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1966 Pontiac GTO
The biggest news for 1966 was when the GTO became a separate model in the Pontiac lineup. This meant that Pontiac as a brand and General Motors as a company recognized the car’s potential. They gave the GTO a shot in establishing its own performance legacy. Also, they redesigned the car with vertically stacked headlights and a new grille and rear end.
Under the hood, the engine’s power output remained the same, although Pontiac introduced a legendary option that became popular in later models: ram air. Ram air was about the working hood scoops that directed air straight to the carburetor.
Although it helped the engine deliver more power, the factory rated ram air models at 360 HP, the same as the stock Tri-Power versions. Pontiac only built 35 Ram Air GTOs and around 300 dealer-installed examples, all of which are highly desirable today.