400/4-Speed: 1965 Pontiac GTO

Many people consider the Pontiac GTO to be the father of the muscle car. Tidy examples, especially early cars, are highly-sought and can command some astronomical prices. This 1965 GTO is not a factory spec car, but it should offer winning performance to its new owner. It presents nicely and has no immediate needs. The owner has put a lot of time and effort into ensuring that this car goes, stops, and handles in a way that would satisfy most enthusiasts. It needs a new home, so the owner has listed it for sale here on eBay. Located in Waukesha, Wisconsin, he has set the auction to open at $22,500 with No Reserve. However, there have been no bids submitted at the time of writing.

The GTO first broke cover in 1964 but received a restyle in 1965 that added more than 3″ to its overall length and provided the model with a sharper appearance. The GTO was a “toe in the water” model for the company in the first year, but sales exceeded expectations. The situation improved in 1965, with 75,342 buyers prepared to hand over their cash to park a new GTO in their driveway. The rarest of these was the Coupe, with 8,319 cars rolling off the showroom floors. This GTO is one of those vehicles, and it presents nicely. My first impression was that it was cloaked in Reef Turquoise paint, but the listing text set me straight. The owner indicates that it is a shade from the 1990s Ford color palette, and I believe it could be Ford’s Code RD Teal. The seller has been this Pontiac’s custodian for ten years, and I suspect the change may have occurred under his watch. It presents reasonably well, with a beautiful shine. The owner indicates that he rates the panels and paint as a 6.5/10, with flaws and chips visible on closer inspection. The panels are straight, and I can’t spot any obvious signs of rust. The owner describes the car as being 95% rust-free. He doesn’t indicate where any rust could be hiding, but he does say there might be Bondo in the rear quarter panels. The supplied underside shots reveal floors and a frame with little more than the occasional spot of surface corrosion. With the trunk pan appearing perfect, this GTO seems structurally sound. However, given the owner’s admission that the buyer may have some issues to tackle, an in-person inspection would seem to be justified. The chrome and glass are in better than average condition for a vehicle of this age, while the GTO rolls on a tidy set of 14″x7″ KS Rally II wheels.

Even in its most basic form, the 1965 GTO offered power and performance that satisfied most buyers. Its 389ci V8 produced 335hp, and with a three-speed manual transmission bolted to the back of that glorious V8, the Pontiac could blast through the ¼ mile in 14.5 seconds. I would love to tell you that this GTO is numbers-matching, but that isn’t the case. The 400ci motor that now calls this engine bay home is of 1967 vintage and is loaded with upgrades to increase the driver’s motoring fun. The changes include a set of #15 cylinder heads equipped with guide plates and roller rockers. Helping spent gases exit the engine effectively are ceramic-coated headers and a 2½” Flowmaster H-pipe exhaust system. It would be reasonable to expect this engine to churn out more power than the stock unit, but there’s no point having all of that power if it can’t be effectively transferred to the road. Therefore, it feeds through a four-speed manual transmission to a 10-bolt Posi rear end. Driving duties should be made easier thanks to the inclusion of power steering, while the owner has upgraded the barely adequate drum brakes to power front discs. The owner seems to have tackled this build as a total package because he also added QA1 upper adjustable and Hotchkis lower control arms. He claims that it drives well and that the buyer could enjoy the vehicle while undertaking any future restoration work.

The GTO’s interior looks quite tidy, trimmed in Black vinyl. The upholstered surfaces show no visible wear or physical damage, and the wood-rimmed wheel adds a classy touch. The owner recently added a new carpet set, and the only cosmetic issue he identifies is what he describes as a crack in the dash. Nothing is visible in the supplied shots, so it isn’t clear where the issue lies. If it is in the pad, that is not a huge problem. Replacements are readily available and sell for around $200. If the flaw is anywhere else, your guess will be as good as mine regarding the cost of repairs. Beyond that single cosmetic issue, there are a few functional items for the buyer to consider. The interior features Rally gauges, which aren’t connected. The same is true of the radio, the rear-mounted power antenna, and the horn. Thes items may require the attention of an auto electrician, but the buyer could potentially tackle them if they have prior experience with issues of this type.

This 1965 Pontiac GTO has undergone a series of modifications designed to make it a total package for its next owner. However, those modifications and the color change may account for the lack of bidding action. In unmodified form, a ’65 GTO in the type of condition displayed by our feature car would easily command a value of $30,000. There is one factor with this classic that may be worth considering. If you are an enthusiast who is not greatly concerned about originality, it could be worth monitoring the auction. If there is no further action, it opens the prospect of someone becoming this GTO’s new owner by dropping a single bid. That is a tempting thought and one that is worth serious consideration.