A Refined 1967 Pontiac GTO that Blends Muscle Car Brute with European Comfort
Steve Aguilar has always loved the guise of classic muscle cars combined with their brute strength and torque. Conversely, he also enjoys the styling and nuances of European design, especially the interiors of those cars. The trick is to successfully combine those different styling and performance elements together in a seamless way to create a one-of-a-kind street machine that has a classic muscle car appearance, yet with contemporary interior cues and modern performance. As you can see from his 1967 Pontiac GTO, his combination works.
It seems as though Steve, with the aid of aesthetic expertise from Sean Smith Designs, has a solid vision of how a modern street machine should feel, look, and sound. In fact, Steve’s ’71 Camaro, called Infrared, was named the Griot’s Garage Muscle Machine of the Year back in 2021. This year his ’67 GTO became a Top Five finalist for PPG Street Machine of the Year.
Originally, the GTO wasn’t supposed to follow in the Camaro’s tire prints. Instead, it was sent to get a Survivor Series update treatment from Roadster Shop, but those plans were interrupted when the pandemic set in. The Goat was already on its new RS Chassis, mini-tubbed, and had initial metal work completed, but it was put on the back burner. Eventually, the project got rolling again, but Steve had shifted gears and decided on a more modern and refined direction for this street machine.
Hot Rods & Custom Stuff was enlisted to refine and finish the original 1967 Pontiac GTO sheet metal work while crafting custom stainless rocker trim. That trim, along with all other exterior trim – much of which is modified or custom made (like the custom-machined headlight housings) – was plated in bright nickel by Ogden Chrome. The HRCS crew eventually coated the sheet metal in Glasurit Blue Ridge Mountain Blue, a standout hue from the BMW catalog. Once you look inside, the European technology and styling becomes even more apparent.
The entire interior, wrapped in Ferrari Napa Bordeaux Hydes Leather by BBStile, was 3D scanned, with most panels being 3D printed. Euro tech is apparent in the Audi window switches, Bently-inspired shifter, the layout of the dash, and the styling of the custom Dakota Digital gauges. Under the hood is a Whipple-supercharged Wegner-built 427c.i. LS7 capable of 1,000 horsepower, plenty to shred the 345/30/20 Michelins mounted to the custom-machined EVOD wheels.
While Steve enjoys all that power, the luxurious interior, and stunning paint and details, his favorite part of his 1967 Pontiac GTO is having his son’s profile crafted into the classic Pontiac Chief logo that adorns the wheel caps, steering wheel, and other elements in the build. What a cool homage to his son, who was deployed when the GTO was being finished!
Photos: John Jackson, Damon Lee, Todd Ryden
