Autoblog

eBay Find of the Day: 1967 Pontiac GTO Monkeemobile

Zach Bowman — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Convertible, Auctions, Etc., Pontiac, Specialty, Design/Style

Say what you will about The Monkees, but the guys in the band had great taste in automobiles. Take the Monkeemobile, for example. Built off a 1967 Pontiac GTO Convertible, the custom featured genuinely interesting bodywork and some wild engine bolt-ons. If you're a fan of 1960s pop and yearn to relive the genre's glory days, eBay Motors may have what you need. A recreation of the 1967 Monkeemobile has showed up for auction. This particular replica was built by Dakota County Customs using an four-speed GTO, just like the original.

Built for the band's 45th anniversary and the final Monkees tour last year, this Monkeemobile is faithful down to every last detail. Unfortunately, the trumpet exhaust poking out of the front fender wells and the massive gold-flake blower are for show only. Seems fitting.

If you like what you see, this machine is up for bid in Richfield, Minnesota with two days left on the auctions. So far, bidding as whipped up to $60,000 with the reserve not met. Head over to eBay Motors to have a look.

eBay Find of the Day: 1967 Pontiac GTO Monkeemobile originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Apr 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Legendary Pontiac ad-man Jim Wangers selling off his collection

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 27 May 2010 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Performance, Pontiac, Specialty

Jim Wangers' 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge - Click above for high-res image gallery

Got a hankering for a new Pontiac? Well, we've got bad news, then... you can't get one. But today we can offer up something even better: a new-to-you classic Pontiac GTO, Firebird, Trans Am, or even a Holden Commodore HSV GTS-R. Now we're talking.

The cars in question come from the personal collection of Jim Wangers, who famously served as Pontiac chief marketing manager during the brand's halcyon days of muscle cars, sportscars and a favored position right behind Chevrolet in General Motors' brand index. As such, we'd expect these 10 machines to be excellent examples of the breed.

Now, on to the actual cars. First up is a 1965 GTO Sport Coupe, a car that represents the second year of the model's existence and stands as a tribute to the classically warmed-over Royal Bobcat cars. If wind-in-your-hair motoring is more your style, may we direct you to the droptop 1966 Goat behind door number two. Also available are two Carousel Red (a.k.a. 'orange') GTO Judges from 1969.

Perhaps you prefer the F-body? Choose from a first-year Firebird from 1967, a real 1969 Trans Am (super rare, very expensive), a 1979 Trans Am 10th Anniversary car with less than 100 miles on the odometer, a 20th Anniversary Trans Am with the turbocharged V6 engine from the Buick Grand National from 1989 or, finally, a white and blue 30th Anniversary Trans Am convertible.

Still not caught your fancy? Well, there's one more option: the aforementioned year 2000 Holden Commodore HSV GTS-R, which Wangers describes as "the very car that inspired Bob Lutz to seek from Holden (GM's Australian car maker) a car for U.S. buyers - the '04 Pontiac GTO." Interested? Peep at the gallery below and then click here for the rest of the details.

Gallery: Jim Wangers' Pontiac Collection for sale

[Source: GeeTO Tiger via Motorator]

Legendary Pontiac ad-man Jim Wangers selling off his collection originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 May 2010 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Jim Wangers back in the business of selling the Pontiac GTO?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 09:38:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Pontiac, Specialty

The Pontiac GTO is a muscle car legend. As the car that's most often credited with kicking off the trend of putting the biggest available engine in the smallest available body, the praise and adoration are well-deserved. Despite the reality that the Goat wasn't always the fastest ride available, Pontiac's performer was an instant hit and it carried that momentum through the early 1970s.

A good portion of Pontiac's success with the GTO can be attributed to Jim Wangers, who served as the brand's chief marketing manager when the GTO was first released in 1964. It comes as no surprise, then, that Wangers' name and endorsement was sought by Big 3 Performance, which is launching a new restomod based on the 1969 Pontiac GTO.

