Nice GTO. I'd love to have one. But I can't imagine selling my '32 and buying a muscle car. And I'm a guy who plays on both sides of '64th street having owned a '65 Chevelle convert for 25 years.
1968. I'm in Canoga Park, working at a Corvette Body shop, also Musclecar specialist. Boss Ollie gives me a work order, '67 GTO: REPLACE FRAME! Ollie had a new PMD frame coming over by truck...Meanwhile, take it apart! Job paid 40 hours...Took most of it, I'm 'cautious' about paint, etc. Car was traveling 80+, ran into a high curb, left its suspension there... When I talked to the insurance adjuster, he said that "To Date: (then) "82% of all the GTOs built and sold are in the junk yard." From "driver overconfidence"... True. Driving a Goat truly psyches you into believing it's 'on tracks'. Understeer suddenly 'undertakes' you, then it's an uncontrolled 'slide', or 'skid'...LOL Always liked 'em, though...
Who wants a 32 anyway? Give me the address and I'll haul the boat anchor off. Sent from my SM-G930R4 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
It won't be long before you will be wishing you had that 32 back! This is the same syndrome that happened to Hot Rodders in the 60's when the muscle cars came out. Every damn one of us wishes we had that old Hot Rod back!
I say "good for you!" If that's what you want then go for it and don't let any other guys (HAMB included) make you feel bad for doing it. At 73 you need to do whatever is good for you, and taking advice from a 33 year old is not an option. When 57 Joe gets to be 73, you and I wont be around. But I am betting his attitudes about cars will not be what it is today. Life is short so live for today!
That was my unaffordable fantasy car when I was graduating from High school in 1965. I remember stopping at the then Golden Pontiac in Yakima to look at one of the first ones that came in in late 64 and the under 4 K price was still way out of my grocery store box boy budget. Some guys forget that we all have our "that's the one" car that we have always wanted an are willing to sell some pretty cool stuff to get.
Don't get my sentiments twisted, I get it. But this is the HAMB, dedicated to spreading the gospel of traditional hot rods and custom cars. I know the GTO was the hot ride when you older guys were in high school. But the GTO and muscle cars that followed sounded the death knell for traditional hot rods. So I don't begrudge the OP for making the decision he made in selling his deuce and his 54 and buying the GTO, it's his money and cars and he can do whatever he sees fir with it. But don't expect me to be congratulatory, either. I'm just not into muscle cars. As far as what my attitude toward cars may be when I get older, I don't think I'll be selling off my cars to buy the "hot cars" from my high school days. When I was in high school (almost 20 years ago!), the hot cars were fox body Mustangs and import tuners, a few rich kids had BMWs and one had a Porsche. I dig on some non-HAMB relevant cars too, I've owned Mustangs, and I hope to buy a Porsche well before I'm 73. But when I do get it, I'm not going to put it on the HAMB.
Congrats to you, Nice car. I like '65 GTO's, and I had a beautiful one back in the late 60's. I still have the reverb unit somewhere. I also have a real Deuce 5 window. I wouldn't say I wouldn't have made the same choice given the right circumstances. I also feel that at your age, you have paid all the dues you needed to, so don't let what me or anyone says about your ride bother you.
Worked at the local Pontiac dealer when I was in high school. Washing and prepping new and used cars. We got a tiger gold 65 with a black vinyl top in and I convinced my mom that she need to get rid of her Corvair Monza Spyder for the GTO. So I drove one all the time when they were new. Really nice car. I don't blame you for selling your coupe and 54. The prices of GTO's is going through the roof.
I had a 65 GTO 4 speed convert in 1971. Mr. Nixon decided the U.S. Army needed me for a couple years. I knew I couldn't keep it on a private's pay and would be shipping out of the country any way so I had to sell it to serve my time. Shit happens!!
Well, Dick, I'm with the guys who think you'll be wanting your '32 back pretty soon. GTO's are a long favorite of mine, but... Anyhow, good luck whichever decision you make.
The Jalopy Journal
