#1  
Old 01-18-2015, 05:58 PM
Jeff Hamlin's Avatar
Jeff Hamlin Jeff Hamlin is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Beach side of Virginia
Posts: 9,371
Question GTO- Trans, Shifter & Carb offerings;

Sitting around the shop shooting the sh!t and the topic of trans/shifter's & carb offerings came up.
Then a few questions to which I had no knowledge/answers on.

If I understand the factory literature correctly one could order a 1966 GTO with the 3-spd column shift.
Would this delete the console since the buckets were standard?

Any known 3 speed column shift '66 GTOs?

What about column shift automatic 66's, was this an option?

With the '67 line up we know they offered the economy 2bbl 400,
and most always seem to be bench-seat auto on the column.
Is this the only configuration when you ordered a 2bbl '67 GTO?

Any ideas on why they offered a 2bbl in '67 but not in '66?

Just wondering

Cheers

__________________
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my grandfather did, in his sleep.
Not screaming like the passengers in his car.
  #2  
Old 01-18-2015, 08:27 PM
Satyr1966's Avatar
Satyr1966 Satyr1966 is offline
Chief Ponti-yacker
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 616
Default

My Son's '66 came with a column shifted 2 speed automatic & buckets with no console. One of the first changes I made to the car back when I owned it was to put in a turbo 400 with a '67 dual gate console. This required swapping out the whole steering column. I've never seen a column shifted three speed '66 or '67. I don't know if there was a column shifter available to work with the Ford top-loader 3 speed used on the GTOs. Jerry.

__________________
By diligent effort I seem to be prolonging my adolescence to total absurdity. John D. MacDonald
  #3  
Old 01-18-2015, 09:23 PM
wolf's Avatar
wolf wolf is offline
Senior Chief
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: West St Paul, MB Canada
Posts: 379
Default

in '66 the 3 speed manual was only available with a floor shift in the GTO. But for the 2 speed auto, column shift was basic, with the floor shifter and console an option. One of my '66 GTOs was a 2 speed auto column shift too.

  #4  
Old 01-19-2015, 06:42 AM
Jeff Hamlin's Avatar
Jeff Hamlin Jeff Hamlin is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Beach side of Virginia
Posts: 9,371
Default Hmmm

Seems they all were changed out,
I can't seem to find one on-line example of a column shift 1966 GTO.

So no 3 spd column MT but definitely AT on the column could be had,
and the console would be omitted.

__________________
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my grandfather did, in his sleep.
Not screaming like the passengers in his car.
  #5  
Old 01-19-2015, 08:52 AM
Andre's Avatar
Andre Andre is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Hobe Sound (Tiger Land), Fl
Posts: 4,731
Default

Local woman has a two tone '66 Candlelite Cream, gold painted top, and gold interior that she purchased from the local dealer in mid to late 1966- Stewart Pontiac. (no longer in business). It is a bucket seat car with 3 on the tree, and no console. My recollection is that it was purchased off the lot, and not special ordered. I haven't seen the car or her in about 3 years, but I think she still has it. Seemed weird when I first saw the car in the early 80's

  #6  
Old 01-19-2015, 06:19 PM
Jeff Hamlin's Avatar
Jeff Hamlin Jeff Hamlin is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Beach side of Virginia
Posts: 9,371
Exclamation FROM THE '66 SALES CATALOG;



So after looking for my sales cat,
it does indeed reference both 3spd on the column as "Standard" and the AT column shift optional on the 1966 GTO.
Albeit not a popular choice, it was possible.

Andre,
It doesn't seem odd depending on her age when bought.
Most of the older gen grew up on MT/ST cars and likely a good number of them on the tree shifters.
If you ever happen upon this GTO again it would be great to document (pictures).

I'm am amazed that I could not come up with one example on-line.

I also recall a column shift GTO that was shown with a shifter block-off/Delete plate on the console with the owner indicating it was ordered that way?? I can't for the life of me fine the pics or the info; on year and such. Now that would be an odd one for sure.

