Photo: eBay seller djgto/autoevolution edits
Most people who walked into a Pontiac dealership in 1965 ended up ordering a hardtop, with the carmaker producing 55,722 units this year.
The convertible was the runner-up but its demand significantly lagged behind the hardtop, which kind of makes sense, considering it was also the most expensive version in the lineup. Pontiac built 11,311 GTO convertibles in 1965, followed by the sports coupe with 8,319 units.
20,547 customers ordered the Tri-Power configuration (and, fortunately, many of these units are still around today), while nearly 55,000 customers picked a four-barrel GTO.
The 1965 GTO in these pictures hides a secret that many people won't be able to discover. It's a neatly done GTO clone, as the car started its life as a Le Mans fitted with a 326 two-barrel engine. It was born with bucket seats, factory air conditioning, Marron paint, and a black power top.
The Le Mans was converted into a GTO during the '90s, so the car now comes with a 389 YS engine that starts, runs, and idles correctly. eBay seller djgto says the engine would need to be tuned up and get fresh fuel, but it doesn't smoke or make weird noises. Unfortunately, you'll need a good mechanic to decipher more information, as the transition from Le Mans to GTO might have also included a rebuilt engine. "The engine looks rebuilt," the owner says, albeit it's unclear if this is the case.
Otherwise, everything on this GTO clone looks good and ready for a complete restoration. The rust has already made its way to certain metal parts, but the undersides survived and look good. The owner says the car doesn't come with the typical undercarriage rust damage produced by road salt, albeit it does have rust on the body from the salt in the air.
The interior looks good and complete, though it'll need a refresh. The car requires a full restoration, but it seems like an easy project, especially because the transition to GTO was made in the '90s.
The good news is that the car has been sitting for approximately two decades in dry storage, so it wasn't forced to fight the invasion of rust caused by high humidity levels. The frame is almost spotless, and it's a solid starting point for a return to the genuine head-turning condition.
1965 GTOs typically sell like hotcakes if they carry a fair price, so it'll be interesting to see how fast this clone finds a new home. The seller is ready to let the car go for $15,900, but they also enabled the Make Offer button to discuss other offers. They claim they could also provide the necessary parts to complete the restoration.
You can find this GTO in Milford Center, Ohio.
20,547 customers ordered the Tri-Power configuration (and, fortunately, many of these units are still around today), while nearly 55,000 customers picked a four-barrel GTO.
The 1965 GTO in these pictures hides a secret that many people won't be able to discover. It's a neatly done GTO clone, as the car started its life as a Le Mans fitted with a 326 two-barrel engine. It was born with bucket seats, factory air conditioning, Marron paint, and a black power top.
The Le Mans was converted into a GTO during the '90s, so the car now comes with a 389 YS engine that starts, runs, and idles correctly. eBay seller djgto says the engine would need to be tuned up and get fresh fuel, but it doesn't smoke or make weird noises. Unfortunately, you'll need a good mechanic to decipher more information, as the transition from Le Mans to GTO might have also included a rebuilt engine. "The engine looks rebuilt," the owner says, albeit it's unclear if this is the case.
Otherwise, everything on this GTO clone looks good and ready for a complete restoration. The rust has already made its way to certain metal parts, but the undersides survived and look good. The owner says the car doesn't come with the typical undercarriage rust damage produced by road salt, albeit it does have rust on the body from the salt in the air.
The interior looks good and complete, though it'll need a refresh. The car requires a full restoration, but it seems like an easy project, especially because the transition to GTO was made in the '90s.
The good news is that the car has been sitting for approximately two decades in dry storage, so it wasn't forced to fight the invasion of rust caused by high humidity levels. The frame is almost spotless, and it's a solid starting point for a return to the genuine head-turning condition.
1965 GTOs typically sell like hotcakes if they carry a fair price, so it'll be interesting to see how fast this clone finds a new home. The seller is ready to let the car go for $15,900, but they also enabled the Make Offer button to discuss other offers. They claim they could also provide the necessary parts to complete the restoration.
You can find this GTO in Milford Center, Ohio.
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