Disclosure: This site may receive compensation when you click on some links and make purchases.

Rusty Goat: 1965 Pontiac GTO Hardtop

rust-goat-1965-pontiac-gto

The history of the Muscle Car is a topic of much debate, but for many enthusiasts the first true muscle car was Pontiac’s GTO. The Goat made its debut in 1964 as a performance option for the Tempest, but was so successful that shortly thereafter it became a model all its own. The 1965 Pontiac GTO you see above runs and drives, but needs work. It is being sold here on eBay, where the seller claims it is a true survivor.

rust-goat-1965-pontiac-gto-interior

While this Goat may run and drive, it is going to need some work to make it enjoyable to use. As you can see the interior is looking rough, but we love the color combination. Someone obviously repainted it at some point in its current color, but it was originally Montero Red and would look great returned back to its correct color. The seller claims the engine is running great and has just underwent a tune-up. Hopefully the rusty floors and frame can still handle the 389 cui V8’s 335 hp and 431 lbs. of torque.

rust-goat-1965-pontiac-gto-rear-corner

Personally, I’m a fan of the early GTO, but this one will have to be had for the right price to be the type of project I would want to take on. It has great potential and deserves to be saved, so let’s hope the right buyer is out there. Given the rust issues, what would you be willing to pay for this Goat? And if anyone has any fond memories of tearing up the streets in a GTO, please share!

Comments

  1. Avatar Dolphin Member

    I also prefer the earlier GTO, but this one could be a decent GTO for someone who can do most of the work himself

    I’ts from NH and definitely needs metal work in the floors and likely in parts of the chassis to be able to pass a safety inspection, and with rust showing around some of the body decorations the paint should be redone or the rust will just continue. Since it was red before the repaint to blue, you would add that to the reasons to repaint the car in the original color.

    The metalwork and paint will not be cheap if it is done to a decent standard, and with a purchase price right at the reserve, which seems to be set at $12.5K, the costs will probably exceed the value of a #2 condition GTO Coupe, which the SCM Price Guide puts at $24K-$33.5K. And that doesn’t even factor in the cost of dealing with the interior or other things.

    This car seems to be caught in the middle: you can’t drive it on the road as-is because of the rust holes in the floors and chassis, but if you throw money at that and the paint you need to do it right to ever have a chance of getting your money back down the road.

    This is probably a car for someone who has the skills, energy, and space to do the work himself. Someone who can’t do the work would be better off looking for a car from CA or the Southwest that doesn’t need all the metalwork.

    Like 1
    • Avatar frank galvao

      Is this car a real gto ?. I noticed the column shift on steering area. If so they must be rare, or people changed the cars to console. thanks

      Like 0
  2. Avatar Utesman

    Even though an auto, that Super Turbine 300 was a decent hole-shot switch-pitch trans.

    Like 0
  3. Avatar twwokc

    Grandfather had a 65 tri-power Coupe as a new car. Had the exact same 64 for that matter. For years I have wantted a 64 or 65 and maybe one day I will. But not today and not this car.

    Like 0
  4. Avatar twwokc

    Looks like it had a vinyl top on it at one time.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar Herbert

    Again if they sold it by the pounds of rust they would make more then what ever the high bid is going to be! It looks like it slept in the Atlantic ocean for a few months, This coming from a fisherman that has hauled a few out in my life time.

    Like 0
  6. Avatar ConservativesDefeated

    People have lost their mind……….if they ever had one.
    These guys want 12 G’s for a rust bucket, frame challenged automatic ,color changed Goat?
    You could have bought this all day long for 1500.00 not too long ago………..lets get real here.
    Other than that…………

    Like 0
  7. Avatar HL

    I’m not saying that this not a great find but You can buy one a lot better for a lot less money and drive it home

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Scarecrow

    .. why do you call these things Goats ?

    Like 0
    • Avatar paul

      Back in the day GTO slang, was called a goat.

