Aside from her 1995 Mercury Villager, I think my mom would gladly re-own any of the cars she’s had in the past. At the top of that list, however, would be her first car — a 1965 Pontiac GTO. I don’t blame her. Hers was finished in a very muscle car-y Montero Red over black interior with a less muscle car-y automatic transmission, but it would certainly be fun to wax nostalgic in it at this point in her life. Since nobody knows where that car ended up, this looks like a good one for her to consider. An anonymous Barn Finds reader sent in this one that they found here on eBay. Located in Martinsville, New Jersey, 41 bids have pushed the current bid price of this no reserve auction to $30,850.
The seller purchased this 39,800 original mile GTO from the original owner’s daughter. She inherited it upon her father’s passing in 2016 and it remained parked in the garage since. This GTO was quite familiar with that garage spot, as it was reportedly garaged its entire life and waxed weekly — and it shows. The seller notes several times there is no rust anywhere, which must be quite uncommon for a 55-year old car from New Jersey. This GTO has a more executive than muscle car feel thanks to the Bluemist Slate paint and black vinyl roof paired with the wheel covers with spinners.
There’s something about the all black vinyl interior that I find very inviting. Maybe it’s the bit of woodgrain around the instrument cluster and wood steering wheel, but it doesn’t really matter — I could see myself logging plenty of miles in this one. The seller describes the interior as “original and like new,” noting the seats, door panels, and dash show no cracks, marks, or blemishes.
You’ll see this numbers-matching 389 is equipped with a tri-power setup. However, this was not an original tri-power car. The seller admits they are not a mechanic, so they have made no mechanical repairs to the car and have not attempted to start it. The original owner’s daughter said her father would routinely start the car and let it run for a bit. The seller has invited potential buyers to view the car in person prior to auction end, so hopefully that can answer some mechanical questions.
This is my favorite year GTO. The addition of the stacked headlights to the clean body lines of the 1964 model, was just what the GTO needed. I also like original cars, so when the seller says, “if you are looking for an original GTO please consider this one,” I feel as if they’re talking directly to me. Since there’s already other projects in my garage and, more importantly, my pockets aren’t nearly deep enough, I’m not ready to make a move on this one, but hopefully one of our Barn Finds readers is.
What a beauty!
One of my all time favorite muscle cars
The only thing I’d change is to put some Rally 2 rims and white letter BFG’s
When new, almost all I ever saw were wheel covers, on these, and most other cars too. Dealers wanted gold for factory wheels. There were some really nice wheel covers at a fraction of styled wheels cost.
👍
Looked at the Ebay listing. It has the reverb switch
My friends mom had a 67 Catalina wagon with reverb
At 15 we used to love hitting the dash and listening to that spiderweb crashing type noise come out of the speaker
Another great addition to an awesome car
I had the ’65 LeMans with 326 in this color. Fool that I am sold it when in college. Wish I had this, but like others, too many projects, no money! The 240Z comes first, hopefully working on it this year!
I don’t like stacked headlights at all, but this thing is a sweetheart and has definitely been loved. There is no mention of the transmission, but it looks like an automatic? No matter. I want this just because of what it is! Just a quick change of wheels and tires, make sure all the fluids are good, and down the road!! Great car.
Window sticker shows it as an automatic. Awesome car.
If you look at the pictures in the ebay add, the window stickers says Lemans and the dealer invoice says Tempest. Is this a real GTO?
Yes GTO was an option package until 1966 was its only model thru 71 when it reverted back to being an option package
I have the window sticker from the GTO that my father bought in 1965. It was listed as a Tempest and the GTO package was
shown on the sticker as an option.
Nice but would be worth the money if it ran…….
.
Wow. Just right. If this was a factory A/C car I would do all I could to insure that it was mine. Oh well, the others are safe I suppose. For now anyway. Lots of stuff coming out of the woodwork.
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Nice 65, but I wonder what transmission is in it… the shifter is not original, it appears to me to be a Hurst Dual Gate. They were available in 1967 and 1968. It’s likely the original 2 speed was replaced, which as a driver, would be a plus. I would go back to the original shifter with the modified detent that is commonly available to keep the stock look intact. Other than adding Rally l wheels, a brake upgrade (dual master and front discs) and painting that back panel trim, good to go!
I saw the shifter also, probably swapped in a 400 trani, which is for the best, nice car
Of all the pics in the eBay ad, I love the one with the Gold Seal Glass Wax in it..I wish they still made that stuff!! It worked fantastic-And you could use it to ‘snow’ your house windows during Christmas season!!
Oh, and the car is an absolutely loaded beauty!!!
I remember now doing the window thing as a kid! What a great flashback, Thanks!
Good Lord what a car. That thing is treeee mendous.
I’m surprised at the bidding on this car… $34,300 with a day to go on the auction. That is strong $$ for a car that does not currently run, and no mention if the engine turns over or not. If it’s been sitting for 4 years or so, it is likely ok. Strong $$ for a “survivor” car with a non-original Tri-Power, although certainly desirable setup. As I mentioned earlier, I’m willing to bet the trans has been replaced, as the shifter is not original either.
My father bought a Tri- Power GTO in 1965 It was a beautiful car and had the reverb radio. I was a junior in high school and he occasionally let me drive it to school. I was the king of the parking lot with that car. I was sitting at the stop light in front of the school and an idiot in an old Ford rear ended me. He hit me so hard that it bent the frame and buckled both quarter panels. That was the last time I was allowed to drive it. I had to go back to driving my six cylinder 1955 Chevy Bel Air.
wow!
Beautiful machine. Sure wish I could bring it home.
My only concern is those pics all appear to be many years old – as in pre-digital. Or am I seeing it wrong?
It says 389 4bbl carb did he add the trip set up
It says in the ebay ad “The Tri-power set up is not original but was added.”
Sold at almost 40 grand. Stop me if I’ve told this story before.
When I came to Cali in 1978 I bought a ’64 Le Mans Convertible with the 326 and a slushbox in canary yellow. Drove it down to SoCal from Nor Cal to go to graduate school. I paid $700.00 bucks for it.
When I hit the 101 in LA, I pulled into a gas station. There at the pumps was a silver haired gentleman dressed in tennis togs driving a Rolls Royce. Being a kid I snickered when a young fair haired, lithe , young man , similarly dressed, popped out of the passenger side. The silver haired gentleman was the noted humanitarian and entrepreneur on steroids, Merv Griffin. Didnt catch the young mans name.
My canary yellow 64 Le Mans was groaning under the weight of a small U-haul and all of a sudden I felt weird as if I had rolled onto a TV set; never was one for the celebrity worship deal..
Anyway, 42 years later, and far from Hollywood I couldn’t imagine having done it any other way :)
Wish I had the convertible though !
Leave it as is, don’t ruin it. Beautiful car.
I agree
Jonny Collier,
Your mom’s GTO was almost the twin to mine.
Same color Montero red with black interior. Big difference was, mine was the 4sp with Hurst shifter.
I can understand why your mom had an automatic. With all due respect, to her, many women couldn’t drive a stick back then.The after market vibe sound went in after I got it. We didn’t have stereo back then. The radio needed help.
Yes, the ’64, ’65 GTO, were Tempests with the GTO package. Sticker on my ’65 was $3200 OTD. I believe the GTO option was $200.