Sunday, 7 February 2010

Classic US Cars: Pontiac GTO 1971 and 1972

What is your favorite classic car of all time?


Pontiac GTO 1971


Classic Pontiac GTO 1971 1972


The GTO changed very little save front-end styling but compression ratios were dropped to enable regular fuel to be burned in the combustion chambers without detonation. The highlight of the year seemed to be the 455 HO round-port engine, but rated at only 335-horsepower it still looked like a slug when compared to the 400s and the 455 HO D-port engines of the previous year. Convertibles were a dying breed, with only 661 examples being built in '71.


Pontiac GTO 1972


GTO reverted back to option status in 1972, and changes were minimal. Sales plummeted to just 5,807 units and a look at competing muscle car sales figures quickly leads to the conclusion that they had become modern day dinosaurs and extinction was imminent. The only body-styles this year were the hardtop or pillared coupe, the standard 400-powered hardtop being the overwhelming favourite with almost 4,800 sold. A total of only 635 selected the 455 HO for the hardtop versions. Just 134 coupes were ordered, 10 with the 455 engine.


If you would like to find out more about the classic Pontiac GTO car art featured in this guide please click here.


Thank you for reading my guide and I hope you found it interesting!

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