When RKSport decided to build a 2005 Pontiac GTO, they wanted to tie into the original GTO heritage. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Pontiac GTO, the company hooked up with Larry Weiner of Performance West Group. Larry thought it would be an outstanding idea to build the two cars as a matched set. The project was titled, the "Return of the GreatOne" and pays homage to a performance car that continues to evoke images of power and performance 40 years after its debut.

The classic Goat rebuilt by Larry features the biggest gun in the Pontiac arsenal for the time, the high output 421-cubic inch, 376 horse power Tri Power engine that was optional equipment in the GTO's big brother, the Catalina 2+2.

The period-correct engine was built by VanGordon Racing and has been treated to a wide range of components that will enable it to perform flawlessly on today's lower octane premium fuel while producing sufficient horsepower to satisfy the most demanding enthusiast. A factory grind cam and some mildly reworked heads with hardened valve seats work together to put out 400 hp on the VanGordon and Brown Performance chassis dyno.

To hold a bit more oil, VanGordon Racing also installed a Milodon oil pan and pump. Fuel and air are fed to the motor by way of the original Rochester Tri-Power carbs that came with the car from the factory. A Delco ignition system keeps the 421 firing on all cylinders and exhaust is routed out through a dual 2.5-in Magnaflow system.

Backing up the power of the 421 is a Hayes clutch, pressure plate and flywheel package. Topping off the power package is a Hurst four-speed-equipped Muncie M20 transmission augmented with a Gear Vendors overdrive. With a 20 percent overdrive, the car never even breathes hard and can deliver more than 20 mpg.

Since the car's completion in late October of 2004, Larry has been very busy taking the car to various events including SEMA, GoodGuys and the Grand National Roadster Show. The GTO has also been featured in such magazines as the October 2003 issue of Restyling, the May 2005 issue of Super Rod, the September 2005 issue of Popular Hot Rodding, and the August 2005 issue of A Cars. The car was also featured with RKSport's '05 model in an impressive Toyo Tires display ad.