| -> | | | | modifications until 1999. However, the popularity |
| General Introduction: | | | | seems to be decreasing day after day because |
| Pontiac GTO is built by General Motors Holden in | | | | of the age old technology used in the engines, |
| Australia from 2003 to date. However, General | | | | even in the 21st century models. This has thrown |
| Motors is not the first one to build this muscle car. | | | | Pontiac GTO into some real hard times. In 21st |
| It was an automobile built by Pontiac from 1964 | | | | century, came the time of revival for this great |
| to 1974. | | | | model which is quite often called, "The first true |
| However, there are a few major differences in | | | | muscle car". |
| both of these company's models of Pontiac GTO. | | | | Revival of Pontiac GTO: |
| The major one is -- General Motor's Pontiac GTO | | | | There would have been no better market than |
| is a left hand drive Holden Monaro, itself a coupe | | | | United States, which is definitely the mother of |
| variant of the Holden Commodore; where as the | | | | automobile industry, to re-launch this great model. |
| old one from Pontiac was closely related to the | | | | Based on the platform of Holden Monaro's V, The |
| Pontiac Tempes for most of the time and to | | | | Pontiac GTO was re launched in the United States |
| Pontiac Ventura at the latter times. | | | | in late 2003. The Monaro is a 2 door coupe variant |
| First Generation Models: | | | | of the Australian developed VT/VX Holden |
| In its existence, GTO has gone through several | | | | Commodore. The Commodore was in turn |
| changes in almost all the dimensions along with its | | | | developed by enlarging the European designed |
| design. The first Pontiac GTO (in 1964) was an | | | | 1994 Opel Omega B, which was marketed in its |
| option package for the Pontiac LeMans, available | | | | original form in the U.S. from 1997 to 2001 as the |
| with the two-door sedan, hardtop coupe, and | | | | Cadillac Catera. |
| convertible body styles. After that a few other | | | | Pontiac GTO also tried its fortunes with the |
| variants made available until 1968. All these models | | | | sports models in 2005 and 2006. Despite of great |
| can be called first generation GTOs. | | | | expectations from the automobile legend General |
| Second Generation Models: | | | | Motors, Pontiac GTO's sports models are not a |
| The second generation GTO came into existence | | | | great success story. Again critics say that the |
| from General Motors. GM redesigned its A-body | | | | models don't have enough powerful engines to |
| line for 1968, with more curvaceous, "bustleback" | | | | support their caliber as 21st century's sports |
| fastback styling. A unique feature was the | | | | models. |
| body-color Endura front bumper. It was designed | | | | Critics on Pontiac's GTO: |
| to absorb impact without permanent deformation | | | | Right from the time of first generation GTO, |
| at low speeds. These second generation models | | | | critics are not too impressed with these models. |
| were in existence up to 1972, with some minor | | | | Most of them say that the engines are not of the |
| variations in each of the models. | | | | cutting edge technologies of their times. Some |
| Final Models: | | | | critics even went ahead and said that any of the |
| The final models came into existence from then | | | | models of GTO are 5 years old in terms of |
| onwards. The 1973 GTO models shared the re | | | | technology when compared to any of their peers. |
| skinned A-body with its "Colonnade" hardtop | | | | Despite of all these criticisms, Pontiac's GTO is a |
| styling, which eliminated true hardtop design | | | | real good success which is quite evident from its |
| because of the addition of a roof pillar but | | | | long run of more than 35 years. And, even the |
| retention of frameless door work. Rear side | | | | future looks quite bright for this model as new |
| windows were now of a fixed design that could | | | | markets are opening up for models like Pontiac's |
| not be opened and in a triangular shape. Fans of | | | | GTO. |
| the original GTO considered the appropriation of a | | | | Currently, Pontiac GTO is trying its luck in |
| famous muscle car by a Japanese automaker to | | | | Australia, with more than 6 variants. One most |
| be sacrilegious | | | | exciting part of GTO's models are their colors. |
| These models were in existence with some minor | | | | |