      Like 0
    • Avatar courtneysclassics

      there is also a saying GTO stands for gas, tires, oil GTO

      Like 0
  9. Avatar Rhett

    The ST300 is a pretty good tranny when equipped with a switch pitch converter, but unfortunately for this car that feature was only available in Buicks, Oldsmobiles and Cadillacs

    Like 0
  10. Avatar scot

    ~ ’64 is my favorite GTO, followed by ’65. certainly throws off a bunch of black smoke. smoke combined with rust issues it had better be cheap. it can be rescued but doing it correctly will be expensive, IMO.

    Like 0
  11. Avatar paul

    These cars were great drivers because they were light weight, as they became bigger heavier they lost some of that.

    The price is steep for all this car needs but I hope this car ends up in the hands of a guy with a rotisserie who takes the time to strip the car down & acid dip it, fix all the metal bits & apoxy primes it, anything short of this will be like a dog chasing it’s tail, fix one rust area & the next one will pop up.

    Like 0
    • Avatar paul

      Oh & find the console that came in these cars as an option & move the gear change to the floor.

      Like 0
  12. Avatar erikj

    To scarcrow: GTO stood for, Grand Touring Omolagoto. I also had a 64 GTO in 1985. Guy i got it from was 2nd owner since 1967.He mostly used it for weekend racing so when i got it it only had 30,000 some miles.He even set me up with the orig. onwers name and i found him. When we talked on day he said that this GTO was the 3rd one built since he went to the local dealer in the early part of 1963 with just a road and tract article about this new gto option. He special ordered it that day with the follwing: 389 with 421 heads and tri-power factory headers,4sp pozi and silver with red int. and he wanted one of the first ones built. He also had pics. of the car off loaded from the train.loaded on a carrier and pics from behind as the truck drove to the dealership. Then unloaded at the dealer. Anyway sometime in 67 while the engine was out the heads,tri-power and headers were stolen,he needed a family car so he sold it to the guy i got it from.back to 85 i had it for about 6 mounths,sold it for $1200 to some one in tacoma,wash. I beleive that was the one that i should never have let go, but back then cars like that came and went for cheap,wish i had it now and i hope someone has it and understands what a cool GTO that was. I wonder where it is???

    Like 0
    • Avatar Tricky Dickie Member

      ERIKJ……..at the very top of the eBay ad it says it in Derry NH, and not under water anymore! After seeing all the pics on eBay, I would say No…..No and most emphatically NO !!!! I doubt if this car can even BE restored before it cracks into pieces like a saltine cracker. But that’s just Me……

      Like 0
    • Avatar paul

      great story, ouch!

      Like 0
  13. Avatar D.M.K.

    I was given the wonderful opportunity of owning a 64 G.T.O. I’m sure there were faster cars out there but heads would turn when I drove by. Before that I was given a chance to drive a 64 with three duces and a three speed, yes it was a factory three speed. the only thing left to do was tune the radio to a Beatles song and look for someone to run!

    Like 0
  14. Avatar gus

    GTO is Grand Tursimo Omolagoto, this car was originally red look closely at the door frame and one side of the front grille, the blur respary is coming off and it is red underneath, good ones are very rare and $$$$

    Like 0
  15. Avatar Steve

    I have a good friend here in pa,and he still has his 64 tri power since high school and it still looks and runs beautifully

    Like 0
  16. Avatar erikj

    gus my bad, but i was close on the trisimo. Thanks Erik

    Like 0
  17. Avatar Rebote Carom

    In nearby Concord, NH there was recently a nicely restored 1965 GTO for sale for about $30K. That former California car had a great color and a 4 speed. I think you could buy a finished car like that for less than it would take to restore this one. But I hope someone with more talent and money than me takes it on. I love these cars.

    Like 0
  18. Avatar Dolphin Member

    To elaborate on Gus’ comment, GTO is short for Gran Turismo Omologato, which basically refers to a GT car that complies with ‘regulations’ and therefore is homologated for racing in some championship series.

    ‘GTO’ became well known when it was attached to the Ferrari 250 GTO when Enzo Ferrari had an argument with the FIA about whether the 250 GTO was a development of the preceeding 250 SWB. If yes, then Ferrari would meet the production numbers required to be allowed to race the car in the FIA’s Group 3 GT championship. If not, then he would not be able to use the 250 GTO to contest the Group 3 championship.

