I’ve always thought that the 1965 Pontiac GTO got the best characteristics of its close model year siblings. It had the simple, smaller rear quarter panels like the 1964, yet had the stacked headlights like the 1966. Even in its deteriorated condition that’s why this one found here on Craigslist in Kinsley, Kansas caught my eye.
This GTO has obviously seen better days but isn’t too far gone to be a good project. The seller states that it does have rust in the lower quarters, wheel arches, and the trunk pan, but says the floor pans are in good shape. Even if the floor pans are good it will still take a fair amount of parts and labor to make these areas correct again.
Unfortunately, the original 389 and four-speed are no longer with the car. Somewhere between the car’s original life in Kansas and living in New Mexico for three decades, the powertrain was yanked for unsaid reasons. Outside of the engine and transmission, the seller says that it’s “pretty much a complete car”.
This GTO will need complete restoration from boot to bonnet. So, does it make it a good candidate for a resto-mod? Or are the stated options of air conditioning, hood tach, and 389 with a four-speed enough to work towards an original restoration? A restorer could maybe even meet in this middle here and turn it into a Royal Bobcat tribute car. But is the $6,500 asking price fair for a project such as this?
$6500.00 for a shell in bad condition.
Is somebody really that crazy?
I agree Miguel, as we see here everyday, no shortage of wack jobs. Are the Craigslist ad savers done? They were pretty nice when one was late to the party. Still not recieving the new comments via email. Thanks, Mike.
Hey leiniedude: I thought they fixed your comments by email when they fixed mine. Did your break again?
I miss the Craiglist ad savers too.
Hi PRA4SNW, yes they did fix it for a month or so when they fixed yours also. Mine has been down a couple of weeks now. I save certain articles for a couple of days to keep abreast before deleating. I do get the daily emails, but thats it. Take care, Mike.
leiniedude: It happens when their spam system gets a kick back that your address is a spam address and then stops sending email to you (or something like that). They can fix it on their end by pulling your email address out of the spam bucket.
And yes, I’m an I.T. geek. :-)
Wow! Thanks buddy! I will try to pass that on to the staff. Boy a Leinies fan and I.T. guy. Thanks again, Mike.
No problemo, leiniedude.
You forgot, C3 fan as well. You have one, right?
Almost Octoberfest time, my favorite leinie of them all!
Tough to find around here, except in variety packs.
LOL on the Octoberfest I had one last night. Going to have another soon. Lucky here, they sell 6 and 12 pack bottles. Ya on the C3, 1972. I bought a BMW Z3 2 months ago, kind of a D/D. I forwarded your post to BF a while ago, heard nothing yet. Preat funny, I just finished looking at your Amphicar photos, great stuff, Thanks, Mike.
Sold my ’70 convertible 3 years ago and miss it a bunch. Not the right time right now – kid going to college, etc – but looking at many fun convertible options. That Z3 must be fun, and not as common a sight as something like a Miata.
Enjoy those Octoberfests! We have Sam Adams coming out our ears here.
Hey PRA4SNW, I have something for you. Hopefully you will get this. If you are good with this, send me your address to my email. canoe@tds.net . Not a 70 but close. No! Not a whole car! Best of all it is free! LOL. Yes I am having a Octoberfest now. I am a fan of Sam Adams also. Beer and cars are good, take care, Mike.
leiniedude: Email sent- thanks!
Octoberfests are my favorite beer. Last year, I think I found about 8 different ones. I think that I will try harder this year.
Seeing as how the 65 GTO was my first musclecar I owned as a 19 year old, I would love to try and restore this one back to original and it’s not that far from me , BUT not at his asking price. Nostalgia isn’t worth that much money and work.
It will never be a fully restored number’s matching original, which is okay by me, that route has been done more than enough times to make the auction guys happy.
Like the Royal tribute idea, although I’d like it more if it had the 421 cheater engine, maybe more than that even. Price wise I am only day dreaming of course.
To much! but I would give $100
Grossly overpriced, but a four-speed, factory A/C ’65 Goat is a real rarity.
A half century ago, my brother and I went shopping for a late-model GTO. He wanted a four-speed, factory A/C car that wasn’t raced-out, and it was hard enough to find one that wasn’t totally thrashed.
Six months later (really!), he bought a like-new, one-owner ’66 GTO, four-speed/factory A/C from its original owner, a lawyer in his mid-30s who’d just taken a factory delivery of a new E-Type.
The ’65 is probably ideal for a restomod if it could be had for a realistic (not TV-Picker) price. Drop a 455 and a Tremec in it, upgrade the brakes and suspension, then blow a few minds.
I think this one would serve well as a bobcat tribute.Without the original trans.and motor its almost a oden book. But it is a real goat.
I just got a 66 2+2 vert. 421 gone but the rest still there. About the same shape. $2500 was my cost..Better deal, not a goat, but much rarer. I may sell it to save it. I don’t know what the market will say, but $5k would buy it.
It’s so hard to tell without better pictures of the floor, frame and rusted areas. But I’ve seen far worse Gen 1 and 2 GTOs on eBay for more money.
I would really like to see the build sheet on this one. Not sure it’s a GTO. 64- 65 were Temptes with a GTO package option.
66 – 67 and on were designated as a
Model GTO. 66 has a 389. 67 started the 400 cubes
Ummmm, $3000?
Just noticed it has factory air
In the event it was the Sport Coupe model-with the post-I would buy it.
O.K. Seriously I’ve been in love with Pontiac’s since the day I was born !
Full out pushed out driven out ,,,only my parent know !
But there is one thing I wanna know ??
Wat is this kick ass bucket of bolts worth ?..
That’s right gentleman,
General Motors got rid of the wrong division ! Because There’s. Nothing else that compares!!!
RAG!! No power train, etc. Listing expired, anyway.