Ol’ Rusty Goat: 1965 GTO

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Full restoration needed here for this “barn find condition” 1965 Pontiac GTO. It was originally teal, although little to no factory paint remains. Now it’s listed for sale here on eBay, with an opening bid of $3,500 and no reserve. The seller has the car in Jeffersonville, Indiana in case you want to evaluate transport arrangements to have it picked up.

I realize a lot of you see a lot of usable sheet metal here, as do I, but I also see a lot of work. The fact that someone thought it was a good idea to stuff filler in the hole at the bottom of the fender tells me I’m going to have to go over the car with a fine tooth comb before proceeding. The dirt mark on the tire also means it probably spent a lot of time outside–long enough for it go to that flat–which may have lowered the underbody into weeds or even to the ground. Neither are good for the bottom of the car, and as you might expect, the seller states it will need floor pan and trunk pan work.

Frankly, although there is usable metal here as well, I’d want to acid-dip this car to get all the corrosion out of the way before I proceeded. I’m lucky that there’s a place that has been doing that around here for many years and does a good job on classic cars. Of course, the major thing you should be seeing here is an engine and transmission–which are lacking. The car should have a 389 and a 3-speed (missed the song by just that much, 99) but apparently those are long gone.

The interior doesn’t look great either–what there is of it. I’ll be honest; I’d want to see more car for this amount of money. But maybe it’s worth it because it’s a GTO? I hope you Pontiac fans out there will enlighten me as to why this one is so special (beyond the fact that the seller states there were only 8,319 made in this color!) What engine and transmission would you install that ISN’T a late model GM LS package–I’m tired of that universal solution!

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Comments

  1. Al

    Almost 1 hour and no comments.
    I like the Studebaker better. Just need a teardrop trailer with a 6ft 7in ceiling.

    Like 1
    • Vern

      The Pontiac needs to be authenticated thru PHS before bidding. I bought one like that after it was verified as a GTO. I did the acid dip and so forth. Big costly project to say the least.

      Like 0
      • Barzini

        This one does have the 5N on the data plate, which generally indicates it had the GTO option. However, I agree PHS is the way to go on any GTO you are thinking about buying.

        Like 0
  2. Al

    Over two hours ! & no comments, WOW!!

    Like 0
  3. JW

    I would love this car if it wasn’t so much work as my first muscle car was a 65 goat, midnight blue with a 389 / 4 speed. Too old to get it finished and enjoy it.

    Like 0
  4. gotboost6

    needs a 421 with fuel injection and a 6 speed tranny. Chevy motors don’t belong in Pontiacs, only fords to make them go faster.

    Like 0
    • Rocco in Florida

      I know a guy that put a Ford 351C in a ’66-’67 Nova to make that chebby go faster, and it was MUCH faster than any 350 chebby around.

      Like 0
  5. motoring mo

    Too much work. Pass!

    Like 0
  6. Gene

    It is a post car

    Like 0
  7. DW

    While I love GTO’s, I find it’s less costly brethren like the Tempest and the LeMans to be just as sexy without the crazy price tags. Not sure I’d buy a $3500 shell when you can find a nice running and similar Lemans for that price.

    Like 0
  8. Jim

    421, multiple carbs and a stick!! These one year bodies are nice and they seem few compared to 66 and later ones that turn up at every show.

    Like 0
  9. Jeffro

    How about this under the hood? Plenty of power here! Atleast it’s not a SBC

    Like 0
  10. erikj

    Looks like a real gto, and seller states it has phs doc,s and title. I think it is pretty rusty, but I have seen a lot worse . given what people pay these days If you could get it for 3500 or not much over that its what people will pay for it.
    Hope it gets saved, real ones are rare and lots of $$ when done.

    Like 0
  11. Jerry HW Brentnell

    heres a off the wall idea buy this, go find a 65 elcamino, and build your self a 65 pontiac gto truck, I saw one done years ago by a body shop! i had the gto dash interior, 421 2x4s 4 gear, they used lemans wagon tail lights, this thing was that good It could have come down the assembly line at pontiac!

    Like 0
    • Jeffro

      Have any pics? I’d love to see that!

      Like 0

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