Ok, here’s something a little
different from my usual editorial.
I hope you find this an
entertaining and stimulating read.
It might seem a bit
dichotomous, but hey...as the editor I get leeway!
Let’s talk about a couple
of different things...and see if we can tie them together in an automotive
sense.
Enjoy....
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
September sounds are in the air!
Tonight we are listening to the crickets, cicadas, and other insects sing their
nightly ritual. It is carried on a light and cool early September air. This is
in contrast to their somewhat noisier nocturnes during August when it is muggy
and hot at night. Now it’s a more refreshing and pleasant sound, one that drums
up memories of my teen years in New Hyde Park; listening to the myriad insect
calls and falling fast asleep from their serenades.
Now is that overlapping time between
baseball and football seasons, summer vacation and back to school, and of
course late nights out vs going to bed “early”
My wife being of Bronx/Queens origins, marvels at the sound. She doesn’t have past
memories of it. Mostly she has remembrances of general noise you might hear
living in Queens.
(She’s gonna be terse with me for this
one. I always tease her about being a city girl)
She is enjoying this musical interlude
now while I write this. I am going to go join her in a moment and be mesmerized
as well. It is a sweet and mellow sound that I hope you all take time to listen
to and appreciate.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
On another note:
The other night my wife and I were
watching that show OVERHAULIN’ on TV, and she turned to me and
said, “What would you do if had that
done to one of your cars?”
I replied; “Oh I would be so pissed.
I’d go crazy! I’d walk in there and say ‘what the f*%k did you do to my car!!!’
” “Then I would proceed to attack everyone in the room.”
She laughed and was somewhat surprised
by my answer. But knowing how important originality is to me, she understood. I
think she was just teasing me, but I made sure she knew that if she ever got
some wise idea to do something like that, that it had better be done with all
NOS parts, original equipment, and in the original colors!
I like that show and appreciate custom
cars. I just don’t have one in my stable. So that being said; as nice as the
job is that they do on that show, and while many of the cars they work on are
not stock or valuable to begin with, I can’t understand why on the few stock
ones that they do transform the owners don’t go nuts over the changes and start
screaming expletives!
I sure would!
So... this segues together how? You
might ask?
In brief... September is
here with all its delights of weather and sound, it also holds some of the best
days for car shows for the entire year! And that also brings back many past and recent memories of cruising during
these cooler nights, car shows on pleasant days, and hanging out back in the
80’s with my buddies at night – with the cars, Frisbees, beers, music playing –
and just plain old good times!
May they continue for us all.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I am hearing a song again!
This THEME is one you all know. Dada dada dada da! Little GTO!!
Dada dada daaaa “Three deuces and a four speed, and a
389.....”
Yeah! This month as you have figured out by now....GTO
________________________________________________________________
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1 Editor’s Introduction
2 Advertiser’s Promos
3 Picture Caption Contest
4 Cruise Night Information
5 Guest Writer’s Columns
Tom
Sebastian
Patrick Fitzgerald
6 My Car Story
7 The Archive
8 Editor’s Closing
________________________________________________________________
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Another professional upholstery shop is RP INTERIORS. They do many of the custom and classic rides you may have seen at the shows. Tell Rich you saw his ad on liclassiccars.com. They do cars, boats, bikes, even airplanes!
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Want some collectible or show stopping AUTOMOBILIA? Check the PARTS-BUSINESS AD section.
Alan at CARZIGNS is offering free shipping on all custom made signs for your pride and joy! These are the highest quality show signs out there and he offers a design service that no one else does! Just make sure to mention LI Classic Cars.com for the free shipping! (By the way, his design service is outstanding! I know, he did a beautiful sign for my ’69 Super Bee that you may have seen at the shows.)
TOYS TOYS TOYS! Who can have enough? Not me! Call DIECAST MUSCLE. They have one of the largest stocks of die cast items that includes ultra-rare and limited edition models you can’t find anywhere else. I have many of their items and their service is fantastic! Ask for Mark or Dave. They will give you 10% off all orders regardless of amount, and, free shipping if you spend $100 bucks! Make sure to mention you saw their ad on liclassiccars.com for the discount.
