Vehicle Description
Is the first still the best? This 1964 Pontiac GTO convertible
makes a convincing argument that icons have no fear of time,
particularly when they're packing a period-correct, thumping
389/Tri-Power V8 and a 4-speed gearbox. Frame-off restored and
featuring a Gulfstream Aqua paint job, a sporty black bucket seat
interior, and a top that goes down, this iconic Goat is a terrific
example of one of the rarest things on Earth: an investment you can
drive, enjoy, and watch appreciate.
OK, the restoration is a few years old (estimated at 13 years), but
that only means its trailer queen days are over. Seriously, is
there anything sadder than the father of all muscle cars spending
its life in a garage being wiped with a diaper? No, what you should
do with this Gulfstream Aqua Goat is go out and burn some hi-test
and listen to the cackle of the dual exhaust. With that being said,
this is still a heck of a head-turner - any former show-quality rig
that was frame-off restored and impeccably cared for typically is -
but it's acquired a few 'character' marks through the years. It's
all mostly minor stuff, with a couple of blemishes and
imperfections found here and there, but it's still an eye-catching,
strong driver-quality Goat that's incredibly slick and looks like a
million bucks when it's cruising down Main Street with the top
down. As a first-year, real-deal GTO convertible (in '64 and '65,
the GTO was an option on the LeMans, and this one has the correct
trim tag and PHS docs to prove its pedigree), it's definitely an
A-list collector's piece, so when the restoration was done back a
few years ago, it was completed to a very high standard and then
enjoyed, which is exactly the right way to do it. You can see in
our photos that it's quite straight and the paint has a great shine
that you'll take pleasure in waxing on Saturday afternoons before
hitting the cruise spots that evening. The complex taillights were
beautifully restored, all the chrome and brightwork shines up
nicely, and the proper GTO badges are in place - so get ready to
answer all the "Is it a real GTO?" questions. Fortunately, you can
answer, "Yes! Now please clean up your drool spot, sir, this is NOT
a Wendy's."
Inside, the complementary black bucket seat interior works on a
number of levels. With a Hurst cue ball shifter in between the
comfy front seats, there's no doubt about this car's sporting
intentions, and this was right about the time when Pontiac
perfected the luxury/muscle equation, so it's easy to spend a lot
of time inside. All the seats were covered in OEM-spec reproduction
seat covers that are broken in but not worn out, so they look
inviting and still show pretty darn well (although after years
under the bright Texas sun, the black vinyl - particularly on the
rear seat - isn't quite as dark and deep as it was when it was
new), and the flanking door panels and plush black carpets match up
nicely and tie the entire cabin together. That factory center
console is an extremely desirable piece, even more so because it
still houses the original Manifold Vacuum gauge still in place, and
all the bright trim and pop-metal that accents the entire unit
still shines up brightly as the convertible's natural centerpiece.
The 4-spoke, wood-rimmed steering wheel is likely this Poncho's
original (yet another very rare piece that rarely survived the
ravages of time), and beyond it is a Pontiac performance trademark:
a machine-turned gauge bezel filled with factory instruments. As
far as aftermarket parts, a trio of auxiliary Bosch gauges were
discreetly added below the dash to help monitor the engine's
vitals, and a newer stereo was fitted into the original slot but it
looks very correct because it's a retro-style AM/FM/AUX unit
complete with a Pontiac badge. GTO badges on the black floormats
match the one above the glove box door, seatbelts fore and aft
provide safety, and the black power convertible top is a newer unit
that works flawlessly and matches the car far better than the
original Ivory top. Out back, the spacious trunk is very nicely
detailed with a reproduction mat and spare tire cover.
Although not the original, numbers-matching unit, the engine
powering this droptop is indeed a correct YC-code 389 V8 with a
1965-66 date code. According to the PHS documents that accompany
this convertible, it is a genuine Tri-Power convertible - making it
the top-of-the-heap for collectors - so a correct Rochester 3x2
Tri-Power setup is exactly what went on the block during this
Goat's restoration. Reportedly rebuilt and bored .040 over, it's
been augmented with an Extreme Energy Ram Air III Comp Cam and
running great today, with plenty of power up-and-down the throttle
and a wonderful exhaust note emitting from the upgraded Flowmaster
dual exhaust system below. It was installed right and detailed for
show with all the correct bits during the frame-off restoration,
but a few years of driving enjoyment are starting to show (only
slightly), although I'd hardly call that a demerit on a top-end
driver. If you want a perfect one wrapped in Saran wrap and
protected behind velvet ropes, they're out there in museums and Jay
Leno's house, but I bet you'll be afraid to drive one. Instead,
this one fires up easily and drives beautifully, and with the
Muncie M21 4-speed gearbox managing all that power while spinning a
10-bolt 3.36 posi-traction rear end, it's always a thrilling
experience taking this beauty out for a spin. Power steering and
power front disc brakes improve the Goat's road manners and it
rides on a set of 225/75/14 Coker Classic redlines adorned with PMD
hubcaps and center spinners.
Documented with restoration receipts/photos, PHS docs, and an
owner's manual, it's obvious that super-clean 1st year GTO
convertibles like this don't come along every day. Don't miss it,
call today!
