1967 Pontiac GTO built for Triple X to go on Auction

I came across this.  There's a car auction in El Segundo, California on August 1, 2009 for a restored 1967 Pontiac GTO like the one driven by Vin Diesel in the 2002 movie, Triple X.  It's a fun action movie, directed by Rob Cohen, the same guy who directed The Fast and the Furious, also starring Vin Diesel.

I always knew that GTOs were powerful cars.  This particular GTO was fitted with a big block Chevy V-8.  I'm not sure if this car was actually used in the movie. But since I live in Southern California, I may take a trip to El Segundo next month.

A quick research on the 1967 Pontiac GTO from Edmunds.com reveals 3 things to remember:

• (1) The top engine option was a high-output 400 cubic inch Ram Air, four-barrel Quadra Jet carb rated conservatively at 360 hp.  Talk about classic American muscle.


• (2) It had a three-speed automatic transmission that could be operated manually through a
  Hurst "dual-gate" shifter.


• (3) Only 56 units were built with a Ram Air engine.  Very rare and valuable if you can get one of these.

You can check out a video clip of at '67 GTO burning rubber at a competition. Lots of smoke.

Pictures of 1967 Pontiac GTO

My personal experience with the GTO was my friend's family car growing up in the San Gabriel Valleys. His dad owned a gas station and fixed cars. A blue GTO was one of the cars he got a hold off, restored, and later sold. I don't remember the exact year, but it had a fastback and a loud engine. So perhaps a 1968 GTO Coupe or a 1970 GTO Judge.