While performance cars existed before the Pontiac GTO, no car rightly deserves to be called the first muscle car like the GTO. Not only did it up the ante in the market, but it also was a subversive attempt by Pontiac to get past GM's increasing conservatism against racing.

That it was Pontiac – not Chevrolet – rebelling against GM's status quo was no accident. With the likes of Bunkie Knudsen and John DeLorean, they brought the brand visibility through racing and engineering that showed playing second fiddle to Chevrolet was no disadvantage.

By the time the GTO debuted as an option package for the 1964 Tempest LeMans, everything was in place: 6.4-liter motor, available Tri-Power, and a size, weight, and price that started copycats. Originally built on May 29, 1964 and trimmed in Cameo Ivory with a medium red bucket seat interior, this documented 1964 GTO is typical of the breed: Pushbutton AM radio, dual-speed wipers with windshield washer, Deluxe wheelcovers, back-up lamps, power steering and brakes, Safe-T-Track rear axle with 3.23 gears, and more. Not typical is the 389/348 Tri-Power paired with an automatic. If it's time to turn it on, wind it up, and blow it out, look no further.

Without reserve