Deep Paint/Original 389vi V8/M20 4-Speed Manual/Beautiful Interior/Factory Tach

1965 Pontiac GTO Coupe

The Pontiac GTO was introduced to America in September 1963. And with that, Pontiac had taken its heroic racing battle off the track and brought it to the street where it would once again do battle against archrivals Ford, Mopar, and even Chevrolet. The ultimate muscle car superhero was born.

For consignment, a Starlight Black version of the second-year goat in the form of a 1965 Pontiac GTO. With its original engine in 389ci V8 form, dual stacked headlights and Pontiac “beak” this grocery getter looker is a hidden cooker. Nice chrome trimmings throughout highlight the starlight and some snappy red line tires complete the “utilitarian look”.

Exterior
Starlight Black, which is the diving board deep end of the pool, bathes straight well minded gapped steel panels throughout. A “whale nostril” styled hood scoop frames the top of the “beaked” grille flanked on either side by stacked headlights and in the center the Pontiac arrowhead in chrome. Some shiny stainless rocker trimmings are noted as are gleaming window surrounds and badges, handles and mirrors. A long trunk lid leads us to the rear of this classic and here we see horizontal ribbed wrap around tail lighting with a Pontiac center badged ribbed aluminum panel. 14-inch PMD wheel covers are wrapped by like new red line radials.

Interior
Just beautifully preserved inside with all the trappings of mid 1960s red vinyl design. This includes door panels which have a concentric square pattern with red carpeting below and a painted sill above. Nice GTO badging is attached, and shiny actuators and window cranks are seen with a red vinyl covered and chromed armrest. Seats are awaiting your arrival and looking great while doing so. These are low back wide buckets, which have angled tuck and roll red vinyl inserts and smooth red bolsters and an embossed arrowhead in the middle of each seat back. A bit of chromed trimming has been added to each side at the back corners of these chairs. In back a corresponding bench stretches across and affords plenty of roomy comfort for the extra passengers. Up front a clean original dash with an angled wood grained instrument cluster containing some gauges, a speedo and a tachometer from the factory. Above is a padded dash top which creates an “awning” to shade the wood grained instrument cluster. Just below is more horizontal ribbed chrome with knobs and pulls and the factory radio. A beautifully shiny red 2 spoke steering wheel is fronting this original dash. Racing up through the center of the buckets is a nice ribbed console which houses a Hurst white knobbed shifter. A lockable storage compartment is in the back portion of this console. Nice red, like new (and it might just be), carpeting is on all the floors and above is a slightly wavy headliner in smooth red vinyl. A shout to the trunk which is fully restored, painted with trunk liner paint and has a small vinyl mat covering the floor.

Drivetrain
In 1965 engines were not vin stamped, but with the codings we can glean off this clean and restored engine, it points to being a correct engine for this car. It is a 389ci V8 and with a 9778789 casting number, making it a 1965-66 389ci V8. Also, the stamped serial number is WT which is a 1965 389ci V8 4bbl 335hp mill. On back is a circa 1966/67 Muncie M20 4-speed manual transmission which joins up with a 10-bolt 3.23 posi rear axle. This is all sitting peacefully within a fully restored engine bay, pristine blue block, intake manifold, chromed valve covers, air cleaner cover, and all supple hoses and wiring.

Undercarriage
Just beautifully buttoned up, clean black floor pans framing and rockers. A new gas tank and shiny exhaust is peppering all this clean black metal. Drum brakes are on all 4 corners.

Drive-Ability
She fired right up and was off in a flash to the test track. Here it did nicely and has smooth acceleration, easy shifting, and even good handling despite those thin rubbers all around.

A nicely restored inside and outside 65 Goat. Great mechanicals and overall a very nice example in the right color for this car.

VIN DECODE
237375B128967
2-Pontiac
37-Lemans
37-2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
5-1965
B-Baltimore, MD Assy Plant
128967-Sequential Unit Number

TRIM TAG
06A-1st Week June Build
ST 65 23737-1965 Lemans 2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
BDY BAL14371-Baltimore Body #
TR 216-Red Vinyl
PNT AA-Starlight Black