I think whoever authored this has spun this in a completely negative way, I never said anything about GTO Convertibles in '72, we all know they don't exist.
Not everyone was alive to buy a new muscle car in the 64-71 timeframe arbitrarily designated by this author as the muscle car era. He makes it sound like if you own a 72 you're some idiot. He says engines were idenical to those in 71 then goes on to describe how they sucked. I think it is poorly written and researched that's all. If sales were down it was because people were not buying the gas guzzling high insurance cost cars, not because it was an option package and strict emmission rules. 1972 is not the only year the GTO was an option package, you'll know better than me which years but it's not like that is a revelation. Why not explain why the car was indistinguishable like I did. It's all negative to me and we also know that the ducktail was put on some cars so it's not a rumour if they exist is it?. He also makes a pillared GTO sound like some crap moblie when in fact there are thousands that would die for one of those 134 cars. In a nutshell it is just a very cynical article. You know people with less knowledge than you and me read this crap and think it is true. I feel like editing this thing and posting it with a better spin. Why does everybody have to crap on better air quality? I think you could go twice the speed limit in a 72 GTO just like you could go twice the speed limit in a 69 GTO. Still illegal in each car though.
The GTO was no longer its own model and reverted to being an option package on the Le Mans for 1972, and sales continued to plummet. Externally, the '72 was almost indistinguishable from the '71, with just an egg-crate grille texture and functional air extractors on the fenders distinguishing the car. Also, because the GTO was now a Le Mans, the pillared coupe returned to the lineup. A few, very few, GTOs were rumored to leave the factory wearing a "ducktail" rear spoiler similar to that offered on Firebird Trans Ams.
Engines were, for all intents, identical to those of '71, but emissions standards were even more stringent this year and claimed outputs dropped to 250 horses for the 400 and base 455, and just 300 for the 455 HO. Still, the GTO wasn't exactly slow, with Motor Trend getting a 455 HO to hustle through the quarter-mile in 15.4 seconds at 92 mph still better than the original '64. "The decline, brought on by overkill in the horsepower department," Motor Trend editors commented as the muscle car era passed away during '72, "was rapidly accelerated by (insurance) surcharges. The Supercar has been mortally wounded. Mercifully, the government stepped in and put a bullet in the brain with more smog regulation."
A barely noticeable 5,807 GTOs were produced during 1972; 134 pillared coupes and 5,673 hardtops
-- Edited by 73SC on Tuesday 11th of August 2009 02:47:50 PM
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Ray White, Toronto ON
Formerly - The one and only 1973 LeMans 454 "Astro-Jet"
Where does he say the muscle car era ended in 1971? The first paragraph is completely factual, he describes the most notable differences and says it is now an option again instead of a separate model line. How exactly does he make the "pillared GTO sound like some crap moblie" by simply stating that it was once again available? How is it "poorly researched"?
Everyone dropped their horsepower ratings for 72, nothing special or a revelation there. He even points out that despite being laboured with all the emission requirements, a 72 HO was still faster than an original 64. He quotes from Motor Trend at the time, the editors then would be in a good position to make those comments, don't you think? Everything he says is completely factual, as an owner of a 72 Lemans and being quite knowledgeable about 72 GTOs, I don't see how it is cynical at all.
CDN2PLS2, what do you think?
-- Edited by Astro Jet on Tuesday 11th of August 2009 03:00:54 PM
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Hillar
1970 LS4 (eventually an LS5) Laurentian 2dr hdtp -and a bunch of other muscle cars...
I agree with most of what is said above. the pinnacle of the muscle car era was 64-72. Now that being said, the SD TRANS AM got faster every year that it was made. Look it up, it Debuted (sp?) In 73, went faster in 74, faster in 75. So while most cars fell on their faces, a few kept the spirit alive. (anyone want to argue the 87 GNX is not a muscle car?) The ugly fox body mustang of the 80's and early 90's were what the muscle car era was all about, cheap, light, v-8 fast as heck. Ever try to keep one straight on a rainy day? But I digress as having owened a ton of cars of alll eras( 55chev,x2, 71 chevelle ss rag, 69 gto rag, 86 grand national, a ton ot 70's ta's and zedders, etc) I can honestly say that performance is not dead after 72. But if the seller above is saying that his car is real, If no one can verify, no paperwork, g.m says none built, then he is a liar, PERIOD.
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
