1964 Regular Production Options and Retail Prices
Regular production options are listed below. Also included are special equipment and dealer options. Note that these are marketed and the price set by the dealer’s parts department.
Typically, the dealer’s parts department sold these and other parts based on current market trends. They were designed to increase motoring pleasure.
• Tonneau cover
• Ski carrier for roof
• Roof luggage carrier
• Trunk ski and luggage carrier
• Locking gas cap
• Wire wheel discs
• Tissue dispenser
• Vacuum gauge
Option Groups
Compiling multiple options into a single option group was a way of creating less confusion and paperwork for dealers.
Typical for 1960s cars was a large rear trunk, even with the stock spare tire. This white GTO doesn’t have the optional spare tire cover. (Photo Courtesy Marty Cieslak)
Is My Pontiac LeMans a True GTO?
The GTO option was listed as an option on the LeMans series for 1964 and was not a separate, freestanding model. This makes it possible to counterfeit a GTO. In addition, the engine can easily be substituted because there is no code for the engine in the VIN. On the other hand, an original GTO must include the hood scoop, front fender GTO crests, rear fender GTO emblems, and a rear deck GTO emblem.
The GTO emblem was affixed to the rear passenger-side deck lid, on the rear quarter panels, and to the left-front part of the front grille. (Photo Courtesy Karl Lacker)
The abbreviation GTO stands for Gran Turismo Omologato, which is Italian for “Grand Touring, Homologated.” This means that a car is homologated for racing in the Grand Touring class. Officially, and according to the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) rules, GT means a closed, two-seat, high-performance car that could be used either on the street or for racing.
The front of the car had just a GTO emblem, and that was all that was needed. (Photo Courtesy Karl Lacker)
The hood used two simulated scoops to give a performance look. The GTO was the only car to use two scoops in 1964. (Photo Courtesy Karl Lacker)
The GTO, in name at least, evoked a high-performance European GT but was affordable for the American buyer. Pontiac decided to use the GTO moniker on the new-for-1964 A-body platform but only on the two-door coupe, convertible, and hardtop body styles.
Exterior
For identification, GTO lettering was mounted on the driver-side front part of the blacked-out front grille, GTO emblems were used on both driver’s side front and rear quarter panels, GTO lettering was used on the passenger-side rear part of the trunk lid and on the front and rear fenders, and a special GTO “6.5 litre” crest was used. This crest was used until 1969 when GTO lettering took its place. The actual metric displacement of the 389 was 6,372 cc, but some sources used 6,375 cc.
Additional identification was used on 389s: The stock-painted valve covers were replaced with chrome, and two simulated hood scoops were available with the GTO only.
Interior
An eye-catching GTO crest was located above the locking glove box. Similar to the front-fender-mounted emblems, the interior GTO crest was larger, and the 1964 model was the only one to receive this larger crest.
Probably the most noticeable interior difference was the engine-turned appliqué that surrounded the four-pod instrument panel. This was not used in any other LeMans and gave the GTO interior some pizzazz. Manual transmission GTOs also received a Hurst shifter, but some early cars received a version that did not have the Hurst inscription on the shift level. All GTOs came with standard bucket seats and all interiors received matching door panels and trim, except the Parchment interiors where the seats, door panels, headliner, sun visors, and windlace are finished in Parchment and the carpets, console base, rear package shelf, door kick panels, and dash pad are black.
Bench seats did not show up on the GTO until the 1972 model year.
The four-pod instrument panel, which was standard equipment on all other LeMans models, included the following gauges: On the far left, the pod contained an oil pressure gauge and battery; on the left-center was a 120-mph speedometer and odometer with a brake warning lamp; on the right-center, two gauges were housed, a fuel gauge and temperature warning lamp. On the far right, a decorative black plate was used; however, if an optional 7,000-rpm tachometer or the Rally clock were ordered, they would take the place of the decorative black plate. An additional gauge was also available; this was the manifold vacuum gauge, which was mounted on the console.
The GTO could be ordered with one of two steering wheels. The standard GTO steering wheel was the Deluxe wheel, which was also used on the LeMans. It matched the color of the interior, but when a Parchment interior was ordered, the car received a black steering wheel. Optional was the Custom Sports steering wheel; it had four brushed-metal spokes and used an imitation wood rim.
All GTO radios used the standard manual antenna, which was mounted on the passenger-side front cowl. Optionally, the power antenna could be ordered, but it was mounted on the passenger-side rear quarter panel.
Engine and Transmission
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