[alcohol4me]

Have had this car for 15 years and figure is now time to figure out what it really is( if anybody knows). It has a 400 4 bbl, 4 speed trans, bench seat, drum brakes, nothing really fancy, is still all original.I have seen the adds about "a little GTO in every one" and they aren't kiddin, it hauls ass. So does anybody know if it is rare and worth restoring. The ser. # starts with 233371p, engine code is PJ, cowl tag ST71 PON114567 TR238 62 62 PNT 04B. Any info anybody has would be greatly appreciated.

[UPC-WU2]

A 400-4bbl/4 speed GT-37 is rare as hell. Only 572 built with 400-4bbl. Even fewer with 4-speed.

All GT-37s were bench seat cars. All 1971 GT-37s came with hood pins, dual exhaust with chrome splitters, body-colored sport mirrors, vinyl stripes, Rally II wheels w/o trim rings.
Your GT-37 was built at Pontiac, Michigan in April 1971, four months after mine. It was originally Canyon Copper Metallic with Sandalwood interior. And likely has the 1971-1/2 full-length "bayonnet" stripes instead of the 2-color "eyebrow" stripes that the earlier cars got. A 400-4bbl/4 speed engine code would be WK.

Welcome to the forums, and post some pictures of that GT-37!
I am building a GT-37 website/registry that will be online someday. Hopefully this fall.

[alcohol4me]

thanks for the info, the engine code on the rad support says PJ if that means anything, the car was repainted brown so all factory decals in doors are painted over was thinking of trying to remove paint somehow just to see what they say. I have been reading threads on build sheet locations so may have to start the quest for a needle in the haystack, be nice to know if indeed was a real 4 speed car, it does have a muncie with a hurst shifter and 3.55 gears, and looks like factory hump. I guess a little more digging is in order.

[gloryrestoparts]

spend the money to get the PHS. That'll tell you whether its a real GT-37 or not. Or if you happen to locate the build sheet, but still not a bad idea to get PHS

[CDN2PLS2]

That sounds like a Cool one.

[alcohol4me]

may sound foolish but what is a PHS

[alcohol4me]

I checked out all the threads on where to look for the build sheet and then went to look and found it under the carpet, came out in 2 pieces and is kinda faint but is still readable under a good light , engine code is WK, trans box has a black check mark thru it and can only see a W, road wheels is a JT, Fender piercing is 320, axle is WH(i think). Does this give any clues to whether or not this is a real GT-37.

[Judge273]

As stated earlier: All GT-37s were bench seat cars. All 1971 GT-37s came with hood pins, dual exhaust with chrome splitters, body-colored sport mirrors, vinyl stripes, Rally II wheels w/o trim rings. Engines could be ordered with 350, 400, 455, or 455HO.

So far you have the right seats and wheels from build sheet for a GT-37. It should show GT option listed.

Any sport mirrors or hood pins on car? PHS (Pontiac Historic Services) is a service were you order a copy of the invoice of a car based on VIN. http://www.phs-online.com/services.htm

Sounds like a nice car as is! Do you have some pictures? 400 4 speed CC with sword stripes is a righteous car!

[OVERULD]

Welcome to the forums alcohol4me! Sounds like you've got quite a rare car on your hands. You've picked the right spot to get help on what you've got and if you haven't figured it out yet, we like pictures. So post some up. If you have trouble with that, you can e-mail some to a member who can post them for you.

BJ

[alcohol4me]

I took some pic s for you guys, not much to see, just a jewel in the ruff I guess. I have all the parts for it except for the back bumper, it has a few dents, and needs new dash original is cracked up, odd thing is has ac vents and no ac, they are hooked up to vents coming in from the firewall. oh yeh i dont have the original wheels but do have a set from a 71 cutlass S if they are the same? anyone know for sure?
I drove it around for one summer back in 87 and blew the rear diff up. I took it apart and started to paint it orange like a GTO even had a front clip lined up but lost interest and it has been sittin behind the shop for a while. Had trouble finding a replacement but got one and its back together. Every year or two i fill up the tires and take it for a drive, but last time the brakes werent the best made it kinda scarey slowing it back down, drum brakes never were that good to start with.
So I guess now i need to get a PHS report and then do some serious thinkin and decide whether i wanna restore it or sell it to pontiac enthusiast, it isnt every day you come across a rare one, and i currently have 4 Mopars i the yard, but you guys dont wanna here about them.
Was just sittin here going over build sheet and there is a small box with SPC OPT and it has a G in it is that where it would tell you if it is indeed a GT-37
I will try and take a pic of build sheet,it is very faint so will see if works.
tahnks again for the info guys

