When it comes to classic car restomod projects, especially high-end SEMA Show builds, it's easy to go overboard. There's an allure to adding more power, more grip, more tech, and more luxury, and some builders don't know when to stop. For Steve Strope of Pure Vision Design, keeping this 1967 Pontiac GTO true to its roots was priority number one. Many aspects of the car are modernized and improved, but it still looks, drives, and sounds like an old-school Pontiac. When the car's owner suggested an LS swap, Strope flat-out refused, so it still has the Pontiac V8 it was built with.
Displayed this year at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas alongside Haraka, Strope's 1970 Road Runner, this '67 GTO blends Pontiac's timeless style with modern pro-touring elements and show car upgrades. Steve Strope met with a film crew from Autotopia LA to discuss the car's story and features.
The body is largely unmodified, aside from carefully tucked front and rear bumpers, 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix door handles, and some slick oval exhaust tips. The sheetmetal is painted Blu Nethuns, a shimmering metallic blue found on the Lamborghini Urus. Small accents like the charcoal grey factory grille mesh and white inlaid paint on the GTO emblems tie it all together.
This GTO rides on a full Detroit Speed suspension system with JRI shocks and a slightly narrowed 8.8-inch rear end. Strope elected not to put mini tubs on the rear end, so it has modest 285/35R19 rear tires.
For the wheels, Strope selected multi-spoke Schott billet wheels in a matte grey finish that contrasts nicely with the bright orange Baer brake calipers. While the wheels might look like center-locks, they actually have lug nuts underneath the center caps, which are so precisely milled that the seam is almost invisible.
As mentioned earlier, the owner of this car expressed an interest in dropping in an LS engine for easy power, but Strope told him he wouldn't do it. Instead, they took the original 400ci Pontiac V8 and dropped it off with Penta Motorsports, who bored and stroked it to 462ci. Robin's egg blue paint, Edelbrock performance parts, and a custom Trans Am dual-snorkel air cleaner modified with "462 HO" decal top off this classic setup.
Power output and torque are both approximately 450, making for a very drivable yet fun experience behind the wheel.
A bellhousing adapter was installed to mate the engine with a newer GM 4L80e transmission, and a Holley Terminator X system was used to tune the fuel injection system and transmission shift points. The Pure Vision team also made a custom forged carbon fiber knob and bezel trim for the Hurst shifter.
The GTO's interior features white leather with blue and carbon fiber accents, as well as common upgrades such as Dakota Digital gauges, Vintage Air A/C, and a RetroSound stereo. The three-spoke steering wheel is a Lecarra wheel designed for the Formula 400 Firebird but adapted to the GTO's column.
New "GTO 7.5 Litre" emblems were also custom-made to reflect the increased engine displacement.
The trunk received equal attention, with blue wool carpet, white leather trim, and a blue Pontiac emblem front and center.
This '67 GTO is a beautiful mix of classic style and modern performance, and we appreciate that Strope didn't go overboard with any aspect of it. We also thoroughly enjoyed listening to that raucous Pontiac V8, which you can hear for yourself in the Autotopia LA video below:
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