Numbers-matching. Frame-off restoration. Black/black 4-spd convertible.

1965 Pontiac GTO Additional Info:

First the important stuff: this is a real GTO, not a rebadged Tempest. It has full PHS documentation attesting to the fact that it was born as a GTO. It has its original engine and 4-speed manual transmission and its original color combination is Starlight Black with a black interior and white top, so that’s how it was restored. And the guys responsible for that restoration are the pros at Murphy’s Classic Restorations, who specialize in ‘60s GM muscle. The only notable deviations from the original window sticker are the addition of Tri-Power induction (are you really going to complain about that?) and a factory AM/FM radio (ditto). The receipts alone, never mind the purchase price of the car, add up to more than six figures. So if you want what is unquestionably the finest GTO we’ve ever seen, this is it.

I can only imagine the delight of this GTO’s original owner back in 1965 as he drove this car home for the first time, 389 purring away and the 4-speed snapping through the gears with authority. At $3751.96, it wasn’t exactly cheap, but he did pick performance over luxury whenever he had the chance: 4-speed, limited slip diff, a tachometer, and a heavy-duty radiator. In fact, the GTO option, at just $295.90, was very reasonably priced and transformed the car in a very big way. Today, that $295.90 is the difference between this being a $25,000 Tempest convertible and a near-six-figure GTO, so it’s a good thing all this car’s documents and numbers are in order.

The gentleman who restored this car was a meticulous guy who understood the importance of doing things right. In fact, he was in the early stages of restoring a different GTO when a friend called him and said, “Hey, do you know that the body shop is on fire?” That 1965 GTO convertible was a total loss, but he took the insurance check and found another, more worth specimen. This car was in pieces and a restoration had already started when he found it, but after negotiating the purchase, it was delivered straight to the restoration shop with an order to pull no punches. He wanted the best possible GTO anywhere.

As the restoration photos show, this was a pretty solid car. The quarters had already been removed, so they were expertly stitch-welded back into place and smoothed to as-new condition, and a few floor patches were required as well, but structurally, this Goat was quite sound. Hundreds of man-hours went into the tedious block sanding and panel alignment process, because the decision had already been made to return this car to its original code A Starlight Black. There was a momentary flicker of desire to paint it red to match a boyhood dream, but he quickly realized that a car like this deserved to be as right as it could be. So several coats of high-gloss black paint and several more coats of even glossier clear went onto the GTO’s meticulously prepped sheetmetal and today it looks simply spectacular. There’s obviously a huge amount of effort involved in making a black car this shiny and this straight, but is there any alternative at this level? Look down the flanks and you see crystal clear reflections and, in fact, we have a rather neat restoration photo of the painter’s wife snapping a shot of her reflection in the car’s surface and it looks so much like a mirror that you initially wonder, “Why’d she take a picture of herself?” It’s so crystal clear, you don’t even notice that it’s actually black paint on a production car! You’ll also note a white pinstripe; there was talk of making it red, but since the top is white they decided against adding another color to the mix. Fortunately, that stripe is tape, so you can always remove it and do something else if that’s your preference.

Likewise, the chrome and stainless trim is all original or NOS, no reproduction stuff here. Wherever possible, they simply had the original parts re-chromed and things like the bumpers, door handles, grille, and even the finned insert between the taillights are beautifully finished. The taillights are also originals and there are stories out there that these are still the most expensive taillights ever made. It comes by its GTO emblems honestly and there’s a Hurst badge on the trunk to advertise the presence of a slick shifting 4-speed inside. The owner even went so far as to scour the countryside looking for original T3 headlight bulbs, which you’ll find secured on either side of the factory grille and they’re probably worth a few hundred dollars all by themselves.

With the bodywork done, the entire interior was lined in Dynamat to improve sound and temperature control. Again, there was some temptation to deviate from the cowl tag and put a red interior in the car, but a dedication to authenticity prevailed—after all, how many black-on-black 4-speed GTO convertibles did Pontiac actually build? The seats got new, correct upholstery with Pontiac’s trademark diagonal pleats, new door panels with subtle GTO emblems were installed, and fresh carpets covered the floor. The console was immaculately restored, and if you’ve ever had one of these, you know how notorious they are for pitting in those tiny grooves but this one looks extremely good. There’s a factory woodgrained wheel, matching woodgrained appliques on the dash, and a full set of Rallye gauges, including a factory tach and they all work properly. As I mentioned earlier, they found a factory AM/FM radio, had it rebuilt, and then stuffed it into the original AM radio’s slot; I doubt anyone will mind. New black rubber Pontiac floor mats protect those new carpets and you’ll note that every single courtesy light works, including the one on the back of the console. Overhead there’s a brand new white power convertible top, which is also how this car came from the factory, and it’s worth noting that our photo shoot was the first time it had ever been folded. It’s a little stiff but with some use it’ll relax a bit and fold cleanly under the matching black boot. The trunk is beautifully finished with correct spatter paint, as well as a full mat set, jack assembly, and a matching redline tire on one of the original steel wheels.

The engine is the original WT coded 389 cubic inch V8. Pontiac wasn’t doing traditional matching numbers in 1965, but all the date codes and production stampings match, offering all the evidence you’ll find that this is the car’s original powerplant. It was fully rebuilt to stock specs with no “upgrades” or other tricks inside, then topped with a fully rebuilt original Tri-Power setup. The engine was originally equipped with a 4-barrel (hence the WT code, which denotes a 335 horsepower car with a manual transmission). The block was bathed in proper Pontiac Turquoise engine enamel and topped with chrome valve covers that were part of the GTO package. The carburetors wear proper mini chrome air filters with foam covers and even the linkage and springs are properly color-coded. This car came from the factory with both power steering and a heavy-duty radiator, so those are both still in place, and little things like the fasteners, the tower hose clamps, and even the reproduction tar top battery make it look quite authentic. And no worries about this being some fussy trailer queen, because it runs superbly. Press the throttle once to set the choke, then turn the key, and this 389 barks to life and settles into an eager 950 RPM idle. A few seconds later you can stab the throttle and it’ll drop down to about 750 RPM where it’ll sit all day. On the road, it pulls hard with no stutters or flat spots, and the outer carburetors come online seamlessly. If you don’t understand why we’re so impressed, I’ll let you in on a secret: 100-point trailer queens NEVER run this well.

It also has a correct Muncie 4-speed manual transmission that shifts smoothly and with light effort thanks to new internals, including a fresh gearset, new synchros, and new bearings. Out back, the original 10-bolt rear end is filled with 3.55 gears, just like in 1965, and the window sticker says there’s a Saf-T-Track limited slip inside. The floors were painted proper satin black so it looks correct from underneath, and we like the factory look of the suspension that isn’t over-done but includes all new components so it rides and handles like new. The only notable deviation from factory equipment is the mandrel-bent Flowmaster exhaust system, but it sounds fantastic and is easy to change if absolute authenticity is part of your plan. It’s even got a set of correct chrome turn-downs behind the rear wheels. Front disc brakes were also installed, but they were on the options list in ’65, so nobody will mind, and there’s a fresh gas tank hanging out back. Finally, a set of gorgeous Rally 1 wheels and correct 7.75-14 US Royal redline bias-ply tires.

This is a flat-out stunning car. It was restored by a purist who understood that making it right was more important than making it how he wanted it. The documentation is extensive, not the least of which are the PHS papers proving that this is a real-deal GTO, and that’s critical. We have about 100 restoration photos that show the entire process from start to finish, and it’s obvious that no corners were cut along the way. It’s visually beautiful, highly correct, and fully functional, making it not only one of the best GTOs we’ve ever seen, but one of the best cars we’ve featured. That’s high praise and this GTO deserves every bit of it. Call today!