1966 Pontiac GTO found with a factory feature so rare no one knows how many were made
Published on Nov 07, 2026 at 7:08 AM (UTC-5)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Nov 07, 2026 at 7:08 AM (UTC-5)
Edited by
Mason Jones
This 1966 Pontiac GTO contains a factory feature that is exceptionally rare.
Just how rare is it? Nobody is sure of how many were produced with this feature.
Spotted at a local classic car meet-up in San Diego, this GTO was featured on a YouTube channel.
At first glance, it looks like virtually any other Pontiac of the era, but there’s something about it that sets it apart.
There are some seriously rare cars out there
When you’re out driving around, there’ll be many recognizable cars out on the road.
Some of them have practically become household names.
But then there are variants of these well-known cars which are so exceptionally rare that they are basically unknown.
For example, there’s this Mercedes-Benz CLK AMG DTM, of which only 80 were produced.
And then there was this Ferrari 250 GTO, which was the only finished in factory white.
Some rarities are more apparent than others.
That is very much the case with this 1966 Pontiac GTO.
What sets this Pontiac GTO apart?
Featured on the YouTube channel CARFINDER, this GTO looked fairly ordinary from the outside, with a bright blue exterior.
But it’s something beneath the surface that sets this classic car apart.
It has a three-speed manual with a floor shifter at the heart of it.
“You don’t see many of [the Pontiac GTOs] with a three-speed, that’s for sure,” the YouTuber commented.
Autoevolution went on to note that there is no record of how many were built as three-speed manuals.
You might be wondering why exactly this was so rare.
After all, it was offered as the standard.
That’s because such an overwhelming majority of buyers opted for the four-speed manual or the two-speed automatic.
And of those purchased as three-speed, it’s not assured that they were kept that way.
That makes this particular GTO a rare find – and it’s held up beautifully.
Why was 1966 such a big year for the Pontiac GTO?
Leaving aside the matter of gearboxes, the year in which this car was made is also significant.
People think of 1966 and their mind may go to The Beatles or to hippies.
But it was also the year in which the Pontiac GTO became its own standalone model, rather than just an optional package attached to other models.
It would sell 96,946 units in that year, which would remain its best-selling model year – an increase from 32,000 in 1964 and 75,000 in 1965
This car is still fondly remembered as an icon of the American muscle car movement, and for good reason.
Pontiac GTO timeline
1964: First generation is launched as an option package on the Tempest/LeMans, with a 325-hp V8 or a 348 Tri-Power available.
1965: Stacked vertical headlights are added for a refreshed look.
1966: First year in which the GTO became its own model.
1968: Wins Motor Trend Car of the Year.
1972: Goes back to being an option package on the LeMans.
2004: Returns as a rebadged Australian Holden Monaro.
2006: Production ends with 40,000 sales over three years. Pontiac is discontinued in 2010.
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Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
