If you review the Muscle car era, the true icon that stands out among the rest is the Pontiac GTO, which is also touted to be the first American muscle car. Very few know about the struggle it took to launch the car, and the man who fought with the establishment to make it happen was John Z. DeLorean, the chief engineer of Pontiac back then.
The early days…
DeLorean didn’t want anything complex – he wanted to combine a big V8 engine with a mid-sized, normal, and mild-mannered sedan. The idea of GTO was developed in 1963 when he, along with other members of the engineering team started experimenting with the Tempest, an economy Pontiac introduced the previous year. The Tempest’s drivetrain was a huge problem, so it was recommended that since its four-cylinder had the same engine mounts the V8 from which it was derived, it was best to install the big motor into the little car. A 389-cubic-inch V8 from Pontiac’s full-size Bonneville along with heavy-duty four-speed manual transmission is what lay the foundation for the Pontiac GTO.
Celebrities who own Pontiac GTOs
Fast forward to the 21st century, when a host of celebs own GTO Pontiacs and its variants – take a look:
Wade Kawasaki
If you are a regular viewer of Jay Leno’s Garage, you must have seen the iconic Pontiac GTO – the 1970 Judge, appear on the show. It is a bright red model and comes with a host of advanced features the Judge is known for, like the hood-mounted tachometer, mega-size rear wing, and ram air hood scoop. The hood had a panel that could be opened when the car was in full throttle to let in the refreshing breeze from outside.
This amazing car is owned by the Wade Kawasaki, president of Coker Tires, a company whose forte is to reproduce classic tires. That is why this GTO comes with a set of the company’s Firestone Wide Oval tires. Wade actually took everything back to factory-spec with a stock, 400-cubic inch V8 with 366 horsepower, along with chrome valve covers and foam intake seal. The interiors are also replicated in original fashion.
Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake loves his Audi’s but he loves cruising in the classic 1967 Pontiac GTO as well – it definitely fits his style. Clint Eastwood and Justin Timberlake not only bonded over golf and baseball while filming Trouble with the Curve, but also connected over their mutual love of vintage cars. Timberlake drove the 1967 Pontiac GTO convertible in the movie and fell so much in love with it that he immediately bought it after the shooting wrapped up. This classic acquisition is certainly something to flaunt!
Bill Goldberg
Being extremely successful WWE and WCW as a professional wrestler, Bill Goldberg is very popular and loved by all. He has a rare collection of cars that would make one envious, like the 1970 Pontiac Trans Am, which he purchased from eBay. The unique aspect about this car is that though it has the body of a Ram Air III, the engine is replaced by a Ram Air IV. If you know a thing or two about rare cars, you will surely ascertain the value of a car and its rarity is preserved if the components of the car aren’t tampered with. The very first car Goldberg test-drove was blue-blue ’70 Trans Am, and it was so fast his mom refused to let him ever buy it!
These celebs are definitely proud of their Pontiacs – owning muscle cars is a growing trend that will steadily increase over the years. Are you ready to hop on the bandwagon? Robert St Thomas has always been!
Not many stars drive GTOs ,why?