior.

[graycav56]

Originally Posted by phoenixpnr

Being right around the corner from me, what color combo is your car?
Mine is not on the road right now but was originally Martinique Bronze with black vinyl top and black interior.

Marina Turquoise, black interior. No vinyl top.

[Tim john]

My 67 H.O. GTO hard top is factory Montego Creme with black interior with the red wheel well liners (no vinyl top). My car is currently painted white and was sprayed this white back in 1975.

Tim john---

[phoenixpnr]

Originally Posted by graycav56

Marina Turquoise, black interior. No vinyl top.

If you can, I'd love to see what the Marina Turq. looks like against the red inserts.
I have a Marina Turq. with Parchment interior that I'd like to put red inserts on, and wondered if it would look OK or not.

[geeteeohguy]

Years ago I saw an original Ram Air '67 GTO hardtop in Mariner Turqoise with either a black or turqoise interior (it was 1985)......it had the orignal red fender liners and original shiny paint. Looked GREAT!! As for no "HO" cars in '66, the '66 tripower car WAS the "HO" car of that year.

[phoenixpnr]

Originally Posted by geeteeohguy

Years ago I saw an original Ram Air '67 GTO hardtop in Mariner Turqoise with either a black or turqoise interior (it was 1985)......it had the orignal red fender liners and original shiny paint. Looked GREAT!! As for no "HO" cars in '66, the '66 tripower car WAS the "HO" car of that year.

Duh - I don't know what I was thinking!
Of the tri power cars, what % do you think were close ratio and 3.90 rear gear?
If your car was one of the super rare RA cars, would the body billing history sheet say XS on it, or was it an addition to the WS option?

[bigpop]

XS for Manual XP( from memory) for automatics on the Billing History Card from PHS.
or if lucky, the Broadcast Sheet found in some cars. Larry B.

p.s. I don't know where the one fellow gets his data on # of RFLers in 66-67. No one really knows as far as I have seen in my 26 years in the hobby.

[GT182]

Originally Posted by bigpop

No one really knows as far as I have seen in my 26 years in the hobby.

And I'm sure Pontiac never kept track of them either.

[phoenixpnr]

Originally Posted by bigpop

XS for Manual XP( from memory) for automatics on the Billing History Card from PHS.
or if lucky, the Broadcast Sheet found in some cars. Larry B.

p.s. I don't know where the one fellow gets his data on # of RFLers in 66-67. No one really knows as far as I have seen in my 26 years in the hobby.

OK then, of the 100K plus GTOs made in 66, does anyone have a wild guess at % numbers. The previous number of 2k FOR 66 & 67 would fall around 1%.
I could be wrong but I don't think the red fender liners were a popular option.
It seems that most people like to quantify their car and I'm not much better.
Hopefully I'm not boring people out there!

[geeteeohguy]

Only 96,000 and change '66 GTO's produced, and that was the most prolific year. Fender liners were not popular at all at the time (people buying these cars did not want "extra weight" to slow them down) and they were a sales flop. That said, they sure look "cool" today on a '66 or '67 GTO....No way to get a percentage, though. Nobody kept track.

[goatmanmitch]

Originally Posted by bigpop

p.s. I don't know where the one fellow gets his data on # of RFLers in 66-67. No one really knows as far as I have seen in my 26 years in the hobby.

I found two sources that state 1967 had 1,334 with the code 522 red fender liners.

The first source is the Illustrated GTO Buyers Guide by Paul Zazarine, 1994, on page 58.

The other is Original Pontiac GTO, The Restorer's Guide 1964-1974 by Thomas DeMauro, 2001, page 46. An interesting note in this book states that the fender liners were listed as "Not available at start of production. See dealer for availability." in the 66 accessories catalog.

With the liners not being available at the start of production, at total of 600 some for 66 is feasible. I can not find where I read that there were approx 2,000 made for both years the liners were available, even though I am quite certain I read that somewhere. I will keep looking for that source.

[bigpop]

Thanks, interesting, I know they weren't popular ,as my friend Kip, who had a new 65 ,
worked at the dealership thru 68,. and they used them as anything from floor hockey goals, to mini-sleds. Of course, the boss didn't know.They broke several just trying to mounting them too fast, it wasn't a fun job, he said. .

[spartazoo]

Originally Posted by phoenixpnr

If you can, I'd love to see what the Marina Turq. looks like against the red inserts.
I have a Marina Turq. with Parchment interior that I'd like to put red inserts on, and wondered if it would look OK or not.

I too have a 66 marina turquoise hardtop with red fender liners. With red line tires and the green paint they look great! They are also a great discussion piece at car shows when people argue with you about them actually being originally available... Some funny stuff from the know-it-alls.

[60sstuff]

Originally Posted by spartazoo

They are also a great discussion piece at car shows when people argue with you about them actually being originally available... Some funny stuff from the know-it-alls.

Been there, done that! I installed a minty original set on a Reef Turquoise 66 I used to own in the early/mid 80's and when people walked up to the car they would say "why did you paint the wheel wells red"? After I explained they were a very rare two year only option they would have this skeptical look on their face.
My old 66 pictured below was in many magazines and used on the box for a Revell model.

[graycav56]

Originally Posted by phoenixpnr

If you can, I'd love to see what the Marina Turq. looks like against the red inserts.
I have a Marina Turq. with Parchment interior that I'd like to put red inserts on, and wondered if it would look OK or not.

I'll take a few shots when I get back home (I'm TDY for a few days). The pix I have on my laptop really don't showcase the liners all that well.

Full disclosure: These things are REALLY old, and while they are wearing well, they don't look as good as ones with a lot fewer miles or the aforementioned $1000 repops. After this driving season I'm going to give them a thorough going over and hopefully jazz them up a bit.