Most Powerful GTO Models Ever Made
The Pontiac GTO is one of the most respected names in muscle car culture. However, it died an unceremonious sales-slump-related death. Still, the Goat, as some call it, gifted car culture with some seriously cool, powerful machines before it gave way to General Motors’ bottom line. Here are some of the most powerful Pontiac GTOs ever made, like the 1970 GTO Ram Air IV.
- 2006 Pontiac GTO 6.0
- 1969-1970 GTOs Ram Air IV
- 1968 Pontiac GTO Ram Air II
- 1965-1967 Pontiac GTOs
What was the fastest stock GTO?
The most powerful and coincidentally fastest stock GTO Pontiac ever produced was also the last one, the 2005 and 2006 Pontiac GTO. The last Pontiac GTOs packed a 6.0L LS2 producing 400 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. It wasn’t all smoke and fury, either; the 2006 Pontiac GTO could sprint to 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds.
Better yet, it’s still a performance bargain today. Kelley Blue Book (KBB) says you might be able to find one for around $22,183 with 50,000 miles.
Were the 1969-1970 GTOs some of the most powerful GTO models ever?
The 1969 and 1970 GTOs weren’t just brightly-colored blacktop bullies; they packed some powerful options. Hagerty says the most powerful offering in these sweet classics was the Ram Air IV 400-cubic-inch V8. With that setup, the 1969 and 1970 Pontiac GTOs were some of the most powerful the marque ever made, rated at 370 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque.
Of course, the 1969 and 1970 GTOs are a commodity now, especially those with the Ram Air IV 400-cubic-inch V8. According to Hagerty, a 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge coupe with a Ram Air IV option demands around $100,000 in good condition.
How much horsepower did the 1968 Pontiac GTO Ram Air II produce?
A rarity among the V8-powered Pontiac muscle cars, the 1968 GTO with a Ram Air II option is one of the most powerful GTOs models ever. With the Ram Air II 400-cubic-inch V8, the 1968 GTO produced a respectable 366 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque. Sound familiar? Hemmings agrees that many of these Pontiac horsepower figures were underrated.
Which GTOs made the most power from 1965 to 1967?
Believe it or not, the 1965, 1966, and 1967 model years all offered powerplants rated at 360 horsepower, putting them ahead of the 2004 revival model. The 1965 Pontiac GTO with a Tri-Power option produced 360 ponies, a full 25 more than the GTO’s base model. Furthermore, the 1967 Pontiac GTO offered a High Output (HO) four-barrel replacement for the three-carburetor-tri-power setup. However, both of these muscle car options likely produced figures other than 360 horsepower.
Was the 2004 Pontiac GTO 5.7 one of the most powerful GTOs ever?
Although the 2004 Pontiac GTO with the 5.7L LS1 V8 didn’t make as much power as the Tri-Power, HO, or Ram Air engines of the 1960s, it’s quite a bit quicker. The 5.7L V8-equipped GTO produced 350 horsepower. Still, that was enough to power the subtly-styled Goat to 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds. Furthermore, the Australian Holden-based GTO could wrap up a quarter-mile run in less than 14 seconds.
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