Although it had its premiere in Europe, the design and dimensions of the car were tailored to the taste of USA buyers, where it gained great popularity in a short time. A year later it was named Motor Trend's Car of the Year.

This car was made according to a simple recipe devised by the chief engineer of the Pontiac division – today unfortunately remembered for numerous scandals, and not as the creator of the first muscle car - John DeLorean. His idea was to make a compact and light car with a powerful engine and an acceptable price so that it would be a favorite among young drivers. The most important ingredients were cheap components. Pontiac was part of the powerful General Motors (GM) group which also included Oldsmobile, Chevrolet, and Buick with whom the Tempest shared various parts to keep costs down. Added to that a new eye-catching design, independent suspension for a smooth ride, and fuel economy, you got a real treat.

In 1964, the second generation saw the light of day, completely redesigned and noticeably larger. There were different body variants on offer – from practical station wagons, and 4-door sedans that offered a unique dose of luxury, all the way to sports coupes. Customers could also choose between three trims: base Tempest, Tempest Custom, and Tempest Le Mans.

But the most sought-after among enthusiasts was the GTO model. This spectacular car grew out of a decision by parent company General Motors to ban its various divisions from being involved in competitive racing. General Motors had also forbidden its companies from using any engine greater than 329 cu in on a medium-sized car frame. This was a major blow to Pontiac, in particular, which was closely tied into the auto-racing world as part of its image and promotional strategies. Several senior Pontiac people, including John DeLorean, decided they would, therefore, produce mighty Pontiac "muscle cars" but focus on the performances their cars could achieve on the streets. The 1964 GTO was the first result.

The GTO was a Tempest Le Mans with an extra package equipped with a 389 cu in engine. Pontiac successfully bent the rules by making the vastly bigger engine an optional extra, rather than part of the standard fitting, but as it was offered at only $300 it was an option that everyone wanted. The name GTO stood for the Italian phrase "Gran Turismo Omologato," meaning a Grand Tourer car that was officially certified for racing. Of course, that was not true of the Pontiac – but anyway, they were only initials. Interestingly, although Pontiac advertised it as the "GTO Tiger" it was known to young drivers as the Goat.

When it launched in 1964, the GTO had surprised even Pontiac with the level of its sales, with more than 32,000 units leaving the showroom. Although the price was kept down to an affordable $4,500 it was still considered an exclusive car. Two years later GTO had a big makeover that increased sales to 96.946 cars. This was not only the GTO's highest annual sales figure, it was the most any muscle car had ever sold in one year. It was the golden age of muscle cars.

From 1966 the GTO was available as a model in its own right. With its new design this model has become known as the "Coke-bottle look," – a style that involved the car having (or giving the visual impression of) a body with a narrow center along with emphasized tail fins that suggested a flashy, more youthful style.

The Pontiac GTO has gone down in history as one of the finest muscle cars ever made. Some people even regard it as the first genuine muscle car, even though the term had been around for some time.