Why is the Pontiac GTO Called GTO?

Рет қаралды 83,262

4 ай бұрын

Pontiac was pretty unoriginal when naming the GTO, and Studebaker beat them to the punch, in a sense. #gto #hotrodhistory #cartrivia #davidfreiburger

Пікірлер: 107

@grubby1975 4 ай бұрын

My Dad said he thought it stood for "God Take Over" one night when the Tri-Power on his '65 stuck wide open... 😂😂😂

@jehb8945 4 ай бұрын

My dad also said it stands for God takes over. For a while Pontiac had its tiger commercials but those were considered a little 2 over the top and they just nerfed it down to the great one Still the GTO was the best of both worlds plenty of power but in intermediate size where you could still haul around the wife and kids

@dickslocum 3 ай бұрын

Going To Ohio. in the 60s while I was in High School.

@nostradamus7648 3 ай бұрын

Guess your dad couldn't be bothered with basic maintenance on the accelerator cables. Darwin had a theory about that.

@KDoyle4 3 ай бұрын

@@nostradamus7648 A blown motor mount will do that. That's why many powerful cars of that era got a safety chain installed.

@michaelmurphy6869 4 ай бұрын

An old gentleman told one once the GTO was short for, Gas, Tires, Oil. Made sense because those cars used allot of Gas, Tires and Oil.

@slappy8941 3 ай бұрын

Hey Einstein, if you had ever read a book, you might know that "allot" and "a lot" aren't even close to the same thing.

@StellaMyCat 3 ай бұрын

@@slappy8941 i doubt the dudes name is Einstein, so why be so conffident in getting it wrong?

@bobwhammer4237 3 ай бұрын

Gas, tires and oil is what American muscle was all sbout

@JeffreyMurrayy-sb5mq 7 күн бұрын

Same here my dad was a MOPAR MAN

@dustymojave 4 ай бұрын

All the GM guys say the GTO was the 1st musclecar with a large engine in a mid sized car. But they fail to recognize that the same 1964 year model Ford had the Fairlane Thunderbolt with a 427, and the year before, 1963, Chrysley divisions Dodge and Plymouth both offered Max wedge models with a 426 engine.

@DanielLopez-tb2fl 3 ай бұрын

The Thunderbolt was not intended for street use. Yes,amazingly, the NHRA granted it "stock" status . By the way , Pontiac had the Garbidge Truck Option. Memphis Dan Che Vro Lei

@KDoyle4 3 ай бұрын

Some muscle cars before the GTO: 1936 Buick Century, 1949 Oldsmoblile 88, 1957 Rambler Rebel, 1963 Studebaker R3 Lark.

@YungEagle3k 3 ай бұрын

Gtos were the first mass produced optioned muscle cars. Don't be stupid

@KDoyle4 3 ай бұрын

@@YungEagle3k What about the 1963 Studebaker Lark R2? What about the 1957 Rambler Rebel? What about the 1949 Oldsmobile 88? Like the '64 GTO, these earlier cars were a junior cars equipped with the engine from the senior car. That is the definition of "muscle car", any why the big Chrysler 300 cars don't fit.

@Dan-ez6dr 3 ай бұрын

None of the cars you mention were street cars. Those were all A/FX or SS/A drag racing cars. The GTO was the first Muscle Car, and they were amazing for that time.

@Keith-wb2nn 4 ай бұрын

Pontiac GTO was still a goat

@dennism644 4 ай бұрын

I had 3 GTOs 66,67, 70. Grand turismo omolgato. In Italian (grand touring homolgato.for english. The O on the end refers to cars where not one offs but production models with limited sales. Or in my day Gas Tires Oil. Never past a gas station. As a matter of fact i used to go to the local car shows and in the trunk sat 2cans. And 4 tires.

@DD-uf2uo 3 ай бұрын

Back in my day we use to say that GTO stood for "GET TOOLS OUT". YES, it was a good car. .

@NoBody-xg1wg 3 ай бұрын

The 1962 DODGE POLARA 500 was a DART body with a Chrysler B Wedge motor, 4 bbl, dual exhaust, hot cam

@pughoneycutt1986 3 ай бұрын

In addition to the full size engine they also had the full size brakes and other stronger components to make them handle and stop better

@mathewhyland8925 4 ай бұрын

Thanks David , great info mate.

