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1967 GTO took dates to prom in 1972, 2008
By Mark Maynard
Union-Tribune Staff Writer
In the May 23 edition of Wheels, I reviewed the new Motorbooks coffee-table book, "GTO: Pontiac's Great One" and with it presented an online contest for Pontiac or GTO owners to tell us about their car. The winner would receive the book, signed by Jim Wangers, who had worked with Pontiac division chief John DeLorean to make the GTO the reigning muscle car of the day.
Bill Proffer of Del Mar wins the autographed book, but because there were two serious runners-up, Motorbooks has provided two more copies, though unsigned.
When we asked readers to tell us what their car means to them, the results revealed a love and personal connection that runs deep and strong.
The winner: three-generation family car
1967 Pontiac GTO
“This 1967 GTO was purchased new by my father, Estes Proffer, in Los Angeles. He drove it until about 1990.
“I got to use it to drive my date to the prom in 1972 and drove it while at UCSD in the '70s. My father passed away in 2004 at 93. The car sat garaged, but passed smog each year until it became exempt.
“In 2007 my son, Quinn, decided he wanted to restore the car. We did a complete down-to-the-frame restoration. Tim's Paint and Body in Escondido repainted it from the original Cameo Ivory to a factory original Mariner Turquoise, and the drivetrain was replaced with a custom, 467-cubic-inch Pontiac-8 crate engine built by Butler Performance in Tennessee, coupled with a TCI TH400 Super Street-fighter transmission. Buying the new powertrain was a less-expensive option than a complete rebuild of the original block and transmission. An overdrive from Gear Vendors in El Cajon was added to improve freeway drivability.
“The new engine dyno'ed at 517 horsepower before running out of gas using a mechanical fuel pump. It grudgingly runs on 91 octane pump gas, but loves to be fed the (very expensive) 100 octane fuel available at the service station in Rancho Santa Fe.
“The suspension was replaced by a Hotchkis Sport Suspension kit.
“All of the original factory parts for the car are tagged and crated in the garage, however, to be able to return the car to a complete and original numbers-matching configuration.
“The interior is original, and all of the original paperwork, including the sales invoice and dealer window sticker, are with the car.
“Last year, Quinn drove his date to the prom in it. He also just finished restoring my dad's 1964 GMC V-6 three-quarter-ton pickup (also a third-generation original new vehicle) for his 'daily driver.'”
— William Proffer, Del Mar
What my car means to me
1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 HO
“My 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 HO (high output) convertible is the way the car came from the factory. It is not a re-creation.
“Most automobile enthusiasts collect cars to relive something from their youth, and I am no different. In high school (mid-1970s), my best friend had a 1968 Firebird 400 convertible, four speed, painted Verdoro Green. I loved that car, the way it sounded, the way it would catch rubber as you smacked the shifter through the gears. I was so jealous.
“Unfortunately, my best friend passed away when he was 18 due to illness and the car went away. That may be another reason for my emotional attachment to the car. That car (and my friend) have always stayed on my mind and I thought that someday I would love to have one. As it turns out, when my wife was very young, her aunt purchased a 1968 Firebird coupe, which was later handed down to my wife's brother. This proved to be very beneficial when it came to the 'Honey, can we buy an old Firebird?' discussion.
“I found this car on the Internet on the East Coast. You rarely see a white Firebird, and the white-red combination just attracted me. I began having discussions with the owner, who was very passionate about the car. After a couple of weeks, we came to terms and had the car shipped. He called me, sounding very emotional, as the car was being loaded onto the transport.
“We have restored the interior and the engine compartment, but have done nothing to the exterior. It is clean but not perfect. That's how I like it because I don't want to worry every time my 7- and 11-year-old sons get in and walk on the seats. We frequently travel to Cruisin' Grand (in Escondido).
“The car was featured in Hemmings Muscle Machine magazine a few years back and has won several awards at local and regional shows. Every time I drive it, I get to recapture a little of my youth, and my best friend.”
— Steve Levin, Escondido
A great one
1956 Pontiac Star Chief
“The attached photo shows my '56 Star Chief along Mission Bay. Although it's not a GTO, it's still a Pontiac, and I love it even more now that our beloved brand is gone!
“I've been working on the Chief for over a year now. It was an all-original pile of rust (purchased new in '56 in Chula Vista) when I got it, and I've put my blood, sweat and tears into it ever since.
“From months of body work, to planning and applying the custom paint, I'm building this car exactly the way I've always wanted. This car embodies a true '50s hot rod mixed with my own unique style, and I wouldn't trade it for the world!”
