Inventory Listing

There are a lot of big names in the muscle car business, but none stands taller than Pontiac’s GTO. What started as a joke in the back rooms of Pontiac’s management boardrooms became the genesis of an entirely new segment of automobiles, and today there are few who don’t know those three famous letters. It was probably inevitable that someone would stuff a big engine in a medium-sized car, but John Z. DeLorean and the Pontiac boys get the credit for doing it officially (and unofficially, since the Goat broke a whole bunch of internal GM rules). And when “Car & Driver” magazine put the Pontiac GTO vs. the Ferrari GTO on the cover, well, a legend was born.

This gorgeous 1965 Pontiac GTO hardtop more than lives up to the legend. Not only is it immaculately restored to a very high standard, it’s nicely documented by PHS (yes, it’s a real GTO) and offers some interesting footnotes in its history. When you talk about the muscle car era, performance was the only game and this GTO was clearly built for combat. Packing the top-of-the-line 389 cubic inch V8 with Tri-Power induction and 365 horsepower, it was lightning in a bottle. Backing it with a 4-speed manual gearbox allowed you to get the most out of it, and with 4.31 gears out back from the factory and zero power-robbing options, well, you know this particular car was built for combat and took no prisoners. 

Since then, however, it’s been civilized. There’s a more street-friendly 3.55 gearset in back and the restoration is so excellent that the very idea of hammering this car down a track might be anathema to a lot of enthusiasts. So instead we present it as a beautifully rendered snapshot of perhaps the most attractive of all GTOs of the ‘60s. It’s covered in original-spec Montero Red paint, which is deep and luxurious, not bright and brash, perfect for Pontiac’s upscale 1960s image. It was refinished just a few years ago and we’re proud to report that every single piece of sheetmetal on the car, rockers and floors included, are original. This was never, ever a rusty car. Panel fit is quite good, although there’s all-new weather-stripping throughout the car, so the trunk lid will sit a little proud until it breaks in a bit and relaxes. Doors open and close with wonderful precision and I’m thinking that it’s unlikely that anything GM was building in 1965 was this carefully assembled. All the chrome and stainless trim was either restored or replaced with exact reproduction pieces, including a beautifully rendered grille inside those stacked headlights. Rumor has it that the 1965 GTO’s fluted taillights were the most expensive ever produced (hear that, Rolls-Royce?) and fortunately, this car’s units are in excellent condition, as is the matching center section between them, which appears to be an outstanding original piece. Of course, you also get all the proper GTO emblems, the “6.5 LITRE” badges (a little Euro influence was always part of the GTO mystique), and a cool “Hurst Equipped” reminder on the deck lid. This is unquestionably the finest early GTO we’ve ever seen.

Just like the build sheet says, this one has a black bucket seat interior flanking a restored center console. Of course, everything is new, from the unique Pontiac diagonally-stitched seat covers to the carpets to the door panels to the headliner, and it’s all in pretty much new condition. The wood-rimmed steering wheel lends another European touch and warms up the otherwise monochromatic driver’s compartment and works well with the faux wood on the dash. The factory gauges covered only the basics, and experts will note a tachometer now lives where the original clock once kept time (the clock is included with the car) as well as a pair of vintage-looking Stewart-Warner dials under the dash. The tach isn’t hooked up due to the modern MSD ignition system, but it’s brand new and ready to go if you convert the system back to original spec. The original AM/FM radio is still in place, and it has been fully rebuilt with an iPod interface and stereo output to a set of custom speakers built into the kick panels. The seller is also thoughtfully including an iPod Nano with the car, so you don’t have to wait to enjoy your own personal music. Heavy-duty rubber floor mats protect a set of show mats with GTO emblems embroidered in their faces and the lovely center console is in excellent condition with zero pitting, which was common. Even the original grab handle for the passenger is still in place and in great shape. In back, the trunk is correctly finished with spatter paint, a reproduction mat set, and a matching full-sized spare tire assembly with jack. 

Pontiac’s rugged 389 with Tri-Power induction was the top performer in 1965, skirting just under GM’s “No engines over 400 cubic inches in an intermediate” mandate, but it didn’t seem to matter. The factory rated it at 365 horsepower, which was plenty stout, but this one packs an even bigger punch. It’s a period-correct 389 block that was fully rebuilt by noted expert Ray Banyes at Victory Engines and is now cranking out somewhere between 450 and 500 horsepower. It looks quite correct with three 2-barrel carbs and their individual chrome air cleaners and matching factory valve covers, but from there it’s an entirely different story. The heads are lightweight aluminum pieces from Edelbrock, there’s a big thumping camshaft inside that gives this Goat a wicked idle and a savage mid-range punch, and Eagle rods make it bulletproof. The entire assembly was balanced and blueprinted, then carefully reassembled and painted Pontiac Turquoise to look correct under the hood. The MSD ignition system adds some bright red highlights that work rather well with the bodywork, but other than that, it might pass for a stocker at a glance. It starts easily, idles well, and runs superbly, and with under 100 hours of operating time, it’s still very, very fresh and ready to rock. 

A correct Muncie M20 wide-ratio 4-speed manual transmission rocks through the gears using that Hurst shifter and there are now 3.55 gears on a limited slip out back (the original 4.30 gears are included if you’re truly a glutton for punishment). You’ll note that the chassis is immaculately detailed in satin black and yes, those are the original floors, rockers, and trunk pan. A beautiful set of Doug’s headers (ceramic coated, of course) lead to a great-sounding Flowmaster exhaust system and a set of correct chrome split tips that keep this GTO’s secret pretty well. There’s a new gas tank out back, the brakes, steering, and suspension have all been fully rebuilt, and, well, there’s no bolt that went unturned during this restoration—you couldn’t possibly duplicate this car for twice the price if you were restoring one today. Correct Pontiac Rally I wheels are beautifully restored and fitted with correct F70-15 Firestone Wide Oval redline tires.

Fully documented with PHS papers, a reproduction window sticker, and receipts for much of the restoration work including the engine build, this is a very high-quality GTO that’s ready to enjoy at almost any level. If it carried its matching-numbers engine, it would easily be a $70,000 car, so you need to recognize that at this price, it’s a screaming bargain for the man who understands that performance and pedigrees are not mutually exclusive. This is an incredible car in every subjective category and is an absolute thrill to own, show, and drive. Don’t miss it, this is the one you’ve been waiting for. Call now!