Brought to you by Long Island Classic Cars.com
________________________________________________________________
Long Island Classic Cars.Com’s
Submit
your caption along with your name and e-mail address to: newsletter@liclassiccars.com
This
contest is open to everyone! (LI Classic Cars.com paid personnel, regular
column writers, and business advertisers are not eligible.)
Winners
will be notified by e-mail and/or phone.
Please
submit all entries by the 7th of the next month. (ex:
for June’s contest the entries are due by July 7th)
No
substitutions of prizes will be allowed.
In
the event of prize choices, winner will be given the opportunity to select the
one they want.
All
decisions are final and are made by the paid personnel of Long Island Classic
Cars.com
Winners
must claim their prizes within 30 days of contest end or forfeit the prize to
the runner up.
A few
simple rules:
1) Be funny
and creative!
2) Keep it somewhat
clean!
Here is
last month’s winning entry from Bob Rittmeyer.
"Redneck Air Traffic Control Tower”
Bob wins a
California Dash Duster! Congratulations!
(Courtesy of LI Classic
Cars.com & Tom Tardugno at SEARS in Hicksville, NY)
...an “honorable mention”
goes to Richard Polleri.
Look for a new type of contest coming in October!!
It’s gonna be
something different, challenging, and fun!
___________________________________________________
“EXTRA
EXTRA! READ ALL
ABOUT IT!!”
The Cruise Nights are all up and running!! Here’s the latest on them…
2006 Cruise Night location
updates:
TUESDAYS: McDonald's. Metropolitan Ave. & 69th Road, Forest Hills, NY.
Sponsored by East Coast Car Association/Toys For Tots
TUESDAYS: Audrey Ave. Oyster Bay, NY
Sponsored by Oyster Bay Chamber of Commerce
TUESDAYS: Bald Hill Cultural Center. North Ocean Ave. Farmingville, NY
Sponsored by the Farmingville Fire Department
TUESDAYS: Old K-Mart Plaza. Hempstead
Tpk. Levittown, NY
Public gathering.
WEDNESDAYS: KFC. William Floyd Pkwy & Montauk Hwy. Shirley, NY
Sponsored by Bow Tie Boulevard Camaro Club
THURSDAYS: Wendy’s Shopping Center. Montauk Hwy and Locust Ave, Oakdale, NY
Sponsored by Still Cruisin’ Car Club
FRIDAYS: Bellmore Train Station. Sunrise Highway. Bellmore, NY
Public Gathering
SATURDAYS: *AM Cruise* Steve’s Collision. 618 North Bicycle Path. Port Jefferson Station, NY.
Sponsored by Steve’s Collision.
SATURDAYS: Sonomax Station. 278 Greenpoint Ave. Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY.
Sponsored by East Coast Car Association/Toys for Tots
SATURDAYS: Kohl’s. Corner Grand Blvd and Commack Rd. Deer Park, NY.
Public gathering.
SATURDAYS: KFC. William Floyd Pkwy & Montauk Hwy. Shirley, NY.
Sponsored by Bow Tie Boulevard Camaro Club
SUNDAYS: *AM Cruise* Ocean Pkwy, Captree Beach Parking Lot through May, then at OBI.
Public gathering.
___________________________________________________
GUEST
WRITER(S) COLUMN(S)
Tom Sebastian has a change of heart and soul this time. He is, of course, a purist at
heart; so this car comes as no surprise in that vein. However, it is a
departure from his preferred mode of automotive conveyance. Speed.
Tom slows it down a gear (or two) for this go-round.
We have a new guest
writer this month! A big welcome to Patrick Fitzgerald! Pat has
contributed our long awaited GTO story. If this sample is indicative of his writing,
we hope to have him again in the future! Check it out below.
In MY CAR STORY we
are pleased to offer a nice serving of Goat for your enjoyment! A member of
Long Island’s GTO club, Steve Russo has an outstanding example of the
breed. Sweeeet ride!
(Steve also has great
patience as he has been waiting since July to see this published!)
Enjoy…
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tom Sebastian
Tom goes from this 
…. to this! 
