1967 Pontiac GTO - Boulevard Brute

In the automotive hobby, the bigger-is-better syndrome runs rampant. Attend an event and you'll likely hear about the aftermarket intake manifold, radical camshaft, and/or large-port cylinders heads that someone chose for their street-driven Pontiac. While said components can have positive effects on performance, rarely does the excess include an aftermarket large-bore block. Pine Island, New York-residents Doug and Paula Tornello have incorporated that and much more into their '67 GTO and are thoroughly enjoying every mile they travel.

The Tornello's love affair with the GTO dates back to 2001 when Doug was still dating Paula. "I have always been into GTOs and had owned a couple of '68s in the past," the 46-year-old office manager recollects. "Paula and I saw the '67 advertised locally and went to check it out. We fell in love with it instantly."

This GTO had just 58,000 miles on its odometer and was powered by the numbers-matching 400 H.O. engine. Though originally backed by a four-speed manual transmission, a previous owner had installed a Turbo-400 automatic, and the Burgundy exterior gave way to an attractive pearl-blue hue. "The car had been raced, so the mileage was pretty low," says Doug. "The body seemed clean, and the original black interior was in great shape, so we bought it."

For the next few years, the Tornellos' GTO was driven regularly and even used as daily transportation for a short time. "The car still looked good, but I wanted to make some mechanical changes and have the body stripped and repainted the same color," says Doug. "In the winter of 2005, I started looking for a shop to do the work, and that's when I met Melvin Benzaquen at Classic Restorations here in Pine Island. Melvin looked the GTO over and agreed to take on the job, but as he got into it, he found that the body was a mess."

Once stripped to bare metal, Classic Restorations discovered that the rocker panels and floorpan needed extensive repairs, and a number of body panels and various small pieces needed replacing. Wanting only the best for his GTO, Doug started a cross-country hunt for replacement components. "I bought individual used quarters from Frank's Pontiac Parts in Ramona, California, and Gary's GTO Goodies in Casper, Wyoming. Both companies also helped me locate the N.O.S trim pieces, a rear bumper, and other parts," he says.