389 V8 TRI-POWER, A/C, POWER TOP, CLEAN & STRAIGHT, VERY NICE GTO CLONE!

1965 Pontiac Le Mans GTO Clone Description

We all know that tribute cars are a great way to own and drive a legend without the massive cash it requires to buy the real thing, but this 1965 Pontiac LeMans convertible is one of the more convincing GTO tributes we've seen. It's not meant to be an exact duplicate, but with a 389 Tri-Power V8, gorgeous red paint, and a top that goes down, nobody's going to be asking questions about casting numbers.The color is pretty close to the original GTO color of Montero Red and if you're going to drive a '60s muscle car with a top that goes down, there's really no point in trying to be subtle. GM styling was on a roll in '65, with stacked headlights making their debut and the Tempest/GTO benefitted from a major restyling to make one of the best-looking Goats of all. Panel fit is pretty darned good all around, particularly for a 50-year-old convertible and those massive quarters are very, very straight. Forward-canted headlights, as well as the subtle kick-up right behind the doors, add interest, and, of course, all the proper GTO badges were installed in their correct locations. The grille, hood scoop, and incredibly intricate taillights are all accurate enough to fool most onlookers, and the condition of the chrome will convince people that the good money was spent on the restoration. If we didn't tell you it was a clone, well, you probably wouldn't know just by looking at it.Black buckets with their distinctive Pontiac diagonal stitching anchor a very correct interior. Reproduction seat covers fit well on the low-back buckets and show only minor signs of use, while the rear bench looks virtually new. The fat wood-rimmed steering wheel isn't quite correct, but the three-spoke design has a racy '60s appearance, and while most folks don't realize it, a tachometer was optional on the GTO, so this dash looks like the one you would have gotten with a base model GTO. Aftermarket gauges under the dash make up for the lack of factory dials, and the center console and dash are in good order. They even made sure to add the proper GTO badges on the dash and door panels! An aftermarket A/C system adds some warm weather comfort and uses under-dash vents that blend in pretty well. It's equipped with a very well-fitted black power convertible top with a crystal clear rear window and the trunk is neatly finished with proper spatter paint.The engine is a Pontiac 389 cubic inch V8 topped with three 2-barrel carbs under correct individual chrome air cleaners. Pontiac Turquoise paint, chrome valve covers, and other details make for a convincing presentation, although the upgraded MSD ignition system spoils the illusion a little bit. Stock exhaust manifolds feed a mellow-sounding dual exhaust system that sounds potent enough to wear the GTO emblems. You'll also note that the A/C system uses a modern compressor and R134a refrigerant, so it's reliable and easy to service, even though as a convertible, you probably won't use it all that often. The engine is backed by a correct PowerGlide 2-speed automatic transmission (that was the only automatic available on the GTO in '65) and the original 10-bolt rear end, so the drivetrain is pretty tough. Pontiac Rally II wheels were upsized to 15-inchers to give it a period performance look and wear 235/60/15 Goodyear radials all around.A great-looking tribute car that gets all the big stuff right so you can enjoy the legend without the legendary price tag. Sometimes less really is more. Call today!