Ultimate GTO Transformer

- in Cars

Steve Disch from Lakewood, Colorado, had long dreamed of the car that you’re about to see below.

Everyone knows that you can’t tell a book by its cover, and this incredible two-year garage build, which cross-pollinated a 1964 Pontiac LeMans body with a 2006 Pontiac GTO chassis is a perfect example of that sentiment.

There are different ways to build a hot rod. Steve Disch’s way is a bit unconventional, but not unprecedented. Back in 2006 he found a “totaled” GTO with 3,700 miles. He bought it and joined it with the platform of a 1964 LeMans convertible he already owned.
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2006 Pontiac GTO transforms into 1964 Pontiac LeMans

The wrecked 2006 GTO body was removed, exposing the bare chassis that would form the foundation of the transformation. After extracting the 1964 LeMans body from its frame it was cut and fit to the GTO chassis. The problem was that the GTO wheelbase is 4 ¼ inches shorter than the LeMans’.

After lying awake in bed one night, Steve came up with the solution. He cut out the front wheel openings and took out 4 ¾ inches toward the rear, then flipped them from side to side by putting the driver’s side on the passenger side and vise versa. The rear half of the LeMans body was mounted on the GTO pan like auni-body car.

2006 Pontiac GTO transforms into 1964 Pontiac LeMans rear right

Next, it was completely welded together with a new custom trunk pan and inner rear quarter wheel wells. A pair of 1964 LeMans sill plates and rocker panels were welded onto the GTO pan. The LeMans windshield frame supports for the door hinges were welded to the cowl/firewall of the GTO. Once they were welded together, the inner doorjambs around the hinges were molded into the factory shape.

A tube frame structure for the front end was constructed using 1-inch square tubing that was triangulated throughout and was mounted securely to the GTO radiator core support. Custom hood hinges were fabricated from originals assisted by a pair of salvage yard trunk struts. Tapered panels hide the space between the sloping 2006 hood angle and flat 1964 LeMans hood and fenders, as well as the spacing between the two radiator core supports.