CarTech® CT590 - 1964 Pontiac GTO: Muscle Cars In Detail No. 8

Explore what makes the 1964 Pontiac GTO an automotive icon with this thorough look into the trend-setting vehicle's origin, components, racing heritage, legacy, and more.

As part of the Muscle Cars In Detail series, this book delivers a comprehensive review of this trend-setting and historic car.

By the mid-1960s, the American automotive market was yearning for faster, more responsive, and sportier cars, and a crew of high-performance enthusiasts at Pontiac recognized this. Large V-8s were commonly installed in full-size cars, but performance was hampered by pure chassis weight. Under the guidance of Bunkie Knudsen, John DeLorean, Bill Collins, and others, Pontiac installed the high-performance 389 V-8 into the nimble and lightweight, intermediate-size LeMans chassis. It was a watershed moment for Pontiac; the 1964 GTO delivered astounding performance and created the muscle car blueprint that the Detroit manufacturers followed in the 1960s and 1970s.

With a 389 V-8 engine, dual exhaust, and a standard 3-speed or optional 4-speed manual transmission, the GTO supplied extraordinary performance. To harness the power and provide superlative handling, the GTO was fitted with stiffer springs, a limited slip differential, large-diameter front sway bar, and wider wheels. And to give it panache, the GTO was adorned with distinctive badges and hood scoops. The 1964 GTO is a landmark car, and this book goes well beyond the glossy overview in other books.

Table of contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1:

• GM's New Youth Brand
• Base-Model Tempest
• Bunkie Knudsen and John DeLorean
• Inception, Design and Creation of the GTO
• Royal Pontiac
• Jim Wangers

Chapter 2:

• A Hot Rod Tempest
• Tempest Standard Equipment
• GTO Equipment Package

Chapter 3:

• Engine, Transmission
• and Rear End
• 389 Engine
• Tri-Power
• Transmissions
• Hurst Shifter
• Rear Differential

Chapter 4:

• Suspension and Brakes
• Suspension
• Handling Package
• Wheels and Tires
• Braking System

Chapter 5:

• Interior and Exterior
• Interior
• Exterior

Chapter 6:

• Racing
• Mickey Thompson
• Drag Racing Personalities
• Road Race Competitors

Chapter 7:

• End of an Era
• Rebirth
• Value and Collectibility
• Legacy

Appendix I:

• Production Figures

Appendix II:

• Interior, Exterior and
• Cordova/Convertible Top Colors

Appendix III:

• 1964 Pontiac LeMans
• Options List

David Bonaskiewich
Since he was very young, Dave Bonaskiewich has had an unbridled enthusiasm for cars. His father was a mechanic who was fond of Fords, but was supportive when Dave developed a strong interest in Pontiacs during his teenage years. Together, they rebuilt his first car, a 1970 LeMans, which Dave continues to drive every chance he gets. He has contributed many feature articles for High Performance Pontiac, Smoke Signals, Timeless Muscle, and Poncho Perfection magazines.