FATCAT:
The XJ6C (Coupe)
Despite the disparaging remarks made back in my XK-E days regarding the ubiquitous XJ6 sedan, the beauty and the symmetry of the rarer Coupe won me over the first time I laid eyes on it. (I still disparage the more common, 4-door.)[1]
And not only me. None other that Sir William Lyons, the legendary Jaguar designer during that company’s glory years was in full agreement. So what to do when the guy who created the XK-E says that the XJ6C was by far his best creative effort?
Well, if you are like me, you go out and try to get a deal on one.
Of course, it was more complicated than that… I first saw one in NYC in the middle seventies, long before I even knew who Sir William Lyons was. A gorgeous white car with black vinyl roof[2] and black interior – parked in midtown in front of one of the more fashionable watering holes. It said, NY Detective, on the windshield and, inside, had what must have been one of the first, experimental car-based telephone systems: large, bulky, and taking up most of the console space between two, very plush, bucket seats[3]. Such ‘high tech’ equipment could only have been earmarked for the top echelon of NY’s Finest. I was duly impressed. And even more so when the detective turned out to be one of the more attractive women of the department -- Cheryl Tiegs curls and all. She pulled away and out of sight, but the image was to remain buried somewhere in my head for a long, long time.
When it came time to buy a Jag – after the wild Morgan had thrown me, my back, and my kidneys for a loop – the XK-E drew me like a magnet to True North. Holy %$#@! What a car that was. Let’s face it, that thing oozed hormones.
After that one, I asked myself: Could I ever get anything from this company that could match that elegance, grace, pace – and the sensuous spirit -- of the E-Type?
Deep in the gray stuff, though, that old image of the NY detective and her fabulous Jag was beginning to stir…
But it wouldn’t be until many years later, when I came across the article on William Lyons, that all of the old longings finally popped their cranial prison. And right on cue.
Just after reading the article on Lyons, I laid eyes on my second XJ6C[4]. That was that ‘one-two punch’ that doubled me over. -- And in Palm Beach, of all places… America’s Monaco. That was it! The coup de grâs… the uppercut… the final blow. That old images -- Cheryl Tiegs, the hot Jag, and that long-ago summer day -- were knocked full-blown into the light of day. I had to have it. And right now!
I finally located what looked to be a good one from a just-retired, Jag fan on Long Island who seemed ready to call it quits, sell all his belongings, and head south for the good life.[5] An unrestored original, vinyl top intact, I gladly took it from him.
Now, mind you, I knew it wasn’t going to be an XK-E and, to
be honest, I didn’t want it to be. Billed satirically as the ‘Corpulent Sports
car’ by the early journalists who seemed to miss the E-Type even more than I
did, I was - or thought I was – now ready for that softer life, those wild,
white-knuckled rides tucked safely away in memory.
Yes! It’s my turn to drive comfortably to the country club, light the pipe and wax poetically on the good life…! -- Annoying immigrants…! -- Stock options! Etcetera, etcetera! No more need for leather driving gloves to prevent blisters! Halleluiah!! A car that won’t gather carbon under 5000 RPM and stall out on me!! A radio I can actually fidget with and not go off the road --and maybe even be able hear while driving!! Oh… OH!!... A quiet engine!! I was going to be – the Lord be with me -- NORMAL!!
Follow me, if you will, with your ‘mental videocam’ as I take my warm up laps…
As I prepare for my first drive as owner, I sense the symmetry of the lines and see, close-up and personal, William Lyons’ elegiac vision rendered into steel; those twin, intake gas caps leading to the separate tanks; that sleek, black vinyl top giving off the impressive, two-tone effect. I open the heavy doors and enter what is really a luxurious cabin. I don’t sit, I sink, into those unbelievable buckets -- more like a favorite living room chair.
I start up what was always one of my all-time favorite
powerplants: That huge, long-stroke,
double overhead cam, 4.2 six-cylinder engine.
The old, analogue needles slowly rise as both tanks register their
contents on two, separate fuel gauges. I
let the oil circulate as I admire that great, burnished wood interior. Oh, yeah!!
