The 1966 GTO was a hit, and the sales numbers are living proof in this regard. With approximately 100,000 units rolling off the assembly lines in 12 months, the GTO was the new cool kid on the block, pushing the muscle car world to a new dimension.
Pontiac’s engines played a significant role in the impact the GTO eventually produced in the automotive world.
While most GTOs born this year left the factory with a 389 under the hood, the icing on the cake was the Tri-Power upgrade that produced 360 horsepower. The top-of-the-range configuration was the XS Ram Air package that added 20 more horsepower, though you can hardly find a GTO that was born with this upgrade. Pontiac produced only a handful, and how many are still alive today is unknown.
A 1966 Pontiac is fighting for life on eBay. However, as anyone can figure out with a few clicks on the photo gallery, the car no longer exhibits a condition appealing to wealthy collectors.
This GTO is a roller, mainly after serving as a donor for other projects. The reason for highlighting it here is that the 1966 GTO was a superstar, and I genuinely believe this example doesn’t deserve to go dark just because it lost its engine and transmission.
Seller marwil_8951 has tried to make the car as intriguing as possible, so in addition to a great body shape, the car also sports a tilt steering wheel and a new trunk pan. All windows are intact, they claim, and the doors close smoothly.
I would’ve expected a 1966 GTO to come in a worse shape metal-wise, mainly because this project has been sitting for a while. However, the rust isn’t a concern on this GTO, so whoever buys it should be able to start a restoration right away.
The lack of an engine and transmission isn’t necessarily the end of the world. Most likely, this GTO rolled off the assembly lines with the standard 389 inside, and considering the original unit is no longer in the car, you can always go for the Tri-Power upgrade and install a hefty powertrain to set your model apart from the rest of the muscle cars.
Finding a complete Tri-Power unit won’t be easy, but it’s probably the right way for a 1966 GTO project without an engine.
The auction is already getting impressive attention from online bidders, with 26 bids recorded at the time of writing. The top offer has reached $4,000, but the reserve is still in place, so the WWW must do better to unlock the car. The auction will expire in five days, and if you want to see the GTO in person, you must travel to Mansfield, Texas.