IN 1967, Pontiac had to revise their top model GTO according to a GM mandate that limited engine size to 400 in³ and a single carburetor on everything but their sports cars. In response, Pontiac raised the displacement on the the 389 and the High Output (HO) 400 was born.
The 400 HO used a new exhaust manifolds, the 1966 Tri-power camshaft and a Rochester Quadrajet on a new intake manifold. As a more potent option, Pontiac offered the L67 Ram Air option which included stiffer valve springs and a better camshaft.
As with most Pontiacs, the GTO came with a hueg arrary of options which could be ordered with the 400 HO such as power steering, power brakes, air conditioning and a range of gear ratios. Other more cosmetic options were red fender liners and new 1967 Pontiac Rally I wheels.
In Detail
| type | Series Production Car |
| built at | USA |
| price $ | $ 3,012 |
| engine | L74 V8 |
| position | Front Longitudinal |
| aspiration | Natural |
| block material | Cast Iron |
| fuel feed | Rochester Quadrajet Carburetor |
| displacement | 6555 cc / 400 in³ |
| bore | 104.6 mm / 4.1 in |
| stroke | 95.3 mm / 3.75 in |
| power | 268.5 kw / 360 bhp @ 5100 rpm |
| specific output | 54.92 bhp per litre |
| bhp/weight | 220.39 bhp per tonne |
| torque | 593.8 nm / 438 ft lbs @ 3600 rpm |
| body / frame | Steel Body on Steel Frame |
| driven wheels | RWD |
| wheel type | Steel Pontiac Rally I |
| front tires | F70-14 Firestone Redline |
| rear tires | F70-14 Firestone Redline |
| front brakes | Drums |
| f brake size | 63.5 x 241.3 mm / 2.5 x 9.5 in |
| rear brakes | Drums |
| r brake size | 50.8 x 241.3 mm / 2 x 9.5 in |
| front wheels | F 35.6 x 15.2 cm / 14 x 6 in |
| rear wheels | R 35.6 x 15.2 cm / 14 x 6 in |
| steering | Saginaw Recirculating Ball |
| f suspension | A-Arms w/Coil Springs, Telescopic Shock Absorbers, Anti-Roll Bar |
| r suspension | Live Axle w/Control Arms, Coil Springs, Air Shock Absorbers |
| curb weight | 1633.49 kg / 3598 lbs |
| wheelbase | 2921 mm / 115 in |
| front track | 1473.2 mm / 58 in |
| rear track | 1498.6 mm / 59 in |
| length | 5247.6 mm / 206.6 in |
| width | 1897.4 mm / 74.7 in |
| height | 1364 mm / 53.7 in |
| transmission | Muncie M20 4-Speed Manual |
| gear ratios | 2.52:1, 1.88:1, 1.46:1, 1:1 |
| fuel econ epa | 15.68 L/100 km or 15 mpg-us |
| fuel capacity | 100.3 litres or 26.5 gal. |
Auction Sales History
1967 Pontiac GTO Ram Air Convertible 400/360 HP – sold for $50,000. When GM management took away Pontiac’s vaunted Tri Power carburetion setup, the Division’s engineers responded with the first of the Ram Air series of engines that were the most advanced of the new 400 CI lineup. Fitted with the 301/313 cam, cast iron headers and special “997″ heads, the Ram Air I made a prodigious 366 horsepower. This 1967 GTO convertible, PHS documented as the rarest built, is finished in Regimental Red on a Black interior and comes with power steering and brakes, 4-speed, Rally instruments and Rally I wheels with Redline tires. Auction Source: 2011 Mecum Indy Spring Classic
1967 Pontiac GTO Coupe High Output 400 – did not sell for $80,000. Of the 72 contest award cars, not all of which were GTOs of course, only two GTOs are known to exist, including the fully restored example presented here. Finished on November 10, 1966, it was shipped new to Seifert Pontiac in Denver, Colorado, where it was presented to the contest winner finished in “Special Paint” (code #1), Tiger Gold. The contest winner was a lady from Colorado who apparently found the car a little overwhelming and therefore traded it in at Denver’s Porter Pontiac for one she liked better. One Rito Vargas, who was home from Vietnam, saw the car as it pulled into the parking lot and bought it that day. It remained with him for many years but after a theft, and subsequent recovery in 1979, was left, exposed to the elements and with engine damage.
The previous owner, Bryan Stumbaugh, discovered it in 1992 in a salvage yard as an 18 year-old, unaware what he had purchased. He began restoring the car throughout his college years, rebuilding the original WS-code 360-horsepower 400 cubic inch H.O. motor, which needed a sleeved cylinder, crankshaft, two rods, windage tray and oil pan. The engine retained its original cast-iron dual plane intake manifold and 670 H.O. heads but benefited from a 068 grind camshaft, free-flowing exhaust manifolds, Delco ignition, Quadrajet carburetor and open element air cleaner.
It wasn’t until he came across an ad for the other surviving Thom McAn GTO that he noticed all the similarities and confirmed his newfound suspicions by corresponding with PHS President Jim Mattison, who identified the car as a Thom McAn contest award car. As a result, Stumbaugh set about restoring the car completely in 2005, with minor rust repair, bodywork and paint handled by Stan Thoene at Chief Auto Restoration. Roadrunner Fabrication handled the frame, suspension and other major components while Denver Metal Finishing and Aero Propeller dealt with the zinc-phosphate and cadmium plated parts, respectively. The interior was fully restored as well. After being completed, the car was shown in Columbus, Ohio at the GTO Association of America, where it was awarded “Concours Gold.” It was even featured on the cover of High Performance Pontiac in December 2007.
As per factory specifications, the car comes equipped with AM radio, door edge guards, Rally I wheels, custom sport steering wheel, electric clock, power front disc brakes, red inner fender, wood shift knob, Ride & Handling Package, front and rear mats, F70X14 redline tires, Safe-T-Track, four-speed transmission and, of course, the H.O. 400 V8 with a dealer-installed hood tachometer. In addition to the aforementioned PHS letter of authenticity, it comes with a complete book of photo-documentation. Auction Source: 2010 RM Automobiles of Amelia Island Auction
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