There's a reason why the 1960s and 1970s are often considered the golden era of muscle cars. After all, it was a time when the big 3 American automakers put massively powerful (for the time) engines in their sports cars along with great styling, all at an affordable price.
While the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro get a lot of publicity due to their rivalries throughout the 1960s and 70s, many consider Pontiac GTO to be the original muscle car.
Although the GTO and the Pontiac brand are now long gone, their essence still holds true to this day. To pay tribute to the original muscle car of the 1960s, HotCars digital artist Rostislav Prokop properly restomods the 1964 Pontiac GTO digitally and the results are no less than breathtaking. Let's see what this updated classic muscle car is all about.
1964 Pontiac GTO Restomod Retains The Original's Muscle Car Good Looks
At first glance, the iconic GTO badge on the front bumper lets fans know unmistakably what it is. However, that's where things start to get interesting. While the front does retain a similar shape to the original, Prokop adds a mesh grille, an updated front bumper with integrated lighting, and a front splitter for aerodynamics. The hood vents also remain but are now taller to allow more air into the engine. The round headlights from the original make an appearance but are now modern high-intensity beams.
To the side, the original's overall shape is the same. However, Prokop removed the C-pillar to give a much more streamlined look between the front and rear windows. He also added a set of aftermarket wheels, low-profile tires, and a big brake kit for maximum stopping power.
Around the back, the signature GTO badges are in the same spots as the original. The main difference is the LED taillights, a revised rear bumper, and the removal of the Pontiac branding. A set of twin exhaust pipes let the fans know that a big American V8 is under the hood.
The Pontiac GTO Restomod Gets A Proper Modern Engine
Although the original Tri-Power engine of the Pontiac GTO made an impressive 348 hp for its day, that just isn't enough to cut it with today's advances in engine technology. To keep it in the General Motors family, a proper Chevrolet V8 is the way to go.
The supercharged 6.2-liter V8 from the C7 Corvette Z06 is an excellent option and would give it at least 650 hp. Add some minor modifications and you'd have a restomod GTO with over 800 hp. While we won't likely ever see another GTO or even Pontiac, Prokop's creation shows that there's still a ton of potential when restoring these classic cars.