1965 Pontiac GTO Photos, engines & full specs

The GTO is considered by many as the first muscle car, and in its infancy years was an option for the Pontiac Tempest.

The 1965 GTO was announced by Pontiac in a press release on September 13, 1964. Unlike the 1964 model year, it came with additional goodies that transformed it into a highly desirable vehicle. But it wasn't just about the tiger hidden under the hood (as the automaker stated), but the long list of options that helped customers actually build their own according to their desires. In addition, the clean design of the A-body platform and the nameplate left no mistakes that the two-door vehicle was intended for racing. After all, that's what Gran Turismo Omologato stands for.

At the front, the car came fitted with two stacked headlights on each side of the vehicle. They flanked the typical Pontiac's split grille and offered a unique image on the market. The hood sported a bulge with two scoops; that was a sign of a powerful engine. But the 1965 GTO was also longer than its predecessor by 3.1" (79 mm), even though it retained the same wheelbase. The hard top featured thick B-posts at the back and a flat deck behind it. On the rear fascia, the wrapped-around taillights fitted with horizontal slats made the car look wider. Underneath the rear chromed bumper, the carmaker offered two options for single or dual exhausts. Still, most customers went for the latter.

Inside, Pontiac tried to say to its clients that it was not only a sporty brand but also a luxurious one through the wood grain on the dash. The speedometer was adorned with e chequered flag symbol on its dial. A pair of front bucket seats and a bench seat in the back provided room for five adults, and the full-length console hosted the shifter.

Since this version of the Tempest was about performance, the automaker installed a 389 V8 under its hood that breathed through either a four-barrel carburetor or three double-barrels. The standard transmission was a three-speed manual, but customers could opt for a two-speed auto or a four-speed, wide-ratio one. In addition, Pontiac offered a few options for the axle ratio and a limited-slip differential. But despite being a high-performance vehicle, with under six seconds needed to reach 60 mph (97 kph) from a standstill, it featured drum brakes in all corners.