This page displays my street cars including some from the past, present and some future ones that I'm either working on or planning to build next few years.

1972 GTO 455HO

I completed a 7 week road trip last fall that lasted just under 11,000 miles with this car.  This is probably the last factory round port Pontiac driven any real miles.  I now have 151,000 miles on her since its rebuilt in 2000.

Is This a cool picture or what!  I walked outside one morning after a rain and saw this.  I though it was worth grabbing the camera for a few pics.  

'72 GTO 455HO, This GTO was bought new in Scottsdale at Bud Beck Pontiac, I bought the car in '84 and am the third owner.  It was driven as a back up car until Aug of '86, then went into the Mothball Fleet for about ten years.  I painted the GTO in the fall of  '99 and got it back on the road in Feb of 2000.  This GTO is equipped from the factory with the WW5 option ( this is the most expensive and complete performance option ever offered on any GTO) it consists of the LS-5 455HO engine, Ram Air, rally gauges w/ tach, Formula st wheel, sport mirrors, 400 THM trans (or M22 HD 4spd), 12 bolt POSI, 15x7 rally IIs, high effort power steering, disc brakes, larger 1 1/8" rear sway bar and different spring and shock rates.  Note: these options were also available separately if the customer chose.  Other options: a/c, tilt, cruise, rear window defroster, pw, ps, am-fm stereo.  Color is Cardinal red (PPG basecoat-clear coat) w/black int.  I have modified the GTO and improved it with- 4 wheel disc brakes, 'glass front bumper, tri-y headers, receiver hitch built to go through the reer valance, larger 24 gallon gas tank, modified front steering, Recaro LS seats, 400 watt stereo  (Sony, Orion, Precision Power, 2 12" Cerwin-Vega subs in a box built with help from Andy Spencer).  The original numbers matching 4 bolt block was still standard bore with little taper so I shelved it and used a 2 bolt 455 block for use while it is a driver.  Engine has  forged pistons, HEI, baffled pan,  2.56 rear gear for great hiway cruising, polished 15x8 snowflake wheels, T/A front bar, urethane bushings, WS-6 st box.  635 455HO GTOs were built, 325 had automatic trans like mine.  '72 GTOs ordered with the WW5 performance option was only 290.  This is probably the only WW5 GTO that is still driven as a main vehicle.  All work, including paint, was done by myself except I did have some help on body work, DGI charged up the A/C and Network Alignment did the alignment.  

  This car is a real driver, over 151,000 miles of driver in around 8 years (and counting).  It has some wear here and there but, that is what a driver is and I really enjoy driving it every day, I do not and will not own a late model car and never a truck (Pontiac doesn't build trucks!).  Eventually, the GTO will be retired and freshened up for the Pontiac Heaven museum that is planned.  It will most likely be returned to stock with the original block, switched back to white int.  My next driver will most likely be the '61 bubble top Catalina and a '62 Catalina 2 door hard top discussed below.  The '65 Tempest on the "My race cars page" will also be street driven from time to time.  

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'61 Catalina Safari

 Whether it's racing, towing or even towing one of its own,  my  '61 Catalina Safari has proved it can do just about anything.  I built this car myself and is equipped with a  455 w/ forged pistons, Ram Air IV cam, Rhodes lifters, HEI, Q-jet, headers, 2500 converter, special 2.75 low 400THM (DGI did the trans),  2 1/2" exhaust, Walker mufflers, Crager S/S wheels,  400 THM, POSI, '77 T/A st box, boxed rear control arms, rear sway bar, receiver hitch and a stereo.  It's white with blue int and is the official  Pontiac Heaven hauler. In very early '99 the wagon was casually strip tested.  Race weight was an honest 5000lbs, run with full exhaust, and its truck tires ( used because of increased weight carrying capability when towing), at Firebird Raceway it ran several 14.3-14.4 ETs.  Excellent considering its weight.  

