Untitled Document

Project GTO - 5/5/05

Finally project GTO is underway. This page is created to document the restoration of my dream car, a 65' GTO Post Coupe. Everything will be documented, with pictures taken. Documentation done right!

To start the project, I will give my brief history.

My name is Samuel R. 5th and I am 18. Me and my best friend, Daniel D., restored his car, a 70 Malibu Chevelle to mint condition. His car took exacly a year to finnish and despite our many mistakes, we made it through with our first restoration and came out with a beautiful car.

Having little luck finding a job at the beginning of this year, I was disapointed at finding GTO's come and go just barely out of my reach. I scored a job at a car dealership and started making money. I was on the nets every night looking on ebay and craig's list trying to find my dream car.

Two months ago back in March 05' I found a GTO being sold on ebay which needed extensive body work. Being a fairly good welder and body man, I saw this as a great oportunity to buy my dream car. I saw GTO's on ebay go for $7,500 with very minor rust damage and I was disapointed that my car had such a high sticker price. I called up the guy selling his GTO on ebay. His name was Mark and he seemed like a nice honest guy. He lived in San Diego, California (650 miles away). This GTO had an Olds 455cid motor. (My dream swap already done for me) with a 2 speed powerglide. All the chrome was on the car and the tires had decent tread. The car came with the origional Borg Warner 8-track player. He said the car runs, and I believed him. I bid on it on ebay in the last few seconds and won the car for $4,050.00

The trip was about 1,350 miles altogether in 48 hours. On the way down there, we left after work at 4:30pm. I drove past L.A. and got about 20 miles from Mark's house before we parked in a parking lot at around 2am. and slept 4 hours. We woke up at 6am. and drove the rest of the way. We went to his house, saw the beautiful car parked out on the curb like it never moved from the picture. Then we headed to the bank to take out the loan.

We called to let them know we were in town and we eventually met up with them at their house around noon.

He gave me a ton of free stuff and parts for the car, including 389cid heads, wheels, spare drivers side door, 2-4 barrel carbs, origional throttle linkage and water pump. Plus a lot of other stuff and some magazines. (I think he just wanted his garage cleared out for the wife) I was glad we could help eachother out so well. :D

He helped me install a coolant overflow tank in the car for the long trip home. (Believe it or not, I had the courage to drive the car home, AS-IS) I gave him the money for the car and went to the gas station, only to find out that gas was pooring out of my gas tank. A little disapointed, I went back to his house and explained the problem. A little worried for I had already given him my money, he went out to the hardware store and got cement putty with fiberglass/scilicone patch on the tank and invited me into his home to hang out for 2 hours while it dried.

Afterwards, we said our goodbye's... (again) and then hit the road. The car ran hard on I-5 and all the way home. I only spent about $150 on gas for the trip back. We survived rushour traffic in L.A., S.F. and Santa Rosa.

All in all, I think it was all worth it. Some people say I got ripped off and others say I got a great deal. It really depends on your preferences. Keep in mind that the production numbers for a 65' GTO Post Coupe was around 8,300. Truthfully, I wouldn't buy any other car for $4,000.

It took me hours upon hours to clean out our 2 car garage (In an undisclosed location) for my new love. I just recently finnish cleaning the place up and moved the GTO into its new home. So enough with the story telling and more with the pictures... yeah!!!

GTO Pictures:

Looks like someone cut out a piece off the back. Not quite sure why.

My best friend making fun of the rotted out trunk. "Rust... yeaaaahhh!" You can see where the gas tank was patched:

My baby wasn't too happy about the move. It already pee'd on the floor. MMmm... smells like tranny fluid with a little hint of oil. Yummy.

Flat tire already.. that's my baby, keeping life interesting. This is when the extra tires come in handy. Thanks Big O' Tires for fixing the flat for free.