…Finally! A leisurely drive! Where’s my pipe?!!
To exit the garage, I shift into reverse what has always been one of the car’s downfalls: the weak, 3-speed Borg-Warner transmission.[6]
But, at last! – I’m on the road again!
Not one to fool with cars for long (How could I?... For a while I was going thru one a month!), I make the turn onto the highway and pounce on it.
…..
The Price of Absolute Comfort
Now if you are still with me with your mindcam, you are probably enjoying the gradual momentum of this thing: Vectored comfort!! -- An easy chair in the shape of a Jag going fast and quick enough, up a gorgeous, if unchallenging, country road.
But I come to this ride with some ‘baggage’: I had an XK-E.
I may not have wanted the E-type experience, but still, subconsciously, I must have expected it -- or at least some vestige of it -- to reside with this car. Alas, nicht, nada, zilch – no connection with this car. Not, at least, on the acceleration front.
We are, alas, heavier than we look (great designs are always deceptive) and that magnificent engine is, obviously, working very hard to get me up to speed.
The higher functioning parts of the brain have time to kick in with this car (unusual enough for me... I am usually flying by the seat of pants right about now with only the primitive medulla in operation…). And, with all this extra brain time, I am led inexorably to the higher, rational brain processes: What was Jaguar thinking when they made this car?
Jaguar added more than 1000 lb. and then reduced power by more than 100 HP from the XK-E to this one.[7] We are, obviously, a long way from the Jaguar D-Type of Le Mans fame. But… Por qué? Why did they built such a thing, -- one so separated from their own sporting history?
…Ooops, sorry to interfere with my own banter and your luxurious ride here… but here comes our first corner… OK… we’re down to 65 mph now… but I still wait until the last second… Now… Hit it!!
Dead level. No swerve. Stopped in time. Smooth and nary a ¼ of one G force pushes us towards the dash.
Overall, you are quite impressed. You yawn and stretch out a bit, registering your contentment. I reserve judgment. (You wouldn’t have yawned in my Lotus.)
We take it back up to speed and head thru some long swerving country roads. The gorgeous Upstate NY countryside passes before your eyes and you may as well be in one of the famed, domed cars of the Canadian Pacific railway. Or perhaps upstairs on an old Greyhound Scenicruiser. It’s that fluid a ride.
Now you open the glove box, take out the manual and read it! I look at you in utter shock. No one dared try that stunt in my Morgan! Taking even one hand off the dash handle in that number, at this speed, and you’d be launched through the canvas roof!! I should have brought the New York Times for you.
I tap the gas pedal through the next uphill swerve and noticing how little that gesture registers with you at all. I conclude that something is seriously awry here. I begin to think of the option not taken: The V12 offered in the same model.
I had already pondered that issue thoroughly. All the research said that the V12 wasn’t Jaguar’s ‘thing’ – especially in its formative stages. Too many bugs still left and, besides, for all the added weight, gas costs, etc. it would only have amounted to a mere extra 80 HP. Six more cylinders for a mere 80 HP??! Fugitaboutit.
No, that wouldn’t have jolted you, either… Besides, in the history of great engines… few can equal the 4.2 Jag six.
No, the real problem here was one of company philosophy in the 70’s.
The racing life of Jaguar somewhat parallels that of Mercedes. Both were kings of it in the 50’s. But Mercedes dropped the ball in the 60’s to chase stylish shopaholics with Vuarnet sunglasses. Jaguar, dearly wanting that same market, did the same. Result: both companies start producing duds. (Racing is, after all, the laboratory for your streetcars. If you don’t race, your product will show it. And not just on the acceleration end of things. Cutting-edge brakes, suspension, ergonomics, wind tunnel styling[8] -- all suffer when a motor company withdraws from racing.)
Jag made a major comeback on the track in the 80’s and the cars began to show it. This time, Mercedes followed Jag and they too began to show up on race day. As well, their road cars begin to regain some of that ‘old time religion’ (Harrumph! Yeah, babe! We’re back!).
