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oldskool · 09-11-2021, 09:07 AM

When I think of competitive Pontiac class cars, I usually think of either a GTO or a Firebird. The GTO came along a few years ahead of the Bird. So, I decided to make a list of the GTO's that come to my mind, when I think of GTO class cars. This site allows 9 pics per post. So I'll post the 1st 9 that come to my mind. Then, I may come back later & swap some out, as I think of 'em.

It's probably easier to start with the older year models & come up from there.

I'll start with '65

'65 - The Bill Knafel Pontiac "Tin Indian III", with the names Bill Abraham & Arlen Vanke on the rear fenders.

'66 - Definitely the Knafel Pontiac '66 "Trophy Car".

'67 - The green SS, pictured doin a wheelie. Don't remember now who owned it. Someone else drove it at the Winter Nats one year. Didn't run real strong, but was definitely a one-of at the track.

'68 - Tim Gillespie Stocker. MAY have been the quickest '68 GTO Stocker ever. IIRC, it ran high 10's, & made the field at Indy. Don't know of anybody running one today, unless a new owner is driving the one Adam Strang ran.

'69 - "Big Iron" Stocker. Hey, it was a nice black '69, which does it for me. The reason I don't list an orange Judge is because I hated that color when it 1st came out. That's what prevented me from buying a new '69 Judge. When I ordered my '69, that was the only color available. I think they actually called it Carousel Red. But, to me, it was ORANGE. I said: " I ain't about to ride around in no orange car". So, I ordered a silver GTO, which I later painted black. Later in the year, the Judge was available in several other colors, including silver & black.

'70 - Ray Stover's "Kathy's Clown" Stocker

'71 - Mick Leiferman's 3-time US Nats RU car.

'72 - Sonny Ray's multi nat event winning SS car

'73 - Actually, the 1st '73 that comes to mind is the one on the mag cover depicting the SD455 powered GTO that never was. But, as for a real one, it's Mick Leiferman's black one.

'74 - There have been lots of good '74's. Since only 9 pics are allowed per post, I won't post any '74 pics. I'll just mention 3 that come to mind. Rock Running's '74 US Nats class winner, Bill Rink's record holder & class winner, and Brad Koivisto's black one, which is by far the quickest ever, that I know of, having run some high 10's. Don't think any other '74 ever ran a 10, in Stock. These last 2 cars were the highest qualified Pontiacs at the div 7 race, going on today.

09-11-2021, 09:07 AM	#2
oldskool VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: The Land of Bayous, Boudin & Crawfish Posts: 1,668 Likes: 223 Liked 747 Times in 362 Posts	Re: Pontiacs When I think of competitive Pontiac class cars, I usually think of either a GTO or a Firebird. The GTO came along a few years ahead of the Bird. So, I decided to make a list of the GTO's that come to my mind, when I think of GTO class cars. This site allows 9 pics per post. So I'll post the 1st 9 that come to my mind. Then, I may come back later & swap some out, as I think of 'em. It's probably easier to start with the older year models & come up from there. I'll start with '65 '65 - The Bill Knafel Pontiac "Tin Indian III", with the names Bill Abraham & Arlen Vanke on the rear fenders. '66 - Definitely the Knafel Pontiac '66 "Trophy Car". '67 - The green SS, pictured doin a wheelie. Don't remember now who owned it. Someone else drove it at the Winter Nats one year. Didn't run real strong, but was definitely a one-of at the track. '68 - Tim Gillespie Stocker. MAY have been the quickest '68 GTO Stocker ever. IIRC, it ran high 10's, & made the field at Indy. Don't know of anybody running one today, unless a new owner is driving the one Adam Strang ran. '69 - "Big Iron" Stocker. Hey, it was a nice black '69, which does it for me. The reason I don't list an orange Judge is because I hated that color when it 1st came out. That's what prevented me from buying a new '69 Judge. When I ordered my '69, that was the only color available. I think they actually called it Carousel Red. But, to me, it was ORANGE. I said: " I ain't about to ride around in no orange car". So, I ordered a silver GTO, which I later painted black. Later in the year, the Judge was available in several other colors, including silver & black. '70 - Ray Stover's "Kathy's Clown" Stocker '71 - Mick Leiferman's 3-time US Nats RU car. '72 - Sonny Ray's multi nat event winning SS car '73 - Actually, the 1st '73 that comes to mind is the one on the mag cover depicting the SD455 powered GTO that never was. But, as for a real one, it's Mick Leiferman's black one. '74 - There have been lots of good '74's. Since only 9 pics are allowed per post, I won't post any '74 pics. I'll just mention 3 that come to mind. Rock Running's '74 US Nats class winner, Bill Rink's record holder & class winner, and Brad Koivisto's black one, which is by far the quickest ever, that I know of, having run some high 10's. Don't think any other '74 ever ran a 10, in Stock. These last 2 cars were the highest qualified Pontiacs at the div 7 race, going on today. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by oldskool; 09-11-2021 at 05:44 PM.