      Since some projects are taking longer than expected (I'm sure this only happens to me  Ha Ha), the decision was made to upgrade her for Fueler towing and more car hauling.  First, I rebuilt the front end.  Next 4 wheel disc brakes were added.  I did this by machining the stock spindles in front and using some parts off a '70 Bonneville.  For the rear, '76 Eldorado rotors were used with '73 Grandville calipers.  The car stops very well now, this is something I am not used to with a '61 Pontiac.  Next, I changed the front suspension geometry for a much more positive caster setting that is not available with stock parts.  Now, the car tracks much better and is more stable at speed, especially while towing.  I'm built an offset pair of upper control arms to accomplish much more positive caster.  Then 3 additional yellow deep cycle Optima batteries were installed to operate the 36 volt blower starter for the Fueler.  A push bumper has been built to push the Fueler too.  A/C has been installed, along with a new headliner, carpet and dash pad and some more int trim.  Now, as time allows, I will start getting the body ready for paint. 

'61 Safari update 12-06

My '61 wagon has been apart now since the summer.  The body is off of the frame and a new, later model front sub frame from a '78 Grand Safari has now been welded into place.  This newer front frame has better geometry and components including 12" disc rotors.   New upholstery is finished featuring a split bench seat with a reclining passenger for more comfort on long tows to the race track or lake.  Now a fresh 700R4 overdrive trans is ready and waiting for install.

Here is the body off of the frame 

These pics show the addition of the second fuel tank door added to the right quarter.  One of the problems using this car was its short range due to its small tank, now I will have double the capacity.

These pics show the frame with its original front clip and with the newer '78 version fitted and welded in place.  This first pics shows the new frame laying on front of the original.

These pics show the new frame clip welded in place.

Check back for more updates and progress

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1966 GTO hard top

This was my brother Joe's project that I have inherited in 2003.

My Brother Joe Barcak, (12 years my senior), was a very influence on my life. Joe introduced me to cars, Pontiacs, hot rodding, high performance boats, parts cars, and more. Joe taught me to build my first engine at age 17. It cannot be overstated how much he has shaped my life. Joe had many Pontiacs over the years including a ‘57 Chieftain, the family ‘62 Catalina Safari (later converted it to a 4 speed and a 421), a few ‘69 Judges, ‘71 GP455, ‘66 Tempest wagon, ‘64 GTO, this ‘66 GTO and probably others too.

When Pontiac Heaven events started in 1999, Joe would drive down from the Denver area to help me get the event ready and to work the event too. Joe did this for the last time in 2003 for Pontiac Heaven V. After driving this ‘66 GTO from Karval, Co to help me get ready for the event, Joe tragically died in the early morning hours of Saturday , April 5. This was only about 5 hours before the events gates opened.

Joe really liked this ‘66 GTO. He did much of the body work and int work. He added the rally gauges, wood steering wheel, 700r 4 trans and more. He was working on getting the car painted and installing a larger engine ( it had a 326) to make this GTO better yet.

After Joe’s passing my Mom gave me his car to take care of. This GTO sat for about 3 years. Then, last summer (‘07), I decided to work on the GTO and get it back on the road. I installed a ‘68 400 4bbl engine, 400thm trans, ‘65 Tempest rear end ( 1” narrower), rear sway bar with boxed arms, front disc brakes, new windshield, chrome front bumper, Dunlop G/T qualifier tires and a set of vintage polished slotted alum mags. This car sits up a bit from stock and brings back memories of the ’70s when it was popular to have slot mags and the car sitting up.

Eventually, this GTO is planned to be painted Marina Turquoise (car was originally back) and get a black vinyl top and possibly a larger engine and a POSI. For now, it is just a cool vintage cruiser in black primer.

Here is a picture of Joe inside the U-505 WWII German submarine in Chicago in 2000

I have been working on this car to driver status with a '68 400 engine, 400 trans.  I added a set of polished vintage aluminum slot mags, Dunlop GT Qualifier tires, '71 GTO rear sway bar, boxed arms, disc brakes.  The whole body was sanded down, some dents repaired and a fresh coat of black primer was applied, I swapped in a new windshield and changed the front bumper too.  It also has rally gauges, ps and pb. It is fairly close to being ready for paint now, Marina Turquoise will be applied sometime down the road as priorities allow.  For now, it is a cool driver. 

This picture of Joe was taken at Pontiac Heaven the day before he died in 2003

Here is a picture of Joe's '69 GTO Judge.  Joe is in his car, I am standing next to him holding my birthday present, a new puppy named "Judge".  This picture was taken on or near my 11th birthday in Feb  1971.  

By 1973, this Judge was modified with a one piece fiberglass tilt front end, 428 with roller cam, built 400 thm ans 4.88 12 bolt rear.  It was one of the fastest street cars in Phoenix in 1973-4 and was known to do wheelstands on Central ave. Joe had bought the car in early 1970 at Bud Beck Pontiac.

