47. Gran Turismo Omologato or Grand Tempest Option
As with anything worth caring about, there’s some disagreement. The Ferrari 250 GTO was a rare and popular vehicle in Europe. Pontiac’s chief engineer, John Delorean, saw an opportunity to give his employer an edge. ‘GTO’ was not patented in the States, so Pontiac decided to borrow it. From 1961-1964, the Pontiac Tempest was their muscle car. The 1964 Pontiac LeMans GTO, with a 325 horsepower V8 engine, was the first muscle car on the US market with GTO in the name. Most people agree that it stands for ‘Gran Turismo Omologato’ – in reference to the Ferrari 250 GTO’s professional racing status. However, some folks still believe it stands for ‘Grand Tempest Option’.