Redesigned 1968 Pontiac GTO

Several decades ago, American automobile makers gave their various models aspirational names related to affluence or lifestyle.  For example, some Chrysler model names were New Yorker and Saratoga, the latter (Saratoga Springs) being a posh horse racing and spa town in upstate New York.  Chevrolet, a mass-market brand, used California names such as Malibu and Bel Air, both upscale, yet casual.

But in the 1960s General Motors' Pontiac brand's image had been transformed from being a solid, reliable, tensportation tool to perfomance-oriented.  Hence model names such as LeMans and Grand Prix.  Also in that mix was the GTO (Wikipedia entry here), the letters standing for Gran Turismo Omologato, an Italian term referring to road racing cars built in more than trivial numbers (that is, being "production" machines, sort of).

The GTO model name first appeared in model year 1964 on performance-enhanced Tempests, Pontiac's mid-size or semi-compact line as a subset of the its already-sporty LeMans type.  That body was redesigned for model year 1968.  This was during the golden years of Bill Mitchell's reign as GM's styling leader.

The 1968 Pontiac GTO coupe is the subject of today's post.  Featured are cars listed for sale on the Internet.

Gallery

First, a walkaround.  Styling is in the mode where the body appears to be puffed out, constrained and shaped by wire forming -- a popular visual device at the time.  The effect was a shape both structured and rounded.  Something of a meeting of opposites that made things interesting when done well.

Graceful in side-view, though via considerable overhang, both front and rear.

The backlight window is concave, a carryover from the classic 1963 Pontiac Grand Prix.

Nice, simple design.  The trunk keyhole becomes a design element.

Because, in part, of the concave backlight, its framing and rear fender extensions are sail panel style, but modestly so.

Virtually no chrome trim and sheet metal sculpting.  The result is very clean, with the window profile providing much of the "ornamentation."

Highlights suggest a touch of "Coke bottle" side shaping.  More on this below.

The grille is the now-traditional Pontiac two-segment feature.  Separation is via a small (to be more emphasized in later years) "nose" that's an extension of hood top shaping.  Those air intakes are functional, not faux.

So-called Coke-bottle or "wasp-waist" plan-view shaping was a brief fashion then.  It seems to have been inspired by the aeronautical "area rule" for shaping of trans-sonic aircraft.  Of course, the reason for its application to airplanes was meaningless in the context of passenger cars.  In this photo (I could not find a true overhead view), there appear to be slight bulges associated with front and rear wheel openings.

The same seems evident in this view as well.