UPDATE 03/24/2025: Over three months have passed since we last saw this 1965 Pontiac 2+2 Convertible, and it seems that the seller is still trying to shift it to a new home. The only thing that has changed is the price. It still presents impressively, featuring the beautiful 421ci V8 under the hood. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finders T.J. for the original lead on this classic, and Michell G. for spotting that it is back on the market. The seller has listed the Pontiac here on Craigslist in Simi Valley, California, and their approach is slightly unusual. After failing to secure a sale at $59,500, they have raised the price to $61,500.
12/16/2024: Everyone has “the one that got away,” whether it’s a person or a car. Mine is a Mayfair Maize ’65 Catalina Ventura Sport Coupe with black buckets and a 389. It was the early 2000s and I was in my early 20s; although the car was cheap and rust-free, it just wasn’t the right time. And it’s pretty much the only car I regret passing up (it even had eight-lug wheels, ouch!). Therefore, anytime I see a pale yellow ’65 Pontiac, those pangs of dismay stick deep. Luckily for me, this 2+2 is well outside of my price range, although this is a well-optioned ragtop in what the seller describes as “Concours condition.”
Unfortunately, the advertisement includes no pictures of the 2+2’s standard 338-horsepower 421, but there is a reproduction window sticker and Pontiac Historical Services documentation. Additionally, it’s a one-owner car (according to the ad). If the information on the sticker is correct, this Pontiac was built and sold in California, a sunshiny state for a car that was born for sunny days.
In essence, the 2+2 was a bigger GTO with a name that some found equally heretical. “GTO” and “2+2” conjured up images of sporting Ferraris, not bread-and-butter Pontiacs, but that was the magic of John DeLorean, Jim Wangers, and all who made Pontiac such a singular make in the 1960s. And the 2+2 wasn’t a paper tiger (as the ads might have said); in addition to the 421, it got upgraded suspension, bucket seats, and dual exhaust, among other things. This one has the optional Turbo Hydramatic transmission (wouldn’t a four-speed be cool?), console, and power windows.
It was all surrounded by styling that Uncle Tom McCahill from Mechanix Illustrated called the best in the industry, save for perhaps the Buick Riviera. Although the big Pontiacs looked a little more substantial in ’65, the swoops and swells so loved by Bill Mitchell and his band of designers hid the car’s bulk. The lower bodyline made the car look about a foot lower than it was, and the Pontiac design cues such as the split grille and ironing board hood said “Pontiac” without becoming cliche.
I’d take mine as a coupe with eight-lugs, but if you have the scratch, this looks like a Pontiac to behold. If you buy it, don’t tell me. I’m already envious.
Pretty, pretty, pretty cool as Larry David might have said. This car must have made the boys at Buick or at least Olds nervous. That interior is upscale in a sixties kind of way. But too rich for my blood.
I owned a GM reps. Special order 1965 Pontiac wagon it had a 421 with a 4spd. and the 8 lug wheels I think I only paid $600 for it.
Boy I wish I still had it.
That is one for the Poncho history books Jim! Hindsight is an interesting thing, isn’t it? I wish you still had that wagon too!
Wild. Is this it here?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-8T75gA6ZRM&pp=0gcJCfcAhR29_xXO
’65 and ’66 were my two favorite years for full size Pontiacs. I’m kind of surprised it wasnt ordered with the 8 lugs, but back then I believe a lot more Pontiacs were running around with out then, then there are now. My Dad had a new 64 Catalina 2 door hartop and then a 66 Bonneville 2 door hardtop. He just had wheel covers and steel wheels on both of them. This is 2+2 -is sweet, this wouldn’t normally be my first color choice, but on a drop top with a white interior I think it looks great. Too bad its almost 60 grand and we just couldn’t get it for the sticker price.
I’d changed the wheel tire combo but other than that personal preference, it looks like a nice car from what I can see. Why, oh, why, though…no pics of the engine compartment? C’mon, man! We want to see the 421. Almost 2025 and it still behooves me why sellers will not include pertinent pics and or details of the vehicle they are selling. CL allows 24 pics. This seller had four spots left. Just enough to include engine compartment, trunk compartment, undercarriage and PHS docs.
Who doesn’t love the Catalina. 🏁
This is what ‘wide tracking’ was all abouit
I’m calling mismatched paint on the passenger door.
Yeah, I’d be cursing myself out for letting this go too…Special Pontiac
Looks like a dressed up Catalina to me. My ’65 was Teal with a white convertible top and was probably the best looking car I ever owned. Ran good too.Bought it new at the Poncho dealer in Montgomery, Alabama and took it to Boomershine Pontiac in Atlanta, where I lived, to get skirts installed on the back wheels. At the time only the Bonneville came with skirts from the factory but they were the same size wheel opening as the Catalina. This car would look very nice with the skirts. Wish I still had a picture of the car never mind the car itself.
