Frame Off Restored GTO 389 TriPower 4 Speed Convertible

If you're a fan of style, speed, and comfort, you simply can't go wrong with a Pontiac GTO. The car practically defined the golden age of Detroit and, by the time its first production run was over, it had become the best-selling muscle car of all time. If you're in the market for one today, you probably want a 389 car, preferably with Tri-Power, backed up by a Muncie 4-speed. This 1966 GTO convertible fills that order and then some. Not only does it carry unique options like power windows and a power-assisted driver seat, it wraps them in a custom SPS paint code for a GTO like no other. Well documented and immaculately restored, this is Pontiac royalty in search of a new kingdom.

Here's the full list of options according to PHS:

SPS Special paint (Chevrolet code F Marina Blue)
77W 4-speed manual transmission (wide-ratio)
WS 3x2 barrel 389 cubic inch V8
342 Push button radio
454 Rally wheels
471 Custom sport steering wheel
472 Console
501 Power steering
532 Soft Ray tinted windshield
551 Power windows
564 Power left-hand bucket seat
731 Saf-T-Track limited slip differential

The mystery color is Marina Blue, borrowed from the Chevrolet product line, and it looks completely natural sprayed over Pontiac lines. Those lines show a little better than usual thanks to an impressive restoration carried out by the owner of a body shop. The lower quarters were butt-welded into place, then metal finished to perfection. The floors are original, but the trunk pan is new. Best of all, there are pictures of the whole process, so you know exactly what went on. Once the car was solid and wearing a fresh coat of 2-stage urethane, the body was wet sanded and buffed for a shine that will get fans talking and gawking any time you pull into a show.

The supporting details are every bit as nice as the paint and body. At the front of the car, a pristine body-width chrome bumper props iconic vertical headlights next to an industry-first plastic grille, a wide set “GTO” emblem and clear, chrome trimmed parking lights. Above those headlights a subtle hood features a familiar GTO-specific scoop and a legendary silver arrow head. And at the sides of those headlights, dent-free stainless rocker moldings combine with fresh stainless wheel well edgings, new GTO fender emblems and traditional chrome door handles to trace a killer 'coke bottle' profile. At the top of the car, well-maintained stainless trim frames soft ray tinted glass that's flanked by a correct chrome mirror, cleared by satin finished wipers and capped by a taut white vinyl top. At the back of the car, a second body-width chrome bumper hangs integrated reverse lights below GTO-specific tail lights, a trunk mounted “GTO” emblem and an appropriately centered “Pontiac” script which informs the competition of who just outran them.

Of course, the real show is under the hood. The most obvious point of interest is the Tri-Power setup which sports a trio of original 2-barrel Rochester carburetors. They're surrounded by a correct Ram Air pan that takes full advantage of cool air pulled through the hood scoop. That setup is bolted to a WS block that wears a 9778789 casting number and fresh coat of Pontiac blue paint. The heads are also original and correct, showing the proper 093 casting numbers. Dig a little deeper and you'll find exact details throughout the engine compartment, from the markings on the firewall to the ink stamp on the alternator, to the perfect date coded blue strip hoses and tower clamps. Note the paint daubs on things like the brake master cylinder indicating that the lines had been properly torqued, the OK stamp on the heads, and the markings on the radiator that says it had been tested for proper anti-freeze levels. There's also a glass bottle full of windshield washer fluid concentrate and reproduction Delco battery cover that looks just like the real thing but conceals a modern 12V cell. All those details add up for a seriously nice presentation.

Shine a light underneath the car to find a detailed undercarriage with limited evidence of road use. In the center, the original W-code wide-ratio 4-speed manual transmission remains in place. The VIN derivative is on top of the case so its difficult to show, but restoration pictures verify the Muncie as an original piece. Downstream from the transmission, a Saf-T-Track limited-slip differential puts power to the ground through 3.55 gears. Around the drivetrain, details are king. There are more paint daubs on all the appropriate bits while decals and stickers grace items like the springs and sway bars, matching the tags that told line workers which part to pull and install. The rear axle has a large X indicating that it passed inspection while a metal tag reminds owners to use limited-slip gear oil is in place. The factory power brakes and suspension are all-new, the control arms have the proper NK stencils, and red inner fender liners (a popular item when the cars were new) have been installed for an authentic 1960s high-performance look. The chassis meets the road through a set of Rally wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich redline radials.

The all-new parchment interior is a subtle upgrade over plain white vinyl and offers the perfect contrast to the Marina Blue exterior. It has a warmth and a glow to it that simple white vinyl can't touch. The seats, carpets, door panels and even the sun visors are brand new and correct. The wood-grain dashboard has been restored and has the unique ribbed console with a Hurst shifter sticking up. The gauges have been refinished, and it shows 67,336 original miles on the odometer. The AM radio has been augmented by a powerful Kenwood AM/FM/CD system discreetly tucked under the dash, and the power windows and seat are all 100% functional. When it's stowed, a new parchment vinyl boot covers the stack for a clean look. Under the deck-lid, the GTO's spacious trunk is completed by a correct mat, authentic spatter-finish paint, a new spare and a restored jack setup.

To supplement the first-rate restoration, there is plenty of paperwork included with this Pontiac. For starters, PHS supplied a data sheet, build sheet, and window sticker to show just how the car was delivered from Baltimore. From there, a folder stuffed with receipts and a binder filled with photos combine to give you full insight into the restoration process. This is a no-stories car.

So there you have it - an immaculately restored one-of-a-kind GTO ready to fill that empty space in your garage. The color will always draw Pontiac fans in, the Tri-Power 389 will always put a smile on your face, and the extensive restoration ensures everything will look great for years to come. If it's time to put Pontiac power in your life, put your name on the title of the 1966 GTO convertible today!