Vehicle Details
- Year: 1965
- Make: Pontiac
- Model: GTO
- VIN: 237275P164247
- Mileage Shown: 36,363mi (5-digit odometer)
- Transmission: Manual
- Title Status: Clean
- Color: Iris Mist
- Seller: Goatman65
- Seller Type: Private Party
- Location: Uniontown, OH 44685
- Lot #: V-0021299
Available for auction is this 1965 Pontiac GTO finished in Iris Mist over a black vinyl interior. This 1965 example was owned by a Wisconsin man for approximately 15 years before being stored for approximately 20. It was then sold to its next owner in Canada before being acquired by the current owner out of Ohio, who completed a three-year-long frame-off restoration. Notable features include a 389 Tri-power V8 engine, 4-speed manual transmission, and factory-equipped power brakes and steering. The car placed first at the Pontiac Nationals in Norwalk Ohio in 2021 and is now being offered for auction by its seller out of Ohio.
For 1965, the Tempest and GTO were restyled with vertically stacked quad headlights, and the GTO could be recognized by its black “egg-crate" grille and hood scoop. This example was refinished in the seldom seen shade of Iris Mist within the last two years including a base and clear coat. Detailed images can be found in the gallery. Features include a single driver-side mirror, GTO badging, chrome bumpers and trim, chrome exhaust splitters, and black finished 14” steel wheels with chrome hubcaps. The wheels were dressed in a set of Firestone Wide Oval Redline tires within the last two years.
The cabin features front bucket seats and a rear bench trimmed in black vinyl with matching door panels and carpets. Accessories include a three-spoke wood-rimmed steering wheel, a Hurst shifter, under hood and trunk lights, a heater, power steering, hand-crank side windows, front lap belts, a push-button AM/FM radio, and remote side mirrors. The seller notes the cabin was completely refurbished during the restoration and confirms all gauges, electronics, and accessories are fully functional.
Power comes from a 389 c.i. Tri-power V8 which drives the rear wheel by way of a 4-speed manual transmission. As part of the GTO package, the Tempest received stiffer springs, larger sway bars, and heavy-duty shocks, while this example received optional power steering and brakes. The seller notes that the V8 was rebuilt by an engine builder out of Moosejaw Saskatchewan under previous ownership, and claims that while the block and cylinder heads are original to the car, the transmission is not.
This sale will include a clean title.
Auction Results
- Highest Bid: $52,000
- Auction End: Aug 05, 2022 07:33:02PM UTC
- Number of Bids: 13
Comments (37)
Seller I’m interested. My last bid didn’t go through.
Bid in the amount of $52,000
Bid in the amount of $50,361
Bid in the amount of $50,111
Bid in the amount of $46,888
@Goatman65 @Goatman65, Thank you!
Thank you. Picture 5 is the best representation of the true color. It is a Sherwin Williams base/clear. Being a one year color in the sun it transforms from lilac to silvery and back again. I took the pictures you mentioned at dusk so they weren’t a good example.
WOW - what a stunning color ! GLWA
Beautiful car! Question about pictures #4, 10 and 11-I take it the angle/lighting is not representative of the true color-they seem darker than the other photos? Thank you!
Bid in the amount of $45,000
Hi all! I have lowered the reserve price. Good luck!
Bid in the amount of $40,000
Bid in the amount of $35,000
Bid in the amount of $30,250
Bid in the amount of $30,000
Bid in the amount of $25,250
Bid in the amount of $25,000
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
No apology necessary. My friend had that exact car! He sold it to someone in Texas.
Goatman65: I apologize; wasn't trying to throw shade on your car; I think it's gorgeous, and much nicer than a 'driver' (a 'show-quality/driver' perhaps?). But was trying to figure out exactly what it is in order to figure a value. Am still on the fence between this and a friend's Evening Orchid '65 Impala SS396...
I thought it was a restamp. But I still question the fact that the time stamp L294 indicates December 29 1964. That is the same date code on the build sheet.
Goatman65: thanks for adding the photos. The engine code is correct for a early 389 but the YC stamp looks factory correct and indicates a low-horsepower 455. I've never seen a double stamp before but the casting numbers clearly are for a 389. The WS stamp is obviously a restamp over another stamp. Bottom line, whether this is the original engine is questionable and since the transmission has also been converted from a Powerglide, it may not be a collector grade GTO; but IMHO it's still a nice driver in a great color.
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
The car runs and drives great! I only use Sunoco 94. Thank you for your kind words. I want people to know exactly what they are getting. I wii post the pictures.
Bid in the amount of $22,000
@Goatman: The heads have had hardened valve seats installed for unleaded, and does it run okay on 93 octane? Perhaps when the transmission was switched and the tripower added, the mechanic restamped the block over the original 4-barrel automatic YS to the more valuable 4-speed tripower WS. Can you post a photo showing the stamp? BTW, your honesty and integrity is appreciated, and thank God for Pontiac Historical Services documentation; it tells what a vintage Pontiac was originally built as.
The rear end is 323 gears correct on phs. Not sure if it’s original. As I view the WS code it appears that it was stamped over another number. I’d like to send you a picture to see what you think. The date code is the exact date the car was built. It also shows that date on the PHS. I’m told that it has a mild cam and was rebuilt to take unleaded fuel. Everything works as it should.
@Goatman: I don't need pictures of the engine stamps & codes, and take your word. It appears that you have a non-origional engine, albeit a good one & correct for a 1965 but with a 4-speed. This stuff is important when trying to ascertain a muscle car's value. Do you know what the rear end is and was it too changed? many factory automatic GTOs had long highway gears (non-posi 3.08 or 3.23s) and often had even longer gears installed for daily use back in the day. When the engine was rebuilt, what cam was installed and were there any other mods (compression, bore, etc)? ...and finally, does everything work correctly? BTW, thanks; nice looking car.
It’s the exact date the car was built.
I will ad that the date code is L294
@Goatman65 Well I sanded the area and discovered that it’s a WS block. The number 199615YC. I saw the YC and thought it was numbers matching to the car. The numbers on the distributor plate are 9978789. Thanks for making me check that closer.
I will check all of that for you. I’m sure it’s YS code. Would you like pictures or just the numbers.
The engine stamp is on the front of the right block below the cylinder head. It's stamped into the block. From your description (4-barrel 389, automatic), it should be YS if it's the correct block. Speaking of which... what is the date code (located on the distributor pad)? Thanks.
Bid in the amount of $20,000
Good morning. The car was originally a 4 barrel automatic. It was upgraded before I purchased it. The tripower intake is dated November of 64. The car was built in Dec of 64. I don’t know where he got an intake to match so perfectly but he did. The 4 speed was dated 1966. I wanted the correct one so I traded it to a guy who rebuilds Muncie transmissions. The correct one is totally rebuilt and is dated April of 65. If you are referring to the OK 2 stamp, that is an inspection stamp that they stamped on the line saying that the block and heads were inspected and ok’d. My body man said he researched the car and found it to be only one of 12 gto’s in a post car that were painted Iris mist although I cannot confirm that. If you have anymore questions you can call me or we can email. Thank you for your interest.
Does the PHS docs show this to be a factory tripower car and what's the two letters stamped into the block? Thanks.
Hi all! Thank you for your interest in my GTO! I am available for any questions you may have. This is truly a quality car that you will be proud to own. Thanks again, Ron