Conceived in early 1963 by Pontiac’s John Z. DeLorean, Bill Collins, and Russ Gee, the Pontiac GTO was a factory hot rod born by replacing the standard 326 cubic-inch V8 in the mid-size Pontiac Tempest with the 389 cubic-inch V8 from the full-size Catalina and Bonneville. At that time, General Motors had an internal edict that mid-size cars were not to have engines in excess of 330 cubic inches, a rule Pontiac skirted by saying it didn’t apply to engines offered as “options.” Elliot “Pete” Estes approved the GTO option package for the Tempest, with an initial production limit of five thousand cars. Thus, the 1964 Pontiac GTO was hatched, and so began the Muscle Car era.
The 1964 Pontiac GTO was equipped with a 389 cubic-inch V8 rated at 325 horsepower when topped by a single four-barrel Carter carb. The optional Tri Power set-up (three two-barrel carbs) bumped output to 348 horses. The GTO could be equipped with either a four-speed manual or two-speed automatic transmission, a limited-slip differential, heavy-duty cooling, dash-mounted tachometer, and performance handling package.
Adding the GTO moniker to the Pontiac GTO was John DeLorean’s idea. The car was known within the walls at Pontiac as the “Grand Tempest Option,” but DeLorean engaged in a little artful licensing from the Ferrari 250 GTO (Gran Turismo Omologato, or an officially homologated grand tourer) race car name. The Pontiac GTO was never considered a grand touring car, but the blatant nod to the Ferrari name created its own buzz.
Our feature 1964 Pontiac GTO shows just 17,920 miles on the clock. It is powered by the matching-numbers 389 cubic-inch V8 fed by the Tri-Power carb setup backed by the four-speed transmission. The factory Sunfire Red hue is rare, having only been produced for six months, and it is believed fewer than five GTOs were built in this color and drivetrain configuration.
No mention of restoration work on this Pontiac GTO is noted, but the condition would seem to indicate such. The Sunfire Red finish is glossy, the chrome trim and bumpers look to have been re-plated, and the stainless is well polished. Black painted steel wheels wear redline radials and poverty caps. The black vinyl interior appears to be in decent nick, and though the engine bay could stand a bit of detailing, it looks to be complete and fairly correct.
This Pontiac GTO has an extensive racing history and supporting paperwork. It is accompanied by documents showing Southern California history, races at the 1968 and 1970 Winternationals in Pomona, California, a binder full of time slips from assorted California drag strips, and a handwritten letter from legendary engine builder Ed Pink that dates from 1965.
This interesting 1964 Pontiac GTO will be crossing the auction block at the Mecum Auctions Glendale, Arizona sale taking place March 16th through the 19th.
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Comments
I’m sure I’ve never seen that color on a GTO before. Interesting car.
I agree, that was not a stock color, and the other colors offered were in-tune with that generation. As someone who carefully viewed every performance car of that era, I can honestly say I did not see one in my travels in the NE or SE. My Mom had a 59 Bonneville that was Coral Red, white convertible top…and bucket seats. That Coral Red, per the photo, looks the same. That car was stunning at the time, and compliments were many.
Sunfire Red was absolutely a factory color – it’s right on the regular color chip pages for P-64.
1st GTO I’ve seen in that color, but OTOH, I’ve seen a ’64 Pontiac 2+2 in exactly that color.
My cousin had a 1968 GTO also in red. Beautiful fast car. Pontiac should still be around.
Ed Pink was a legendary engine builder for many, many winning NHRA and AHRA drag racers. I believed his engine building company went on to other race series, with success. Don’t understand how such a beautiful Goat could escape all these years being barely driven.
Note to GM, Ford and Chrysler: The coming sterile electric cars could wear outerwear such as this 64 GTO….or 1970 Chevelle SS or Plymouth RoadRunner or 68 Dodge Charger or a ton of other great muscle cars from the era……and they would sell a zillion of them. Nostalgia will ALWAYS sell.
A number of these cars escaped as they were only raced. My boss has a Ram Air II Firebird that was less than 10,000 miles. They are around if you are lucky to find one.
As for making old cars EV. No point as the best part is missing. Also the lack of Aero would kill range.
Many who prize this era are now getting to an age where they no longer drive.
I was the original owner of a ’68 candy apple red w/black vinyl top GTO. 400cu/close ratio 4 speed hurst. It ran like a bat out of hell off the line. Laid rubber in all 4 gears. Sold it in 1980 with 144,000 miles and I’m still kicking myself in the ass for doing so.
The 64 may be the first and best Goat. The three deuce version was scary quick – very fast but with very marginal braking. The 1965 GTO grew in size and weight along with the rest of the Tempest line, and lost a lot of what made the Goat great. A 64 with modern a modern brake conversion would be my idea of a perfect, fun toy. This car would be a perfect start to many miles of great fun.