[gloryrestoparts]

Originally Posted by alcohol4me

oh yeh i dont have the original wheels but do have a set from a 71 cutlass S if they are the same? anyone know for sure?

no, completely different.

[UPC-WU2]

Get the PHS and you will know for sure. By the way a PHS package costs $50, but answers a lot of questions. Sounds like you have a really rare car.

I believe that a 'G' in the SPC OPT box denotes the GT-37 option, but I'm not 100% sure. The GT-37 option package is denoted with the letter 'G' on the '71 T-37 order form.

My '71 GT-37's build sheet has a 'G' in that box too.

[Lloyd-TX]

Welcome aboard!

That is one VERY cool GT-37. Canyon Copper / Sandlewood is a great combination. It's most definitely worth ordering the PHS invoice - even if you decide to sell the car.

I'd be interested in knowing whether it is/was equipped with the M22 (aka "rock crusher") Muncie transmission. The PHS would show sales code "35G", 4-speed HD trans.

[UPC-WU2]

Seeing those exhaust splitters makes me think the odds are pretty high that it's a GT-37.

Your car was built in April. So if it was a GT-37 it would have the full-length stripes, which means that on each fender there would only be the PONTIAC nameplate, with GT-37 cutouts in the stripes. If your car did not have the GT-37 option, then I'm thinking it would have both PONTIAC nameplates and T-37 nameplates on the fenders. Unless the extra holes were fill in by someone. Does your car have body-colored sport mirrors?

[Judge273]

I would agree that the exhaust splitter tips if original makes it a GT, and also the G on build sheet. But, the car has been modified as shifter and steering wheel are aftermarket.

The lots of the original now expensive items are missing, and what makes it a good car will be the 400 manual drivetrain especially if it is matching.

The PHS will help sell car if that is what you decide. Here are some pix for a visual.

For color reference:



For stripe reference:



For shifter reference:



For interior reference as it looks like you have the vinyl option:

[UPC-WU2]

Looking at the pics again, I see the remote mirror on the driver's door panel. That's a good sign too. But I see no sign of hood pins on the core support. That emissions decal on the core support will tell you the original engine size.

[OVERULD]

Didn't he say he had put a new front clip on it?

I took it apart and started to paint it orange like a GTO even had a front clip lined up but lost interest and it has been sittin behind the shop for a while. Had trouble finding a replacement but got one and its back together.

Maybe the hood pins went missing during that process.

BJ

[alcohol4me]

To answer some of the questions the exhaust is stock and i do have the rear valance with cutouts. It only has the pontiac nameplate on the fender no other holes. The hood and front nose were replaced with ones from another 71 as they were damaged by a ****ty tow truck driver. I have the painted sport mirror for the other side also. The original hood had hoodpins but it thought they were someones addons and didnt move them over to the new hood. Emissions decal on rad support is 400 4bbl. It has a hurst shifter but has a t handle top which after reading a few threads is not the correct one.
It also has, but were removed and are in storage a stainless strip along the rocker panels with 400 on them. I also have several GT-37 nameplates that wrere removed when i started to work on it, i just cant remember where they were from. I do have boxes of trim for the car with alot of spare stuff as i picked up another t-37 with a 350 and stripped it before puttting it in the demo derby, if we only knew back then what we know now. I also sent the forms in today for the PHS. Thanks again guys for the info.

[OVERULD]

Congrats on a very rare car - keep us posted on the restoration progress!

BJ

[1971/455/HO/4-SPD]

You just have to love that Canyon Copper, don't ya?