@dennism644 4 ай бұрын

The Pontiac emblem is a arrowhead

@Starlesslemon 4 ай бұрын

GT is Grand Touring, not Gran Turismo for the Mustang GT

@KingAceLakers 4 ай бұрын

Basically Gran Turismo means Grand Touring in Italian. It’s no difference.

@donhuff6658 4 ай бұрын

Grand tourismo option

@spudwickthrockmorton2112 3 ай бұрын

Same for the mighty Ford GT

@adamruff7013 3 ай бұрын

The Italian connection. Good name for a historical piece based of the backstory of this car

@carlcurtice7914 3 ай бұрын

Those of us that have owned a GTO know very well that it stands for "Get Turned On".

@dumuzi9662 4 ай бұрын

You NEED to narrate history channel l. We wouldn't forget war is hell anymore.

@billstapleton1084 3 ай бұрын

My GTO stood for Gas Tires and Oil.

@grbmajor6645 3 ай бұрын

First car (favorite) was '68 GTO. Never knew or cared what it stood for.

@-GreeferGames 3 ай бұрын

I own a 71' pontiac lemans, great cars and they are built like tanks.

@johnguilfoyle3073 3 ай бұрын

When I was into Rotary engine cars (Rx-2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8), Mazda had a base-model Rotary Engine Rx-7 which was a sports car (S). With some extra performance features it became the Grand Sport (GS). With added Luxury features, it became the Grand Sport Luxury (GSL). When they came out with a distinct version, it was the Grand Sport Luxury, Special Edition, (GSL-SE).

@richardfinney3179 3 ай бұрын

Mazda is a swear word on my neighborhood

@mr.mckinnon5680 4 ай бұрын

I've come to learn over the years that, anything with a GT badge on it means... Giant turd. And that's what you get.... When you put your marketing and advertising executives, in charge of engineering. And that's all we have now..... Giant turds. But I bet you, I can walk out to any 1965 Pontiac gto, that still exists today, open the hood, and tell you, what size the nuts and bolts are in it.... Can't do that in most trucks today.... CUZ THEY ROTTED THE PHUC OFF!

@blk05gt 2 ай бұрын

Thank You Dave!!! Muscle car = big block in a mid sized car.

@larkinwalton4360 4 ай бұрын

My grandpa said it stands for Gas, Tires, and Oil. Because that’s what you’re going to burn through.

@johnnykobra7256 3 ай бұрын

I have an all stock 63 tempest Lemans, 329 4 speed trans axle, independent suspesion and everything.

@GMCTIM 3 ай бұрын

John Delorian named the GTO when he was designing the car in 1964 ! GTO stood for Grand Toronto Opreolata ! His story on the GTO is on the Cars that built America ! Pretty interesting ! 😁👍

@GMCTIM 3 ай бұрын

Grand Torino operyolata ! The ahole at U/T keep changing my words !

@j.h.5277 3 ай бұрын

Grapefruit Tangerine Orange There you go.

@robertnolan5896 3 ай бұрын

"Get Turned On" comes to mind🎉

@paulwestmoreland8498 3 ай бұрын

Get Turned On. The '67 Goat is my all time favorite.

@nep-nep6575 3 ай бұрын

I always thought it stood for “Grand Tempest Option” Guess that makes more sense since the Tempest Super Duty won the Daytona Challenge Cup by five miles…and beat the best finishing Ferrari by over a lap

@masjuggalo 4 ай бұрын

By today's standards that tempest is a land yacht

@DanielLopez-tb2fl 3 ай бұрын

Pontiac produced 30 000 copies of the Garbidge Truck Option in 1964 Memphis chevyDan LeLoLai

@levistrauss5378 3 ай бұрын

Named after one of the greatest teachers around.

@robertwilson3453 2 ай бұрын

My fave muscle car. All time.

@krede78 3 ай бұрын

I thought it meant this car only needed - Gas Tires Oil to run forever 😅💪

@TheInfamousHotRodFarm 4 ай бұрын

Hell yeah my brother!

@scotthinzman7698 3 ай бұрын

This “criticism” is about as dumb as it gets. Ooooo……. They “borrowed” a name from another part of the car industry. Truth is the created one of the most iconic cars of its era that to this day is still revered.