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'69 GTO ht -my first car.  This animal has an elect sunroof out of a 73 Grand Am, a mid 80s alum 'vette front suspension, a one piece fiberglass tilt front end, Recaro seats, etc.  It will be built as an absolute killer street GT car capable of holding its own, if not beating anything Detroit or the world for that matter can throw at it.  It may also run some big speed numbers at Bonneville when built.  This car would have been finished by now had I not been bit HARD by the nostalgia bug!  It waits its turn, maybe within 5 years depending on how the Fueler/funny car deal goes.

Left photo shows me w/trophy at Beeline '77 high school drags with my 13.7 sec '69, not bad for a junior in high school.

Right photo shows me doing the cool, immature burnout for the camera on the return road at Beeline, senior year.  By then, it ran 13.2s

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'61 Catalina 9 pass Safari- this will be the hauler for the race cars under construction.  Seacrest Green, tri-tone green int, cloth reclining seats to be comfortable on those long hauls across the country, possibly a dually if you can believe that, '78 safari front frame clip with 12" disc brakes, 455 (prescription motor), 400 turbo with low gear set or overdrive, pw, one or two a/c units ( I want to be very comfy), roof rack,  more as I think of it.  This ones is already under construction will replace the white one.

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From the past 

                                                      1969 Lemans  (The Boomer)

    I built this car in the 1987-9 time frame.  This was done long before the term "G" machine was thought up.  This car was way ahead of its time and was a great learning tool.  Up to that point I was mainly a "nuts and bolts" guy,  meaning I had no welding or fabrication skills and could only perform bolt on modifications.  I was very eager and willing learn to build and or modify my own parts to be more creative and expand a cars capabilities.   This was the first car I welded with and broke a lot of ground learning with this wild project.  I modified this this car extensively with tons of upgrades including 4 wheel disc brakes,  huge tires and wheels-  15x10 front with 285/40-15s and 15x12 rear with 345/35-15s, I mini-tubbed the rear wheel wells to fit bigger tires, then I basically lowered the body and frame around the engine/scatter shield/5 speed trans including raising the trans/drive shaft tunnel.  This allowed a very low car and still have excellent ground clearance for the 2" race headers and the lip on the scatter shield.  Much attention was made to study the shortcomings of the stock front suspension and the frame was extensively modified to eliminate bump steer , etc.  The car also had a one piece tilt 'glass front end, 4 trunk mounted batteries ( 3 for stereo and 1 for car), custom Hella headlights,  Recaro LS seats, '72 dash, Nash 5 speed trans,  Ram Air IV headed 428 and 455 engines, both with N20 were played with, huge stereo with 8 12" sub woofers in a 16 cu foot box that was built with no less than 64 pieces of wood, then it was upholstered, 8 amplifiers, etc, 43 gallon fuel capacity,  twin alternators/charging systems ( the stereo had its own charging system),  Recaro seats, and on and on.....    With the combination of so much of the weight balance moved to the rear, the extra big Centerlines and Pirelli P7 tires- The handling/cornering/braking was unbelievable! It also had tilt wheel, a/c, rear wire grid defrost and pw too.  

  The stereo itself was hard to describe, it had to be experienced.  To have so much cone movement (again 8 12" subs aimed forward just behind the seats) in such a small area, it didn't need to be played loud.   A wild ride for sure!

The car sat very low yet had good ground clearance and didn't have problems with speed bumps.

'Glass tilt front end not only removed 300 pounds off of the front of the car but allow very easy access to the engine.  You could sit on the tire while you serviced the motor and related under hood systems.

This picture above shows the custom oil pan I built for this car.  I was internally baffled to.  The cross member was modified to accept this large pan. There were no oiling problems even with the incredible cornering of this car.

Much thought was put into the stereo including giving it its own batteries and charging system and building these custom locking steel boxes that mounted the 4 main amplifiers.  They were built into the floor of the car, hinged for servicing, fan cooled and locked.

                              This car was later disassembled and many of the parts have been used on other projects.  Some parts are still planned for future projects.  The remains of the body/frame/sub box now sit in good company in Pontiac Heaven.

                                                                                   More coming as time allows.

PONTIAC POWER RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NO Corporate Nonsense!!!!!!!!