1965 GTO - authentic or clone?

[michfans1982]

We own a 1965 GTO and would like to see if we can find out if it is a real GTO or if it has been cloned.
We've been told that there were no records kept on the birth of the GTO's in 1965. Is that true?

[oldblu65]

michfans , try putting something like " pontiac gto forums " or maybe just " pontiac forums " into a Google search . I'm certain many forums will show up and you can then go to any or all and find an answer . I know they're out there , I just don't know the web addresses . Good luck !

[MrPbody]

Okay, even if you ARE Michigan fans.. (Buckeye here...)

For '65, GTO was an "option" on LeMans. It wasn't until '66 GTO became it's own "model" (VIN begins with 242 instead of 237).

Pontiac Historic Services can take your VIN and send you a copy of the "build sheet", which lists all the options ordered for the car as new. Do a "google" on Pontiac Historic Services.

Jim

[jonnik]

FYI:
1964 GTO was an option package on the Tempest. 1965 was the first production year.

[MrPbody]

jonnik,

This is an old thread. That being said, '65 was an option on Lemans. '66 was the first year for "242" (the beginning of the VIN for GTO). '71 was the last, and it "reverted" to an option on Lemans for '72.

FWIW

Jim

[andretti]

Mr P.Body, I think a screen name change is needed.

My 1st choice for you... Mr A Body.

[MrPbody]

Andretti,

Thanks... I owned 22 '65s over the years. Wish I'd hung on to at least a couple of them...

The "P-Body" is Fiero. I chose the name because Fiero is the PUREST form of Pontiac in the post-war era (no other GM car on the platform). It also ties in nicely with the old cartoon character, "Mr. Peabody" and his pet boy "Sherman" and their "way back machine"...

Lots of myths and superstitions surrounding the muscle cars. I just bring the "facts". Nothing like "being there". I street-raced GTOs in the early '70s in SoCal, on a MASS "scale". Beat every SS396 I encountered before someone told me "You can't make a Pontiac run. You gotta use a Chevy engine..." WRONG! GTO's reputation didn't come from LOSING!

Jim

[BurtZ]

The 64 and 65 did not use the 242 id. The way to tell if it is real is the data tag on the firewall will have a "5N" on the ACC line.

[jprince3]

I have a true 65 GTO, it should be a 37 code if it's real. My first five numbers are 23737.

[MrPbody]

"236" is Tempest, "237" is LeMans. According to PHS (Pontiac Historic Services), yours SHOULD be 237, as GTO was an option on Tempest in '64, LeMans in '65.

I would "search" for PHS and get a "build sheet" from them. This will remove any and all doubt.

Jim