the American Dream: Pontiac GTO

the American Dream: Pontiac GTO by ric gustafson

One car built by Pontiac had a tiger theme attached to it. The tiger advertising theme was the idea of a Detroit ad agency executive named Jim Wangers. The Cruisin Tigers was a club of men who were in their 50's and 60's. This car was the Pontiac GTO.
John Z DeLorean worked for General Motors and the GTO was his idea. DeLorean was the son of immigrants and his father was a factory worker at Ford. He eventually left the family and John's mother had to raise the family by herself. He studied engineering in Detroit and in 1961, became the chief engineer at Pontiac. DeLorean's dream was to build a grand touring car similiar to a race car.
GTO stood for Gran Turismo Omologato which meant a touring car ready to go. The car was to be the Pontiac Tempest Lemans with some major changes.
The car was to have a 389 V8 engine which gave it 325 horsepower and stacked dual headlights. In 1965, DeLorean became the head of Pontiac. In September of 1965, the car changed it's name to just the Pontiac GTO. Two main competitors evolved which were the Chevrolet Chevelle and the Camaro. Other competitors included the Plymouth Barracuda and the Oldsmobile 442.
In 1968, the GTO remodeled with a new front bumper and different colors.
In 1969, DeLorean divorced his wife and then married Kelly Harmon.
In 1973, DeLorean left General Motors, divorced Harmon and married Cristina Ferrare.


research help: ' Engines of Change' by Paul Ingrassia


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric