Pure Blooded: This Pontiac GTO Is All Naturally Aspirated Tin Indian!


Pure Blooded: This Pontiac GTO Is All Naturally Aspirated Tin Indian!

Ok, purists, here’s your moment of zen. Fans of GM brands that aren’t Chevrolet tend to get a bit twisted whenever you mention the “corporate engine” deal. Here’s how it worked out: starting in the 1970s and going through as late as the very early 1990s, the individual engine families that Cadillac, Buick, Oldsmobile and Pontiac had were shrunken down in favor of a “corporate” block, which more often than not was the 305 cubic inch Chevrolet small block. The faithful that had adhered to one particular brand over the other were not pleased, to put it mildly. They did not want to see a small-block Chevrolet between the fenders of their Catalina or their Regal, they wanted a 400 Pontiac or a Buick 350. Oldsmobile’s Rocket engines were whittled down to the 307 cubic incher and it was the last vestige of individual engine lines, finally dying off in 1990. Pontiac’s engine line was killed off in 1980 and ran out through 1981 model cars, but to those who care about keeping the brand alive in memory, only a Pontiac mill will do. Legendary for being torque-makers, even the smaller displacement engines would run. This Goat is packing a “small” Pontiac engine (though we don’t know how many cubes it’s actually got) and we couldn’t be bothered to be concerned if that’s a 301 that’s had way too much money thrown at it or a 455 and a complete line of BS from the driver…this GTO is something to be very concerned about if you’re in the other lane!


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4 thoughts on “Pure Blooded: This Pontiac GTO Is All Naturally Aspirated Tin Indian!

  1. MGBChuck

    Nice car, a friend here in Northern California has a RED ’64 Tempest with a Butler headed 462 in it that runs 9s, another cool pure Pontiac, always good to see

  2. keezling

    A “proper” race car is a thing of beauty. Oh ohh, is that a power glide I hear? Perhaps a 9″ out back? No soup for you!!!

  3. DanStokes

    Bryan – If it’s a Pontiac it is NOT a “small block”. Pontiac only made one size block but with MANY variations in displacement. The 326 and even the 301 were all based off the same basic block castings – Todd or others have better info but I’m pretty sure the bore spacing is the same for the whole run.

    1. Lane Shurtleff

      Thanks Dan, When I first saw the title on the video \”small block\” I nearly screamed bloody murder. I\’ve been a Pontiac man for 40+ years ( I Own 5 GTO\’s) and have always had to remind those that are not familiar with Pontiac V-8\’s that they all are one block size. Pontiac never made small blocks or big blocks. Only the bore and stroke sizes changed.

      About the GM story, GM also decided to allow engine brand swapping through the late 1970\’s. Many Trans/Ams were outfitted with 403 Oldsmobiles.

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