How about....a 69 GTO?
 

As a daily driver. Mark Wilson likes it very much....

1969 GTO frame-off resto,68k orig miles,#'s matching 400,turbo 400,3:23 rear,ps,cold a/c,buckets,fact. tach,rally II's, solor red with parchement int. Just about everything is new or rebuilt[front-end,brakes,body bushings,tires,trim rings,center caps,weather strip,complete int,fuzzys,beazels,lights lenzes,you get the picture]. no rust,very nice paint. Very nicely detailed engine bay and undercarrage. Car drives great,dependable and tight. have P-O-P,PHS and some orig doc's.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1197327926.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1197327943.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1197327959.jpg

Very cool!

I've always been partial to Muncie 4 spds, but autos aren't too bad with that much oomph in the motor.

I'd love to have an old muscle car. I'd want something in the type of shape as yours, but not something that's as much a classic so I could modify it. I'd like to add good disk brakes and a better set of suspension bits to a classic in great shape.

I have just the car for U. a 69 Ford Mach 1 wt 428 SCJ.. R Code car.. ground up mechanicals, Everything was done to the Motor including 60 hours polishing and porting the heads, Ford Power Parts Roller Rockers etc with Global West Competition Suspension and 4 wheel discs. Even the Power Steering box was blueprinted..Orginal Special order Tripleblack with Marty Report...Orginal Covina, CA car with orginal CA Black Plate. Have owned for nearly 20 years. $85,000.00

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1197328947.jpg

Wow...that '69 GTO is amazing! What a wonderful design. I think the man that designed that car was a genius!

Hi. My name is Normy. And I drive a Porsche 928. I just got in from washing my 928 by the way. In any case, the car I just got done washing was originally designed by a Lithuanian immigrant known as Anatole "Tony" Lapine, a car designer who worked for general motors for a while.

Guess who designed the '69 GTO? None other than the same Tony Lapine-

My very first car, when I was 17 years old, was a '67 Goat. 400 four speed (Muncie M22) with a 12 bolt rear end set up with posi and either 4.10 or 4.11 gears (can't remember which). Purple with a black vinyl top. I put a set of Hooker headers on it, an Edelbrock Tarantula manifold, a Holly 800 cfm double pumper, and a Crane cam and kit. Pretty darn quick car for its day. Wish I still had it. And the '67 Dodge R/T, '66 Plymouth Sport Fury, '68 Road Runner, '69 Super Bee...

Should have been stout, Jeff. Those used to go 13's, stone stock on street tires. 12 bolt was a 4.10.

Sounds great. Move the decimal 2 spots to the left and I'll take her home as soon as I can get there.

The red one is not mine, but I am thinking about something like it. This one is on CL Dallas for $25K. I'd also prefer a 4 speed, but the auto gets points as a DD. I would think a well restored example is going to be pretty reliable - certainly easy to work on. I wouldn't hesitate to change out to disc brakes and upgrade some bolt on suspension parts for better handling. Hmm, the mind reels...

Mark, Having lived through the time when those cars WERE daily drivers I see no reason you couldn't make one do it again. Of course you are subjecting it to door dings (probably, I would be a Nazi about parking if I had one), if you wash it regualrly (and judging from pix of your other cars you will) it'll rust for certain. I know that because I have ALWAYS washed/waxed my cars regularly even in those days. Otherwise, go for it. You only live once.

SWEET! is the 69 car the one deemed "the judge"?

My favorite "GOAT" year...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1197334033.jpg

with this engine:


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1197334070.jpg

Vash,
"The Judge" was an option package an 69/70 Goats. May have been available in other years too. Had pretty wild graphics and a rear deck spoiler. I was in my mid teens then and ached in my heart for one.

http://ultimategto.com/1969jud/69j_00003_1.jpg

Paul,
Love the earlier years too, but they are more rare and $$$. That one is a beauty.

my buddy has a 67 convertible in his shop he's restoring right now. I'd trade several of my cars for it if he would part with it. there's another 67 hardtop in Baton Rouge for 12.5k. If I only had the cash

John,
What shape is the other 67 in?

saw it on craigslist baton rouge. white with black interior I think, auto 12,500. I'll see of I can find it and post the link

here ya go. http://batonrouge.craigslist.org/car/504575487.html

at that price, you could spend 10k on it and still have a good deal I believe going by some of the prices I see

Thanks - that one looks pretty complete. Only wish I had the energy for a project.

you buy and I'll fly.. I'll bring it to you. I need to go pick up other 66 Mustang in College Station I bought a few months ago anyway

I herded a couple of "Goats", both new. Foolishly, I traded the '65 in on a '66.

I really loved the lines of the '65, giving the '64, the original year, a close second in good looks over the entire GTO run. The problem with the '64's? Pontiac neglected to beef up a Tempest frame, so they had trouble handling the torque of a 389. Like the Beach Boys song lyric: "I get pushed out of shape, and it's hard to steer...".

Braking power was horrible...a big engine dumped in a car designed for slower speeds...miserable little 13" drum brakes that would fade a nanosecond after you applied them at triple digit speeds.

