2006 Pontiac GTO
The last GTO was produced on June 14, 2006, in Elizabeth, South Australia after three years of production in the Holden Monaro plant. A total of 40,758 GTO's were produced, reviving the legendary muscle car moniker that had been in hibernation for 30 years. The car received mixed reviews from Pontiac purists despite their potent drivetrain and sold far less than expected. Today they represent a collectible modern muscle car that is becoming more common at car shows than on the streets of daily commutes.
For consignment, a 2006 Pontiac GTO with a title verified 21,561 actual miles, equipped with the 6.0 liter LS2 motor. This is a garage kept example and of the 13,948 GTO's produced in 2006, about 13% of them, 1,794, were painted Spice Red Metallic.
Exterior
The Australians call them bonnet nostrils but over here we tend to call them hood scoops, and they were added for the 2006 model and such a hit with GTO fans, that many added the hood to their 2004 and 2005 cars. It's a dominant feature of the face and a call back of the 1968 and up GTO. Where the Monaro had one open grille, Pontiac made their distinctive twin grille and incorporated honeycomb mesh, a shape synonymous with Pontiac performance cars. The rounded fascia houses flush mounted fog lights and wrap around headlights. In profile, the Spice Red Metallic car presents a distinguishing high back and the view from behind yields a muscular tail with wide split Altezza-type tail lights and massive pipes fitting into the GTO engraved black valance and topped with a wing. 18-inch five spoke GTO wheels wear 235/40ZR18 tires and look great. In fact, the exterior is near flawless with the exception of curb scrapes under the chin.
Interior
A mix of black materials construct clean, flowing door panels with no right angles to be found. The leather bucket seats in front are heavily bolstered and adorned with GTO embroidery on the seat back. Just the slightest of leather creasing the driver's seat support indicates some usage but otherwise in near showroom condition. The 2+2 seating in the back shares the materials and almost as much support keeping the kids, or your adult passengers secure around turns. A leather wrapped steering wheel leads to a simple gauge cluster in which the circles overlap with gray faced dials in a cove of textured plastic. The center stack has basic A/C controls and an integrated AM/FM/CD radio which waterfalls into the center console from which the shifter rises with a stitched leather boot in a plastic panel. Low pile black carpet covers the floor and includes fitted carpeted mats and the sculpted headliner above, like the rest of the interior, is in near excellent condition. We do note that the top of the rear seats have torn at the seam and show some separation.
Drivetrain
Up a few points from the previous year GTO's, lifting the hood reveals the very clean 6.0 liter LS2 engine rated at 400 horsepower and adorned with a Volant aftermarket cold air kit. The stock unit comes with the car. This herd of horses is set into motion by a 4L65E 4-speed automatic transmission which sends power to the rear wheels, muscle car style where it encounters 3.46 gears. With that many hooves under foot, only power disc brakes on all four wheels could rein it in.
Undercarriage
Some road spray and surface rust exists underneath which is otherwise generally very clean. Dual exhaust flows into a Gibson mufflers then leaves in tandem to split direction at the rear differential on their way to chrome tips in back. Independent suspension is found front and rear.
Drive-Ability
It's hard to believe these are nearly 20 years old and aside from the lack of a Bluetooth radio and center screen, the interior feels completely contemporary and provides a sporty, comfortable ergonomic environment to pilot this Goat. The car sparks to life with fuel injection and a very nice bellow echoes from the pipes. Into drive we go to let the transmission do its thing and shifts are crisp, acceleration is fun rated, tracking, handling and stopping all go well. With such low mileage, we were not surprised that all functionality worked as intended in the car. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
Despite the original consternation from GTO devotees in the early 2000's and roots in an Australian car, everyone has come to realize that these GTOs do have a place in automotive history. The modern GTO led to the G8 sedan, the ultra rare G8 GXP, and Holden-based Chevrolet SS, all destined to become legends. No worries gents, the 1964 GTO will always be revered as the great grandfather of the muscle car movement, but these modern muscle cars of a now defunct maker will appear more than just a footnote in the history of American performance cars. This one represents the model beautifully and provides the opportunity to own a low mileage example.
6G2VX12U86L545109
6-Australia
G-General Motors
2-Pontiac
VX-V2 Series GTO
1-Coupe
2-Manual Belts, Front & Side Airbags
U-6.0L LS2 V8
8-Check Digit
6-2006
L-Elizabeth Plant, Australia
545109-Sequential Unit Number
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