MICK'S GTO PAGE:

 

 

 

This red hardtop came into our lives in 1988.  I'm either the second or third owner depending on how you want to count.  My friend's stepfather bought it from a dealership in late 1967, and kept it 21 years until turning it over to my friend.   He was one of those "Chevy Guys" and within 6 months it was ours.  It currently has a .020 over 400 with a 228/232 cam, considerable port and bowl work on "670" heads, forged dished pistons and a set of Doug's Headers.  A turbo 400 shifted through a His&Hers Shifter powers the 3.36 posi.  A set of BF Goodrich 275/60 15 Drag Radials gets the power to the ground.  The AC still blows cold, and it's no problem to drive 100 miles to San Diego or sit in Summer traffic.

                       1967 Red GTO

  
 

 

 

  
 

My Pride and Joy:  I ordered it from the factory and took delivery in March of 1967.  It's a one-owner and it's not ever leaving.  No sissy auto or air for this Goat.  Instead I factory ordered the 360 HO motor, 4 speed trans, disc brakes, and the ride and handling package.   It still has the 4 speed, but the motor is now a .30 over 455 (462 cu. in.) fully blue-printed and balanced; roller cam with roller rockers, 3/8" pushrods, Ross racing pistons, Carrillo rods, and about 12.8:1 compression -  It runs just great on AV gas.   The best pass to date is 11.96/114.9 at Carlsbad Raceway.   The original motor is safely tucked away in the barn.
 

1967 Blue GTO                         

 

aka  "The Blue Goat"                      

 

 

I'm an active member of the Inland Empire GTO Club, and enjoy taking the family on club outings.  A great event is San Bernardino's Annual Route 66 Rendezvous.  It is always  fun, and the entries are unbelievable.  One great thing about living in Yucaipa is the ability to visit the beach, mountains or desert within an hour's drive. Southern California weather allows us to enjoy our hobbies year round.

                       

  

 
   
 

This picture was taken at the Airport Hotel in Los Angeles.  We were down in L.A. for a class reunion, and spent the weekend at the hotel.  The valet parking staff was kind enough to watch out for the car.  In fact, the GTO never moved from this prime location.
 

Airport Hotel, Los Angeles              

 

                    

 

 

  

 

 
 

 

This light blue GTO was rather rare.  By today's standard, it was really a great color.   Back in '67, everyone opted for the darker Tyro Blue.  This blue shade is quite similar to new cars today.  Pin striping was white.

                         Not a bad color

  
 

 

 

 

  
 

 

 

You can never have enough GTO's.  The mags on both cars are Centerline Champ 500's.  It was the only wheel that had the perfect backspacing (5") to allow a large tire without raising the rear of the car up a foot or so.  
 

Two blue Goats                        

 

                    

 

 

 

 

Another shot of the Blue Goat heating up the slicks.

   Burnout  Time  at  L.A.  County  Raceway

  
 

 

 

  
 

 

 

The Blue Goat getting away and getting a good edge on the competition.

 

"YOU DON'T STOP RACING BECAUSE YOU GET OLD...

YOU GET OLD BECAUSE YOU STOP RACING!"

FIRST ONE THERE WINS                                

 

                    

 

 

 

 

Race over, and a peaceful cruise back to the pits.  Note the width of the slicks and how well they fit in the stock wheel wells.

                       

 

 

  
   
 

 

 

Imagine what that would do to the upholstery.  I wonder what Pontiac had to replace when they let the real tiger hop in and out of the '65 convertible for the TV ads.

 

                 

 

                    

 

 

 

 

Our latest addition to the Pontiacs.  It's a 1965 Catalina 2+2 with the 421 engine option.  We were lucky enough to purchase it from the original owner.  This photo was taken at the Ventura Show where the car took second place.  My son Mark is next to me.

                                         Mark and Mick

 

 
   
 

 

 

OK, not too many photos from 1967, but did come across these two.  The first shows the car with paper plates.  It had been picked up at the dealer in Inglewood the day before and we had taken it up to Yucaipa for a break in drive.  Next to the GTO was my dad's '67 Buick Riviera G ran Sport.  

 

March 1967                                                  

                    

 

 

 

 

 

This rainy-day picture was taken outside the apartments in Lompoc, CA while stationed at Vandenberg AFB in late April 1967. I didn't waste any time in getting a set of American Torque Thrusts on the car.  Unfortunately, I knew nothing about backspacing, and they fit terrible.  Finally sold the mags to a friend on base that had a '66 Malibu SS.

OK, so a long time ago I owned a Chevy. This picture was taken at Palos Verde's, California in 1966. Actually I'd love to have this car back.  It was a 1963 Impala SS automatic with a 327 small block with the grill blacked out, Firestone 500 tires on Fenton Mags, and fire engine red inside and out.  This was my high school car that I  cruised Hawthorne Boulevard in, putting many miles on between the A&W and the Witch Stand.   I still have a certificate from Lions Drag Strip stating that the car held the miles per hour record for its class at 88 mph - Those were much simpler times.  It was traded in on the Blue GTO in March 1967.  I believe that we got less than a thousand dollars for it on trade in.  Ouch!