Early GTOs don’t come along every day, and when they do, they usually bring a mix of promise and uncertainty. This 1964 Pontiac GTO is very much that kind of car—a project with real muscle car roots that’s now looking for someone ready to see it through. It’s listed here on eBay, thanks for the tip Mitchell G.!
According to the seller, this is a genuine GTO equipped from the factory with a 4-speed manual transmission. The car is being sold out of a family estate, and while formal documentation is not available, it is represented as a GTO and carries a clean title in the seller’s name. The odometer shows 78,777 miles, though mileage should be considered unknown given the car’s project status.
The body is described as being in solid condition for its age, with very little rot, and the frame is said to be in excellent shape. That’s a critical starting point for any early A-body restoration, especially one intended to return to the road rather than become a long-term stalled project. Original bumpers, windows, and the front windshield are included, along with various other parts that reportedly come with the sale.
Power comes in the form of a 389 cubic-inch Pontiac V8 that is included with the car. The seller notes that the engine previously ran, though it is paired with an automatic transmission rather than the factory 4-speed. That detail suggests the next owner will need to decide whether to pursue originality, source correct components, or take a more flexible approach depending on goals and budget. Bucket seats are also included, and many of the removed components are said to be boxed up.
As with many estate-sale vehicles, the history is incomplete. The seller is upfront about relying on what they were told and what remains with the car, rather than presenting it as a fully documented example. That honesty matters here, because early GTOs carry significant value—but only when buyers know exactly what they’re starting with.
Still, the appeal is easy to understand. A 1964 GTO is the car that started it all, and even rough or incomplete examples continue to draw strong interest from restorers and collectors. With a solid frame, usable body, clean title, and core drivetrain components included, this one offers a foundation that could go in several directions.
Whether the next owner chooses a period-correct restoration, a driver-focused build, or simply parts it out to help save other GTOs, this Pontiac clearly still has relevance. The real question is whether you’d bring this early GTO back to life as it left the factory—or build it the way you always wished Pontiac had?
Nice writeup Elizabeth! This project has good bones and definitely worth getting back on the road if it truly is what it’s claimed to be.
I am sure someone knows more than me about this, and may be able to explain the tiny carburetor parked atop the intake of the mighty 389 engine? Or why on earth someone would convert the vehicle to an automatic makes no sense either. Whoever takes this on needs to do a deep dive before dishing over the $$$.
Would that tiny carburetor indicate a motor swapped in from a different car? I’m not the GTO expert, but I’m guessing they never came with a 2 barrel?
I noticed that too with the 2 barrel carb set up and the add says that engine has a auto trans connected to it.
You could get one with a 2 barrel carb.
Not in ’64. The first GTO with a single 2-barrel option was the ’67, when they went to the 400 engine. The 389 in the ’64-66 was single 4 barrel or 3-2s.
More like an organ donor
Just think… after adding $30,000 in parts, a $15,000 paint job, and only two years of your own labor to this $7,000 car, you could own a car worth a whole lot less.
That’s if the original VIN plate is still there and it checks out through PHS as a real GTO.
It would be a smarter move to just buy a finished $50,000 GTO and be done with it.
I’m not very familiar with PMD vehicles of this generation but w/o documentation this is just a pre-stripped 1964 Tempest.
Should have GTO emblem on grille