— Ian Grist, Bay Park
Find this article at: signonsandiego.com
By Mark Maynard
Union-Tribune Staff Writer
In the May 23 edition of Wheels, I reviewed the new Motorbooks coffee-table book, "GTO: Pontiac's Great One" and with it presented an online contest for Pontiac or GTO owners to tell us about their car. The winner would receive the book, signed by Jim Wangers, who had worked with Pontiac division chief John DeLorean to make the GTO the reigning muscle car of the day.
Bill Proffer of Del Mar wins the autographed book, but because there were two serious runners-up, Motorbooks has provided two more copies, though unsigned.
When we asked readers to tell us what their car means to them, the results revealed a love and personal connection that runs deep and strong.
The winner: three-generation family car
1967 Pontiac GTO
“This 1967 GTO was purchased new by my father, Estes Proffer, in Los Angeles. He drove it until about 1990.
“I got to use it to drive my date to the prom in 1972 and drove it while at UCSD in the '70s. My father passed away in 2004 at 93. The car sat garaged, but passed smog each year until it became exempt.
“In 2007 my son, Quinn, decided he wanted to restore the car. We did a complete down-to-the-frame restoration. Tim's Paint and Body in Escondido repainted it from the original Cameo Ivory to a factory original Mariner Turquoise, and the drivetrain was replaced with a custom, 467-cubic-inch Pontiac-8 crate engine built by Butler Performance in Tennessee, coupled with a TCI TH400 Super Street-fighter transmission. Buying the new powertrain was a less-expensive option than a complete rebuild of the original block and transmission. An overdrive from Gear Vendors in El Cajon was added to improve freeway drivability.
“The new engine dyno'ed at 517 horsepower before running out of gas using a mechanical fuel pump. It grudgingly runs on 91 octane pump gas, but loves to be fed the (very expensive) 100 octane fuel available at the service station in Rancho Santa Fe.
“The suspension was replaced by a Hotchkis Sport Suspension kit.
“All of the original factory parts for the car are tagged and crated in the garage, however, to be able to return the car to a complete and original numbers-matching configuration.
“The interior is original, and all of the original paperwork, including the sales invoice and dealer window sticker, are with the car.
“Last year, Quinn drove his date to the prom in it. He also just finished restoring my dad's 1964 GMC V-6 three-quarter-ton pickup (also a third-generation original new vehicle) for his 'daily driver.'”
— William Proffer, Del Mar
What my car means to me
1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 HO
“My 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 HO (high output) convertible is the way the car came from the factory. It is not a re-creation.
“Most automobile enthusiasts collect cars to relive something from their youth, and I am no different. In high school (mid-1970s), my best friend had a 1968 Firebird 400 convertible, four speed, painted Verdoro Green. I loved that car, the way it sounded, the way it would catch rubber as you smacked the shifter through the gears. I was so jealous.
“Unfortunately, my best friend passed away when he was 18 due to illness and the car went away. That may be another reason for my emotional attachment to the car. That car (and my friend) have always stayed on my mind and I thought that someday I would love to have one. As it turns out, when my wife was very young, her aunt purchased a 1968 Firebird coupe, which was later handed down to my wife's brother. This proved to be very beneficial when it came to the 'Honey, can we buy an old Firebird?' discussion.
“I found this car on the Internet on the East Coast. You rarely see a white Firebird, and the white-red combination just attracted me. I began having discussions with the owner, who was very passionate about the car. After a couple of weeks, we came to terms and had the car shipped. He called me, sounding very emotional, as the car was being loaded onto the transport.
“We have restored the interior and the engine compartment, but have done nothing to the exterior. It is clean but not perfect. That's how I like it because I don't want to worry every time my 7- and 11-year-old sons get in and walk on the seats. We frequently travel to Cruisin' Grand (in Escondido).
“The car was featured in Hemmings Muscle Machine magazine a few years back and has won several awards at local and regional shows. Every time I drive it, I get to recapture a little of my youth, and my best friend.”
— Steve Levin, Escondido
A great one
1956 Pontiac Star Chief
“The attached photo shows my '56 Star Chief along Mission Bay. Although it's not a GTO, it's still a Pontiac, and I love it even more now that our beloved brand is gone!
“I've been working on the Chief for over a year now. It was an all-original pile of rust (purchased new in '56 in Chula Vista) when I got it, and I've put my blood, sweat and tears into it ever since.
“From months of body work, to planning and applying the custom paint, I'm building this car exactly the way I've always wanted. This car embodies a true '50s hot rod mixed with my own unique style, and I wouldn't trade it for the world!”
— Ian Grist, Bay Park
Find this article at: signonsandiego.com
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