Impossible to tell from this view, but I'm inclined to think the car was intended to represent 1967 content but they forgot to update the grille texture (ie, "Wrong grille").* Would need to see the side view or rear view to verify.

Any layperson proofing the shot can read the plate, but not everybody knows the difference between a '66 and a '67 grille, especially prior to production.

K

*Although it does have '66 seats in it. Did they miss that too?

Like this:

Keep in mind that those that took the photos that would be used for the brochures, PR photos and ads - that happened months before actual production started.

I have posted many PR photos where previous year details were on a current year car - like the 1965 Rally I wheels on a 1966 GTO:

https://i.postimg.cc/159pnxcN/0.jpg

Yes - I used to review the promotional materials for (truck) engineering, to make sure they were accurate and substantiable, before they were published.

So I know mistakes got out...

;)



I was looking for Mike Noun's website of Pontiac factory brochure mistakes, to link it here, but I couldn't find it quickly for some reason.

K

That is a 1966 GTO.

66 Nose (header panel).
66 grills and park lamps.
66 Full dash pad (extends to the windshield).
66 standard inside rear view mirror.
66 seat covers.

Chris

----Thanks so much, Lee! I have seen that car and remember it and it's history now. I think I might have figured it out if I could have seen the grill and I don't think I have ever seen a color pic of the car......Bill S

Understand that the companies hired to take the photos often staged their shoots with whatever they were given. They are testing background, colors, lighting and most of all, reader reactions. Seeing as how the differences were minor between a 66 and 67 GTO, as opposed to a 67 and 68, they simply stuck the plate on a 66 because they weren't given a 67.

Remember this photo from a few pages back? It's from a photo shoot. What it is? It has GS on the front grille but it's not a GS. And there are no Skylark emblems on it either.

https://i.postimg.cc/mDHDH7QX/0.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/qB3Wj5YR/0.jpg

Ever see a 1970 Chevelle SS with a 6 CYL engine in it?

https://i.postimg.cc/pLwFYyny/000.jpg

Chevy PR Photo. Those wheels (RPO N66) were cancelled at the end of December 1968.