Skirts would look great on a Bonneville, they add to the luxury look. On a 2+2, which is marketed as a sporty model, they look better without. This car wearing skirts with the existing wheel/tire package would appear to have an identity crisis, in my opinion. Gorgeous car, but I’ve never been a fan of yellow cars with a white interior, but I could make an exception! I had a friend in high school that had a 67 442 in Saffron yellow, yellow pearl interior and a yellow convertible top. It looked way better than it sounds.
This car is beautimus. Some old boy will remember his first backseat romance at the drive-in theater and buy it.
For that crazy amount of jingle. They say. Wet dreams happen for a reason.
Have fun ya’all!
Not to rub it in, but I had a friend who had a friend who had a brand new ’65 2+2 HT in Maize with a 421 and a 3-speed on the floor. Being 15 and getting a ride in it was a real blast. That car pulled HARD. Same feeling I got when I rode in a Buick Regal GNX for the first time.
Overpriced but beautiful car, missing the 4speed.
I have a 1964 Pontiac Catalina convertible in Alamo Beige, but I wish I could have this for my ride. Very nice car, but it’s also out of my price range. It is good to see the prices finally going up for the big Pontiacs.
In about 1976 I picked up a 65 2+2 421, tripower, 4 spd conv that was orignally yellow but was white top, white interior and then while exterior. Had the 8 bolt wheels too. I paid $2600 and had it for almost 2 months when the ex wife put it into a telephone pole while out drinking. yep, lost the car and dumped the wife. Sure miss that car.
I got one of those for my wife too. Best trade ever!!! 🤣
What a beautiful car. That’s a boatload of money, but this is a very nice car. If this thing had a 4 speed and tri-power for the same money, I would be really tempted to take a shot at it. My sister had a boyfriend that had a Buick Wildcat 4 speed and a friend in college had a ’66 427 4 speed Caprice so I’m a sucker for luxury boats with 4 speeds.
Yup, the one that got away alright. From 2010 thru 2014 or so, I had a 1965 2+2 convertible with the original 421 and auto trans. It had been stored in a barn with a dirt floor, so while it was drivable for short distances, it needed metal work underneath (gas-tank-strap and radiator supports are overrated, no?). Three kids meant that work was never going to get done, so I sold it to a retired GM engineer who could restore it.
Beautiful car. Too bad that I can’t afford it. In 1965, I was sweet on a girl about 10 years younger than I, who was the proud owner of one of these (different colour, though). I was tooling-around in a 1946 Ford V-8 Super Deluxe at the time: she kind-of out-classed me. She was drop-dead pretty, too, ashy-blonde hair, with one blue eye and one green eye. It never happened, but we still keep in touch, and she has enjoyed a good life. The Pontiac, however, is long gone (no idea what she drives now — I haven’t asked).
Beautiful car. Too bad that I can’t afford it. In 1965, I was sweet on a girl about 10 years younger than I, who was the proud owner of one of these (different colour, though). I was tooling-around in a 1946 Ford V-8 Super Deluxe at the time: she kind-of out-classed me. She was drop-dead pretty, too, ashy-blonde hair, with one blue eye and one green eye. It never happened, but we still keep in touch, and she has enjoyed a good life. The Pontiac, however, is long gone (no idea what she drives now — I haven’t asked).
Were any 2+2s true 4-seaters as the name would imply? Maybe just the first year (?). This obviously has a rear bench seat.
I have no problem with bench seats…
I think it means 2 door 2 bucket seats doesn’t it?
That is indeed the true definition of a “2+2”.
Catalina.. Great car… And a fine 👌 salad 🥗 dressing too. 👍
If I had 60 Grand I’d buy that car today Don’t let it Go for anything less that is a gorgeous car
Growing up, I remember seeing a ’66 hardtop in this same color WITH the fender skirts, and it was a screaming BEAUTY!!
To me, Pontiacs consistently had the most distinctive and fetching front ends of any brand at any time. This face is tops on my list.! …Wish it was thirty to forty years ago when it would have likely sold for a few hundred $$
Very nice driver quality 2+2. No 4 Speed or tri power though, A fair deal for the buyer and seller @ $40ish k.
The wheels and silly mufflers give it that 2nd owner vibe of sniffing a tidy profit…..
No Safe-T-Track and no 4-speed = no dice.
So did I read that correctly, didn’t sell so they raised the price, hmmm. Alright pretty sweet cruiser, but it is an auto, with a 4bbl so raise the price?
I completely agree! The sellers logic escapes me. It’s a super cool car, but it was overpriced to start with, so they decided to raise the price?
Overpriced driver..
Needing a new shed.
Period…
That really is a beautiful car. Ya, the price is high but it’s the best looking 65 I have ever seen except for the new one I had back in 65. Lets face it the car is only worth as much as you can get for it. Somebody with deep pockets who really wants this car, and who wouldn’t, will buy it and establish a new high for really nice car and enjoy the heck out of it. It’s a shame that ‘somebody’ isn’t me.