Body Off Built GTO Pro Touring EFI 461 V8 5 Speed Manual PS A/C Disc Brakes

SUMMARY

Widely acknowledged as the first muscle car, the Pontiac GTO is a bit of a model for historically accurate restoration. While enthusiasts are busy massaging and modding almost every Camaro and Chevelle they can get their hands on, most GTO builds seem to err on the side of preservation. Stroll through a bit of online inventory and generally you'll find either blue chip museum pieces that command high-dollar prices or rusted out basket cases in need of high-dollar rehab. Well, Pontiac fans, today is your lucky day. RK Motors Charlotte is happy to feature this killer Viper Black resto-mod: a car that wraps a stroked 400, a tough Tremec 5-speed and a thoroughly upgraded chassis in a stunning, 7-mile restoration! If you're an avid Pontiac enthusiast who's searching for that elusive, show-worthy classic that'll immediately unlock years of carefree curve carving, here's your next obsession!

BODYWORK/TRIM

The beneficiary of a body-off restoration that was completed in December of 2016, this real-deal GTO does an excellent job of wrapping vintage style around modern technology. In what amounted to a systematic, no-expense-spared rebuild, the car's solid body was completely stripped, thoroughly massaged and layered in liquid-smooth PPG 2-stage. With that paint buffed to brilliance, vivid pinstripes were complemented with subtle "RAM AIR" lettering. With that profile dyed and detailed, correct vinyl capped fresh glass. And just a few short weeks prior to this description, this triple-black Poncho stormed the scene as a first-class example of some of the hobby's most revered and desirable metal!

With timeless proportions and sculpted panels, the first-generation GTO is an inherently attractive design. And with today's world-class restoration techniques, it has become an excellent canvas for any skilled builder to create a seriously nice car. At the front of this clean coupe, a flashy grille centers bold "G T O" lettering and clear parking lamps between a fresh header emblem, bright T3 headlights and a heavy bumper. Above that grille, a small hood scoop leads the eye to polished stainless frames, which reflect polished wipers and a correct driver's mirror. At the sides of that bonnet, familiar 'coke bottle' fenders found mirrored rockers, ornate crests and fresh wheel lips beneath traditional door handles and monochromatic quarter emblems. And at the back of those fenders, a stainless-trimmed valance hangs factory taillights between a small trunk badge, polished exhaust tips and a second heavy bumper.

ENGINE

What do enterprising hot rodders do when factory power just won't cut it? Well, in the case of this raucous A-Body, they took an unassuming Pontiac 400, stroked it to 461 cubic inches and threw in a stout bottom end that was machined and balanced by Casar, North Carolina's WSC Racing Engines. At the top of that mean mill, functional ram air induction funnels wind in to a FiTech Go EFI 4 throttle body, which surfs an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake. That intake feeds aluminum Edelbrock heads, which cap Erson lifters with aluminum valve covers, polished breathers and trick ties. Below those heads, a forged Eagle 4340 crank spins tough H-beam rods and forged aluminum pistons at the sides of a buff Erson cam. Coated Doug's headers send vaporized dinosaurs in to brutal, true-dual exhaust. A slick serpentine drive spins billet pulleys in front of modern power steering, a polished AC compressor and a modern alternator. Fire is provided by a Proform HEI distributor, which sequences spark through loomed Summit silicone wires. Cooling comes courtesy of a big aluminum radiator that's complete with a big electric puller fan. The vicious powerplant rides in an OEM-quality bay, which trims clean Pontiac Turquoise in requisite GM Black. And, at the end of the day, all that polish and performance adds up to a stout 450 horsepower!

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

Take a look under this tire shredding muscle car and you'll find a carefully updated chassis that's ready for the strip or the street. Behind the big engine, a Tremec TKO600 5-speed spins a tough Dynotech driveshaft, which twists a familiar 10-bolt axle that's finished with 3.55 gears and an Auburn posi-traction differential. Under that pumpkin, a modified 4-link seats fresh AC Delco shocks behind fresh lowering springs. That clip pushes a full outfit of tubular A-arms, which balance the aforementioned power steering between two more lowering springs. At the corners of that suspension, The Right Stuff Detailing Signature brakes clamp red, power-assisted calipers on four drilled and slotted rotors. Charred dinosaurs traverse large-diameter, Mandrel-bent pipes, which position an X-shaped crossover in front of aggressive Pypes Street Pro mufflers. Power meets the pavement through polished Ridler 645s, which spin 225/45ZR18 Sumitomo HTRZ IIIs in front of 275/35ZR20 Sumitomo HTRZ IIIs. And the car's pristine, Satin Black floors frame niceties like braided fluid lines, a Powermaster Mastertorque starter and a bright stainless fuel tank that's fitted with an internal pump.

INTERIOR

Open this Pontiac's polished doors and you'll find a fresh Black interior that's been customized where it counts. Front and center, TMI-covered buckets perfectly complement a red-stitched bench. The 461's vitals are displayed by a cluster of white-face gauges, which rides next to a Bluetooth-capable RetroSound Hermosa radio that's wired to big Kicker speakers. Like-new carpet frames a polished Hurst shifter and stainless-trimmed foot pedals. At the sides of the car, fresh door panels float behind factory frames, factory armrests and traditional handles. In front of the driver, a Grant steering wheel spins a thick wood rim around satin spokes. Behind the passengers, a fully upholstered trunk features plenty of storage space. And hot summer days pose little threat thanks to Vintage Air climate control.

OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION AND ACCESSORIES

This highly desirable GTO is a pristine example of Pontiac's major contributions to Detroit's first golden age of performance. This is the kind of car that you can take to the show on Saturday and drive to work on a sunny Monday morning. And with its proven drivetrain and top-notch restoration, it's set to provide one lucky owner with years of reliable cruising and great memories. If you're in the market for an old school classic that's the quintessential American muscle car, here it is. Grab it fast!