1966 Clone Manual

With its road-ready, powerful drivetrain and eye-catching but tasteful exterior, this 1966 Pontiac Tempest GTO clone is a fitting tribute to the high-octane, rubber melting version of the Pontiac model that became so closely associated with boulevard exploits over the years. It's capable of far more than just turning heads on the asphalt, and features some well-selected upgrades that make it very well-suited to frequent driving Pontiac promoted the GTO from an option package on the Tempest to an entirely separate model the year this '66 debuted, and marked the occasion by giving it a lot more curves than its more slab-sided predecessors, as well as wider track. The Sunset orange metallic paint this specimen wears is a nice, deep color - it's noticeably darker than most renderings of the shade, with just enough metallic flake to create a unique, magnetic look. Up front, the stacked double headlights sit in fresh looking casings, bracketing a deep black grille and a nice, level bumper. This is a very well-detailed, finished looking muscle car with badging that's on point, nice clear glass surrounding the cabin and rocker panels that don't show the dings and wear you so often find after even well-restored classics return to work. While it's a substantially-sized cruiser, its low stance, sloped rear roofline and broad track give it an agile appearance. The fresh-looking, black vinyl interior offers just the right mood-elevating vintage driving environment to match the outside of the car. The front buckets and rear bench seat feature new-looking covers that have yet to show much wear - you won't even find creasing on the front bolsters. A nice by-product of the Tempest's generous size is the space on hand. Invite your friends to join you on the road and they'll find no shortage of legroom in back. A great-looking woodgrain steering wheel sits on its column and just beyond it, the black, textured instrument cluster holds a set of original gauges that are joined by aftermarket counterparts monitoring oil pressure, voltage and engine temperature just below, as well as a sizable vacuum gauge that sits on the center console. The original AM radio still sits in the dash, but a Pioneer AM/FM/CD player is nearby to fill the cabin with sound via a well-placed array of speakers. The trunk area in back offers plenty of room and is lined with gray carpeting on its floor and inner fenders for a nice, finished appearance. This vintage Pontiac carries a powerful drivetrain that's fittingly inspired by the GTO's performance-centric identity. A 400 cubic inch V8 holds court in the engine compartment, armed with a Holley 4-barrel carb, aluminum aftermarket heads and an Edelbrock Performer intake that join a performance cam to give the powerplant a nice, lope - not enough to wreak havoc with its vacuum, but enough to let you know something special sits inside. It's a sharp-looking engine, too - its bronze-colored air cleaner and black, branded valve covers provide a nice contrast to the silver of the block as it pairs with a 4-speed manual transmission to provide a great "hands on" driving experience. An aluminum radiator and electric fan have been added to the mix to keep engine temperatures down in more demanding driving conditions, as well as 4-wheel power disc brakes to provide a level of dependable, fade-resistant stopping power that would be out of reach in original configuration. Smooth power steering makes navigating this classic muscle car a breeze as it cruises on its set of 17" polished aluminum wheels wrapped with Cooper tires. Impressive road-readiness and ample power team with a freshened classic look to make this 1966 Pontiac Tempest GTO clone a "must see". Call today!