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The Ultimate Pontiac GTO Picture Site By Sean Mattingly. There's no bigger GTO image collection anywhere! |
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The Ultimate Pontiac GTO Picture Site By Sean Mattingly. There's no bigger GTO image collection anywhere! |
We first meet! In brief, this is my 3rd goat. My first was a 1965 Montero Red coupe my
Junior year of high school. I was the man in high school! After I thought I was a Chevy
man too! The 2nd was a 1968 Ram Air 2 Verdoro Green car with hood tach and hidden headlights.
I then got a 1969 400 Firebird, a letdown after the goats. The last car I owned was 1970
Chevy wagon. It had a 400 small block which I had to have to move for a new job. All my
stuff fit into a wagon back then! After that, I've only owned pickups. Of course I've had
the urge to find another goat, just no money or bad timing. In the Summer of 2000, I had
some friends of mine from Late Great Classics appraise a 1964 goat. But in the end, the
guy could not part with his car. Fast forward to December 2000. I receive a call from
Late Great. They had a guy call from Texas that had a 1965 coupe or a 1967 ragtop. I had
to go with my high school car. Imagine my delight when I saw the convertible show up! It
was then I decided to make this goat what I would have had in 1965 if I had the knowledge
and money. However I had no clue!
Purchased in December of 2000 sight unseen from Midland, Texas. The car did not arrive
until January 2001 because of a huge ice and snow storm that went from Texas to Maine.
This car has 1964 or early 1965 gauges. I did the PHS research to see if it was a real
goat after the fact. Lucky me! Its a real goat. Yep, it's A "5n" car!!
What color is it.. was it!? PHS showed the car to be a 389 4bbl 4 speed car with backup
lights, AM pushbutton radio and 2 speed wiper washer. The original color was Mayfair Maize,
gold interior with a white top. However, I wanted and made a Montero Red car with Parchment
interior, white top, and Tri-Power. We can blame Jim Wangers and his book GLORY DAYS for
the Ram Air. I didn't remember it was available in 65!
Spring, now is the time to take it apart. The chrome and stainless parts went to Chrome
Specialties in Quebec, Canada.
GTO in a bedroom. This is a big parts collection.
It's a goat. It has to be a tri-power with a close ratio .390 rear end. I did read
in the front of the Year One catalog that a car with 5N Kansas-built code would be a real
goat! When the car showed up here in January of 2001, I knew I had neither time, tools or
knowledge to do the right thing by this car. So I employed my friends at Late Great
Classics to do the work.
As low as it goes! This is the frame, sitting on some temporary wheels.
New rear end with .390's.
New legs, brake lines, the works.
Someone left a battery in the trunk, a new floor, and a left patch panel.
Oh! no! I got to the dreaded "might's well" stage. Might's well put in new floors so I
don't need to do this a year or so down the road.
Looks like a skinned tiger to me. After taking the car apart and putting the body on the
body stand, I started finding parts and taking the chrome and stainless parts up to Chrome
Specialties in Quebec. I had No clue! It cost close to 4 grand for that stuff! I took the
liberty of adding power steering & brakes with dual master cylinder.
2200 pounds of black beauty bead blast.
Pontiac never gave the frame this much love! 
Back together now?
Shiny car parts at the rear.
Doors being prepped.
Lets go! "Ram Air" in 65? Let's just say it is Jim Wangers' fault. Inside the engine, I put
roller rockers and stainless valves, backed up with stainless exhaust & Flowmasters.
Making the dash better than new.
Starting to look car-like.
Do you know what they get for Rally Dashes these days?!
2nd of 3 trips to Canada for chrome & stainless. Over 70 pieces.
The huge trunk kept many parts safe.
A new heart for the beast.
Stock in appearance #77 heads with hardened seats The block was bored .030 over with
forged pistons, Crane "S" series cam, clevite rods, roller rockers and stainless valves.
Love that Robin's egg blue color.
The tranny is a rebuilt M21 close ratio with a Hurst shifter.
With safety in mind, I went with power steering, power brakes and a dual master cylinder.
The lair of the Tiger.
The feeding system.
Cooling the Tiger.
The car got 3 coats urethane and 3 coats of clear.
Lets go!
Can't get enough looks at that Tri-Power.
Splitters on stainless exhaust Flowmasters.
This is the first day out in the sun.
Only deal on the whole car was the Cragars.
Puttin on the Ritz.
Never fear, little Chevy.
The car is 1 of 11,311. I restored it. I didn't crush it.
The car is pictured with 3 of 6 trophies from "Best of Show" to "not even show". I can't
figure those judges.If you want to, email Randy Butler at randys65badgoat@msn.com and tell him "Nice Car!".
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Here's a comment from a recent visitor...
Says David Ortiz (mmagico01.@telenet.es) - "My name is David, from Spain. I am mad about muscle cars, especially GTO's. MUY BUENO, AMIGO"
