1965 Pontiac GTO Convertible

I suspect the judges who previously gave this car an AACA Senior badge would not have done so on sale day

by B. Mitchell Carlson

Pontiac first offered the GTO option on the Tempest in 1964, and despite UAW strikes, which kept production down, it was a big hit.

The muscle car market was evolving, and in 1965, the GTO was named Motor Trend Magazine’s Car of the Year. It was easily distinguished from its Tempest siblings by its black-out grille, hood intake, various badges, and a rally gauge instrument cluster.

This car was delivered to Reedman Pontiac in Bristol, Pennsylvania, in May 1965 and sold in October. The fourth owner bought it in 1982 and drove it until 2005, when a full restoration was carried out.

It was stripped, the bottom of the rear fenders were replaced, and it was repainted in PPG urethane. The frame was dismantled, with all the components replaced or refinished and powder coated. A new gas tank and stainless steel fuel and brake lines were fitted. The original 389-ci V8 had previously been rebuilt and was untouched. All date codes and numbers match....