Changes to the original Goat's cosmetic appearance are minor, including wider hood scoops and a Trans Am-style ducktail spoiler. Inside, a custom dash and audio system join embroidered Recaro seats and GPS navigation. Holding it all up is a custom chassis fitted with Corvette bits up front and a tried-and-true Ford 9-inch rear end. Revised Pontiac Rally II wheels round out the visual package.

The car's powertrain gets a complete workover with a Butler Performance 505 cubic inch Pontiac V8 that's expected to put out around 700 horsepower. Shifting duties are handled by the same six-speed manual transmission used in the Dodge Viper. It's not yet clear when the Wangers GTO will be available and how much it'll cost, but early projections put the car at around $130,000 to $140,000.

[Source: Big 3 Performance via Detroit News]

Jim Wangers back in the business of selling the Pontiac GTO? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 09:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Top 10 Greatest Pontiacs Of All Time

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Pontiac

With Pontiac's death official, we decided it was only appropriate to take a look back to find the ten greatest vehicles that defined the brand's performance. As you will see and undoubtedly already know, there was a time when Pontiac really did build excitement.

First, some history: Pontiac was first launched in 1926 as a companion to the Oakland brand, which was purchased by General Motors way back in 1909. In 1949, Pontiac introduced a brand new model that was intended to usher in a new sporty flair to the automaker's stately line of automobiles. Though the new model was fairly successful, it was held back by the long-running straight-eight engine that had been used since the early 1930s. That was all about to change with the introduction of the first model on our Top 10 list. Want to know more? Read on.

Top 10 Greatest Pontiacs Of All Time originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

REPORT: GM's RWD architecture will downsize and survive

Noah Joseph — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: GM, Holden, Australia

Pontiac G8 GXP in the Autoblog Garage - Click above for a hi-res gallery

General Motors may be lacking the cash to develop any new rear-drive platforms, but reports out of Australia suggest that the existing Zeta platform that underpins such models as the Holden Commodore and new Chevrolet Camaro will carry on for at least another decade.

GM's Australian subsidiary only finished development of the current Zeta platform a few years ago, and it's not about to flush that down the toilet. However the next Commodore, currently sold in the North American market as the Pontiac G8, is likely to downsize for the next generation, anticipated to debut in 2013 and carry on through 2020. Along with the reduced size and heft, the General could use smaller, more efficient, though still powerful engines, employing direct injection and/or turbocharging like the Cadillac and Saab variants of the V6 already used by Holden. As we've discovered with vehicles like the Pontiac G8, GTO and the new Camaro, what's good for the Australian market is, in General Motor's eyes, good for North America, so fans of rear-drive American muscle have some hope to hold onto yet, mate.

Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP

[Source: GoAuto]

REPORT: GM's RWD architecture will downsize and survive originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Pontiac G8 GXP Coupe being considered?

Dan Roth — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:27:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Etc., GM, Pontiac, Holden, Australia

Coupes seem to be somewhat resurgent lately, and the stupendously awesome Pontiac G8 GXP might be set to lose a pair of doors. While that would make it essentially a repeat of what came here as a revived GTO not too long ago, the name is not likely to return. The basic idea has been outlined in the Holden Coupe 60, itself starting out as an updated GTO, but turning out much cooler. The neo-ponycar wars will require the fitment of the 400 horsepower LS3 to run with the Shelby GT500KR, Challenger, and cousin Camaro.

The newly unveiled G8 GXP serves as the benchmark for what this coupe will likely come equipped with. That means big 19-inch wheels, uprated suspension, a meaner fascia and, most importantly, an available Tremec six-speed manual transmission. There should be a GT version, too, with "only" 361 horsepower, which should still offer a significant kick in the pants for less cash. The biggest impediment to the G8 Coupe actually seeing the light of day are looming new CAFE regulations, but we don't see how selling a bulk of these cars with the still-excellent 3.6 liter V6 to less performance-addled customers would be a bad thing. It'd hopefully prevent Pontiac from running afoul of the fuel economy rules while getting another car out there that enthusiasts can embrace in a variety of flavors. Thanks for the tip, Matthew!

