In 1964, General Motor’s performance division gave birth to the Pontiac GTO, the vehicle most automotive enthusiasts credit as the first true muscle car.

The GTO earned the nickname “the Goat” from a bunch of smarties who may or may not have meant it as the capitalized acronym sports enthusiasts use to mean “Greatest Of All Time.”

The first of anything legendary deserves respect.

The first American muscle car deserves reverence.

So today, Pontiac GTO, we salute you.

[All images/Summit Racing]

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Author: Matt Griswold

After a 10-year newspaper journalism career, Matt Griswold spent another decade writing about the automotive aftermarket and motorsports. He was part of the original OnAllCylinders editorial team when it launched in 2012.