1966 Pontiac GTO

Pontiac's was the shapeliest restyled '66 GM intermediate, and the GTO became its own model. 

Recognizing the GTO's growing popularity, Pontiac promoted it from a Tempest option to a full-fledged model for '66. The Goat rewarded Pontiac with sales of 96,946 units, the highest one-year total ever attained by a true muscle car.
Credit for its success was twofold. Other GM divisions had copied the GTO with hotter versions of their intermediates, but like Ford's new Fairlane GT, none captured the Goat's all-around appeal. Mopar had the performance, but no special muscle models. And while all GM midsize cars were restyled for '66, none matched the beauty of the GTO's voluptuous new Coke-bottle contours.
Wheelbase was untouched, and overall length and curb weights changed negligibly. But styling highlights included a graceful new roofline and cool fluted taillamps. The unique GTO grille had mesh-pattern inserts made of plastic -- an industry first.

  

Fluted lamps dressed up the GTO's tail, and a few cars got red plastic front fender liners.

The standard hood scoop remained nonfunctional, but Tri-Power engines could again get an over-the-counter fresh-air kit, and a few were equipped with the Goat's first factory Ram Air. A small number of GTOs were ordered with a boss new option: weight-reducing red plastic inner fender liners. Inside, the new instrument-surround was genuine wood.

Buckets and real wood dash trim were standard in the '66 GTO; the console was optional with any floor shifter.

The four-barrel 389 continued at 335 bhp. The $113 triple-two-barrel had 360 bhp (with or without Ram Air), but production ceased at midyear when GM outlawed multicarb engines for all but the Corvette. Three- and four-speed manuals and a two-speed automatic could be had with factory axles spanning 3.08:1 to 4.33:1.

 This is one of 19,045 GTOs ordered with Tri-Power before GM killed the option at midyear.

The 1966 Pontiac GTO Specifications

Wheelbase, inches: 115.0
Weight, lbs: 3,445
Number built: 96,946
Base price: $2,783
Top Available Engine
Type: ohv V-8
Displacement, cid: 389
Fuel system: 3 x 2bbl.
Compression ratio: 10.75:1
Horsepower @ rpm: 360 @ 5200
Torque @ rpm: 424 @ 3600
Representative Performance
0-60 mph, sec: 6.5
1/4 mile, sec. @ mph: 14.65 @ 98