I don’t care what year it is, a Pontiac GTO is a badass car to have. Whether you have one of the legit years of A-body, the funky one-year only 1973 big-boy, the Ventura with an attitude, or the late-model screamer, if you have a Pontiac GTO you are doing good. GTO gives you the feeling that Pontiac really did try to live up to their “Excitement Division” hype, just like the Firebird/Trans Am did. Even in the darkest years, that’s where you turned to find some kind of light in the world.
Our love for the “Rounded Line” years of GM trucks is well-known, too. All three of us love the 1973-91 GM trucks, the old square-bodies. They are dirt-simple, solid trucks that can do everything…tow, haul, race, off-road, name it and you’ll find a square-body doing it just fine. Chad loves them so much that he hunted down his dream setup, a two-wheel-drive 3+3 four-door, and has been having loads of fun spinning wrenches on the big rig as he gets it up to speed.
Now, I was NOT looking to one-up that Subaru-Volkswagen mashup that Chad showed you while I was away in Texas. Not even in the least. I’m not a fan of that generation of Subaru, and as far as I’m concerned, air-cooled VeeDubs belong right next to all of the Ford Thunderbirds that Lohnes will park in the ocean next to the Titanic. But this 1986 Chevrolet…well, I’m a bit confused about how I should feel about it. Just like the VW-Subi mix, the mash-up has been done surprisingly well, and it’s really only a nose-job on a Chevy, not two cars grafted into one. The running gear is Chevrolet, but a 454 and TH400 is quite appropriate for the look, no qualms there. We would trash the 22″ wheels on the truck for a lowering job and a set of Pontiac Rally II wheels in 17×9, and we’d find some way to dress up the taillights to make them seem a bit more appropriate for Pontiac…or maybe we’d shave the taillights altogether and mold in Ventura lights into the rollpan. What would you do?
I actually have to go beyond all my principles and admit that this “Frankencar” looks absolutely stunning! All it needs is some smaller versions of those wheels and it will be almost perfect.
Now I’m thinking of a Ford pickup with a Mustang nose and Coyote power….
It would look more in proper perspective if it sat lower, and as mentioned, lose the wheels…
I would drive it every day. Very well done from what I can see in the pictures and yes, change the tire and wheel combo. Geordie, the Ford truck/Mustang/Coyote has been done, remover seeing a post but do not remember where
Kill it with fire
Very well done.These trucks have been done every way you can, Even the C-10 fans just give one a glance is all. This is a great break from the norm. Now someone needs to do it in Nova.
Seriously???
Holy Sh*t that thing is real? I saw a picture of it years ago and thought it was just a photoshop. I’d have a tripower 455 Pontiac engine in it if it was mine, and drive it daily.
I thought Photoshop also when I first saw that pic years ago. No way it’s FUGLY!!!
Slam it and put some decent wheels on it. And a Pontiac 400 or better.
As an early GTO owner I think it’s awful. As mentioned above kill it with fire.
on the fence … Hmmm. Like previous posts – remove the ghetto wheels, install some 15×7 Pontiac Rallys and see what is looks like then.
Remove everything from the front back-then torch it! Its still a truck
It’s just weird…
I’m with Geordie on this one. Like it! Sure it needs a few things but the custom work is impressive.
I expected a lot more hate for this, but 8 out of 11 comments don’t hate it, including me
Yep…. just barfed in my mouth.
Looks Good I would drive it and I usually prefer Fords. They did a nice job on the blending the fenders to fit. And for sure ditch those wheels.
No uglier than old GTO’s were anyhow, and it looks like very nicely done conversion work.
I just can’t. It’s just wrong. I would love to see a GTOized El Camino, but the C10 has to stay a C10.