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Hiding in this garage is a classic with a story to tell. This 2006 Pontiac GTO is covered in dust and has areas of minor cosmetic damage, but it is also an unmolested classic with a mere 5,800 miles on the clock. The seller purchased it from a collector, but active military service meant the car has spent most of its life in storage. The owner feels it deserves a new home and that its shortcomings will be easily addressed. Doing so would return the GTO to its former glory, giving someone a chance to slip behind the wheel of a vehicle with the rare distinction of being the product of two General Motors marques that no longer exist.
The story of the Fifth Generation Pontiac GTO is fascinating, and the car may never have existed if it weren’t for a few men who decided to occupy their spare time with an unofficial styling exercise. Holden was the Australian arm of the General Motors empire, and its bread-and-butter model was its Commodore range. It included a sedan, station wagon, and ute, with all three selling in respectable numbers. However, a group of stylists wanted to recapture an era when the company produced eye-catching Coupes, transforming one of Holden’s test Commodore sedans into a stylish hand-built two-door. Management got wind of this and was so impressed with the finished product that they displayed the car as a concept at the 1998 Sydney International Motor Show. The reaction was beyond its wildest dreams, and the concept became a production vehicle known as the Monaro in 2001. Pontiac wished to add the car to its range, with Holden producing an updated version that complied with American safety regulations. It hit the market in 2004 with bold expectations, wearing the iconic GTO badge. Sadly, the GTO never achieved the anticipated sales volumes, with Pontiac ending sales in 2006. General Motors retired the Holden brand in 2021, making this one of the few cars in automotive history to be a product of two marques that no longer exist. The seller purchased this GTO from a collector when it had 835 miles on its odometer. He is an active member of the armed forces and placed the car into storage when he was on deployment. Therefore, it has seen little use. That explains why it has only accumulated 5,800 miles in eighteen years. Its Quicksilver Metallic paint is dusty, and there are a few minor dings and dents. These aren’t from abuse or mistreatment but from the seller’s wife burying the GTO under various items in their garage. Addressing the problems would be easy and inexpensive, returning this classic to its former glory. The Pontiac has spent its life in a dry climate, so rust isn’t an issue. The glass shows no evidence of problems, and the original 17″ wheels show no signs of marks or damage.
Many people criticized the Fifth Generation GTO’s styling, claiming it was too conservative to carry that badge. However, few people found the performance wanting. Holden filled the 2006 GTO’s engine bay with a 6.0-liter V8, producing 400hp and 400 ft/lbs of torque. Buyers could select from a six-speed manual transmission or the four-speed automatic found in this car. Standard features included four-wheel independent suspension, power steering, and enormous four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock. Was the GTO fast? With a ¼-mile ET of 13.1 seconds and a top speed of 179mph, the answer is a resounding “Yes!” The seller admits this car’s first owner added an SLP2 exhaust and a cold air intake. Otherwise, it is original and unmolested. The Pontiac last saw the road around ten months ago and performed flawlessly. The seller feels that an inspection and tune-up are all it requires before the Pontiac graces our streets again.
Pontiac marketed the Fifth Generation GTO as a muscle car, but calling it a Grand Tourer probably would have been more appropriate. Occupants sink back into leather-wrapped seats while multiple airbags protect them if things go wrong. Climate-controlled air conditioning keeps summer heat at bay, while the car also features power windows, power locks, power front seats, cruise control, a tilt wheel, a trip computer, speed alert, and a premium AM/FM radio/CD player. This Pontiac’s interior requires a deep clean, but there are no signs of physical damage or aftermarket additions. The outer seat edges are prone to wear, but the lack of such problems in the supplied photos supports the seller’s mileage claims.
I have often wondered whether the Fifth Generation Pontiac GTO would have been a greater success if it hadn’t carried that iconic badge. It hit the market with the weight of expectations on its shoulders, and many enthusiasts felt that the styling wasn’t as bold as it should have been. This 2006 GTO is the last of the breed that the seller has listed here on Craigslist in Temple, Texas. He set his price at $22,500 for a low-mile classic that needs little to return to its best. I hope it finds a new home and returns to its rightful place on our roads. It is a product of Pontiac and Holden, and with both companies now a distant memory, it deserves nothing less.