But my car was produced in the 70’s when the Jaguar Racing Division was at its nadir. And that, my friends, made all the difference. Anyway… where are we on our test-drive… Oh, yes…
We now make our turn on the long, lakeside stretch heading for the country club.
Doing all I can to get up to cruising speed, the long time I have for this 5-mile run makes me think… Of my BMW M5!! If only I could add a Dinan chip[9] to inject some fire here… Anything!! HELP ME, LORD… I AM DEFINITELY NOT USED TO SUCH COMFORT ON AN OPEN ROAD!!
I notice the 911 Porsche in the mirror, a bright yellow Honda S2000 right behind him and coming up fast on all of us; the new Mazda RX 8. (People like sports cars in this neighborhood.) Well now, let’s give this a go. No sense in lying to myself.
Well before the Porsche gets ready to pass me I test the waters, raise the ante, and hit the accelerator. All that did was to delay him for a second. He’s up and around me and gone. That quick. The Mazda gets a jump on the Honda and swings around both of us, but the Honda follows suit. I’m at 80 mph and climbing asap but the momentum is sluggish. They don’t disappear as quickly as did the 911, but they are still at the vanishing point. I conclude, rightly, that my Jag can’t keep up with the crowd I most want to keep up with.
But, before sinking into deep depression, I notice something very unusual. What’s this? The windows are down…! And have been for the entire trip!! And yet we can still hear the radio! And neither one of our heads of hair are blowing about! OK… Score one point for design[10]: Not until the wild looking Subaru SVX[11], some 15 years later, would this be possible again. (I tried it in the rain the next day… Didn’t get wet!)
As you begin to drift off in your Jaguar dreams, I approach the golf course and some roadwork ahead. Before I even touch the brakes, I discover another hidden feature of this car.
I am some 100 yards out when I notice one of the road crew stop, lean on his shovel and point a finger my way. At 75 yards, I can read his lips: ‘Look, here comes a Jag…’
The XJ series has been around – in one form or another – since 1968. It may not be the quickest cat produced but it outran all other models in terms of length of production. Even driving around an upscale campus in the mid-90’s with my old E-Type drew blank stares. Just 20 years after that bona fide classic had left Coventry, it was an unknown commodity. (The XK-120? Forget it. Almost no one has a clue what that is when they see it.)
But the XJ – despite its less than rave reviews – has gone on to be the definitive Jaguar for our generation. It has recently been ranked among the top 25 designs of all time (Automobile Magazine). And that front end – the one that caught the workers’ attention from just under 100 yards out – deserves all the kudos it can get. The XK8 and then newer XK – as pretty as they are up close – might as well be a Dodge Neon or a Ford Taurus coming at you. Pretty bland at a distance. Unless you are prepared for whiplash as they go by you, you have no idea what’s going by. But the XJ grill and double-headlight design virtually punches itself into your gray matter. There is no mistaking it: ‘Look, here comes a Jag…’
We bypass the entrance to the Golf and Country Club… all those people in there stuffing themselves and yelling about the immigrants… (Was just kidding…I don’t really belong. Can’t afford it. All my money goes into these cars!)
I pull up in front of the town inn and you exit. You stretch as if you’ve gotten up from a nap. I imagine you as you would have looked after a ride in my Porsche racer - gasping for air by the side of the car. I smile to myself as you do toe stretching to get the blood moving again. People seem to appreciate the Jag as they walk by, but they don’t exactly stop in their tracks as they did for my wild looking, Saab 96. We say good-bye. You are no more than 50 feet away and I am fairly certain that you don’t even recall the drive.
I decide at that moment that it’s time to sell. 20 minutes after my first drive as owner. A record. This just isn’t my thing.
In retrospect, I think the original owner and the subsequent owner were perfect fits for this car. The former, a retiree, was able to show up at the local Jaguar Club – or the golf course – with a winning calling card. The perfect ‘arrival’ for the evening dinner with the golf crowd, suits and ties, evening gowns -- and a setting sun over the 18th hole. A photo for the ages. The latter, the younger guy who bought it from me, was willing and able to ‘revive’ the thing – to dig deep for the elemental Jag at its core. He was actually going to rebuild the engine, putting in the triple-crab unit that came with the original, Series I XK-E. Then, he planned on converting it to a 4-speed. Bravo! I wish him well… (If it had come that way, I wouldn’t have sold it!)
