So, I typically don’t post up a lot of pictures of my rides. But today, a member of our GTO community who actually alerted me to my car (the GTO), sent me pics of the car shortly after it was pulled off the truck. So, I’m taking a trip down mammory lane.

So back in the day, a new car was coming from GM, from their Australian subsidiary, Holden. It was coming as the Pontiac GTO. Riots occurred, mass looting was involved, villages pillaged and plundered…

Seriously though, only 18,000 a year were to be produced each year for 3 model years (2004, 2005, and 2006). I think I’ve covered some of the history on the GMX281 platform (Or “V” platform in GM speak), in other threads, so I’ll leave it at that. They (GM/Holden), made this announcement late July 2003. By early August 2003, I had found a dealer offering the car for MSRP. This was a big deal then, as many dealers were adding $3k, $4k, $5k, or more on top of MSRP as a “Fair Market Value Adjustment” due to the exclusivity of the car… yea, ok!

Anyway, my original vehicle was ordered from Sewell Pontiac in suburban Dallas, TX 8/7/2003. Production started on conversion of RHD Monaro’s to LHD Pontiac GTO’s in mid September 2003. Following production, they were loaded on a boat, and shipped to Benecia, CA. There the car was imported through customs, inspected, and a local crew then installed the spoilers (sent inside the vehicle). From there they were loaded mostly onto rail cars for shipment throughout the USA, unless the dealer was close by on the left coast, therefore a truck instead. The first batch of cars assembled and shipped to the USA amounted to 465 cars. Mine is one of those first 465 with a “SEP03” build on the radiator core support tag. More on how I got this car instead of my original ordered one in a second. Figure that after production and staging at the docks, it takes nearly a month to cross the big pond.

So as we monitored Holden, and tracked TPW’s (Target Production Week) for our order number on our respective cars, it was becoming frustrating watching my TPW bounce around into February, then March, then back into February, then March again, etc, etc. By the end of December, I was growing very frustrated and even thought of dropping the order all together and getting something else. Then, a member of our GTO site PM’d me, told me of an identical IBM (Impulse Blue Metallic), Black interior, M6 car already here, sitting in St. Louis, at Behlmann Pontiac, and they were selling it at MSRP. With no hesitation, I called them, put money down, and finalized my purchase over the phone/email/fax machine. That following Saturday (January 17th, 2004), I went down there and trailered it home. Actually to Speed Inc, as they wanted it to use as a test mule, for new stuff that they wanted to be first to market with on the GTO’s. Namely their CAI. I was fine with that as it was January and I wasn’t planning on driving it anywhere for at least two months anyway… it was winter. For the longest time in their website, it had a picture of two GTO’s in their shop. One was a friend who worked there (and took delivery of his the night before me), and mine (you could see the Behlmann tag on it).

With that in mind, the same person who alerted me to this car, was there shortly after it came off the truck from the rail yard. Remember, back then, with only 465 cars throughout the U.S., seeing a GTO, live, in person, was something new and a big deal, hence the crowd around it in these pictures.

Anyway, here are pictures of the car, shortly off the truck, being one of the first 465 Pontiac GTO’s manufactured by Holden of Australia, here in the USA.













Ugghh, bird *shoot* and dirt...

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Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck

That's really cool Lane.

As much as I agree it's not a "true" GTO, it's still a very nice car, and respectable in its own right.

Sounds like GM is planning on bringing something around in 2014, possibly from Auz again, so it will be interesting to see if the GTO's legacy lives on, and in what respect.

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

I do love these cars to death! I'd love to own one some day!

Looks great!

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Will
88 Cutlass Ciera Brougham International | 120k mi | White w/ Dk Claret Int. | Roller to be S2 L67/4T65E-HD | 1 of ~5100 3.8 FE3 Int'l series
91 Riviera | S2 L67 Swap/4T60E | 127K mi | Antelope Met. w/ Tan Int. | Saved From Death By Crusher
92 Bonneville SSE | L67/4T60E | 77K mi | Med Slate Grey w/ Two-Tone Grey Int. | Low Miles Time Capsule
92 Lumina Z34 | LQ1/4T60E | 177k mi | Torch Red w/Grey Int. | Rusty In Odd Spots
99 Tahoe LT | L31/4L65E | 276k mi | Spiral Grey Metallic w/Grey Int. | Truck for Truck Things and Portable Concert Hall
03 Park Avenue Ultra | 212K mi | White Diamond Met. w/ Shale Int. | Southern Time Capsule
05 Acura RL | 155K mi | Carbon Grey Pearl w/Ebony Int. | The Super-Hooptie Daily

When I first took the car to a local cruise night that summer, I had some old fart talking with his buddy, looking at mine saying "That ain't a real GTO" not realizing I was the owner. I asked him which "Real" GTO was his (pointing over the rest of the parking lot), and if he wanted to have a little clandestine operation in an unfrequented industrial park on the other side of town at 9pm (after the show). His response was expected... No. To which I responded "was it past his bed time and that he needs to get his dentures out... we can make it 8pm." They walked away.