My '66 Goat? Even new it was poorly put together. I'd ordered this car, and I was disappointed in fit and finish, to say the least. I drove it 4,000 miles or so, then bought my first Porsche, a '66 912. Haven't bought GM since.

Tri power left the GM scene in the middle of the '66 model year. '67 brought disc brakes up front, and they were sorely needed. '67 also brought the 400 cubes engine.

My memory fades after this...

Tabby? Nice "stang"...I'm sure it was very fast (in a straight line) for it's day. However, here I go with "lines" again. IMO, the Mustang got pretty fat after the '66 model year. Aesthetics NOT pleasing to me.. Sorry, but don't think I'll be beating your door down with an 85K check in hand...:eek: So, if you find a sucker, you'll replace the Stang with a Cayman??? ;)

DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT!

It's still a "P" car - maybe Wayne will give us Pontiac guys a forum on Mullet grooming!

Mine isn't a GTO, mine is a LeMans (emphasis on snobbery) Started out life as Gold with Brown vinyl top, ghey 350 and peg legged rearend and hubcaps.

It was a rusted POS when I started. Now totally refinished with new sheetmetal and Deltron Starfire Blue Metallic

462 Poncho nasty cammed roller rockered hooked to aa TH 350 and 12 bolt 3.36 Posi. I lowered it too the other day..


Today
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1197340490.jpg

POS 350 gone
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1197340778.jpg

Side shot after lowering
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1197340838.jpg

Engine at the machine shop.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1197341028.jpg


I'm in love with these cars. LIke I said, DO IT.

there's a show on the history channel coming on next about the 60's with a segment about the GTO

I would go for it!!!! Hell, I want to get rid of about all my Porsche stuff and get another cool old hot rod, the local Porsche guys have me ready to drop the hobby!!

All I can say? Getting rid of the Porsche stuff may not be all that bad...;)

you know, I haven't even LOOKED at my 911 in months. I get all woodied up surfing for Poncho stuff these days. Crap, it may actually may pass the 911 up in money spent.

Is that possible?

Yep, in any passion, that's possible...I just spent well over a grand on a new pool cue and a case to put it in...that's not to mention the cost of the other cues in this case, and I'm the lowest of the low in pool ranking...a guy who is accurately known as a "banger".

I'm probably done with toy cars. Why? Just go on a long road trip. Then come home & tell us all what a great time you had. You'll figure it out. Street cars? Fun? You GOTTA be kidding.

I shoulda gone to the Reno open this weekend. There, I'd have been able to watch Shane Van Boening, the young lion from South Dakota, vs. Johnny Archer, a many times national champion, going head to head in a race to 9 in 9 ball, the finals, with $10K to the winner. Alas, the mountain passes from here to there were all clogged with snow & ice, and I can't take my cue case as carry on luggage. You see, pool cues are on the airline list as potential terrorist weapons. Yeah, I might have wanted to play some of those who were eliminated, paying $$$ for the education.

But cars? Many fond memories...no future desires.

Randy - great looking Lemans.

Lets face it. You build a hot car to scare the crap out of your buddies. NEvermind any of this stuff about racing and sportsmanship :)

thanks Mark. You should do the 69 - pretty car, and you'll always get your money back..Just get used to weird steering and actually having to use brakes on the off-ramp

also check out http://forums.performanceyears.com/forums/

speaking of off-ramps - check out the forum "clubhouse" they don't have a moderator there. They all hunt liberals on that site and if you decide to burn a cross or two and post the pics, those guys don't mind. People think OT here is where the animals roam..

And Paul, I agree. I figure my days are numbered building this stuff. Being 37 with no real responsibilities can't last forever...Lord help me if I ever get married and actually HAVE to turn into an adult..

rjp

Well, there are only 3 cars that I have to keep, but if the rest goes, I'll take a nice long vacation which I know would make many here very happy (I still have my 50 chevy 3100)

opgi.com is your friend. Go for it, my son had a 72 Olds Cutlass that we worked on. Big iron, big heavy front suspension parts. Steering like a Mack truck even with a completly new front end. Parts are relatively cheap and available. A Goat, you won't lose money.

If I am not mistaken but, didn't the '67's come with a 389 and not a 400?

trials and tribulations of owning a defunct engine style.
 

Pontiac engines died in 1981.


They did have a 400 in 67. What makes Pontiac different than Chevy in the way that there are actually three series of blocks that will correspond to when the car was built. They are all externally the same size, just the displacement, water pump styles and motor mount holes are the difference.

Pre 70, 70-76 and 77-81 - You have to check when the block was made so it actually bolts into the car.

You can't easily bolt a 67 428 block into a 70 for instance without some welding and fabricaton. Some of the earlier 70's blocks will fit into earlier frames since they have the earlier motor mount hole patterns as well.

If you are used to the convienence of a Chevy, Pontiac is a royal PITA to work with. Header installation is an absolute nightmare even when you have the engine out. Parts are expensive, at least 1.5x as much as comparable chevy parts. The connecting rods in virtually all the garden variety engines are cast iron - people still race on em but to make them reliable you need forged rods which are $$$.

