Tri-Power Held Hostage: 1965 Pontiac GTO
There’s no shortage of Pontiac GTO clones and tributes running around nowadays, but fortunately, the seller says this one’s a PHS-documented legit example, even though for its first couple of years the GTO was actually an optional package for the LeMans before achieving its stand-alone model status in ’66. If you’ve been in the market for a good driver or looking for a running project to take to a higher level, this 1965 GTO here on eBay might fit your needs nicely. The Pontiac is cruising the streets of Everest, Kansas, with bidding currently at the $16,901 mark but there’s an incentive to press the $31,700 buy-it-now button, which we’ll get to here shortly.
The seller doesn’t mention how long the car has been under his ownership but does say the paint dates back to the eighties decade and that it was a cheap job and not very well done, which resulted in some waviness plus there are some chips. Overall, the sheet metal looks to be in good shape with a bit of swelling in the door corners and some rust on the driver’s inner door weld, but if all you’re wanting is to just take the car out on the road and enjoy driving it things are probably acceptable the way they are on the outside.
Here’s where the carrot gets dangled and the seller encourages potential buyers to forego the auction and consider the own it today at his price option, and it’s sort of tempting, but even so, there’s a downside. The owner has in his possession the factory numbers-matching tri-power manifold and 3-carburetor setup, with the correct part number carbs. However, the 389 the goat came with is long gone, so I’d think this component would be more valuable if the born-with engine was still around to set it on top of. The buyer will get the manifold and three carbs included with the sale by paying the buy-it-now price, but will only have the chance to purchase it separately at an unspecified cost if they’re the high bidder.
Powering the GTO presently is a 400, with very few other details provided such as where it came from, but at least he says it runs well. One really good positive is this was a factory 4-Speed car, though no word if the trans is original, and the positraction rear-end is also worth celebrating, as is the condition of the undercarriage which appears reasonably solid, at least the areas we get to view.
Not a word is spoken regarding the interior, but judging from the photos it seems to be one of the strong points with all of the seat material looking to be in very nice shape along with the carpet. The dash pad seems OK but we don’t get to check out the instruments up close, and it does look like an aftermarket Stereo has been installed. I definitely get the seller’s point when he asks where else can you get a turn-key real factory tri-power GTO in the $30k range, I’d just be a bit more optimistic if it still was and especially if he still had the original 389 in his garage somewhere, running or not. What are your thoughts on this 1965 GTO?
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Comments
its a nice car with a NOM. I know as the availability gets tighter then these will still fetch high dollars. I just think current one can get a numbers matching for a little more and a better return on equity if decide to sell in future.
Good. luck with sale
I get the “numbers matching“ makes a difference to some. The old cars I’ve owned were bought to enjoy, not for an investment. I didn’t care that my ‘69 L36 Corvette convertible had an L36 from a ‘69 automatic car. It ran like a scalded dog and put a smile on my face every time I turned the key. I got plenty for it when it sold.
Mike,
“237” in both the VIN and on the Fisher Body Plate indicates that this car is a LeMans. For 1964/1965, the GTO package was an option on the LeMans and not a stand-alone model like in subsequent years. GTOs assembled in Pontiac and Kansas City will include the designator “5N” on the Fisher Body Plate (which this car has) however, the Fremont and Baltimore plants did not stamp this on their tags. The actual option sales code for the W62 GTO package was “382” which would appear on the build sheet, dealer order form, factory billing history card and an original window sticker. Additionally, the Protect-O-Plate indicates the car’s 2-letter engine code … if a true GTO, these 389-only engine codes would be either WT, YS, WS or YR depending upon the carburetor configuration and transmission type. If none of this original data is available, Pontiac Historic Services (PHS) is the sure-fire way to authenticate a ’64/’65 GTO.
Hi 3Deuces,
Thanks so much for clarifying, this is truly excellent information! We greatly appreciate the GTO package info for these early cars and for taking the time to compile and post it. Please keep sharing this type of detailed information with us and our readers in the future on GTOs and other muscle cars!
If one was fortunate enough to have or acquire a1965 WS block, and the build dates of the intake and block “match” to the build date of the car, in theory, no one could disprove that it was the original engine or not. They did not stamp the VIN until somewhere in the 1968 model run. I’m not encouraging deception, just pointing out that it is quite possible to assemble an “original” engine and install it. I’d say install 65 valve covers and the Tri-Power and have fun with it, drive it as-is.
i love this car but,,,, Can anyone say bondo and you can see a bunch of it.
Ponchos make the best mid-range power on the streets ive been told. 🏁
Just for reference purpose a Tri- power setup still not fit on a 400. The intake hole on the head are d shape. The intake manifold has oval shaped ports. Rendering it useless to the buyer for that car unless he can find a 389 prior 65 from a Grand Prix, or a Bonneville Catalina’s won’t work.
The 65/66 Tri-Power most certainly will work on a 400, even 455 late blocks. The only issue is the exhaust crossover needs to be blocked on one head, a shim is frequently included with intake gaskets or cut your own from stainless steel. The only other issue is to ensure there is a bump or depression in the timing case cover to clear the water neck. I am running a 66 Tri-Power on my 1970 RA lll 400 in my 65 convertible. I am also using 65 style valve covers to create an illusion of it being a “correct” engine. There are a lot of 400/455’s running Tri-Powers.