This 1966 is the first of the famed Ram Air cars. Images: eBay

“Ram air” may be a term for any form of air induction system from the muscle car era, but it was a name popularized by Pontiac for its top horsepower cars. First introduced as an accessory for the Tri-Power 389 for the 1965 GTO, ram air induction became a proper name mid-year in 1966 when the “XS” Ram Air motor was introduced.

Ram Air pan and foam are extremely rare accessories.

With only 190 built and without any external markings, they are very tough to identify. This one is the first documented car I’ve ever seen.

Everybody talks about Ram Air III Judges and the sweet exhaust note of the round-port Ram Air IV, but it all started in 1966 with this. Initially, the GTO’s standard engine was the four-barrel 389 with 335 horsepower, and the only optional motor was the Tri-Power 389 with 360 horsepower.

An over-the-counter ram air pan was available, but later in the model year a heavy-duty Tri-Power debuted that started a fine tradition of Ram Air motors.

This XS motor (subsequently named due to the engine code) was only available with a four-speed manual and 4.33 gears. According to Paul Zazarine’s GTO Restoration Guide, a more radical camshaft, stronger valve springs and damper assembly, and a different fuel fitting and fuel line fitting also were used. The ram air pan was delivered in the trunk for dealer installation.

With heavy competition from Chrysler’s new Street HEMI, Ford’s 427 Fairlane 500, and Oldsmobile’s similar W-30 package for the 4-4-2, the XS GTO was about as good as it got for 1966. And if an authentic XS Goat is not enough, how about the color combo? Cameo White with red interior…sweet! As of this writing, the GTO has been bid up to $27,100 without meeting reserve, which is amazing for a hardtop that needs a complete restoration. Subsequent Ram Air cars may have been faster, but this is where it all began.

The 1966 GTO shared louvered taillights with the Grand Prix.