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Let's fling open the door and peek inside this well-worn Tempest Custom. Smells musty in here. You know the "old car" smell, eh? It's got bucket seats and a console. The cloth seats don't look original. The steering wheel shows the typical cracks that come with age and exposure to sunlight. The top of the dash is cracked for sure. Loks like they may have put a cloth of some type on top of the cracked dash to hide it or slow it's deterioration. This photo shows more encouraging news: The transmission is probably still in place. See the shifter lever showing at the bottom right of the steering wheel? The console is missing the lid for the storage part of it. Chances are good this part got tossed into the backseat, or is stashed in the trunk. Teh other good thing in this photo is the presence of an original-style radio. That means that the dash wiring has probably not been hacked up. CLICK->
What else can we discern from staring at this set of Tempest photos? You can see the original blue color in the door jamb. The dark blue paint on the dash seems to match it. Look at the floor; probably got mice up under the dash. They like to eat that brown insulation and make a smelly mess of it. What's with that console? Looks like one out of a later year car? I'm not familiar with 1966 consoles at all. Maybe the console comes from the same car that donated the cloth seats? This is a better view of the radio too. Now I'm not so sure that the radio is an original style one. Needs a replacement dash pad. With the exception of the seats and console, the interior is fairly complete. The best thing I see in this photo is the keys. There are car keys hanging from the dash! That's a good indicator that there was an engine in this vehicle when it was parked in this spot long ago. Feel free to comment: How much money do you think you'd have to invest in parts to make this Tempest a show car? Or would you turn it into a GTO clone? CLICK->
Flames. This is courtesy of the website called Cars from Hell. Pretty wild look, eh?
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Barrier Blue 1966 GTO hardtop owned by Graham Lloyd from Stouffville Ontario, Canada. Graham tells us, "I have had this car since 1981. I bought it from the sister of the original owner. Originally it was used for drag racing only, and saw limited use since 1969. I restored it in the mid 1980's but it now is in need of a freshening up. It has the original engine with 3 deuces, close ratio 4 speed and 3.90 posi. No power steering or brakes. This is a radio delete car. Among the interesting stories, is that it was present at the second owner's wedding and 25 years later, we got a group shot of the car, myself and my bride, and the second owner and her husband all together at my wedding." CLICK->
Gray 1966 GTO project car owned by 15 year old Jonathan Taylor. His brother tells this story, "I used to own this car. I traded it for my 69 to my father. He then gave it to my little brother. It is sitting waiting for a restore. I got an engine for it out of a 69 Tempest that I paid $100 for." CLICK->
Here's a shot of the other side of Jonathan's 1966 GTO project. CLICK->
Burgundy 1966 GTO sport coupe owned by Kirk Meeker from Cranesville, Pennsylvania. Kirk comments, "I got the car about 10 years ago when my Dad passed away. My Dad bought the car from a local Pontiac dealer in Girard, Pa. The salesman that sold him the car in 1966 originaly bought the car for his son as a graduation present. A few weeks after having the car, the kid (Hossman) was picked up for drag racing and his Dad made him sell it. The funny thing is that my girlfriend's Dad is friends with Earl Hossman (the salesman). So few years ago Earl came to a car show I was at and we stafted talking. Earl took a picture of the car and sent it to his son in Phoenix Az. They were both suprised at how well the car was taken care of over the years. As of today 1-2-04 the car has 51,372 original miles on it. The car is all original including the paint. The lady in the picture is my Mom the 2nd owner along with my Dad." CLICK->
A closeup of the engine in this burgundy 1966 GTO sport coupe. CLICK->
1966 GTO BEFORE picture from Tyler Welken. He purchased it for $2,000. CLICK->
Another 1966 GTO BEFORE picture. Tyler tells us, "It has an original Tri-Power hooked up to a powerglide 2-speed automatic. Other options this car came out with according to the PHS build sheet was air conditioning, power assist brakes, power steering, and a push button AM/FM stereo. All numbers match and everything is original." CLICK->
1966 GTO DURING picture. Tyler continues. "I have been working on it for almost three years it should be ready to go Spring 2004." CLICK->
Wow. Tyler has been busy. Take a look at this Tri-power engine which will go back into his 1966 GTO. CLICK->
Naked 1966 GTO. If you're gonna do it, you're gonna have to take it all apart. Tyler continues, "I did put a power disc brake kit on it. I still have all of the restored fourwheel disk brake system that it came out of the factory with. After all, I am only fifteen years old and won't be sixteen until early May. (I need to be able to stop)" CLICK->
Tyler Welken finished his Martinique Bronze 1966 GTO hardtop. Tyler put it back to original colors with the fawn colored vinyl top. Tyler tells us, "I got it in the seventh grade to restore with my Dad. It has the original Tri-Power 389 and the original 2-speed Powerglide. This car has been a huge project and it is for the most part complete. It did have a factory A/C system but I have not yet been able to get the money to put it back in. This car also had factory wonder-touch power steering." CLICK->
Reef Turquoise 1966 GTO hardtop owned by Ron Barba from Farmingville, New York. Ron tells us about his car, "Originally a California car, it has a 389ci Tri-Power set up with Muncie M-21 4-speed, and a 3.55 posi rear. This PHS documented numbers matching car has 50,000 original miles. Real beautiful muscle car with no frills (no power steering, no power brakes). Original color of Reef Turquoise. The previous owner added the Tri-Power." PICTURE SET CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE ...
Here's a comment from a recent visitor...
Says Terry Deneui (deneui.@rconnect.com) - "I have had two GTOs, both when I was a lot younger; and when I browse your site I am the GOAT-ROPER once more! THANK YOU!"
