Editor’s note: This story originally appeared at SummitRacing.com on 3/12/2004.
Kitchen tables are marvelously adaptable pieces of furniture.
In addition to serving as the family feeding trough, kitchen tables can be used as craft centers, debating forums, and poker dens. You can even build cars on them—just ask Rick Bogoff.
He always had a thing for early Pontiac GTOs, the 1966 model in particular. After dabbling with a 1974 Camaro and a 1969 Chevelle, he decided to get serious about building a Goat… and his kitchen table was where he started.
“I woke up one morning and started to draw my ‘ultimate’ GTO at the kitchen table,” Bogoff said. “I’ve always thought the ’66 had the nicest lines of all the early cars, but it’s also the hardest to find parts for. But it was a challenge that I wanted.”
And a challenge is what Bogoff got. He took his kitchen table drawings, hunted down a suitable ’66, and began to turn his vision into sheetmetal. That vision included an in-the-weeds attitude, so he modified the frame to accept an Air Ride Technologies airbag suspension—dual bags in the back and a full Air Ride suspension up front. SSBC supplied the four-wheel disc brakes, which are covered by 17-inch Billitti Taladaga wheels and Nitto NT450 tires.
The biggest changes were made to the body. Mike Dumas at Platinum Fabrication shaved everything that could be shaved, including emblems, moldings, and door handles. All visible seams were filled, and the custom tail panel with four 16-inch LED lights was “Frenched” in. Dumas even modified the rear bumper for a pass-through exhaust system. The Goat was then treated to a Viper Blue paint job with House of Kolor Pearl Lavender ghost flames.
Bogoff did not neglect the GTO’s drivetrain. The 400-cubic-inch V8 got a set of Speed Pro pistons, a .224 duration (at .050) Comp Cams hydraulic camshaft, modified stock heads (Manley valves, COMP valve springs and rockers, three-angle valve job), and an Edelbrock Performer intake manifold with a 750 cfm Holley carburetor. A TH400 transmission routes 320 horsepower back to the stock 10-bolt rear axle.
Eighteen months after its beginnings on Rick’s kitchen table, the GTO was winning awards left and right, including Best Modified at the 2003 GTO Nationals in Columbus, OH.
Wonder if our kitchen table works as well as his does.
FAST SPECS
Chassis
Frame: Stock, modified for Air Ride Technologies air suspension
Suspension: Air Ride Technologies airbag suspension
Rear Axle: Stock 10-bolt
Brakes: Stainless Steel Brake four-wheel disc
Wheels and Tires: Billitti Taladaga wheels (17 x7 front, 17 x 8 rear) on Nitto NT450 tires
Body/Paint
Body Modifications: Shaved door handles, emblems, and moldings, filled seams, custom tail panel with four 16-inch LED lights, rear bumper modified for pass through exhaust system
Paint: Viper Blue with House of Kolor Pearl Lavender ghost flames
Body and Paint Work: Mike Dumas at Platinum Fabrication
Interior/Audio
Seats: Stock bucket/bench with black vinyl
Carpet: Black
Dash: Modified stock with Dakota Digital gauge panel
Other Items: Custom center console with air suspension controls and gauges
Special Thanks To: Connie Bogoff, Leanne Bogoff, Eric Jensen
BEAUTIFULL!