September car of the month: 1966 Pontiac GTO

by Steven Perez

posted on September 24, 2021

The original muscle car

The muscle car wars of the ‘60s was perhaps the defining moment in American automotive history, spawning some of the most iconic models of the last century and solidifying what became the template for American performance: simple construction, stylish design, and a big V8. And the Pontiac GTO is often regarded as the car that kicked it all off. Stephan’s 1966 GTO here is a beauty, so we’ve named it our car of the month for September 2021!

1966 Pontiac GTO

In 1964 Pontiac offered a GTO option package for the mid-size Tempest, which included a massive 389 ci (6.4L!) V8 under the hood, along with a host of sporty upgrades. Two years later, the GTO became its own model and things really took off in America — Dodge unveiled the Charger fastback with a V8 in the same year, Chevy promptly dropped massive V8s into their Impala SS and Chevelle SS, and Ford did the same with the Galaxie and Gran Torino.

Stephan’s GTO is from 1966, the car’s first year as a standalone model. The ‘66 GTO was the most popular Pontiac ever made, with over 96,000 units sold that year, and it became one of the hottest muscle cars of the era. Which is saying something. This sharp example is in convertible form, which went for a base price of $3,082 at the time!

GTO stands for “Gran Turismo Omologato,” a phrase borrowed from the Italians meaning “grand touring production car.” Though it’s not exactly a road-going race car, this GTO’s massive V8 pumps out a healthy 335 horsepower and manages 60 mph in under eight seconds. And it won’t do you any favors at the pump, but the upgraded exhaust system will sound incredible and you’ll be behind the wheel of the coolest thing on the road.

As all good muscle cars are, this beast is optimized mainly for straight-line grunt and swagger — and boy does it have swagger. It’s finished in this excellent coppery orange color, with 17-inch alloy wheels and low-profile tires. Stephan recently scored his GTO convertible at auction and most of the car has been restored or upgraded: modern disk brakes, a three-speed automatic transmission, a refurbished interior, and a new automatic soft top should all make it comfortable and easy to operate.

As historic models go, this is a good’un. The ‘66 GTO was arguably the first muscle car and played a huge role in helping define the spirit and aesthetic of the American automobile for decades to come. If you’re in LA and want to spend a sunny weekend reliving the glory days with the top down, do yourself a favor and check out Stephan’s Pontiac GTO.

*Daily price subject to change

Steven Perez

Steven is an avid car guy and content maker at Turo. Between Golden State Warriors games he can be found getting lost somewhere in California.

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