To car enthusiasts like you and me purchasing a vehicle is an exciting endeavor. Whether a classic car that’s new to you or taking delivery of the latest model at your local dealer, the enjoyment of sliding behind the steering wheel and driving it away for the first time is something I’m sure you can relate to.
Vintage photos taken when our favorite Pontiacs were new captivate me. I have collected many over the years and this image is just one in a series that I acquired a while back. Dated July 1967, this GTO had to be new (or near new) when this image was taken.
In today’s world where cell phones are equipped with a high-quality camera, it’s easy to record such memories as they happen. And then uploading them to your favorite social media platform where others can share in your excitement is little more than a click away. That wasn’t the case years ago, however. New car owners hoping to capture their an image of their prized possession for posterity had to grab the family camera, load it with film, snap the shutter, and then have the film developed at a local photofinisher. And if you were a hardcore enthusiast, you did just that every time you bought a car!
Pontiac’s GTO was America’s hottest performance car for 1966. It was refined slightly for 1967 and many enthusiasts believe it was even more attractive than the year before. Notice the snow on the ground and lack of foliage.
My dad, for one, was vigilant about taking photos of his vehicles during the 1970s and 1980s. Because of his efforts we have a visual history of the many Pontiacs (and other makes) that he and my grandfather owned over the years. Having done the same with my Pontiacs (and other makes), I have an assortment of visual aids that will help explain our family’s excitement toward GM and its divisions to my son, Rocco as he grows. And I hope the tradition of photographing cars is something I can pass on to him.
Enthusiasts today would welcome the attractive combination of Starlight Black and red trim for their 1967 GTO. The aftermarket wheels and white-lined tires were likely owner-added.
In addition to the aforementioned photos of our Pontiacs in my collection, it’s also comprised of many photos and slides I acquired that others took of their Pontiacs over the years. Such images captivate me because they invoke memories of days gone by and to a time when our beloved marque was at the height of its greatness. While looking for a specific image for a different blog post, I happen across a series of images taken by someone who was quite proud of their new Pontiac. I decided to take a moment to appreciate the owner’s enthusiasm and as you’ll see in the accompanying photos, it’s easy to understand why!
By May 1969, the once stunning GTO had met its demise. The license plate surround reads “Stupka Pontiac” of Sharon, Pennsylvania.
The 35 mm slides contain images a new ’67 GTO purchased at Stupka Pontiac in Sharon, Pennsylvania. Its Starlight Black exterior is stunningly accented by a red pinstripe and matching interior. I can only assume it left the factory with standard rolling stock, but in the photos it wears chromed Keystone wheels and white lined tires. A processing date of July 1967 is stamped on the slide holders, but the presence of snow on the ground and icicles hanging from what looks to be a freshly-washed vehicle suggests that the photos were taken weeks to months earlier.
The lack of flame damage to the GTO’s nose and tail suggests that fire ignited within the GTO’s interior.
As I continued through the slides, the next few holders contained a processing date of May 1969. I expected to find more images of the flashy GTO, but upon closer inspection what I found was rather concerning. While the images are of that same GTO, this time the setting was a salvage yard and its body had been badly charred by flames. It was certainly a sad scene and one no car enthusiast ever wants to experience.
Though difficult to see in this image because of the charring, the GTO was equipped with bucket seats and the optional Custom Sport (wood grain) Steering Wheel.
There I sat, wondering why the owner decided to take photos of his or her prized GTO’s destruction. Were the images taken for an insurance claim? And what caused the fire? Was it a shoddy electrical connection? Did someone accidentally drop hot cigarette ashes or a smoldering butt onto the carpet igniting the flame? Or had the car been vandalized or torched?
What was once a Pontiac masterpiece, just two short years after assembly it was likely destined for the crusher. Notice the lack of significant fire damage to the front end and hood.
Then dawned on me. Could it be that same person who put affording recording their purchase of America’s hottest performance car was so fond of their Pontiac that they simply wanted to record its untimely demise as a remembrance to something they cherished and worked so hard to acquire? We may never know the answer, but I’m curious about your take?
Do you have any images of your new Pontiacs that you can share?