In 2006, Lloyd Coulson of Bellaire, Texas, found the trophy-winning GTO on eBay and decided to add it to his collection of Pontiacs. Having owned five '70 GTOs, a Shadow Gold '72 GTO WW5 and two '72 Formula 455s, Lloyd knew that he would give the Pontiac the care it needed. Once delivered, he found he had very little work to do. Says Coulson, "I installed the thermal vacuum switch for the EEC system in the intake manifold coolant passage, and added the correct vacuum hoses from the EEC canister to the switch and from the switch to the carburetor. I also installed the correct rear upper A/C compressor bracket designed to clear the preheat tube, which goes from the intake manifold exhaust crossover to the passenger side air cleaner snorkel."
The code WM 455 H.O. engine is still running the R/A-IV cam and rockers. Its factory aluminum intake (No. 488945) is under the original code 7042273 Q-jet, the factory unitized distributor (No. 1112133) remains and the exhaust exits through original round-port 455 H.O. manifolds (Nos. 478141 left and 9799721 right) to a 2 1/4-inch exhaust with aftermarket mufflers. The stock bellhousing mates to the code WJ M22 transmission, which outputs power through the factory driveshaft to the once again stock code XUK 3.31 geared GM 12-bolt rear.
The hood tach was installed...
The hood tach was installed by previous owner Phil Ponder, using a template provided by Scott Tiemann of Super Car Specialties in Portland, Michigan.
This GTO is also optioned with the Y99 Handling Package that features variable ratio power steering, 1 1/8-inch front and rear sway bars, specific springs and shocks, and Goodyear G60x15 Polyglas GT tires. Coulson plans on keeping this rare GTO all stock and he tells HPP that the Y99 suspension package has a lot to do with it. "It's an awesome package and really turns the GTO into a well-balanced and great-handling car. It's one of the best things about it," he says. "Thanks to the earlier restoration, it rides, drives and handles just like a brand new '72 GTO."
Conclusion
Now showing 70,260 miles on its odometer, this special-order GTO runs as good as it looks, posting a 13.40 in the quarter-mile at 108 mph. Coulson's plans are to install a concours correct Gardner exhaust system and to replace the engine compartment's belts and hoses with date-coded reproductions in preparation for points judging at national POCI conventions.
The '72 455 H.O. GTO marked the end of an era, but Coulson looks upon it as the high watermark. "In my opinion, the combination of the torque and horsepower of the 455 H.O. places it at the pinnacle of the musclecar engines," he tells HPP.
 This Sundance Orange GTO looks...  This Sundance Orange GTO looks as tough today as when it was a contender in the new car market back in '72. The hood tachometer and spoiler are owner-installed. |  |  All GTOs outfitted with the...  All GTOs outfitted with the 455 H.O. came with callout decals on the decklid and upon each rear quarter panel. Although discontinued as an option for '72, many owners added '70-'71 rear spoilers to their '72 GTOs. |