Funny thing was, it was parked next to my Camaro (my friend Dave drove that to the show), and I guess my Camaro was a "Real Camaro" as they had no opinion on that.

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Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck

That's great!!!

I don't see what isn't "true" about it. It's RWD, has a V8, and a stick, with two doors. If anything I would argue the new Charger's aren't "true". But as it happens I like those too.

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Will
88 Cutlass Ciera Brougham International | 120k mi | White w/ Dk Claret Int. | Roller to be S2 L67/4T65E-HD | 1 of ~5100 3.8 FE3 Int'l series
91 Riviera | S2 L67 Swap/4T60E | 127K mi | Antelope Met. w/ Tan Int. | Saved From Death By Crusher
92 Bonneville SSE | L67/4T60E | 77K mi | Med Slate Grey w/ Two-Tone Grey Int. | Low Miles Time Capsule
92 Lumina Z34 | LQ1/4T60E | 177k mi | Torch Red w/Grey Int. | Rusty In Odd Spots
99 Tahoe LT | L31/4L65E | 276k mi | Spiral Grey Metallic w/Grey Int. | Truck for Truck Things and Portable Concert Hall
03 Park Avenue Ultra | 212K mi | White Diamond Met. w/ Shale Int. | Southern Time Capsule
05 Acura RL | 155K mi | Carbon Grey Pearl w/Ebony Int. | The Super-Hooptie Daily

Thanks. I Love it to death too. Sometimes the Wife thinks I love it more than her... She'd be right... Anyway, I am growing tired of it though, partially because parts are becoming hard to come by and that they're expensive if they are available. God forbid this car get into an accident! A scratch in the paint results in the Insurance company totaling it because of the cost of body parts to get from Aussie land.

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Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck

Lol, yeah. I do wish it had been more of a retro theme like the Mustang, but it was "We really need this now, throw a new grille on, make it LHD and get it here now!", so I'm not gonna complain.

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

Exactly! I think it was 18 months from the time Lutz inked the contract to the time the first screw was turned on one.

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Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck

That's the only reason I hesitate, Lane. Parts are hard to get. I've had/have too many cars like that already.

_________________
Will
88 Cutlass Ciera Brougham International | 120k mi | White w/ Dk Claret Int. | Roller to be S2 L67/4T65E-HD | 1 of ~5100 3.8 FE3 Int'l series
91 Riviera | S2 L67 Swap/4T60E | 127K mi | Antelope Met. w/ Tan Int. | Saved From Death By Crusher
92 Bonneville SSE | L67/4T60E | 77K mi | Med Slate Grey w/ Two-Tone Grey Int. | Low Miles Time Capsule
92 Lumina Z34 | LQ1/4T60E | 177k mi | Torch Red w/Grey Int. | Rusty In Odd Spots
99 Tahoe LT | L31/4L65E | 276k mi | Spiral Grey Metallic w/Grey Int. | Truck for Truck Things and Portable Concert Hall
03 Park Avenue Ultra | 212K mi | White Diamond Met. w/ Shale Int. | Southern Time Capsule
05 Acura RL | 155K mi | Carbon Grey Pearl w/Ebony Int. | The Super-Hooptie Daily

That's why I never pulled the trigger on a G8 GXP. I knew in a couple years it'd be the same boat.

_________________


Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck

Its bad enough getting rear end parts for the Aussie one in my Formula! Cant imagine the whole car being that way! UGH.

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1989 Pontiac Firebird Formula 350
2004 Saturn Ion 3 Quad Coupe

Interesting history of your car! Those GTO's have always intrigued me would make for an ideal weekend cruiser. If only conditions were right to own all the cars I want...haha

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Eric

2005 SLE, Greystone Metallic, 152K.

A few mods..

I love these cars. "Real" GTOs or not, they are still pretty awesome cars, IMO. Having access to the local car auctions makes them even more tempting...

