[MikeNoun]

Originally Posted by Alvin

The other interesting thing about this promotional photo is that it has "400" rocker panel emblems, and it's missing the GTO quarter panel sticker. I have shots of this same car with the sticker, so I'm guessing they airbrushed it out for this photo.

[MikeNoun]

I've posted this pic before, but it's worth posting again.

One of my favorite pics of the Goldsmith car at Daytona. They list all the Corvettes at the front of the pack, but no mention as to the "bump on a log" Pontiac sedan on pole. When you look back through the field, you can see Ferraris, Cobras, and a Jaguar.

People not familiar with the Goldsmith car would think this is photoshopped.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

The other interesting thing about this promotional photo is that it has "400" rocker panel emblems, and it's missing the GTO quarter panel sticker. I have shots of this same car with the sticker, so I'm guessing they airbrushed it out for this photo.

I've mentioned this before but when we got our new '68 GTO those quarter panel stickers came off the first time we went through our local automatic car wash.

There was quite a bit of consternation until Dad volunteered that they had saved him the trouble of peeling them off himself.

K

[MikeNoun]

I seem to recall one of the only negatives posted in a road test back in the day about the new 1968 GTO was the use of stickers for emblems. They thought it cheapened the overall look. There were also a couple negatives about the look of the Endura bumper, as some traditional styling fans claimed that the bumper being body colored made it look like it lost its front bumper.

I believe the 1968 GTO was the first use of stickers as an emblem on a Pontiac (side stripes not included).

Think how futuristic this was, as less than 10 years later, most high-performance models were adorned with all sorts of stickers, and the body colored "bumperless" look became standard in the 1990's.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

I seem to recall one of the only negatives posted in a road test back in the day about the new 1968 GTO was the use of stickers for emblems. They thought it cheapened the overall look. There were also a couple negatives about the look of the Endura bumper, as some traditional styling fans claimed that the bumper being body colored made it look like it lost its front bumper.

I believe the 1968 GTO was the first use of stickers as an emblem on a Pontiac (side stripes not included).

Think how futuristic this was, as less than 10 years later, most high-performance models were adorned with all sorts of stickers, and the body colored "bumperless" look became standard in the 1990's.

Parents" 1967 Grand Prix Hardtop had a "frost white" "GP" decal on the passenger front door 1-piece door glass. Does that count?

The rare 1967 GP convertibles still used wing-vents and separate window door glass...so no "GP" decal...IIRC

[Alvin]

Oh Yeah! From Keith's "67 GTO Story (Pontiac Foundry version)" thread below and then my recently rediscoverd poor quali cell pix of the August 2014 Collectible Automobile magazine article w the DOA prototype below:

Originally Posted by citydesk175

Thank You
Sadly......I never snuck out any car parts.

I did manage to keep a document dated 1974 that canceled the 1975 model year GTO.
I mentioned it to a GM archivist and HE WANTS IT asap.
I assume I will get a chance to post it here too.

Regards
citydesk175

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Does that mean I need to give it back, or did you keep a copy?

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Here it is:

[GT182]

Originally Posted by citydesk175

I did manage to keep a document dated 1974 that canceled the 1975 model year GTO.
I mentioned it to a GM archivist and HE WANTS IT asap.
I assume I will get a chance to post it here too.

Regards
citydesk175

I hope you take a long long time getting it to him. Or scan a copy of it and give that to him. LOL

For posterity sake I now have them saved to my computer.

[Jack Gifford]

Originally Posted by Alvin

... Mickey Thompson's Twin Blown Pontiac experiment...

So he must have made at least three of those EIIEEIIE heads. That's a better picture than I'd seen before- he certainly did get rid of the U-turn in the Pontiac exhaust ports!
Tom S- remember when one (or two?) of them showed up at Norwalk some years ago? Any idea who bought them? I don't even remember who brought them- George Kneivelbard maybe?

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by GT182

I hope you take a long long time getting it to him. Or scan a copy of it and give that to him. LOL

For posterity sake I now have them saved to my computer.

I have a hardcopy here somewhere. Somewhere....

I fear Ralph (citydesk175) is no longer with us. He was never in very good health. I tried contacting him last year through phone and email and got no response.

K

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Jack Gifford

So he must have made at least three of those EIIEEIIE heads. That's a better picture than I'd seen before- he certainly did get rid of the U-turn in the Pontiac exhaust ports!
Tom S- remember when one (or two?) of them showed up at Norwalk some years ago? Any idea who bought them? I don't even remember who brought them- George Kneivelbard maybe?

Glad you too appreciate that pic. Amazing how much was accomplished by M/T in analog - without a single computer! Would love to see a "flow chart" of that two supercharger setup.

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

I have a hardcopy here somewhere. Somewhere....

I fear Ralph (citydesk175) is no longer with us. He was never in very good health. I tried contacting him last year through phone and email and got no response. K

Thxs for the FYI and contributions to our Pontiac archives, history and lore K. Any better pix of that "still born" 1975 GTO that you know of?

[MikeNoun]

There was a 1975 GTO proposal from Pontiac. When the GTO nameplate was cancelled, I believe that's when Hurst saw the opportunity to create a limited edition Hurst/GTO, but it too was rejected.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

There was a 1975 GTO proposal from Pontiac. When the GTO nameplate was cancelled...

After seeing the photos....perhaps it was for the best.

K

[GTOnly70]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

After seeing the photos....perhaps it was for the best.

K

My thoughts exactly.

[Chris65LeMans]

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

There was a 1975 GTO proposal from Pontiac. When the GTO nameplate was cancelled, I believe that's when Hurst saw the opportunity to create a limited edition Hurst/GTO, but it too was rejected.

I've never liked that body style, so I'll throw in my opinion of what an ugly car that is. It's not as bad as slapping an arrowhead and "GTO" on a Citation; but it's close.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Chris65LeMans

I've never liked that body style, so I'll throw in my opinion of what an ugly car that is. It's not as bad as slapping an arrowhead and "GTO" on a Citation; but it's close.

Exactly the two cars of same model year glad I didn't purchase FWD Pontiac Phoenix & Citation X-11!!! I'd been happier with the '75 GTO Hurst platform as IIRC suspension was same as 2nd gen Firebird, yes? The Chevy Nova version (76, 77?) was available w Police package that handled great.

Greensboro NC had a fleet of those Nova's in black & white 4-drs back in the day.

[MikeNoun]

Well, it could have been worse.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

Well, it could have been worse.

Yes it could have. Factory photo of 1981 below remind you of any earlier GTO marketing?

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

Well, it could have been worse.

And here's a 1980 Notchback factory photo...coulda been worse?

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Alvin

Yes it could have. Factory photo of 1981 below remind you of any earlier GTO marketing?

Which morphed into this "mid-engined blown olds"...hard to say what was worse?

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Alvin

And here's a 1980 Notchback factory photo...coulda been worse?

I do like those wheels, though -

I can only imagine why.

K