Rebuilt 389ci/M20 4-Speed Trans/New Suspension/Beautiful Paint & Interior

1965 Pontiac GTO Convertible

In early 1963 a team of engineers and designers got together at Pontiac and decided to focus more on street racing and power. The Tempest had been in production for a bit, and a more “muscular” powerful car was needed. Hence the acronym GTO or Grand Tempest Option became the code for the secret new development that would take place. John DeLorean actually claims the GTO came from the Italian Gran Turismo Omologato or Grand Touring Homologated (certified) which in reality the car was never meant for grand touring, but to be the fastest straight line Pontiac produced.

For consignment, a 3 owner car, most of its time spent in the hands of the original buyer who did the restoration and upgrades. A rebuilt non original engine, some x-tras added for power, new weather stripping, some new floor panels and a few body parts replaced, now all rust free. Interior shows a deluxe modern console and instrument panel, within a dash that keeps some of its original albeit...a fine mix of both new and old.

Exterior
Stacked dual headlights, a split horizontal grille, a small “beak” in front, GTO badging, nice chrome bumper, scooped hood, straight steel side slabs all bathed in Fontaine Metallic Blue paint best describes the beginnings of this car. Carrying on, a new black canvas convertible top, with no faults and a clear plastic rear window, and moving up and down flawlessly covers the passengers …or not. Bringing up the rear are the horizontal ribbed bezeled taillights in the flared at the edges rear vertical deck, just below the trunk lid covering a NYC 2-bedroom apartment sized trunk. Another pristine chromed bumper below, and on all 4 corners 18-inch Pontiac rallye wheels with deep dish trim wrapped in new low profile rubber. Overall slight scratches and the usual wear for the paint, but it remains beautiful.

Interior
Inside Black Strato bucket seats in black vinyl are installed. These have tuck and roll inserts with angled black inserts and are embossed in and have the Pontic arrowhead logo also embossed in the centers of the backs of all seats. Smooth bolsters and black piping as a border with some chromed side trimmings for the hinges. The rear bench stretches across the back of the car and offers up plenty of pristine seating for 3 adults. A center console in simplistic 1960's styling in ribbed metal covering black plastic molded in the hump, sneaks by a tall Hurst shifter with a white knob topper. The dash front is new for housing a trio of white faced round Dolphin/Shark gauges on a smooth black panel. A deluxe wood steering wheel is fronting this newly minted dash. Black carpeting is the floor covering. Noted all new weather stripping, some sound deadening.

Drivetrain
Under the hood is a fully restored, painted in a beautiful metallic turquoise engine block showing up at 389 cubes, and is circa 1965/1966 (YC stamping). It is rated at 290hp and on top is a single 4-barrel carburetor, which is an Edelbrock 850cfm version and is on top of an Edelbrock intake manifold. A Muncie M20 4-speed manual transmission is now on back, with a 10-bolt rear. A transistorized ignition, new wires, and radiator and heater core. All looking great with chromed valve covers, and chromed master cylinder.

Undercarriage
No surface rust on suspension parts or anywhere, very structurally sound with no invasive rust, solid framing, good rockers and new floor pans as well as a trunk pan and fuel tank. Independent coil springs for the front with power disc brakes, and 4 link with coil springs for the rear with power drums are on this car. Seen also is a flow through style exhaust and turbo muffler system.

Drive-Ability
A wonderful experience as described by our decoder and test driver. She handles great, accelerates like a 290hp car should, and has strong bias free brakes. Interior is fully functional, and all buttoned up the seating and surfaces. New gauges are a plus for sure! Plenty of get up and go.

A 3 owner car, two of them long term family owners, all of them taking great care in the maintenance and refreshing department for this car. All is looking just fine for the exterior, interior, and drivetrain which is very special under that long hood. A great design year as Pontiac was just coming into its own on the muscle car front.

VIN DECODE
237675B116414
2-Pontiac
37-Lemans
67-2 Door Convertible
5-1965
B-Baltimore, MD Assy Plant
116414-Sequential Unit Number

TRIM TAG
02D-4th Week February Build
ST 65 23637-1965 Lemans 2 Door Convertible, GTO Option
BDY B2452-Baltimore Body #
TRM 213-Black
PNT N1-Burgundy, White Convertible Top