….
The memory of that car was gone and I was already beaming
with its replacement when I came across another one on the mains street of some
tony Florida town. A
gorgeous, dark blue example with the black vinyl top. I walked around and looked at it from every
angle – just as Sir William Lyons must have at the very first one off the
assembly line in 1975. It was
perfect. And, of course, I wanted another one!!
…..
Next time: Sometimes you just want to go to the store for
milk:
Fine tuning
advancing age with the proper running gear.
(Hey Tom, beautifully written and hilarious as well. Thanks for
the ride! ) Pete
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
AutoMat’s column will
return in November
by Tim Browner
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The History Of The GTO
By PATRICK FITZGERALD
American automotive history is dotted with some people who have had the vision to create change resulting in something special. Each of these visionaries has contributed to the way we drive, buy, and are passionate about cars. We all have different tastes in what we drive but one common factor is that we all love cars. Well, I happen to love the Pontiac GTO and I would like to share with you some thoughts and history on this special car that really created a revolution in the automotive world over four decades ago.
As I mentioned there have been some people who had the vision to create change. This change took place over 40 years ago by the Chief Engineer of the Pontiac Motor Division. Yea, we all know who he was. He was the same visionary who brought to us those stainless steel, gull winged cars of the 1980’s. The man responsible was Mr. John Delorian. He was hired by Pontiac in 1956 to help aid the ailing GM division. Sales were down and we all know that in the corporate world, it is all about the bottom line. By 1959, Pontiac had some new styling with Delorian’s help. The “Widetrack” is what it was known as. With new styling and those great Super Duty engines, Pontiac was tearing up the NASCAR tracks as well as the drags. The old “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday” sales strategy was working well for Pontiac. But these were the big cars; the Bonnevilles and Grand Prixs. John Delorian saw this as an issue that needed addressing.
During one of his infamous Saturday morning “What if” meetings, he had an idea. Why not put some big V8 power into the intermediate size body line? He then placed together a prototype 1963 Tempest with some 389 cubic inches, a 4 speed with a Hurst shifter, and aggressive suspension. He would then let some Pontiac executives tool around town with it. One issue he discovered was that none of the executives would want to return it - it was too much fun!
There were still some major obstacles to hurdle before Pontiac could get this car built. GM’s corporate policy was this; big cars get big engines, smaller cars get the smaller engines. The formula all GM divisions went by was 10 pounds of vehicle weight per 1 cubic inch of engine displacement. The Tempest tipped the scales at approximately 3400 to 3500 pounds. The 389 was thought to be too powerful by GM brass to be in a 3400 pound vehicle.
John and his coworkers thought to bypass this engine restriction by offering an option to the 1964 Tempest line of vehicles. Let’s call it the GTO option. It will come with a Hurst shifter, HD suspension, fake hoodscoops, plenty of GTO badging, and 389 power. It worked! This Tempest with the GTO option managed to sneak by the GM brass’ restrictions on engine size/vehicle weight ratio.
Two 389 engine options were available in the 1964 GTO. The standard 389 with a single 4bbl carb put out 325 horses. The real talk of the town was the optional 389 with 3/2bbl carbs, lovingly known as Tri-Power. This engine with its high lift cam and HD valve springs put out an astonishing 348 horsepower and 428 lbs of torque at 4200 rpm. This was staggering performance for 1964, especially in such a light weight body. Pontiac expected to have 5,000 customers come into the dealerships and order one of these missiles. They were wrong. Over 32,000 GTO’s were built in that first year. The musclecar was born!
The GTO would have an interesting life from 1964 through its last model year of 1974. Its nickname would come to be known as The Great One or more widely known as The Goat. It would also become Motor Trend’s 1968 Car of the Year. The Goat would also have an industry’s first; a body colored front bumper known as the Endura bumper. The GTO also remained a performer through these years. Tri-Power, the various Ram Air engines, and 455 cubic inches of stump pulling power have all been hallmarks of the legendary GTO’s performance. The GTO Judge ruled during its run of 3 years from 1969 to 1971. Exhaust emissions, compression ratios, and insurance watchdogs may have not been kind to the GTO during the early seventies, but what a run! People who may not be car enthusiasts definitely know what a GTO is. They know that those three letters mean performance and styling.