[Source: Inside Line, Photo illustration by Nick Wilcox, Inside Line]

Pontiac G8 GXP Coupe being considered? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Pontiac and Red Bull will field a two car team for 2008 Formula Drift season

Merritt Johnson — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:54:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Pontiac

With the cancellation of any D1 Grand Prix drift action in the United States this year, the Formula D season should keep drift-addicts entertained when it gets underway on April 12th in Long Beach, California. Last season closed with Tanner Foust and his AEM Nissan 350Z being crowned champion, and Foust's multiple motorsports wins in 2007 (he also captured the X-Games rally title) garnered him increased attention and sponsorship deals. In fact, Rockstar Energy Drink has now ditched Daijiro Yoshihara and Pacific Rim to pair up with Tanner Foust and AEM for 2008. No matter for Go Go Daijiro though, as Rhys Millen conveniently had his number. Looking to expand the Pontiac Red Bull crew, Millen could not pass up the opportunity to snatch up the two time 2007 event winner in need of a ride. Millen's old Pontiac GTO will come out of retirement for Yoshihara to pilot in 2008.

[Source: Exhaust Note]

Pontiac and Red Bull will field a two car team for 2008 Formula Drift season originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Due to CAFE, Lutz declares RWD Impala and Monaro dead

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Government/Legal, Green, Chevrolet, GMC, Pontiac, Holden

It's finally (semi) official: RWD cars like a new Pontiac GTO (and Holden Monaro) and Impala are "gone for now." Bob Lutz has been making noises about it for a while, and every announcement gets more and more certain that the front wheels will be pulling more GM cars.

Just a month ago, Lutz told Forbes "That's where the internal debate [on the Impala] is now -- no firm decision at this point, but my guess is that we will come down on the side of the front-drive car." By the time of last week's Detroit Auto Show, Lutz was telling GoAuto "I think the (Monaro/Pontiac GTO) is gone for now.... [T]hat's not the end of the market where we want to stimulate demand. We have to find ways to stimulate demand and desirability in cars that will get us closer to the 35 MPG average."

How will that be done? Perhaps by using the Alpha midsize platform and making CUV's. However, the Alpha still hasn't been signed off on, and won't be until GM figures out what -- and how many -- standards it will need to adhere to when the CAFE tug-of-war ends.

[Source: GoAuto]

Due to CAFE, Lutz declares RWD Impala and Monaro dead originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 Jan 2008 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

eBay Find of the Day: Pontiac GTO from "XXX State of the Union"

Drew Phillips — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:31:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Pontiac, Lifestyle

Click image above to view in high resolution

What's the best way to ruin a classic muscle car? Just slap on some gaudy 22-inch chrome wheels and give it a colorful chameleon paint job. While we'd much rather have a pristine example in showroom condition, you have to admit this 1967 Pontiac GTO is... unique. After all, Samuel L. Jackson himself has been behind the wheel in the movie "XXX State of the Union" (we think Ice Cube, too) and it even has functional rocket launchers. We're not sure when you'd ever be able to use them, but they would still be cool to have, you know, in case. The car also comes with a custom interior and more gauges than you'll know what to do with, an Air Ride suspension, V8, and automatic transmission. That's good, because we doubt whoever buys this car will know how to drive stick.

Thanks for the tip, Jordan!

[Source: eBay Motors]

Gallery: XXX State of the Union Pontiac GTO

eBay Find of the Day: Pontiac GTO from "XXX State of the Union" originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Goat or Chicken: Will 2010 Pontiac be a Firebird or GTO?

