Widely regarded as the first muscle car, the Pontiac GTO took its name from the Italian Gran Turismo Omologato (grand tourer homologated), inspired by the Ferrari 250 GTO, denoting both race and road use.
The Pontiac GTO’s first generation ran from 1964 to 1967, with up to 360 hp between two V8 engine options that powered a selection of two-door hardtop, convertible, and coupe body styles. Its second generation sold from 1968 to 1972, adopting fastback styling along with horizontally stacked headlights, while a more potent 455 ci V8 became available under the hood.
The third generation Pontiac GTO existed solely for the 1973 model year, still equipped with the V8 engine choices but this time sold exclusively as a hardtop coupe, with peak output dropping to 250 hp. Similarly, 1974 was the lone year for the Pontiac GTO’s fourth generation, with a 350 ci V8 as a single engine option thanks to the global oil crisis.
The Pontiac GTO’s fifth and final generation would make its way from 2004 to 2006 as a rebadged Holden Monaro from Australia, delivering 400 hp and additional bracing to make it compliant with U.S. safety standards.