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*Chris*

15 Nissan Altima 2.5SL/2004 Honda Shadow 750 Aero
Previous, 07 GP SE, 06 GP GXP, 97 SSE 40th, 96 LeSabre Custom, 93 SLE, 90 LeSabre Custom

Seeing as the g8gxp didnt work out , im looking at a black 6.0...

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06 Grand Prix GXP Diablosport Trinity , No DOD , Transgo SK , MSD 8.5MM Wires , NGK TR6IX plugs , LED's , Optima RedTop , Projector Retro , 3K Fogs , 20" Led Driving light , K&N CAI w/ Volant oversize air filter , Raybestos Brakes
94 SSEi NGK Plugs , Blue Streak Wires , Pulled Maf screen , Custom Exhaust , Raybestos Brakes , 12" MTX Audio sub and amp , Piaa Plasma Ion Foglight Housings , HIR His' and Lows' , Tinted Tails

I got plenty more history to recant.

- First CAI for a GTO
- Third set of longtube headers made (hand made as prototypes), by Stainless Works for the GTO. They're still on the car BTW.
- First new (aftermarket of course), clutch in a GTO
- One of the first heads/cam setups on a GTO
- First video'd burnout of a new GTO

And probably a whole sh8tload of stuff I'm forgetting

Good luck on the LS2. You DO want IBM though. They're the best. Sorry thats an inside joke on our board. Along with the LS2 folks always taking jabs at us LS1 owners, then we retort back about needing a catch can for all that oil your LS2's consume.

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Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck

Definitely a real GTO. I want one, but it just wasn't in the cards so far, but the parts availability might kill that eventually. Even my 12 year old E46 has every small fastener and clip available I have needed so far.

The GTO doesn't have the front suspension problems that the G8's have do they?

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Jason Z - Exposed Autos

2001 BMW 330i - Titanium Silver - Sport Package - 3 Pedals - Koni Yellow/H&R Sport
2006 Volkswagen GTI - (gone) Tornado Red - DSG, Stage II~280hp/325tq
1993 Pontiac Bonneville - (gone) Purple Pearl H4U/SLE. Loud

IIRC they do, just because they strapped them down to hard during shipping and busted the strut mounts.

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

GTO's had a problem where the front wheels would contact the back of the wheel wells under hard braking, IIRC. I think they fixed it with harder control arm bushings...? G8's control arm bushings would fail quickly, and GM blames cold/salty areas. Mine have been replaced twice in quick succession with their revised arms. I think the dealer screwed up the first replacement set by improperly torquing them.

I've read they both have the same upper strut bushings that collapse. There is debate on if there's any side effect of this other than the front end sitting a little lower.

The G8 6.0's don't consume much oil. Mine doesn't seem to slurp any.

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WHITE WHINE - 1992 SSE Supercharged 236.26 ci (.040 Over) 15.090 at 90.2 MPH on old engine w/ slipping trans & melted O2 sensor - Gen 3 M62 and matching TB, Gen 2 Pully, Zillamotorsports Ported LIM, YT 1.72 Roller Rockers, SII FPR & Injectors, Hypertech Thermomaster chip w/ 160 Thermo, TransGo Shift Kit, Infinity/Pioneer Speakers & a 10" Alpine Type R Sub, all the watts, 140 amp Alternator, Ricepipe CAI w/ heatshield, Pilot Angel Eye Foglights, Clear Corners, '02 17" Chrome Bent 5's, Magnaflow F-Body Muffler and Hi-flo Cat, Ceramic Coated Ported Exhaust Manifolds, Fan Override, Monroe Reflex struts, red calipers
2009 G8 GT - Sport Red Metallic, loaded, SOLO Axlebacks, Rotofab Intake, Tuned, autodim mirror, removed intake manifold cover, HSV GTS triple gauge pod, two tone red-hot shifter and HSV SuperSport steering wheel, GXP rear sway bar and diffuser, 3.45 diff and various Camaro suspension bits, LED Taillights

Never got into these. They look like bloated grand ams to me.

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95 SLE... a keeper. 241k miles. Low and Slow.
97 BMW 528i
98 Infiniti vq35'd i30: 13.3@104mph, 30MPG Hwy (RIP)
02 Jag X-type
03 BMW M5
05 Chevy Cobalt LS
07 Infiniti G35s 6MT (Sold)
07 Ducati Monster S2R 800 with DS1000 swap
83 Yamaha IT175K
72 Yamaha DS7: '74 RD250 swap, JL chambers

Info on dropping a 92-99: Here.

With RWD and 350ci

I want one.

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