In mid-1963 a group of Pontiac engineers were at GM’s proving grounds in Michigan on a Saturday morning.
They were examining a pre-production, mid-sized Pontiac Le Mans Tempest coupe, due for release in September for the 1964 model year.
It was equipped with the 326 cubic inch V8 and was up on a hoist.
One of the engineers, Bill Collins, remarked to his boss, John DeLorean: “You know, with the engine mounts the same, it would take us about 20 minutes to slip the 389 V8 into this thing.”
DeLorean said: “Okay, do it”.
One week later they were all back to see the outcome.
That day the GTO was created and the muscle car craze began.
Every other American car maker quickly released mid-sized cars with BIG engines.
Chevrolet unveiled its Chevelle SS, Oldsmobile had the 442 Cutlass and Buick went with a luxury/performance route with its GS.
Ford unleashed the Fairlane GTA and Mercury Cyclone.
Chrysler entered the competition with the Plymouth Road Runner and Dodge Charger.
Even cash-strapped American Motors offered a muscle car — the Marlin.
But soon the proliferation of muscle car models, the arrival of the cheaper, smaller Mustang (and its rivals), sky-high insurance costs, the first oil supply crisis and anti-pollution gear that reduced engine horsepower — led to declining popularity and sales.
By 1974 the mighty GTO had been reduced to a styling option on the humble Pontiac Ventura.
It was gone in 1975.
Pontiac revived the model with the Monaro-based GTO from 2004 to 2006, but not too many Americans were interested in it.
Then, in 2009, Pontiac itself was gone.
The 1965 model is my favourite GTO.
Maybe that’s because the first GTO I ever saw was a ’65 in 1965.
It was a brand-new hardtop parked outside shops in my suburb.
It was owned by a local builder who had imported it,
It featured metallic blue paint and black upholstery.
Red line tyres, of course.
Pedestrians just stopped and gawked.
It was if a spaceship had landed.
The only other time I’ve seen that happen was when the 1968 Monaro first appeared.
These days new cars hardly rate a second glance.
Then again, car companies don’t make cars like the GTO anymore, either.
David Burrell is the editor of retroautos
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