__________________
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my grandfather did, in his sleep.
Not screaming like the passengers in his car.
  #7  
Old 01-20-2015, 01:06 AM
wolf's Avatar
wolf wolf is offline
Senior Chief
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: West St Paul, MB Canada
Posts: 379
Default

I stand corrected! The '64 GTO had the floor shift 3 spd as std, same with the later GTOs, so I ASSumed they were all that way, but in all my research I somehow missed that '66 DID have the column shift 3 spd as std. Learn something new everyday...

  #8  
Old 01-20-2015, 06:56 AM
Jeff Hamlin's Avatar
Jeff Hamlin Jeff Hamlin is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Beach side of Virginia
Posts: 9,371
Exclamation

I was thinking the same. You just don't see them and that's why are shop talk was getting interesting. Most of my buddies have been building Pontiac's way longer then me and no one could recall ever seeing one.
After viewing many many images I did finally come across an AT column shift 66.

I still would love to see a 3spd CS '66, they seem to be non existent.

__________________
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my grandfather did, in his sleep.
Not screaming like the passengers in his car.

Last edited by Jeff Hamlin; 06-12-2015 at 06:01 PM.
  #9  
Old 01-20-2015, 07:36 AM
Keith Seymore's Avatar
Keith Seymore Keith Seymore is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Motor City
Posts: 8,179
Default

Our '68 was an auto trans column shift, bucket seat no console car.

I remember when I was growing up I was embarrassed about that column shift.

K

__________________
'63 LeMans Convertible
'63 Grand Prix
'65 GTO - original, unrestored, Dad was original owner, 5000 original mile Royal Pontiac factory racer
'74 Chevelle - original owner, 9.85 @ 136 mph besthttp://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/
My Pontiac Story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524
"Intro from an old Assembly Plant Guy":http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926
  #10  
Old 01-20-2015, 08:11 AM
Old Goat 67's Avatar
Old Goat 67 Old Goat 67 is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: La., 67 GTO, Original Owner
Posts: 6,720
Default

Mine was like that originally.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	DSCN3915.jpg
Views:	105
Size:	71.3 KB
ID:	387924  

  #11  
Old 01-20-2015, 11:54 AM
Bertone Bertone is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 32
Default

Looking at my 66 info it say the only way to order the optional conole is to select a floor mounted shift option as well in additon to the bucket seat option.

  #12  
Old 01-20-2015, 03:30 PM
GT182's Avatar
GT182 GT182 is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: New Castle, Delaware - Member of POFC
Posts: 8,833
Default

If you didn't order floor shift and bucket seats [to save money], then you got the same as the Tempest.... column shift and bench seat.

__________________


Gary
Get in, ShuT Up, Hang On!
Member of the Baltimore Built Brotherhood
MY GTO built 4th Week of March 1966
"Crusin' Is Not A Crime"
Keep yer stick on the ice.
  #13  
Old 01-20-2015, 05:06 PM
importsmasher's Avatar
importsmasher importsmasher is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Western Tennessee
Posts: 1,266
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by GT182 View Post
If you didn't order floor shift and bucket seats [to save money], then you got the same as the Tempest.... column shift and bench seat.
Yes
While I agree with you on the column shift, my original window sticker on my 66 GTO says that bucket seats were standard on the GTO.

__________________
Scott Baggiore

66 GTO convertible 389/4 speed (parents bought new)
73 Firebird Formula 400/4 speed
74 GTO 455/4 speed
74 Grand Am
  #14  
Old 01-20-2015, 07:53 PM
Jeff Hamlin's Avatar
Jeff Hamlin Jeff Hamlin is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Beach side of Virginia
Posts: 9,371
Arrow Same goes for Lemans

From my Window sticker;
23717-1966 LEMANS HARDTOP COUPE
* The following items, options or Accessories on some other models, are Standard equipment on this model; Strato bucket seats, Floor carpet, Dual horns
**Optional accessories/equipment: Listed below

__________________
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my grandfather did, in his sleep.
Not screaming like the passengers in his car.
  #15  
Old 01-20-2015, 08:01 PM
Jeff Hamlin's Avatar
Jeff Hamlin Jeff Hamlin is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Beach side of Virginia
Posts: 9,371
Default

I've seen many and owned a couple '67s AT column shift.
My 1st '67 was a 2bbl, Bench & AT on the column,
It was built for cruising only and my girlfriend loved it

I'm just surprised that so many '66 GTOs came with Tri-Power & 4spd
Where are all those column shift 3 speeds '66s??

