[chrisp]

What are the details of this build ?

[johnta1]

Here are some decodes:

Prod Date: 6-24-1964
Body #: P020558 number on cowl tag

Dealer Zone: 09
Dealer #: 255 Hedge's Pontiac Inc, Indianapolis IN

DD: Silvermist Gray Metallic (Upper & Lower)
A: Black rims
Trim 14: Black bucket seat

76 - 348 HP tripower 389
W - 4 speed (M20)

Axle: 3K - 3.23 STT

Tires: 07 - 7.50x14, 2-ply red line (only offered with the GTO option package)

38 2: GTO Option
39 2: AM radio manual antenna
40 1: Rear Seat Speaker
42 5: Windshield Washer/Dual Speed Wiper & Instrument Panel Pad
44 7: Mirrors - Visor, Inside Tilt, Outside Remote
47 1: Backup Lamp
48 3: Luggage Lamp & Glove Box Lamp
52 4: Custom Sport Wheel
54 1: Rear Window Defogger
61 2:
62 1: HD Springs/Shocks Fr/RR

No PS or PB

[60sstuff]

John,

Very nice work.

The color DDA, (A) is black wheels.

[johnta1]

Thanks.

I also found that the SR PN & 174 175 are the codes for the springs and shocks.

Haven't found the 612 possibly a plant use code?

[60sstuff]

John,

I recall 612 may be Quick Steering ?

[tempest1964]

Sounds like a very nicely optioned build. Any pix?

[1_Wild_Cat]

I recall 612 may be Quick Steering ?

Yeah -- 612 shows as ride and handling kit...

[60sstuff]

Originally Posted by 1_Wild_Cat

Yeah -- 612 shows as ride and handling kit...

That’s not correct ^^^.

621 is ride and handling.

612 is Quick Steering as shown on this blurry window sticker.

[1_Wild_Cat]

That’s not correct ^^^.

621 is ride and handling.

612 is Quick Steering as shown on this blurry window sticker.

Here are the PHS docs on my 64. They show the 612 as ride and handling package which included the quick ratio steering. 621 is H.D. springs and shocks - my car was optioned with these as well.

[60sstuff]

My blurry window sticker is a 1965.

Obviously 612 in ‘65 is quick steering.

In 1964 it’s something different.

Thanks for that information!

[1_Wild_Cat]

I didn't realize that 65 was different either. Just happened to be a code I knew from my car...Lots of nuances with these cars.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by johnta1

Here are some decodes:

Prod Date: 6-24-1964
Body #: P020558 number on cowl tag

Built at the home plant in Pontiac Michigan.

K

[John V.]

In '64, Sales Code 612 was the Rally Handling Kit.

I have explained the change to this option between '64 and '65 many times on this forum. The gist is, in '64 you could NOT get the thicker 15/16" dia front stabilizer bar for a Tempest in combination with Power Steering except in a GTO.

The GTO package included the thicker bar so a GTO got it with or without PS.

The '64 612 Rally Handling Kit included the Q.R. manual steering box, the thicker bar, and the HD Springs and Shocks. The latter meant you got the 621 option as part of the 612 "package" and it was so noted on the Window Sticker.

The '64 621 would get you HD Springs and Shocks alone.

There were NO HD Springs available for the GTO, so the 621 in combination with the 612 or without the 612 only changed the Shocks. In non-GTOs, there were HD versions of the Springs that upgraded the standard release Springs.

The 612 was ordered as "Special Equipment", it was NOT listed on the regular Tempest Order Form.

For '65, PMD revamped the pieces. The thicker bar (still standard on the GTO) was now made part of the Sales Code 621 option rather than the "special equipment" 612 option.

By doing it this way, you could get the thicker bar with any Tempest, Tempest Custom, or non-GTO Lemans along with the PS option.

PMD did not call the 612 option "ride & handling" in '64.

A big takeaway here is that no matter that a '64 GTO Window Sticker would refer to the HD Springs & Shocks, you got the same Springs as any other '64 GTO. Only GTOs with AC got different front Springs, and with AC it also mattered whether or not it also had the optional auto trans. But the front Springs specified for the AC builds was PMD determined, you could not specify optional Springs for a GTO order.

When you ordered the 621 option for a GTO the ONLY thing that changed was the Shocks, this was true in '64 and '65.

And when you ordered the 612 option for a '64 GTO, the ONLY things that changed was the Q.R. steering box along with the Shocks. The Springs and front stabilizer bar remained the same.

The same was true in '65 but IIRC, PMD changed the description of the 621 option to "ride & handling" as it now included the thicker front bar. Meaningless to a GTO since it already included that bar but just a bit of PMD trivia to ponder.

[70L34]

What was the “quick “ ratio on the manual steering gear?

[Rich-Tripower]

I believe it is 20:1 instead of 24:1. The option came along with the steering stabilizer I believe. Our GTO has the quick steering and the stabilizer, all manual. This is also coupled with the optional "simulated wood" steering wheel which is a smaller diameter than the stock wheel. Sitting still or slow moving parking lot maneuvers are a good upper body workout for sure.

[70L34]

Thanks Rich!

[Rich-Tripower]

Another tidbit. Untouched "quick ratio" steering boxes are fairly rare. Ours was still original to the car. I sent it off to be rebuilt and the guy called me and said he was making no promises about the rebuild as the sectors are what is so rare to provide the quicker ratio and if ours was bad he couldn't fix it as there are no replacements available. Lucky for us, the sectors were fine and we got our unit rebuilt in return which works great. But it is a chore to steer sitting still!