But the torque they all make is absolutely incredible. You don't need to gear the car really low to run hard nor spin the RPM's way up to make power - it makes them easy to set up for steet use. It's typical to have a Pontiac engine last hundreds of thousands of miles and still have little wear on the internals. The cylinder heads work extremely well for airflow and you can make decent torque and HP for displacement using them with little or moderate work. They also were known for their excellent exhaust systems out of the box - Pontiac spent a lot of time building an engine that worked surprisingly well out of the box.

Chevy was supposed to be the "entry level" car. its what you bought when you got your career started and moved up from a 10 year old jalopy. After you are established, Pontiac / Olds was the next step up, then Buick or Caddy dependent on if you were rich or poor by retirement time, and it shows in the way they are screwed together.

Pontiac bodies have generally higher build quality than the Chevys all do. More and better grounding points, more fasteners and generally better attention to detail- even the bracketry on the engine itself is better than the stamped steel used on Chevys. The HVAC systems are more sophisticated and surprisingly, work well. Even the temperature sensing types work as good as a modern system if the car is equipped.

There seems to be a resurgence of Pontiac interest in recent years, and parts are showing up in the aftermarket - blocks, cranks, heads, rods, etc. etc. which is bringing the prices down.

I was talking to the owner of a local musclecar resto shop the other day who is insistent that all 68-72 A bodies are now all starting to be priced like the Chevelles - he says watch the next BJ auction- it's littered with A-body GM cars and pricing through the roof.

rjp

I agree with Pwd72S on GTO year and motor :) Sweet.

Byron, you're on drugs man!
Don't do anything until you get your tooth fixed.
We love ya brother; Just keep being YOU.

When I was younger one of my best buddies would climb in my ride and say, "OK, Scare me"
Ha, ha; I scared many!!!!

This past summer I asked one of my buddies; "Have you ever gone around a corner doing 200?" Shortly after, we did. He *****. Too funny.

Love the old muscle cars, but you can't beat a sports car and Porsche is the BEST!

My little 428 Mustang handles like a small block with the suspension I put underneath it. It also stops with the 4 wheel discs and it also goes fast fast fast with the motor work I had done.

Same here. Had a '67 model, silver with black interior. Mine was not as modified as Jeff's car, but sure wish I still had that car...

Let us know when you are ready to let the stuff go. Might as well keep it in the family!

WhenI was a senior in high school, dad, who worked for GM forever, brought home a zone car for the weekend.

67 GTO, yellow, with white seats convertible. I still remember that drive.

Yeah, baby! :D

G.T.O.
Ronnie and the Daytonas
Written by John Wilkin

- Peak chart position # 4 in 1964
- The title track from their 1964 debut album for another Beach Boys' soundalike,
this one from Nashville. The Daytonas had a little trouble hitting the high tenor
notes in the studio, so they resorted to speeding up their voices for this song.

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: Some lyrics are spelled phonetically, i.e., "why-ee-eye-
ine" = whine,
so as to look more like what was sung.


Little GTO, you're really lookin' fine
Three deuces and a four-speed and a 389
Listen to her tachin' up now, listen to her why-ee-eye-ine
C'mon and turn it on, wind it up, blow it out GTO

Wa-wa, (mixed with "Yeah, yeah, little GTO") wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, wa
(mixed with "Yeah, yeah, little GTO")
Wa-wa, (mixed with "Yeah, yeah, little GTO") wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, wa
(mixed with "Yeah, yeah, little GTO")
Wa-wa (mixed with "Ahhh, little GTO") wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, wa

You oughta see her on a road course or a quarter mile
This little modified hardtop has got plenty of style
She beats the gassers and the rail jobs, really drives 'em why-ee-eye-ild
C'mon and turn it on, wind it up, blow it out GTO


Wa-wa, (mixed with "Yeah, yeah, little GTO") wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, wa
(mixed with "Yeah, yeah, little GTO")
Wa-wa, (mixed with "Yeah, yeah, little GTO") wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, wa
(mixed with "Yeah, yeah, little GTO")
Wa-wa (mixed with "Ahhh, little GTO") wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, wa

<instrumental break>

MIXTURE
Gonna save all my money (turnin' it on, blowin' it out) and buy a GTO (turnin' it on,
blowin' it out)
Get a helmet and a roll bar (turnin' it on, blowin' it out) and I'll be ready to go
(turnin'
it on, blowin' it out)
Take it out to Pomona (turnin' it on, blowin' it out) and let 'em know (turnin' it on,
blowin' it out), yeah, yeah
That I'm the coolest thing around
Little buddy, gonna shut you down
When I turn it on, wind it up, blow it out GTO


Wa-wa, (mixed with "Yeah, yeah, little GTO") wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, wa
(mixed with "Yeah, yeah, little GTO")
Wa-wa, (mixed with "Yeah, yeah, little GTO") wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, wa
(mixed with "Yeah, yeah, little GTO")
Wa-wa (mixed with "Ahhh, little GTO") wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, wa

FADE