__________________
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my grandfather did, in his sleep.
Not screaming like the passengers in his car.
  #16  
Old 01-20-2015, 08:08 PM
Jeff Hamlin's Avatar
Jeff Hamlin Jeff Hamlin is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Beach side of Virginia
Posts: 9,371
Arrow

My good friends '67 Drop Top is also a Bench-seat AT column shift GTO.
It was a 2bbl car but we took care of that

__________________
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my grandfather did, in his sleep.
Not screaming like the passengers in his car.

Last edited by Jeff Hamlin; 06-12-2015 at 06:01 PM.
  #17  
Old 01-21-2015, 01:35 AM
Nicks67GTO Nicks67GTO is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Waterloo, Ia
Posts: 2,895
Default

I had a 67' GTO Post, 335hp, 4 barrel, bucket seat, column shift auto car years ago. Had a protecto plate and everything. You guys would cringe if you knew how much I gave it away for.....lol

__________________


-1967 GTO HO Restomod. PKMM 433ci, SilverSport T56 Magnum 6spd, Moser 9", SC&C and a bunch of other pro touring goodies

- Build Thread
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...615847&page=23
  #18  
Old 01-21-2015, 09:05 AM
Andre's Avatar
Andre Andre is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Hobe Sound (Tiger Land), Fl
Posts: 4,731
Default

One day, I will run across this woman again. My brother knows her daughter, so maybe I can track them down through Facebook. I have seen a couple '64's with bucket seats and column shift. One was a tilt column car that I missed out on for $3500. Have also seen a couple of automatic on the column '66 GTOs with bucket seats.
The car you are thinking about that had the console with block out plate and column shift with bucket seats appeared in an earlier issue of Pontiac Enthusiast/GTO Enthusiast.
The three on the tree on these cars is the one that I hardly ever see.

  #19  
Old 01-21-2015, 11:23 AM
geeteeohguy's Avatar
geeteeohguy geeteeohguy is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Fresno, California
Posts: 5,313
Default

In the past 40 years of looking and scrutinizing, I have seen quite a few column shift GTO's.....every one of them automatic transmission. '64 on up. I have NEVER seen a GTO '64-'70 with a 'three-on-the-tree" manual transmission. Has anybody on this forum actually seen and verified one? I know that the printed information by GM says it was 'standard', but if it was, wouldn't at least a few of them still exist? GM also showed the 8-lug wheel on the '66 GTO, and we all know that didn't happen. So, who else besides Andre has seen one of these cars, in person....and Andre, did you verify the car was a real GTO?

__________________
Jeff
  #20  
Old 01-21-2015, 05:53 PM
GT182's Avatar
GT182 GT182 is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: New Castle, Delaware - Member of POFC
Posts: 8,833
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Hamlin View Post
Where are all those column shift 3 speeds '66s??
I'd guess to say swapped out to floor shift.... automatic or 4 speeds. Tho more likely 4 speeds. I wasn't all that crazy about the 2 speed in my 66 Tempest Custom. Besides, I don't think that ST300 was all great. I can only imagine how well it would survive 335 or 360 HP and a pounding by the drivers back then. I know it didn't hold up too well for me even with a 326 in front of it. And I didn't beat the living daylights out of it.

__________________


Gary
Get in, ShuT Up, Hang On!
Member of the Baltimore Built Brotherhood
MY GTO built 4th Week of March 1966
"Crusin' Is Not A Crime"
Keep yer stick on the ice.
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:28 AM.

 

About Us

The PY Online Forums is the largest online gathering of Pontiac enthusiasts anywhere in the world. Founded in 1991, it was also the first online forum for people to gather and talk about their Pontiacs. Since then, it has become the mecca of Pontiac technical data and knowledge that no other place can surpass.

 




Copyright © 2017