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 12:27:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Pontiac

We visited this issue in February, when Winding Road speculated Pontiac would get a Camaro spinoff, but now Car and Driver is weighing in. With the imminent return of the Chevy Camaro, many Poncho fans have wondered about a possible return of the screaming chicken, as well. Pontiac's last attempt at reviving a storied model (GTO) met with mixed results. The GTO was supposed to be a slam dunk for Pontiac. Take an existing rear drive muscular platform, add a few Pontiac trim pieces and a GTO badge, and voilà, instant success. Well, it didn't quite go as planned and GTO sales were rather tepid. Not that it wasn't a good car, especially in 6.0 form, but it didn't really set hearts aflutter, especially compared to the wildly successful retro Mustang.

So will Pontiac get a new GTO, or maybe a Firebird instead? With the G8 coming to replace the Bonneville and Grand Prix, a suitable RWD platform is already approved for US consumption. And of course, it's also underpinning that hot new Camaro. So if Pontiac gets a new muscle coupe, will it show up as a goat or a chicken? That's what Car and Driver asked Pontiac. After a long silence, C and D finally got some answers. Surprisingly, they seem to point towards a new GTO. They based this on Bob Lutz's own words: "No carbon copy of the Camaro will make it into any other GM-brand showroom" is how they put it. They also point out that while a Firebird would have to be essentially the same as a Camaro, a GTO from the same platform could be bigger and different enough to claim its own place in the market, maybe more of a G8 coupe. Whichever badge this future Pontiac sport coupe wears, it should get the same 261-hp 3.6-liter DOHC V-6 or 362-hp LS2 6.0-liter V-8 options as the G8. They would be offered with five or six-speed automatics, respectively, but six-speed manuals should be available, as well. Tough choice, really - a Firebird that would be a restyled Camaro, or a GTO that could go its own way. Which would you choose?

[Source: Car and Driver]

Goat or Chicken: Will 2010 Pontiac be a Firebird or GTO? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Jul 2007 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

GTO a real tire shredder?

Chris Tutor — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:04:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Pontiac

There aren't too many cars out there that can shred all four tires at once, but that's exactly what certain Pontiac GTO models are being accused of. Cleveland's Newsnet5 looked into GTO owners' complaints of shredded front tires with all the drama and hidden pinhole cameras (see the video here) you'd expect from a such a story.

What they found was actually somewhat startling. Early GTOs are eating their front tires. It seems the Holden Monaro, on which the GTO is based, is sold in Australia with 233 mm-wide tires. In the U.S., the GTO gets 245 mm-wide tires. According to the Center for Auto Safety, that extra rubber puts the tire snug up against the GTO's strut, causing the front tires to eventually fail. The TV station says 65 GTO owners have filed reports with the NHTSA about the problem, which has mailed letters alerting owners to an investigation.

Owners of 2006 GTOs need not worry about the tire-shredding problem. GM fitted the newer cars with updated struts which give sufficient tire clearance. Instead, that group of GTO fans gets to worry about strut failure, of which there have been numerous NHTSA complaints.

You can read a statement the CAS after the jump.

[Source: Newsnet5 via Wired]

Continue reading GTO a real tire shredder?

GTO a real tire shredder? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Super Bowl IV - 1970 Pontiac GTO "The Humbler"

Alex Nunez — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 19:34:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Marketing/Advertising, Pontiac

First off, my apologies to you all, because this is a repost. However, I couldn't put up car-related Super Bowl ads without including it. Besides, if you missed it the first time, you're in for a treat. Pontiac aired the spot that's pasted after the jump during Super Bowl IV (Chiefs 23, Vikings 7).