@wintonhudelson2252 4 ай бұрын

Stands for "Gone to Oklahoma".

@mikeweizer3149 4 ай бұрын

Gas tires and oil, Or, If you were an Olds fan It meant GO TO OLDS!!!!.

@MichaelJohnson-to4rm 4 ай бұрын

Correct.

@gbellamyjr 3 ай бұрын

Another alternate name was a Garbage Truck with Options

@raheem.johnsonraheemjohn-io2ci 4 ай бұрын

Tha 70 pontiac GTO is my dream car ever sence i saw tha 2003 movie one last ride

@petertornabeni602 3 ай бұрын

Estes-Knudsen-DeLoreon.

@Hipurr1000 3 ай бұрын

Pontiac had to pay a fee on every car sold for name tags; Bonneville, GTO, Grand Am, Trans Am, Can Am, Lemans, Formula and Grand Prix. And for hardcore gear heads....Pontiac raced SCCA which had engine size rule of 320ci, Ford had the Boss302, Chevy had the DZ302, Mopar had a destroked 340, AMC had 304. Pontiac had a 303, why hasn't anyone built this engine for the street????

@grabasandwich 4 ай бұрын

Canadian Pontiacs on the other hand... Parisienne, Laurentian, Beaumont, Acadian 😊

@Kodachrome40 3 ай бұрын

The GTO was created by GM executive John DeLorean.

@Stainlessslayer 4 ай бұрын

I always wondered what the connection was with the tiger in the old GTO ads?

@TheDavidFreiburger 4 ай бұрын

It started with the advertising line about having a tiger under your hood, which I suppose meant it had fierce power. And then “gr-rrr” also came from that.

@grubby1975 4 ай бұрын

@@TheDavidFreiburgerYou could have "A Tiger under the hood" and go to the Esso station and "Put a Tiger in your tank" and then drive around all night lookin for a smaller Kitty to take home... 😂😂😂

@gorflunk 4 ай бұрын

@@TheDavidFreiburger Don't forget the old Uniroyal tire ads that showed the Tiger Paw tires.

@Lando62 3 ай бұрын

I drove that Ferrari. A thrill

@user-uc4ei6vc2r 3 ай бұрын

In my high school was known as God takes over

@HDMensur 3 ай бұрын

So it‘s actually NOT Great Teacher Onuzuka??? 🥺

@DanielLopez-tb2fl 3 ай бұрын

Ferrari FAILED to produce the 125 units to homologate . Look it up. Memphis Dan LeLoLai

@user-hx6up1tb8d 3 ай бұрын

Trying to give credit to someone who didnt earn it. Ferrari was never a muscle car stop

@janetgilmore8006 3 ай бұрын

65 GTO 421 6 barrel Royal Bobcat is the greatest Pontiac ever built and one lives in my barn..?

@user-ht1xu4gv2u 3 ай бұрын

I'm gonna save up my money and buy a GTO

@jasonrichardson4522 4 ай бұрын

Grand Touring Option

@Tunnelramlife 4 ай бұрын

My wife has her 66 tin indian sitting in the garage next to my 68 Vette. It was the car she wanted.

@vancemccarthy2554 3 ай бұрын

The GT of GTO is Gran Turismo? Who knew that for the Playstation game.

@alexwhite737 3 ай бұрын

Gas Tires and oil

@JohnHall-uv2jm 29 күн бұрын

So the United States started copying a foreign car company a long time ago. How can we come up with something that is totally original... NOT original is it?? The way of GM is to copy anything that is selling better than another. The biggest copy is the Corvette. Our rear engine design. They could have reinstituted the stingray mako shark or the cheetah. I've asked people, have they heard of the stingray mako shark and the answer is always no. So that car would have sold big time. No they would rather copy a foreign car company. At first glance I always think it's a Ferrari. I still think GM should bring the legendary stingray mako shark back with a better faded in place the back window. That awesome car was a head of its time then. I think the only thing they need to do is that back window of the Shark

@frankhughes9137 3 ай бұрын

Grande tourismo obrigato. Grand touring cat

@WRDCministries 3 ай бұрын

GMO GTO. Gallant Men Of Olds, Gulf Rd Schaumburg Illinois

@blackhawk7r221 4 ай бұрын

Simply stole the name of Ferrari’s baddest car.

