The Pontiac GTO was not a rare car in the 1960s. Beginning as a performance option on the mid-size Tempest/LeMans in 1964, sales exploded compared to original estimates. After selling 32,000 examples in 1964, production jumped to 75,000 units in 1965. While less plentiful today, they do get scarce when you factor in one ownership with a matching numbers drivetrain and a triple carburetor set-up. That’s what we have in Vancouver, Washington, and it’s available here on craigslist for $65,000. Thanks for fielding this tip for us, Pat L.!
When you look back, the first two model years of the GTO were trendsetters. Pontiac executives sensed a need for a mid-sized, mid-priced performance car that would appeal to the young and young at heart. The car shared its new A-body platform with its also new corporate cousins the Chevy Chevelle, Oldsmobile’s F-85/Cutlass, and Buick’s Special/Skylark. Efforts were made to ensure that the engine compartment was large enough to handle whatever the powerplant experts threw at it.
You could get a 389 cubic inch V8 in these cars, either with a 4-barrel carburetor or a triple 2-barrel set-up. As further proof that the public wanted a hot car like the GTO, one out of every four that left the assembly line in 1965 had the “six-pack” arrangement (a term later used extensively by Chrysler). The seller’s machine has been well-used (160,000 miles) but it’s also been well-kept and may need nothing, although the limited photos don’t really show the car’s strong points (and weak ones, if there are any).
This is a well-documented car going back to the original invoice, MSRP options printout, and factory manuals. The 360-hp motor is backed by a 4-speed Hurst manual transmission and a new stainless steel dual exhaust system. This auto has been repainted once in its original color and we don’t see any problems with the exterior. The black interior is said to be gorgeous, but the seller is short on photos to support that claim. It’s said to be a great running car that should be worth more than the asking price.
Boy what’s with all these 65 GTO’s coming up for sale ?
And an allegedly ‘1’ owner example to boot…
In the day, they were called “three deuces” where I come from (Chicago)
As a former ‘Chi-Town Strut’ I agree, “three duces” was the correct term and don’t forget the occasional ‘eight Aces” that some Olsmobile guy showed up at Skips drive-in on a Saturday night.
I have always thought that GM’s triple two barrel carburetors were called tri-power.
3 deuces and a 4 speed and a 389
Pontiac called it tri-power in their brochures but three deuces was the popular street vernacular.
That is 100% correct!