The car it was pushing was the '70 GTO "Humbler," which let its driver pull a dash-mounted lever to activate the car's Vacuum Operated Exhaust (VOE) option. Doing so relieved backpressure and gave the car added punch while bestowing a positively evil exhaust note upon it to boot. After the spot aired, GM brass went nuts, pulling the commercial and killing the Humbler option itself. The spot aired just that one time, but you can watch it as often as you like by simply following the jump.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Super Bowl IV - 1970 Pontiac GTO "The Humbler"

Super Bowl IV - 1970 Pontiac GTO "The Humbler" originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Feb 2007 19:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

SEMA: Hot Wheels brings hot rods

Chris Tutor — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 09:02:00 EST

Filed under: SEMA Show, Etc., Chevrolet, Pontiac

John Neff checked in from SEMA all excited about Mattel's Hot Wheels booth and we totally understand. We'd be willing to bet that many regular Autoblog readers have 1:64 scale hot rods doing 360s on their desks.

Mattel knows their market, and sent not only hundreds of their beloved miniature cars, but also flew in three full-sized hot rods.

Hot Wheels fans from the 1960s might remember their toy cars being vibrant, metallic colors. Those hues went away in the 1970s due to the large amount of lead used in their Spectraflame paint. Mattel has now teamed up with PPG to produce a new (hopefully lead-free) Spectraflame paint for adult-sized rides.

Photos of the SEMA Hot Wheels display including the three hot rods after the jump.

Continue reading SEMA: Hot Wheels brings hot rods

SEMA: Hot Wheels brings hot rods originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Nov 2006 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hot Rod tells all about the Bumblebee Camaro!

Alex Nunez — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 12:08:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Chevrolet

That the Autobot better known as Bumblebee will take the shape of a Camaro (both old and new) in the Transformers film is old news. Other than a few on-set pics, including some showing a Camaro concept curiously sporting a Saleen license plate, not much else was known about the car.

Well, Hot Rod magazine visited the set and got the full skinny on Bumblebee, and it's all very interesting. In a feature named "Flight of the Bumblebee" in Hot Rod's November '06 issue (on newsstands now) , we learn that GM, who had a good working relationship with Michael Bay already, opened up the "skunk works" (Bay's words) to the director, who immediately decided he wanted the new Camaro in the film.

The problem was that there were no new Camaros available to be used for filming. The only two in existence were on the auto show circuit, and of those, only one was a runner (the silver one), and it was in no way prepared to handle the rigors of real stunt driving. For the production, new Camaros would have to be created.

Enter Saleen, who was brought on board to build the cars. Saleen has done this kind of thing before: they created the Shelby Cobra Concepts used in the Ice Cube actioner, XXX: State of the Union. GM decided that the Pontiac GTO would be the best candidate to act as a base vehicle for the film's Camaros, and they provided two of the Pontiacs, all the relevant specifications, as well as two fiberglass Camaro bodies made from the concept car molds. Then, the team from Saleen went to work.

(Keep reading after the jump)

[Source: Hot Rod magazine]

Continue reading Hot Rod tells all about the Bumblebee Camaro!

Hot Rod tells all about the Bumblebee Camaro! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Sep 2006 12:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

More Power for Vauxhall's Vectra and Monaro VXR models

Alex Nunez — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 17:34:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Wagon, Europe, Hatchback

The lads at Vauxhall, the British version of Opel, have been keeping busy with their tuneriffic VXR editions of the Vectra and Monaro.

Let's start with the Vectra. It comes in hatchback (pic after jump) and wagon bodystyles, and its turbocharged 2.8L V6 is good for 276 horsepower (280 PS) and a 6.1-second 0-60 time. (The wagon does it in 6.3.) A button on the dash lets the driver switch the suspension settings between regular and sport modes.

This is all very nice, and it makes us think about a potential (and hopefully probable) Saturn Aura Red Line. We think that a Saturnized grille with VXR-style bodywork and 300 horsepower underhood would do the trick. Pretty please, Ms. Lajdziak...

As for the Monaro, well, this is going to make fans of the recently-departed Pontiac GTO very angry. You see, the Vauxhall Monaro VXR500 (above) is a limited edition version of the rebadged Holden, and in this guise, the 6.0L LS2 gets added jolt via a supercharger, upgrading it to 493 horsepower (500 PS) and 500 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 now takes less than 5 seconds and the badass Vauxhall tops out at 180.

