[60sStuff]

A closer look at a unique and rare unit.

The 1964 GTO Tri-Power was designed and fitted with the full “Vacuum” operated 3/2’s unit from the factory on both the manual shift and automatic cars.

The 1965 and 1966 GTO with 3/2’s changed.
The manual trans equipped cars were built with the user friendly “mechanical” linkage.
However both the ‘65 and ‘66 automatic cars (engine code “YR”) were still built with the “Vacuum” units.
‘65 YR - 1456 built
‘66 YR - 1759 built

The vast majority of ‘64 thru ‘66 Vacuum units were changed out to the mechanical version, either at the dealerships or by the owners of these cars.

Suicide Linkage became the name for the Vacuum set-ups. I understand why.

The old 60’s magazine test articles are priceless with their text, but especially the photos showing just how the cars looked fresh from the factory.

This magazine below, “Speed and Supercar” has a little day-two with the crooked dark blue competition stripes.

This ‘66 GTO test car features that complicated Vacuum Tri-Power.
The view of the engine they show and the view of my “YR” are very close except my car was assembled at the Fremont plant which used a “Bundy Tube” fuel lines opposed to the other plants using aluminum fuel lines.

As it turns out, both the test car and my car were built with Power Brakes, Power Steering and Underhood Light.