If you have a classic car you plan on selling, several strategies are available to guarantee buyer interest. One is to provide excellent photos that grab their attention. Another is to list that highly desirable classic with No Reserve. That is the approach taken by the seller of this 1964 Pontiac GTO. It presents superbly following a meticulous restoration and appears to need nothing. The bidding has been frantic since they listed it here on eBay in Fallbrook, California. It has pushed the price to $25,800, and with No Reserve in play, a new home is only days away for this classic.

There’s a bit to unpack with this GTO, and I will stick out my neck and state that I believe it represents a refurbishment rather than a genuine restoration. There are several reasons for my thinking, including the fact it no longer wears its factory paint shade. The Tag confirms it rolled off the line resplendent in Code J Pinehurst Green, changing to its current Aquamarine during the build. The work was completed under the supervision of the seller’s late father, who was focused on reproducing the car he drove in high school. He didn’t shortcut the build, having the body acid dipped to return it to bare metal. The work was completed in 1991 by a gentleman called Duane Mayer. If that name sounds familiar, Mr. Mayer worked as the Shop Foreman for the legendary Boyd Coddington. He appeared in all five seasons of the TV series American Hot Rod and now runs his own shop. With the body devoid of paint and sound-deadening material, it was returned to a rust-free state before receiving its new color. They added a Black vinyl top for contrast, and the effect is impressive. The paint shines deeply, with no evidence of significant flaws or defects. The same is true of the panels and vinyl, although one small rust spot requires attention. It is developing under the trim below the vinyl on one rear pillar, and addressing it before it deteriorates further would be wise. The car’s overall condition is easy to understand when we learn it has only clocked 1,600 miles since it emerged from its refurbishment in 1991. Apart from that one problem, it remains clean and solid. The underside shots confirm the floors wear the correct red oxide undercoat and that there is no evidence of rust. The chrome and glass are as spotless as the rest of the exterior, and the Torq Thrust wheels perfectly suit the car’s character.

One glance at the interior confirms that the GTO hasn’t seen much action since the build ended. The Turquoise vinyl upholstery is perfect, with no evidence of wear or UV damage. The same is true of the carpet and dash, and it wouldn’t stretch credibility to state that it wouldn’t look out of place in a showroom. I think the wheel is a later addition, although the rest of the equipment is as it left the factory. The new owner won’t drown in optional extras, but the factory AM radio should reduce boredom on long journeys.

At one point, imagining the automotive landscape without Pontiac was impossible. The company was the acknowledged performance arm of the General Motors empire, producing some of the most potent and desirable cars to roll off an American production line. However, it is now nothing but a distant memory. It is widely accepted that the GTO was the first genuine muscle car, and one look at its vital statistics makes the belief understandable. Its engine bay housed a 389ci V8 that placed at least 325hp at the driver’s command. When teamed with a four-speed manual transmission, as we find in this GTO, it produced a ¼-mile ET of 14.6 seconds and a top speed of 132mph. It is unclear whether this gem is numbers-matching, but it is in excellent mechanical health. The seller clocked a few miles recently to blow out the cobwebs, making it a turnkey classic needing nothing but a new home. They say they will entertain local test drives for genuine potential buyers, which could be an offer too good to resist.

If you subscribe to the same school as me, you will view this 1964 GTO as a refurbishment rather than a restoration. That is not to criticize it because there’s no doubt the car remains as desirable in its current form as it would if returned to its original color. Despite its lack of originality, I would expect the bidding to easily pass $30,000 before the hammer falls. With those thoughts in mind, is this a car you would consider pursuing further?