4/28/09

No More Pumpjacks Anymore

That's what some called Pontiacs a make I was never fond of but there is an exception and that is the 65 GTO. The first was late 64 when Pontiac put their 389 motor with a 4-barrel in a Tempest with the GTO logo on the side. This car went 0-60 in 4.6 seconds. A rule of thumb back then was the 0-60 time. If a car could get there in 6 seconds that was fast and still not many do it today.

It was the 65 that was the icon of that model that to me was the best. It could be ordered with a 3-deuce set up and a close ratio 4-speed. This car inspired the car culture with songs and equally energetic advertising campaign not to mention it screamed. These cars were just downright fast plus being a chick magnet. I have never owned a Pontiac,Ford or Mopar product but if I were to own a pumpjack it would be this one. Did I mention I was a Chevy man? In any case Pontiac is history and it's not much of a loss as they are noted for their ability to produce ugly cars with some excellent exceptions the 65 goat as some called it being one of those exceptions.

The video is the song "Little GTO" by Ronnie and the Daytonas and the other is of a what looks to be a fairly stock 65 doing a proper burnout. I love the smell of burning rubber not only in the morning but anytime.



5 comments:

  1. I had a '66 GTO in the mid-70s
    Check this out.I especially love the last foto, of the'60 bonneville...

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  2. I like that as well Woody and almost included the Gran Prix 2+2 on this post as well because even though they were huge they scooted around quite nicely. I got tired and stopped.

    Like the 66 almost as much. Did you have the tri-power setup?

    Another thing Pontiac did about the same time and I saw this in a GP was put a reverberator in the radio that was kinda fun too.

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  3. The brother of a buddy of mine bought a '67 GTO brand new. That car really moved! My buddy's parents sold it after his brother was killed in Nam.

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  4. Only Ponitac I had was a '64 Le Mans. It had a slant 4 engine, a stupid knob on the underside of the dash for the automatic transmission, which was bone-rattling when if it shifted , was a gutless wonder and complete lemon. Never owned one since. I chose a '77 Camaro over the Trans Am.

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  5. I had a '65 Goat for about 4 months in '71. Raced alot on 2-lane blacktops during those hot, humid midwest summer days. Never lost a race even though it was an automatic. It waswhite with a black vinyl top and black guts inside. Traded my older sister straight across for my '65 Barracuda. What fun when gas was 31.9 cents a gal. It still remains my favorite car even though the 'Cuda was much roomier for "gettin what keeps a young man alive." Sold some Pontiacs even a few '07 GTOs made in Australia It just wasn't the same rush,age I guess. Pontiac was dead so no big loss for GM. Seems old photos and memories are the only things holding that America together anymore.

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