Few names resonate like the simple three-letter GTO. For American car fans, it’s often cited as the genesis of the muscle car movement and despite stealing Ferrari’s thunder, the cars coming out of Pontiac, Michigan more than lived up to their billing. With a wide variety of options, engines, and colors, the guys at the Excitement division were better than almost anyone else at building tailored cars, machines that would fit the owner like a custom suit, and the GTO was an excellent example of an iron fist in a silk glove. And if you ask anyone what defines a muscle car, most will say something like, “You know, a car like the GTO!”

This 1965 Pontiac GTO convertible represents what many consider the pinnacle of early GTO styling. The stacked headlights were new and while the GTO was still just an option package on the Tempest/Lemans, it was still a striking presence on the street. Making this one even more appealing is the ultra-rare code P Iris Mist paint, which is this car’s original color and one of the most highly-sought hues of the period. Obviously the contrast of the subtle pastel paint and the brute horsepower underneath is appealing today, but back then, the guys buying GTOs wanted in-your-face looks and the Iris Mist was just a little too quiet. As a result, it’s the rarest of all GTO colors and makes this convertible something special. It was fully restored, stripped to bare metal, all the demons excised from its skin, and rebuilt from there using an exact match to the factory formula, but now rendered in two-stage urethane for far superior durability. The sheetmetal is in excellent shape, and while the car does have new quarters on it, the work was expertly done and everything fits at least as well as if the factory had done it. Iris Mist is a great color, not at all brash, and depending on the light it moves from a soft lavender to almost charcoal gray making for a most attractive piece of muscle. Most of the chrome and stainless trim on this car is original and in good condition, with straight, shiny bumpers, great headlight surrounds, and a grille that isn’t damaged or cracked. You’ll note that the taillights (still some of the most expensive taillights ever conceived) are showing some light pitting but it’s only noticeable up close and the overall effect is still very appealing.

The interior is also the best possible choice for Iris Mist, code 218-B Parchment buckets, which is this car’s original combination. Everything inside the car was restored while the body was apart, so there are new seat covers front and rear, reproduction door panels, and fresh carpets over a super solid floor. The contrast between the glowing seat upholstery and the black carpets is insanely appealing and the wood steering wheel warms things up just right. The car offers basic instrumentation that covers speed and fuel level, which is how many GTOs were equipped despite what you see on the show fields today, and everything is fully functional, albeit in original condition so there’s a little fading on the gauge faces. A modern AM/FM/cassette stereo head unit is fitted in the dash and sounds pretty darned good, especially compared to the original AM unit, and the center console has been modified from using a PowerGlide shift quadrant to a 3-speed automatic to better service the TH400 that now lives underneath. There’s a new white power top overhead that folds easily and fits very well, and a matching Parchment boot is included in the trunk. And speaking of the trunk, it is nicely finished with correct spatter paint, a mat set, and a full-sized spare tire.

The original engine was a 389, but it was lost to the sands of time so in its place is a 1970 vintage Pontiac 400. Rebuilt just a few thousand miles ago and offering a big cam and ported heads, it’s a very strong runner. Detailing makes the illusion pretty convincing, with a correct 1965 air cleaner atop the big Edelbrock carburetor, matching chrome valve covers, and a few other sparkly details that make the engine bay look great. There’s also an Edelbrock intake manifold that was painted to match the engine, so it blends in and helps with the OEM look. Inner fenders and the firewall are painted satin black to frame the Pontiac Turquoise engine and there’s a brand new dual reservoir master cylinder for the brakes. Long-tube headers feed a cackling Flowmaster dual exhaust system that sounds truly spectacular without getting annoying at cruising speeds. If you want a GTO experience that lives up to the hype, this cool ragtop certainly delivers.

The original 2-speed PowerGlide was dumped during the restoration, and in its place there’s a stout TH400 3-speed automatic that never misses a shift and shrugs off the big torque coming out of the 400. Shifts are firm and precise and it jumps down a gear with a prod of the throttle when you really need to move. There are 3.73 gears in the rebuilt 10-bolt rear end, so it’s shockingly quick off the line and has a great V8 purr at cruising speed. However, this is not a cross-country cruiser but rather a bare-knuckles street brawler and I think John DeLorean would agree that’s entirely the point of the GTO. The floors are absolutely spotless, the frame is clean and straight, and with power steering and brakes, it’s quite easy to drive around town with little effort. In fact, almost everything under the skin is new on this car, including the lines, hoses, brake shoes, fuel pump, and all the other little stuff that should be replaced but frequently isn’t on an older car. Later Pontiac Rally II wheels are fitted, and if you look closely, you’ll note they’ve been color-matched to the Iris Mist bodywork, a cool look that’s subtle enough to go unnoticed by all but the experts. Recent 215/70/15 Goodyear Eagle radials are fitted all around, fat enough to look good but not so comically oversized that they distract you from the car’s cool ‘60s look.

There’s a lot of money wrapped up in this car’s restoration, but it’s was built for the road. It runs and drives extremely well, and if you like the color, I guarantee you’ll love the ride. Very reasonably priced for a ’65 GTO convertible, particularly in such a rare color, this is pure weekend fun that has no interest in being a trailer queen. Call today!