Summer cruising in a classic drop-top muscle car is the happy place many gear-heads imagine when they close their eyes amid a sea of deadlines, pointless meetings, and TPS Reports. This shiny red 1965 Pontiac GTO in West Babylon, New York can make that dream a reality. In addition to the sporty red paint, this gem includes a new white convertible top. A four-speed manual transmission backs up a later 400 cid V8 making 350 HP, according to the seller, topped off with Pontiac’s muscle car Holy Grail, a Tri-Power triple two-barrel induction system. Check out more pictures and details here on Craigslist. The $44,800 asking price buys what looks like a cruise-ready Long Island GTO. Thanks to Pat L. for recommending this wonderfully distracting daydream.
The phrase “Tri-Power” gets thrown around the GM world and beyond, but you can thank Pontiac for coining that phrase with its introduction in 1957. The seller claims this Pontiac left the factory as a GTO with a 389, four-speed manual transmission, and the Tri-Power setup, and this could be verified by PHS for a fee. Because the GTO didn’t become a model of its own until 1966, the ’64 and ’65 cars are tougher to identify, and the VIN only identifies this as an 8-cylinder, not specifically a 389 Tri-Power car. This one “runs fine but could use a tune-up,” according to the seller. Thanks to tpocr for some details.
The white-and-black two-tone interior looks great. Though claimed original, the car’s body tag describes Nightwatch Blue paint with a blue vinyl interior. Few buyers will complain about the change to red paired with this handsome carpet and upholstery combo.
This tail light panel sets off the ’65 from the subsequent two years of this body style, with both designs drawing a host of fans. Perch a Dairy Princess on that boot and you’re parade-ready! Just don’t forget she’s back there when the youngsters shout “Light ’em up!” The seller describes some nicks and scratches, but it looks great. Undercarriage pictures show nothing alarming, though undercoating may hide some rough spots.
The new power top works perfectly according to the seller, who offers a driving video as well. Pontiac’s wildly successful 1964 GTO put muscle cars on the map, and this ’65 cemented the Italian acronym (Gran Turismo Omolgato) into American culture forever. Can you picture yourself cruising in this red-hot four-speed?
Looks like a decent driver, and I guess this is what 44k gets you (not me) these days. However it’s from NY state and if it doesn’t have rust trust me; it did…
I’m in the desert southwest removed from NY for 46 years now. I have 0 interest in rust belt vehicles.
A lot of people believe that about rust belt vehicles Paul, which is fine by me. I hail from Toronto and you would rarely see any high performance vehicles on the road from November to April. Many of these owners are fussy beyond belief and their cars are in as good or better condition than anything from the Deep South or coastlines.
I agree that today’s classic vehicle owners are fastidious about the care but growing up in the 60’s and 70’s for many it was the year round daily driver.
I agree … spent ten years in Chicago in the ’70s … I had three Corvettes during those years …I would buy a “beater” car, like a ’63 Valiant or a ’65 Cutlass for instance, for – believe it or not – $75-100 and drive it in the winter … my Vettes rarely saw snow … I’d sell the beater come April … things were different back in the day …
I just Appraised a ’67 GTO convertible in far southern New Mexico. Buried to the hubs in mud. All the floors were nearly gone including the trunk. Sat outside for who knows how many years, covered (poorly). Carpets were still wet from the last rain many months ago, very soft underneath. Dry climate cars are not immune to rust-through.
For $44K I think the seller should throw in a tune up.
I don’t know, nice car, a bit pricey, if only it were a little shinier. The paint looks dull to me. Check out the size of that power booster, wow! that’s huge. And no dual master cylinder, I would have at least changed that out. Then you have no a/c, even with the top down here in Houston you want that cold air blowing on your feet and body, especially when stopped at a red light. The 4 speed trans with 389 tri power is a big plus, but still I think $30k U.S might be more reasonable for this beast.
God Bless America
I’m impressed, very few people mention what the GTO stands for.
I bet if you surveyed 100 old guys like me they probably wouldn’t know.
The 442 same thing.
Looks like a very nice car
C’mon, Ken. If you were into muscle cars in the 60s then you certainly knew what GTO stood for. Every car magazine ran an article or two about the car.. OK, maybe not as many new the origin of the moniker 442 because the Olds was nowhere as popular as the GTO.
Get Tools Out?
More like Gas, Tires, and Oil. Plenty of gas these days!
I bought a ’64 Tempest Convertible in Berkeley in ’78.drove it down the coast to San Diego…….I think I paid seven hundred bucks……….gas at ,60 cents and then odd and even gas days…….and I thought 12 bucks was a lot to fill it up! Then I bought a ’63 LeMans rope drive in 1998……if I was to buy another I want an OEM LeMans not a franken GTO but thats just me. I think the ’64 is the prettiest.
$44,800 is strong money to ask for this car. The paint doesn’t appear to be a high quality job, the rear tail light and trunk trim are pitted, the bumper chrome is weak, incorrect rear antenna, the convertible arm rest upper panels cut for speakers, wrong shifter, no factory rally gauges despite the PHS saying it was originally equipped, dash pad cracked, wrong pedal pads, etc, etc, etc. The simulated wood wheel is nice, and the Rally l wheels are great but with the incorrect center paint. Add the correct 65 valve cover (it can be done) and the engine would appear to be correct. I think $40k is about the upper end. If it could be bought for $35k, that would be a deal. This car does have great potential. I’m not bashing the car or owner, just pointing out things that don’t add up to the asking price.
Barrette Jackson & Mecom are setting the Standard for pricing. Since the auctions are televised everyone within range sees this & automatically assume their car is worth a million. I guess I’m just old school. If the car is exact it should bring the $!
If not??????
That’s funny
Good memories!
We alway called em
The Gran Tourismo Omlette
Do the survey!
If this car hadn’t been color changed, the owner might get the $44K. Too Bad it’s “Quick sale red”
First time I rode in a muscle car, it was a 65 GTO in Nightwatch Blue. I’d prefer that color to resale red.
And for $44k, the seller needs to pony up for the PHS docs, not me.
I see they lowered the price in the ad by $2,000.