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Pontiac fans have been asking for it's return since 1975.   GM has committed to producing it.   Orders are being taken for it.   So why isn't Pontiac's reincarnation of the GTO gracing all the auto magazine covers?   Maybe the car's looks are not likely to sell many magazines.   But the car's early performance figures may light a fire.

Here is a generalization that sums up why the upcoming Aussie import is not getting many approving glances.  The Australians typically favor cars with simpler lines, more plain looks, and almost no add-on appendages such as spoilers.   The Americans are quite the opposite with their styling tastes.   One only needs to look through a USA auto accessories catalog to see all the flashy bolt-on goodies that are the objects of North American affection.   Stick-on hood scoops, tall spoilers, bolt-on hood tachs, fender flares, sunshades, hanging dice, spotlights, bendy antennas, flashing tire valve lights, flame stickers, bugshields, headlight covers, black vinyl car bras, and gold chain license plate frames.   Some of these accessories cross the line into silliness, for sure.

At the Australian end of the spectrum is a car styling subtlety that seems akin to a fast jellybean with wheels.   On the American end, styling tastes run toward more aggressive shapes, punctuated by personalized add-ons that say "Hey, look at me!".

At the GTO convention, Pontiac seemed to be lobbying hard for the support of classic GTO enthusiasts.   The company was passing out glossy brochures with photos and facts about the new car.   The brochures paid some homage to the GTO's past, featuring one photo of a 1965 GTO large metal grille badge.  Privately, one young convention-goer pointed out the 2004 GTO's new grille badge, much smaller, made of plastic, tiny, almost unreadable at a distance.   It was quite a contrast.   When prodded by an audience member, former Pontiac advertising executive Jim Wangers took a chance to publicly spank Pontiac for changing the checkered fender emblems on the sides of the car to a more modern version.   He felt that the company could have left the angular style of the familiar GTO emblem alone.   However, Pontiac stylists chose to round off the edges of the emblem, making it match the car's round curves.

It remains to be seen whether Pontiac will sell all the GTO's slated for importation from Australia.   A Minnesota GTO enthusiast named Dave emailed the UltimateGTO.com website Monday to say that he had recently ordered a 2004 GTO...
 

When interviewed by an Australian newspaper this month, Holden spokesman Jason Laird expressed confidence that the Monaros-turned-GTO's would sell well, saying;
   "General Motors dealers in California say they would sell the full quota between them let alone the rest of the US."
An employee at an Indianapolis Pontiac dealership revealed that their allocation of new GTOs would be limited to ten cars.

At the GTO convention this month, participants had a chance to walk up and inspect the black prototype GTO for four days.   Some classic GTO fans were eager to find out more about Pontiac's upcoming release.   One participant, the President of an Indiana GTO club chapter, took the opportunity to climb inside the car and check out the seats for comfort.   He was shooed away by the car's security guard.   Test drives will come much later in the year, as production versions hit the USA shores probably in December of 2003.

Pontiac is certainly aware of the cold reception the '04 car's looks have garnered since the first public introduction.   This summer, Australians seem to be still smarting from the American's disfavor of their beloved Holden Monaro.   Quoting Australia's Courier-Mail newspaper in a July 12th edition...
 

It is a retro-styled silver 2005 Ford Mustang concept.   This was the Picture Of The Week on UltimateGTO.com for 3/23/03. This was the first time since the Ultimate GTO Picture Site was created that a Pontiac was not featured as the Picture Of The Week. Why? The new 2004 GTO was introduced to the public at the winter auto shows. Response to the styling of the GTO was very negative. The crowds were gathered around this car, a Mustang. Pontiac fans were expressing their displeasure with the bland looks of the new GTO. One person who traveled hundreds of miles to see the GTO at the Detroit auto show was floored to see a "GTO" on display that had no styling cues of the old GTO's. He suggested that the Mustang should be the Picture Of The Week. He pointed out that the Ford designers "get it" and gave their followers what they wanted...a visually exciting performer with a muscular stance.   Some Pontiac enthusiasts did complain about having the Mustang chosen for the Picture of the Week, while most others said they agreed with the choice.

Earlier in the year, the 2004 GTO was featured as this "Picture of the Week"...

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How do you put a punctuation mark on classic GTO enthusiast's desire to have a modern car with muscular looks?   At the conclusion of the weeklong convention of GTO enthusiasts from all over the USA gathered in Columbus, there was a point to ponder.   It seems that retro is IN.   At the final awards gathering, a club officer asked the crowd in the large convention hall a question about the new car;
   "How many of you plan to buy a new GTO?"
There was an enthusiastic cheer from a couple ladies at one table.   Then uncomfortable silence.
Then the club officer asked a second question;
   "How many of you would buy a new GTO if it looked like a GTO?"
The convention hall was rocked with cheers, raised hands, applause, and laughter.
 
 

Here's a comment from a recent visitor...
Says Greg Tuggle (XXtremePlayer.@AOL.COM) - "The G.T.O. is the Holy Grail of car ownership. I've never seen one except at shows, and with any luck, I'll own one before the end of the world."