Unearthed on July 4th: 1965 Pontiac Grand Prix

It is impossible to understate the importance of July 4th to the American people. It is a chance to celebrate the country’s great achievements and the values that unite the population under the Stars and Stripes. Therefore, there could be no more appropriate date for this 1965 Pontiac Grand Prix to emerge from decades in hibernation. The seller cleaned this American icon and coaxed it back to life. It is now time for a new owner to return this Pontiac to its rightful place on our roads. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder T.J. for spotting this fantastic automotive treasure.

Pontiac was riding the crest of a wave in 1965. The GTO had become a sales success, and John DeLorean had visions for the company to become the high-performance arm of General Motors. He contributed significantly to the development of the Grand Prix, which first graced showroom floors for the 1962 model year. The Second Generation emerged in 1965 with a restyled appearance, and our feature car is from that first production year. The seller indicates that a previous owner drove it into a shed in 1997, and that is where it remained until seven weeks ago. They pulled it out into the light of day, sloshing away nearly three decades of accumulated dust. What they discovered beneath was encouraging The Tiger Gold paint holds a consistent shine across the exterior, with only minor chips and marks. The Black vinyl top is equally impressive, and the panels are straight. The seller doesn’t mention existing rust problems, and I can’t spot any warning signs in the supplied photos. The tinted glass is clear, and the trim should be acceptable for a survivor or driver-grade revival following some work with a high-quality polish. This Grand Prix scores major points with me, courtesy of the first owner’s decision to equip it with 8-lug wheels. I can’t shy away from my belief that these are the best-looking wheels to ever grace an American production car. They are bold and aggressive, but also look classy. The seller states that there is a fascinating story behind this classic, but leaves us hanging by not revealing any details. They appear approachable, and I would love to know how this Grand Prix managed to spend years in hiding.

Powering this Grand Prix is the company’s wonderful 389ci V8 that saw service in a variety of models during this era. It would have sent 325hp and 429 ft/lbs of torque to the rear wheels via a three-speed automatic transmission, while power-assisted steering and brakes were standard equipment. The Grand Prix represented Potiac’s full-size Personal Luxury Car, and its engine blessed it with excellent performance to tackle the opposition head-on. The ¼-mile journey would have taken 16.1 seconds, while a brave driver could push the needle to 130mph. The seller coaxed the Pontiac’s engine back to life, and it seems it is healthy. However, decades of inactivity means the car isn’t roadworthy. It requires a thorough inspection, a full service, and it is virtually guaranteed that many perishable components will be on their last legs. However, a roadworthy state appears to be within relatively easy reach for this classic.

If you ever doubted the “luxury” part of the Grand Prix’s Personal Luxury Car credentials, one glance at its interior confirms that this car wants for nothing. The first owner equipped it with air conditioning, power windows, power locks, bucket seats, a console, and an AM radio with a power antenna and a reverb rear speaker. The interior isn’t perfect, because the pad has a developing crack. The carpet on the lower door trims is lifting away, and there are marks and imperfections on the seatcovers. However, with every required item easy to find online, a spot of web browsing could help the new owner secure replacement parts at bargain prices. It is a strategy that I would seriously consider because it would cost the buyer nothing but time.

This 1965 Pontiac Grand Prix proves that there are still wonderful and desirable classics lurking in sheds and barns, waiting patiently for the day someone arrives to liberate them from captivity. The seller listed this fantastic Pontiac here on Facebook Marketplace in Rapid City, South Dakota. They set their price at $10,000, which seems a reasonable figure for a car with so much to offer. Pontiac is an important part of American automotive history, and the fact that this car emerged on the day the country celebrates such things seems appropriate. I just hope that it returns to its rightful place on our roads soon. It deserves nothing less.