Many will discuss - and even argue - whether or not the GTO was the first musclecar. That issue can be debated with your friends or other car owners at shows. Performance of the likes of the LS6 Chevelles and the Stage I Buicks has eclipsed the GTO’s, but the GTO, I feel, was always the coolest. Maybe some of our favorite cars would have never existed if not for the GTO. Whether or not you are into GTO’s, you have to admit that it is a pretty amazing story on how the GTO was developed and contributed greatly to the musclecar phenomenon.
(Amen to that Pat. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a GTO in every garage?!) Pete
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Steve Russo: 1966 Pontiac GTO
When I was a kid of 18 I purchased a 1965
GTO 389, Tri-power, 4-speed car for $1,600.00. This was 1970. I had the car for almost a year. I drove it that summer to Montreal Canada and
Lake George NY. I raced it on many a
Sunday at National Speedway on Long Island.
Then one September day a lady in a Toyota sideswiped
me. I lost control of the car and
ran it into a gas station and totaled it.
I had no collision insurance at that time, and I asked my father, how I
would get to Queensboro College, which I was attending. He replied "The
bus is on the corner".
Shortly after my 50th
birthday, about 35 years later, I started to search for another GTO. I looked on line, and in the papers I found a
few. They all were basic RUST BUCKETS! Then one day I saw an ad for a 1966 Black GTO
in the Special Interest paper. It turned
out the car was in Freeport, which was about 5 miles from where I was living at
the time. One afternoon my friend Tom
and I went to look at the car. The owner
said it was in the garage under covers and blankets. He very rarely took it out of the garage or
showed it. When he finally did take it
out of the garage and drove it down the long driveway; it was love at first
sight.
This 1966 GTO is a 4-speed, Tri-power
389, all #'s matching car! PHS
Documented by Pontiac. When we settled
on a price, I took it for a spin. The
owner at that time was a nervous wreck and over-protective of the vehicle. He exclaimed “Watch out for the rocks in the
road and puddles and PLEEEEASE! don't get on it until
it's yours!”
Out of respect, I did as he
asked. But, when I eventually did get on
it, it was 1970 again and I was that 18 year old kid driving my GTO looking out
for Old Ladies in Toyota's.
I attend many car shows on
Long Island now, and my GTO is a winner some of the time at the show, but all
of the time for me.
(What a super car you have my
friend! Glad you finally got your buddy back after 35 years!) Pete
______________________________________________________
Here is where you can access previous editions of the Long
Island Classic Cars Online Newsletter.
October 2003 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Oct03.html
November 2003 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Nov03.html
December 2003 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Dec03.html
January 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jan04.html
February 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Feb04.html
March 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Mar04.html
April 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Apr04.html
May
2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/May04.html
June 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jun04.html
July 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jul04.html
August 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Aug04.html
September 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Sep04.html
October 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Oct04.html
November 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Nov04.html
January 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jan05.html
February 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Feb05.html
March 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Mar05.html
April 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Apr05.html
May
2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/May05.html
June 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jun05.html
July 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jul05.html
August 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Aug05.html
September 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Sep05.html
October 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Oct05.html
November 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Nov05.html
December 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Dec05.html
January 2006 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jan06.html
February 2006 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Feb06.html
March 2006 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Mar06.html
April 2006 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Apr06.html
May 2006 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/May06.html
June 2006 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jun06.html
August 2006 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Aug06.html
September 2006 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Sep06.html
You can also access the previous Newsletters through a
link on the main page of the website.
___________________________________________________
Now that was a nice song wasn’t it? A GTO theme. I could hear the song* throughout the Newsletter!
Thanks to all my wonderful writers for their contributions! Great job fellas!
* Little GTO. If you had to ask – shame on you!
Pete Giordano
Long Island Classic Cars.com