@user-gt2lh2ec9e 3 ай бұрын

Again won't open? John P.

@larrygaines7462 3 ай бұрын

Garbage truck option

@phillipthethird42 4 ай бұрын

I still like it.

@JohnnyDouchbag-nr5yf 3 ай бұрын

GET TOOLS OUT

@darwinmichel2087 4 ай бұрын

Goat Tamer Out

@colmhain 3 ай бұрын

Get your Tools Out!

@richardfinney3179 3 ай бұрын

BS the first muscle car was the 49 olds rocket 88 talk to the guys that were there back then

@impalaSS65 4 ай бұрын

kzfaq.info/sun/PLADE7551F51870823&si=913344AswhXfHnd4 . A good documentary about the GTO.

@jayyydizzzle 4 ай бұрын

I got to sit in one when i was a child. It was at a restoration shop in bfe Georgia. It was apparently the part of a nc senators daughters collection.

@christophermay4998 4 ай бұрын

Would've been cool if they started the Trans Am series when these came out............the Corvettes went to Le Man's race

@dustymojave 4 ай бұрын

Nobody raced a Tempest in Trans Am until the Gray Ghost 64 Tempest in 71. Since Trans Am rules specified a maximum displacement of 5.0 liters, a GTO or a Tempest or any other GM car of that body group had to get a de-stroked engine. Like the 390s in the Penske 71 Javelins (I've restored 1 of those 2x). In 64, 2 years before the Trans Am series started, SCCA had a race category for such cars called A/Sedan. Ford Falcons with a small block ruled. Like Pete Cordts' car that started life as a 63 with a 260, then got re-bodied to a 64 with a 289. I was an SCCA Tech Inspector back then. Pete Cordts worked Tech with me when he wasn't racing. Even back then I felt it would have been really cool to have a race class for mid sized cars with 400ci max engines factory displacement only. Ford Fairlane 390, Chevy Chevelle 396, Plymouth Belvedere Roadrunner 383, Dodge Coronet Superbee or Charger 383, Pontiac Tempest GTO 389, etc. Any model available to the general public mass produced in quantities exceeding 5K units per year. I envisioned it with no factory backed racers, only garage racers, so less cheating. No special built factory race cars. No chassis bracing like was allowed in Trans Am for Camaros and Firebirds because of their sub-frame chassis that had proved too weak in early Novas causing a special rule just for the GM F body cars.

@Tannerrebuilds 4 ай бұрын

If you say the gto was the first muscle car wrong. The 1960 ford starliner. It came with a high power 352 witch made 360 hp with a quarter mile of 14 seconds

@xmo552 4 ай бұрын

you could argue: 1959/60 Pontiac 1957 Fords 1955-57 Chevy 283 392 Hemi 324/371 Olds 1949 Cad 1932 flathead

@Tannerrebuilds 4 ай бұрын

@@xmo552 You're right even the model A

@michaelmacpherson-wm6mh 3 ай бұрын

the GTO was not a full size car

@Tubbs-dad 3 ай бұрын

Typical American car makers. Can't come up with anything original.

@tomcherry7029 3 ай бұрын

Who the hell cares ? Do I sense a little jealousy from the commentator?

@WisdomMiddleaged 4 ай бұрын

Just a generic Chevelle

@michaelwilson2151 4 ай бұрын

GTO, Lemans, Tempest, Chevelle, Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile 442, Oldsmobile Cutlass... all GM. All bodies made by Fisher ... Very similar...

@WisdomMiddleaged 4 ай бұрын

@michaelwilson2151 general motors corporation A body. Funny how Chevy managed to survive the longest.

@michaelwilson2151 4 ай бұрын

@WisdomMiddleaged I'm a total Chevy guy, but isn't Ford the one that lasted the longest? So far?

@WisdomMiddleaged 4 ай бұрын

@michaelwilson2151 yes Ford has outlasted. Chevy lasted the longest out of general motors. I like all domestics with v8's. I've had Chevy Ford and Dodge... each has their high and low points.

@michaelwilson2151 4 ай бұрын

@WisdomMiddleaged Oh yes, I understand now. 👍