Couple nears 50 years with their wedding car
One of the hottest cars to have in 1964 was Pontiac's just-released GTO. It stirred drivers' hearts everywhere, including that of Tom Kilis.
The young man had just finished school and landed his first career job. Flush with a couple of paychecks, he headed to Roseland Pontiac in Chicago. There, he ordered his cruiser, selecting a red with white interior coupe.
As soon as Tom's GTO arrived at the dealership, he put it right to use. His most frequent trips were commuting from his South Side home to his downtown office. Life was good and the leadfoot adored his rumbling Pontiac. But he wasn't alone in that admiration.
Others - some shadier than others - had an interest, too. In the fall of 1967, thieves stole the '64 GTO off Tom's office parking lot. Police soon tracked down the vehicle and returned it. Dejected, Tom found it “just wasn't the same.” The crooks had stripped off quite a few parts, including the cylinder heads and carburetor. All could have been righted but Tom opted to part ways.
He sold the car to a buyer in South Holland. Tom's low emotions rebounded after he caught sight of the redesigned 1968 GTO, just then arriving in showrooms.
“It was a sleek, fresh style and I loved it,” Tom says.
Accompanied by his dad, the enthusiast headed back to Roseland in October. Together, they sat down and ordered a Verdoro Green coupe. Boxes for such luxury options as air conditioning, cruise control and a power antenna were selected.
A major choice was picking an automatic transmission - an item not found on his previous GTO. It was an important addition to have because of a special individual. His soon to be wife, Barbara, had entered Tom's life and she couldn't drive a stick shift.
The total rang up to just over $4,600 and Tom considered it worth every penny. The GTO's order went in and after assembly in Pontiac, Michigan, it was delivered to Roseland Pontiac just after Christmas. Tom and Barbara were wed not long after.
Naturally, they rumbled away from the church in their GTO, “clanging cans behind it and all,” as Tom tells it.
For the next couple of years, Tom drove it most often, again commuting from the South Side. In 1974, the couple moved to Lemont, where they still reside today. Tom kept driving downtown for a few more years until they purchased a second car. Barbara then took over the GTO, ferrying their kids to school and running around town errands.
In 1982, engine trouble surfaced. Unable to finance repairs, Tom rolled the vehicle into storage.
“I remember throwing a cover over it and saying to myself, 'Someday I'll get it back on the road,' ” Tom says. It took a while, but that time arrived in 1997.
With kids grown, attention turned back to the iconic muscle machine. A full overhaul and restoration returned the GTO to like-new, showroom condition.
As for Tom, he never did shake the thrill of ordering a new GTO from the dealer. He came close in 2004 when Pontiac relaunched the model. But only close. He's grown quite attached to the one he already has.
Share your car's story with Matt at auto@dailyherald.com.