    That took place around 1962. Pontiac used the letters GTO for their new performance car even though it was not being homologated for a GT championship. It was really a naming / marketing move based on the fact that almost any car guy knew about the Ferrari GTO back then. And it worked for the Pontiac GTO, even to the point of morphing into the GTO’s nickname ‘Goat’, and then coming back in 2004 when Pontiac brought the Australian-built Holden into No America.

    Like 0
  19. Avatar Larry

    Have to say seller gives a very honest discription of the car and great pictures. When i first started looking at the pictures i thought this was a pretty nice car, but then the pictures started showing the real story. This is a good 50 50 car, looks good going 50 mph from 50 feet away. Have to agree with every one else that this would take more $$$$ to fix then it would be worth, it would have to be a labor of love.

    Like 0
  20. Avatar FRED

    GROWING UP THERE WERE TONY AND LOUIS BLASO WHO HAD 65 GOATS W389 ONE WITH TRIPOWER AND IF I’M NOT MISTAKEN THE OTHER HAD TWO FOUR BARRELS.THESE GUYS WERE ALWAYS IN TROUBLE AND ONE WEEKEND THEY BOTH GOT INTO HIGH SPEED POLICE CHASES WRECKING A COUPLE OF NYS TROOPER CARS AND KILLING A COUPLE INNOCENT PEOPLE BEFORE THE TROOPERS COULD SUT THEM DOWN. IF MY MEMORY IS CORRECT THE TROOPERS USED BELVIDERES AT THE TIME AND WHEN CATCHING THEM DID NOT GO EASY ON THE BOYS. THEY BOTH GOT LONG SENTENCES. I WONDER WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THOSE CARS?

    Like 0
  21. Avatar Just Brits

    <>

    Hate to be the “nay-ayer” – LOL – but I HAVE to say it would be just the reverse !

    Do a 99 – 100 point “back to as originally built” and take it 1st to a “Pony Show” and have judged then head straight to the Spring Barrett-Jackson auction.

    It would go the high side of 6 figures ! ! ! Why am I outta my mind you ask?? LOL

    Think about it — WHO HAS ONE ????? NOBODY ! ! !
    And for all the reasons listed above ! ! Tri-Power, Console, four speed, etc., etc. !

    EVERYBODY that finds one of (this car) these cars along with Chevelles (etc) MAKES them a clone ! ! !

    Take a Goat Clone and this car to B-J — I’ll bet on this car.
    !

    Ed

    Like 0
    • Avatar paul

      Mecum just sold a flawless mint red conv. for $55,000.

      Like 0
  22. Avatar Tom Stewart

    Wow, the rust on this car is everywhere. The quarter panel bottoms are rusted and crumbling, holes everywhere on the frame, rust under the roof, at every corner where water might collect. Maybe if you could get it cheap, and do a lot of the work yourself, it might be worth it. I’d love to see what’s left once you get it media blasted.

    Like 0
  23. Avatar Your Name

    That level of rust takes this car out of the realm of “survivor”, at least in my books.

    Like 0
  24. Avatar Brent

    That level of rust takes this car out of the realm of “survivor”, at least in my books.

    Like 0
  25. Avatar Dukeiduke

    The automatic is only a two-speed, so a manual would be a lot more desirable. The car is pretty rusty, so it’s going to need a lot of work.

    Like 0
  26. Avatar Just Brits

    Duke: I would MUCH rather have that “PowerGlide” 2-speed automatic that any GM 3 speed ! ! Can’t hardly kill it ! ! ! I had the one in one (1) if my ’59 Impala close to 90 mph in “lo” -:) -:)
    I did change the fluid shortly after THAT “stunt” ! ! LOL !

    Like 0
  27. Avatar ron fontana

    I GOT A ORIGINAL 65 3 DUCE 4 SPEED 411 POSI TIGER PAW PACKAGE HARD TOP COUP MY POPS BOUGHT OFF SHOW ROOM FLOOR IN1965! ALL FACTORY CONDITION AND PAINT WAS REDONE 12 YEARS AGO BACK TO SEA MIST GREEN! Turned 13.50 stock in 65 with 7 1/2 cheater slicks

    Like 0

Leave A Comment

RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.

Become a member to add images to your comments.

*

Get new comment updates via email. Or subscribe without commenting.