Restoring A 1-of-751 '67 Ram Air GTO

Feast your eyes on this--the...        read full caption Feast your eyes on this--the extremely rare No. 997 casting. Notice how it actually hangs off the bottom of the head surface.

The Ram Air system was delivered...        read full caption The Ram Air system was delivered in the trunk for dealer installation back in the day. Its open scoop ornament would be painted to match the body color and then bolted in place of the closed one, and the pan, seal, and new air cleaner assembly would be installed on the engine. Pontiac recommended the owner replace the open ornament with the closed one in bad weather.

Note the attention to detail...        read full caption Note the attention to detail under the hood. This Goat received Concours Gold honors at the GTOAA Eastern Regionals in 2004.

According to Joe, the steel...        read full caption According to Joe, the steel Ram Air pan and the air cleaner top are original.

This was the first incarnation...        read full caption This was the first incarnation of the now legendary hood tach.

In 2003, the Regimental Red road rocket was completed and ready to hit the streets and the show circuit. Thus far, it has racked up numerous First- and Second-Place trophies at various events, including a First at HPP Day at E-town in 2005 where we first spotted the Goat and met Joe. In August 2004, the Ram Air GTO earned Concours Gold at the GTOAA Eastern Regional Meet. But show trophies are only part of the fun. Joe has found that driving the GTO, like his '70 Ram Air III Judge and new V-8 303hp GP GXP, makes great memories as well.

He expects to put 750-1,000 miles per year on the Goat in the future and to keep winning at the shows. Joe travels with a pack of Staten Island buddies, all of whom are into Pontiacs, owning 20 between them. No further improvements to the GTO are planned since he "likes it just as it is," which gives Joe something in common with a previous owner named Bea who thought the same for 25 years.