Tri-Power Survivor: 1965 Pontiac GTO Convertible

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UPDATE – Since we originally featured this GTO, bidding has jumped from $35k up to $45k! Clearly, there are more than a few of you that would love to have this Convertible GTO. If you are bidding on it, let us know in the comments.

This 1965 GTO is a beautiful example of a muscle car that was both well driven and pampered. Most you find nowadays are either worn-out hulks or stayed in the garage all the time. This one has 119,000 miles and yet is said to be an unrestored survivor that looks as good as it did 56 years ago. Besides being an earlier GTO, it’s also a convertible and has the Tri-Power set-up on the original 389 V8. Located in Las Vegas, Nevada with one prior owner, this GTO is available here on eBay where the no reserve auction has attracted bids up to $35,300.

Pontiac rolled out the GTO in 1964 as a performance option on the mid-size Tempest/LeMans. It would create a firestorm that the other domestic automakers would quickly emulate. While it would not become a series of its own until 1966, 1965 would see orders to the tune of 75,352 units, with 11,311 being convertibles, a healthy percentage. While the breakdown as to how many drop-tops had the 389 triple 2-barrel carburetor configuration isn’t known, more than a quarter of all GTO’s built that year had it.

If you want to be technical, the GTO lettering stands for “Gran Turismo Omologato” which is Italian. Loosely translated, it means a homologated (recognized for competition) grand-touring car. This GTO’s original owner kept the Pontiac until 2020 and maintained a car that could be thought of as a daily driver. We’re told it’s road-ready and could be driven just about anywhere. There has never been any rust on the machine and has had just one repaint of the original turquoise color in all these years. The seller says all the sheet metal is original and the car has never been in an accident.

We’re told the car will come loaded with PHS documentation to confirm it’s the real deal and numbers-matching car, at least in terms of the motor. The transmission, however, is not original. The car was assembled as an automatic, but the first owner swapped that for a 4-speed from a GTO of the same model year. To prove the running condition of the GOAT, the seller has provided a video that even includes raising and lowering the power-activated top. The 360 hp engine sounds great and is not loud.

The interior is as nice as the body with the only flaw being that someone cut into the door panels to add speakers for the radio. Attesting to the originality of the vehicle, the original spare tire and wheel are still in the trunk, although the rest of the wheels are now aftermarket with no mention if their predecessors were kept. Hagerty places top dollar on a 1965 GT0 hardtop at $70,000 and a convertible with Tri-Power should command a premium. At the current level of bidding, will someone get a bargain or is this car going to raise the bar?

Auctions Ending Soon

Comments

  1. Johnmloghry Johnmloghry

    Oh my God! This is superb. It’s no doubt the ultimate in G.M. muscle cars of the 60’s. This car will fetch big dollars as the bidding nears its end. Dream yes dream as I can only imagine owning this beauty. It’s far above my retirement income, but for some fortunate buyer this will be a dream come true.
    God bless America

    Like 17
    • Steve R

      Sold with a high bid of $56,650.

      Steve R

      Like 1
  2. Todd

    While it’s a beautiful car, it is NOT an ‘unrestored survivor’ if it has been repainted and was originally an automatic but is now a manual! Nor is it ‘all original’. With such a loose definition of ‘unrestored survivor’, just about any car could be labelled as such. Does that mean my George Washington axe is a survivor? I only replaced the head and the handle.

    Like 46
    • JW454

      In addition, if the seller is not the person whos name is on the original bill of sale, it’s not a one owner.

      Like 17
      • Steve R

        If he’s an actual law abiding dealer, they don’t put the car in their name and I don’t see anything wrong with the claim. If he’s some schmoe avoiding registration fees and taxes then he’s a liar trying to line his pockets, that shouldn’t be trusted at face value. Based on the number of cars he currently has listed and has sold, he makes his living selling cars, which category he falls under is the real question.

        Steve R

        Like 16
  3. qmmq

    My father in-law had same car, but hard top. Sold it for 15k in 96 to help with the misses college. My…how times have changed. Beautiful car.

    Like 5
    • gordo

      $15K in 96 would be about $26k in 2021 dollars. Not too bad for a
      30 yr old car.

      Like 0
  4. Vince H

    Front bumper twisted

    Like 5
  5. Stoney End

    Nice (looking), all-around. “Updates” well-chosen. A good fun car for someone to enjoy.

    Like 2
  6. Paul H

    I thought the 1st gen GTO’s had badging on the front fenders?

    Like 7
    • Sam Shive

      Mine Did

      Like 3
    • CaCarDude

      Agree with the fender badge missing on both sides. They all came with this from factory. This GTO made in Kansas third week of Feb. ’65. This 3 pedal ragtop will make a nice cruiser for some new owner.

      Like 1
  7. John Oliveri

    Nice car, nice colors, nicely done, though the wheels gotta go, see where the #s go on this one

    Like 1
  8. Gary James Lehman

    Everyone is such a negative critic…….

    Like 6
  9. Steveo

    Nice car. Lose the radio.

    Like 3
  10. Robbie M.

    What a beauty!

    Like 2
  11. bone

    I hate it when these car buyers include a picture of the senior citizen who owned the car before they bought it, and this guy uses it in the very first shot of the car. I know the buyer could be an honest guy, and he paid a fair price for it, but it always leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth ; using the seller as a pawn for the buyers sale .

    Like 7
  12. Glenn Hilpert

    At least he eats well.

    Like 2
    • Jeff

      Hope he checks his blood sugar and checks it often

      Like 2
  13. Gordo

    Is that rattle can grey primer on the firewall?

    Like 0
  14. Gordo
  15. Ike Onick

    At age 68.5 I now see I can have a second career as “The Old Dude” model in front of an “Old Dude’s Car” featured on BF or one of the many other auction sites. $500 a day plus expenses. Flippers, call me sometime!

    Like 4

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