I can tell you that when I was driving my 64 GTO, with modifications, original brakes and braking was never a concern. The linkage from the accelerator pedal to the three deuces breaking seemed more important. Then perhaps the frame breaking from wheel-stand attempts was also disconcerting. Let me add that we were duped into believing the car reviews correctly reported performance…when later we learned a secret 421 was in the tested car, not the 389.
The Salmon
The Salmon
The car and color is beautiful, too bad that cars of this caliber are completely out of reach as far as affordable to purchase and maintain properly. My father bought a 1965 GTO brand new back then, but I know I cannot afford one, but I can wish.
Ah, the Golden era of GM in it’s heyday. When car guys with a passion ran the show. Where oh where have these types gone???
Now we have techies and geeks building electronic monstrosities. Infotainment centers anyone? And Secretary of Transportation Buttgieg is wondering why crashes are at climbing rates.
Let me play with my CES ( Consumer Electronic Show ) gadgets while driving.
The truth is most people treat the auto as more an appliance vs a status symbol anymore.
This is why the Hot Wheels toy section at Walmart is mostly 60 year old men.
Murray all those guys and girls are gone.
I retired from a GM Assembly Plant building GTOs 442SS 396Buick Gran Sport 455.
I had a great time there driving these vehicles on a regular basis
A rare lustworhty car on GM Authority (they ain’t ever coming back, folks). David Alan Murray definitely hit the nail on the head. And why would anyone suppose a 17K original mile car would need restoration or rechroming? Unlikely unless it was parked outside or in a swamp.
Not all cars are stored in conditions that prevent chrome and other items from showing their age.
Often cars left to sit parked are often in very poor shape if not stored properly. Exhaust rust out, brake line and master cylinders fail. Mice. Chrome will pit even in a garage. Tires rot. Engines and anti freeze will rust.
I have seen a number of low mile cars go under restoration as they need work from just sitting. It is easier to restore them but still they need work.
Now if they were driven and cared for regularly then they hold up well.
My uncle Larry Gene was a ridge runner back in the late 1960’s. He told me that he had a Pontiac GTO with a 4 speed and 389 engine with the three two-barrel carburetors. He named it “Hur-Ben” like “Ben-Hur” but backwards. Larry Gene said that it would run like a “scalded ape.”
Dan:
Ahh, You folks from the Eastern mid South High Country and your ridge runner uncle Larry Gene with his 389 Goat comment is classic Americana at it best. Fondly brings memory of the Dukes of Hazard tv series.
With mandatory EV’s the new era will be bland and boring. Let me check my battery range and then recharge station location on my smart phone. LOL.
Had a buddy who had a 1965 GTO – he got the cops after him at Fort Lauderdale during college spring break – and outran 3 of them! Not real responsible, but the cops just had nothing that could keep up. He took me for a ride with my new wife (I was 20, she was 18). People don’t believe me – but even with the weight of all three of us in the car, he got rubber going into 3rd (4 in the floor). Later I got the first model ever Camero SS – a 327 ci. It was scary fast. Not sure which was faster, my friends GTO or the Camero, but they both screamed. My young wife was kind of afraid of the Camero. God, those things had torque. I got the “heavy duty brakes and suspension package on my Camero, so it could actually handle and stop pretty good too. Like a lot of guys, wish I still had it!
I own a 1956 Safari two-door wagon , 1966 GTO convertible 1956 two-door hardtop Pontiac and a 1960 Pontiac Ventura all very good cars.
I’m very proud to admit that I had the pleasure of owning a 1964, ’65, ’66, ’67 G.T.O.’s & a 1969 G.T.O. JUDGE!! All 3 early models were 4 speed & tri-power, the 1967 was a 400 c.u, 2 speed automatic. The ’67 was the as slowest of them all, that 400 c.u. 4 – barrel was no comparison to the 389 c.u. tri – power. I believe that the ’66 tri – power with hooker headers was by far the on fastest, even faster than the JUDGE 455 c.u.!! I turned concistant low 13 to high 12’s quarter mile runs with the ’66. Definitely my favorite, unfortunately I wrecked it & totaled it, something I have regretted to this day.
The Glory Days…
When GM made cars that didn’t intentionally try to Kill their owners, and didn’t Self-destruct…
If only GM had a Suggestion Box 📦 🙂
I had a New 1964 GTO convertible 389 speed with 390 gears when in High School.
I had a 66 goat with a real deal transplant 421 with 3 duces. 4 speed. Still mega regreat letting it go. It would destroy a set of drive tires in a weekend.