1964 Pontiac GTO: Muscle Cars In Detail No. 8 (Muscle Cars in Detail, 8) - Softcover

Bonaskiewich, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1613253206 ISBN 13: 9781613253205

Publisher: CarTech, 2017

Synopsis

Explore what makes the 1964 Pontiac GTO an automotive icon with this thorough look into the trend-setting vehicle’s origin, components, racing heritage, legacy, and more.

As part of the Muscle Cars In Detail series, this book delivers a comprehensive review of this trend-setting and historic car.

By the mid-1960s, the American automotive market was yearning for faster, more responsive, and sportier cars, and a crew of high-performance enthusiasts at Pontiac recognized this. Large V-8s were commonly installed in full-size cars, but performance was hampered by pure chassis weight. Under the guidance of Bunkie Knudsen, John DeLorean, Bill Collins, and others, Pontiac installed the high-performance 389 V-8 into the nimble and lightweight, intermediate-size LeMans chassis. It was a watershed moment for Pontiac; the 1964 GTO delivered astounding performance and created the muscle car blueprint that the Detroit manufacturers followed in the 1960s and 1970s.

With a 389 V-8 engine, dual exhaust, and a standard 3-speed or optional 4-speed manual transmission, the GTO supplied extraordinary performance. To harness the power and provide superlative handling, the GTO was fitted with stiffer springs, a limited slip differential, large-diameter front sway bar, and wider wheels. And to give it panache, the GTO was adorned with distinctive badges and hood scoops. The 1964 GTO is a landmark car, and this book goes well beyond the glossy overview in other books.

All In Detail series books include an introduction and historical overview, an explanation of the design and concepts involved in creating the car, a look at marketing and promotion, and an in-depth study of all hardware and available options, as well as an examination of where the car is on the market today. Also included is an appendix of paint and option codes, VIN and build-tag decoders, as well as production numbers.

About this title

From the Back Cover

By the mid-1960s, the American automotive market was yearning for faster, more responsive, and sportier cars, and a crew of high-performance enthusiasts at Pontiac recognized this. Large V-8s were commonly installed in full-size cars, but performance was hampered by chassis weight. Pontiac installed the high-performance 389 V-8 into the nimble and lightweight intermediate-size LeMans chassis. It was a watershed moment for Pontiac; the 1964 GTO delivered astounding performance and created the muscle car blueprint that the Detroit manufacturers followed in the 1960s and 1970s.

Longtime GTO expert Dave Bonaskiewich delivers a comprehensive review of this trend-setting and historic car. With a 389 V-8 engine, dual exhaust, a standard 3-speed or optional 4-speed transmission, the GTO supplied extraordinary performance. To harness this power and provide superlative handling, the GTO was fitted with stiffer springs, limited-slip differential, large-diameter front sway bar, and wider wheels. And to give it panache, the GTO was adorned with distinctive badges and hood scoops. The 1964 GTO is a landmark car, and this book goes well beyond the glossy overview in other books.

Each volume in the In Detail Series provides an introduction and historical overview, an explanation of the design and concepts involved in creating the car, a look at marketing and promotion, and an in-depth study of all hardware and available options, as well as an examination of where the car is on the market today. Also included are paint and option codes, VIN and build-tag decoders, as well as production numbers.

About the Author

Since he was very young, Dave Bonaskiewich has had an unbridled enthusiasm for cars. His father was a mechanic who was fond of Fords, but was supportive when Dave developed a strong interest in Pontiacs during his teenage years. Together, they rebuilt his first car, a 1970 LeMans, which Dave continues to drive every chance he gets. He has contributed many feature articles for High Performance Pontiac, Smoke Signals, Timeless Muscle, and Poncho Perfection magazines.

Edition details

• Publisher: CarTech
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1613253206
• ISBN 13: 9781613253205
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 96