Although it was parked under an oʋerhang, the well-chosen car had been exposed to the elements for decades.
In 1966, Pontiac first offered the GTO as a stand-alone model instead of as an option package for the LeMans and Tempest. Retaining the stacked headlights from 1965, it had a reworked “Coke-bottle” look and a slightly tunnelled rear window. It’s a special car, so when 3:23 Fabrication saw this car wasting away, they were determined to rescue it.
Originally equipped with a 389 cubic inch V8 and two-speed Powerglide transmission, this 1966 Pontiac GTO hardtop coupe is complete except for the running gear. However, it is in very rough shape. Not only has it been exposed to the elements for countless years, but it was also exposed to Hurricane Michael, which passed through the Florida panhandle in 2018.
The first challenge is getting the GTO out of its resting place. Located under an oʋerhang next to the machinery shed, there was no straight line to pull it out where it could be loaded onto a trailer. It took multiple rounds to pull the derelict vehicle forward a few feet, then turn it to clear the shed and a motorized mobile scaffold.
Once outside, we finally get a clear view of the GTO’s condition. The interior is upholstered in denim, and the floorboards are all gone. The dashboard is rusted on the lower part, the trunk is rusted. So it comes with a lot of extras, including trim and taillights, and is a heavily optioned car with power steering, power brakes and air conditioning.
The plan was to clean up the car, patch up the trunk and floorboards, and install a new engine and transmission. The 1966 GTO joins “three and a half” other Pontiac GTOs, including a 1969 model and a pair of 1968 cars as part of the 3:23 Build family.
According to the previous owner, the GTO originated in Anchorage, AK, before it was towed to Colorado around 1981. It was then moved to Panaмa City, Florida, sometime before 1985. Not long after Upon arrival in Florida, it was parked in its current location, where it remained until rescued.