I told all you Pontiac fans you'd be mad about this...

(Vectra VXR hatch pic, press release after the jump)

[Source: Vauxhall]

Continue reading More Power for Vauxhall's Vectra and Monaro VXR models

More Power for Vauxhall's Vectra and Monaro VXR models originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Sep 2006 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

A family reunion for the Holden Efijy Concept

Alex Nunez — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 12:28:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Classics, Coupe, Etc., Misc. Auto Shows

The stunning Holden Efijy Concept recently got the chance to meet its forebears at an event staged outside Holden's headquarters in Port Melbourne, Australia. The Efijy was joined by a fleet of old-school FJ and FX Holdens, the very cars that served as the inspiration for the Aussie concept in the first place. Efijy made its debut at the 2005 Australian Motor Show and since then has been featured in just about every automotive publication imaginable. It was recently profiled in North America's Hot Rod magazine -- not bad for a car wearing a nameplate the average American is not familiar with (though they unwittingly see one every time a Pontiac GTO cruises by).

Looking like some kind of Boyd Coddington creation and not an in-house factory concept, the Efijy seemed right at home next to all the rodded-up Holdens that took part in the event. It's fun when automakers go out of their way to acknowledge their heritage like this. General Motors wouldn't happen to have something stateside it could host a similar type of event around now, would it?

(Click to read Holden's press release and see more pics after the jump.)

[Source: GM Holden]

Continue reading A family reunion for the Holden Efijy Concept

A family reunion for the Holden Efijy Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jun 2006 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Muscle cars continue to fetch big bucks

Erin Mays — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 18:55:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Auctions

It's not just classic Ferraris and rare Jaguars raking in the bucks when the auction hammer drops -- extraordinary specimens surviving (or recreated) from the muscle car era continue to bring six and seven-figure bids, the New York Times reports. Why would cars that went for a few grand -- brand new -- be going for over a million dollars forty years later? Because rich boys (and girls) like their toys, and they're wiling to pay for them, the paper says.

Check out the article for a more in-depth look at changing tastes in high-priced collectible cars.

[Source: New York Times]

Muscle cars continue to fetch big bucks originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jun 2006 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Pontiac unveils Red Bull Solstice GXP drifter to replace GTO

John Neff — Fri, 28 Apr 2006 11:18:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Convertible, GM, Pontiac

UPDATE: GM RELEASED PICS FINALLY (click for high rez)

With the Goat about to go bye-bye again, Pontiac needed to cough up another car for its championship drifter Ryhs Millen to pilot in this year's Formula D circuit. Fortunately the 2007 Pontiac GXP makes a perfect choice thanks to its RWD layout and potent 2.0L ECOTEC engine. The ECOTEC four-cylinder has been pumped up to over 1,400 hp in drag racing applications, so the fact that it will provide Millen's right foot with 500 hp is no surprise. And the darn thing runs on E85! Live Green, Go Yellow, Burn Rubber we always say.

Domestics have dominated the Formula D circuit since its inception a few years ago, with either Millen in his GTO or Samuel Hubinette in his Dodge Viper taking top honors at nearly every competition. Hubinette will also be trading in his Viper this season for something a little more accessible to John Q drifter... a Dodge Charger drifting sedan.

The first competition of the 2006 season has already taken place, and we're not surprised that Hubinette, the 2004 Champion, is in the lead with Millen, last year's champion, following close behind in points.

We put in a call to Pontiac for an actual pic of the Red Bull Solstice GXP drifter and are awaiting a reply.

Follow the jump for GM's official release that includes more details on the Red Bull racer.

[Source: GM]

Continue reading Pontiac unveils Red Bull Solstice GXP drifter to replace GTO

Pontiac unveils Red Bull Solstice GXP drifter to replace GTO originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Apr 2006 11:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments