'65 GTO Convertible

Description

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, it has been fitted with a set of gorgeous Rally 1 wheels and correct 7.75-14 US Royal redline bias-ply tires.