1966 Pontiac GTO

1966 Pontiac GTO Convertible The Tiger scores again. Pontiac GTO for '66. Six point five liters of young tiger, all nimble, all agile, all wide track. Don't let the bucket seats and sumptuous interior fool you. In the action department, the '66 GTO beefs up to 360 horsepower. It's all nimble, all tiger, all wide track. Pontiac GTO for '66. See it in captivity at your Pontiac dealer. The tiger scores again. The script from the GTO television commercial which ends with the hood opening and a roaring tiger emerging.  For consignment, a 1966 Pontiac GTO convertible showing 99,527 miles, but the true miles are unknown. Of the 96,946 GTO's produced in 1966, only 12,798 of them were convertibles and how many are left is often the topic of discussion on GTO forums. The consensus seems to be that a small percentage of the 12,000 have survived. This one is a stunning example with tri power under the hood.  Exterior Repainted at some point in single stage Montero Red, this slab sided two door is now considered an iconic design and of course, the grandfather of the muscle car era. The stacked headlights front the car boldly and the split grille allows for the characteristic Pontiac nose to shine through, topped of course by the arrowhead and the dramatic hood scoop rising from the hood. In back, slit style tail lights create drama of their own, offering what had to be a unique rear fascia configuration in '66, or any year for that matter. Rocker and wheel opening trim provide some shiny highlights down low and the 14-inch Pontiac Rally II wheels carry 70 series redline tires with an early 2022 date code. The paint and canvas top are in great shape and imperfections are noted as a few bubbles in the paint and curb rash on the wheels.  Interior GTO emblems adorn the black vinyl door panels adding a touch of red while stainless trim tops the panel adding some shine that connects with that of the armrest. Ribbed inserts on the black bucket seats repeat on the rear bench and all seating surfaces are in excellent shape. The black steering wheel shows some patina, in particular on the horn section which is missing the center cap, and leads to a clean wood backed dashboard housing original gauges, vent levers, and an AM radio. The dash pad looks newer but shows some warping on the right corner over the red glove box and passenger grab handle. Slight patina is noted on the center console, but this is no deal breaker as it's minor and the shifter is perched and ready. Plush black carpet floods the floor and the trunk is barren and clean.  Drivetrain An engine worth showing off, here we have a date correct 389ci V8, rated at an impressive 360 horsepower and topped by the Tri Power carb system and backed by an ST300 2-speed automatic. Power is routed to the 10 bolt axle and slowed through the use of four wheel power drum brakes.  Undercarriage No complaints here, the underside is clean and dry. Dual exhaust runs through stock style mufflers and terminates discreetly in back with GTO having ended the chrome splitters option temporarily after '65. Suspension consists of coil springs in front and a 4 link with coil springs in back.  Drive-Ability Our pleasant visit with this Goat continues as it runs nicely, tracks straight, and handles well under the respectable power it puts out. We already knew the horn wasn't working and also found the radio was not functioning. All other items operate as they should on this mid-60's classic. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.  Still one of the most sought after cars in our inventory, there seems to be an undying enthusiasm for first gen GTO's. Even LeMans based GTO tributes sell fast. But this is the real deal and in very nice condition. If you're one of the thousands with classic GTO on your wishlist, be sure to check out this topless