Collecting Model Cars

Ferrari 250 GTO

The Ferrari 250 GTO was intended and designed to compete in GT racing. The Chief engineer Giotto Bizzarrini put the 3.0 L V12 engine from the 250 Testa Rossa into the chassis from the 250 GT SWB and collaborated with designer Sergio Scaglietti to develop the body. Soon after Bizzarrini and most other Ferrari engineers were fired in a dispute with Enzo Ferrari, development was handed over to new engineer Mauro Forghieri, who worked with Scaglietti to continue development of the body. Wind tunnel and track testing was performed. The Farrari 250 GTO unlike most Ferraris was not designed by a specific individual.

This Ferrari was typical of early-1960s Ferrari technology with a hand-welded tube frame, A-arm front suspension, live-axle rear end, disc brakes, and Borrani wire wheels. The transmission was a five-speed gearbox new to Ferrari GT racing cars; the metal gate that defined the shift pattern would become a tradition that is still maintained in current models. The interior was very basic, to the point where a speedometer was not installed in the instrument panel. Its switches came from the Fiat 500, and it was said that as the car was rushed into production, even the cloth seats were made from workers' overalls.

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Pontiac GTO

The Pontiac GTO built by Pontiac in the United States from 1964 to 1974, and also in Australia from 2004 to 2006. Some considered it to be the first true muscle car.

The (Gran Turismo Omologato) GTO was the creation of Pontiac engineer Russell Gee, engine specialist, Bill Collins, chassis engineer, and Pontiac chief engineer John De Lorean. In early 1963, General Motors management banned the Pontiac division from involvement in auto racing. Back then, Pontiac's advertising and marketing approach was based on performance, and racing was an important component of that strategy. A way to retain the performance image was cultivated with a new focus on street performance. This was achieved by transforming the upcoming redesigned Pontiac Tempest into a "Super Tempest" with the larger 389 CID (6.5 L) Pontiac V8 engine from the full-sized Pontiac Catalina and Bonneville to replace the standard 326 CID (5.3 L) Tempest V8.

The GTO got its name from DeLorean, it was inspired by the Ferrari 250 GTO, the highly successful race car. The acronym for (Gran Turismo Omologato) GTO, is Italian for homologated for racing in the Grand tourer class.

GM’s policy of limiting the A-body line to 330 ci or less put the GTO in violation of the rules. Pontiac got away with it by offering the GTO as an option and not considered as standard equipment. So it kind of slipped through as a loophole in the policy.

We owe our thanks to “Pete” Estes for approving the GTO. Sales manager Frank Bridge limited the first production to 5000 cars thinking it would be a failure. If the car was not such a huge success “Pete” more than likely would have gotten a strong reprimand. But huge success the Pontiac GTO turned out to be.

So in 1964 as an options package for the Pontiac LeMans the Pontiac GTO was introduced. Two models of the GTO were available a convertible and a two door coupe. And for a whopping $296.00 you could get a 389 ci V8 with chromed valve covers and air cleaner. Hurst three on the floor shifter, hood scoops and the GTO badges. For a little more money a four speed and “tri-Power carburetion was available. You could get the GTO with the best of every option for about $4,500 dollars.

The Pontiac GTO makes a great addition to anyone’s collection of the muscle car era. With GM dropping the Pontiac line all together will make the models and the real cars even more collectible. We have provided some of the top listings of GTO kits.

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Pontiac GTO

The Pontiac GTO is the brainchild of a team of engineers; Russell Gee, an engine specialist, Bill Collins, a chassis engineer, and Pontiac chief engineer John De Lorean. In 1963, General Motors issued an order banning divisions from involvement in auto racing. Back then, Pontiac's advertising and marketing was heavily based on performance, and racing was an important part of that strategy. Jim Wangers came up with a way to retain the performance image that the division had bread with a new focus on street performance.

The Super Tempest

The plan involved transforming the upcoming redesigned Tempest that was set to convert back to a conventional drive-train front-engine, front transmission with rear wheel drive. It was to become the (Super Tempest) taking the engine from Catalina and Bonneville a 389 CI (6.5 L) Behemoth. This would replace the standard 326 CI (5.3 L) V8 to be used in the Tempest. The plan was to capture the young speed minded market. It even got the attention of Ford Motor Company.

The Pontiac GTO got its name from John De Lorean his inspiration from the Ferrari 250 GTO the top race car of the day. GTO is the acronym for (Gran Turismo Omologato) the Italian for (homologated) for racing in the (Grand Tourer) class.

Many modeling companies have produced many different scale models of the Pontiac GTO produced by General Motors from 1964 to 1974.

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