This 1974 Pontiac left the factory with just 200 hp but now makes around three times as much
1 hour ago
- A 1974 Pontiac GTO transformed into a Pro Touring weapon is up for auction.
- The heavily modified muscle car has been with the same owner since 1982.
- Upgrades include a 487 cu-in V8 with aluminum heads and new suspension.
The Pontiac GTO kicked the golden age of muscle off with a bang in 1964 and closed it with a whimper a decade later. For the GTO’s final outing before the badge was mothballed for 30 years, it was downsized to GM’s X-body compact and to its smallest, least powerful engine ever, making the ’74 the runt of the GTO litter. But no one is going to push this 1974 GTO around.
A Red-Flagged Revival
Currently for sale on Bring a Trailer, the Buccanneer Red coupe has been owned by the seller for an incredible 43 years. But beyond it wearing the same color paint, there’s not much about this GTO that bears any resemblance to the mild-mannered machine the owner picked up when it was only eight years old.
Related: You’ll Either Love Or Hate What They Did To This Classic Mustang
Gone is the 350 cu-in (5.7-liter) V8, which Pontiac rated at just 200 net hp (203 PS) the year Nixon left work early, and in its place sits a humungous 487 cu-in (8.0-liter) motor packing goodies like aluminium heads, a hydraulic roller cam, Holley Sniper fuel injection, uprated cranks and rods and MDS ignition.
The advert doesn’t say how much power it makes, but we’d guess it must be pushing out three times the original’s pony count.
The big mill drives a 9-inch rear end via a four-speed automatic transmission and is reined in by a set of Wilwood brakes that in Pro Touring tradition are far from the only chassis and suspension upgrade. The GTO also features a Detroit Speed front subframe and Quadralink rear suspension with adjustable coilovers, and has tubbed rear arches to clear the fat 19-inch Billet Specialties rear wheels.
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Inside, the classic flat red vinyl slabs that passed for bucket seats 50 years ago have been swapped for black Corbeau buckets, and are joined by a Momo wheel, Pro Comp gauges and a roll cage. But those seats – and most of the other components – have seen little action. The owner reckons he’s only covered 12,000 miles (19,000 km) in the car since buying it in 1982, 2,400 of those miles (3,900 km) of those being added since the build was completed four years ago. Check out the auction listing here.
What’s Your Take?
Are you a fan of these kinds of Pro Touring muscle builds or do you prefer a stealthier restomod approach that improves the performance and handling while retaining the original aesthetic? Drop a comment underneath and let us know.
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