[ericisback]

My friend is considering purchasing this 65 389 coupe, that is being auctioned in an estate. The online auction ends in two days. I was wondering if I could get some feedback from the group regarding the car, and any issues, or problems that you see based on the listing.

https://bids.hbarrysmith.com/auction...d-descriptions

I inspected the car today. Here are some of the things I noticed:

The car won’t start without a jump. At first, I thought it was the battery, but the car will only idle for about a minute or two before it quits, and then needs to be jumped again. It does not seem like the battery to me. What are your thoughts?

Stampings and date codes seem correct on the engine. However, when it was sold in 2017 at Mecum, the listing mentioned a protect-o-plate. The protect-o-plate is no longer with the car, so I’m wondering what happened to it, and additionally, now I cannot verify that the engine is original.

Although the listing does not show the PHS documentation. I was able to take some photos of of it at the viewing.

Two of the three carburetors have the correct tabs - couldn’t see the carb codes.

Car has the correct heads based on the stampings and the date codes.

Intake manifold seems correct.

Car has aftermarket (Dougs) headers

The car sold at a Mecum auction in 2017 for $66,000. It still has the Mecum sold sticker on the windshield, and the license plates in the rear floorboard.

I will try to attach some photos that I took today. Please let me know what you think.

[ericisback]

More photos:

[GtoFM]

Looks like a clean ride. If you want to get picky, and this drives the '65 guys bonkers, the front seat lower cushions are reversed. Date codes appear to be within the build date. Trans case should be stamped with the VIN if you need to confirm originality. I think the matching #s and a great auctioneer got a premium price in'17.

[65madgoat]

Old mecum auction page:

https://www.mecum.com/lots/295735/

[65madgoat]

Nice car. Get a proper steering wheel on it and you are in business. Could just be a bad alternator. Regardless with any used car you will need to go through it.

A matching numbers tripower 4 speed still worth at least in the $60s in this shape I feel. Great color. Cool goat.

1st gen GTO market has been soft for over a decade. So really don't see it getting above where it sold at mecum. Anything under a win.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

You will have to base its condition top and bottom yourself.
I could only view 2 pics on Mecum site , of the dash/interior only.

Not sure if correcting the seat bottoms can be done with just nuts and bolts.
The lines should mimic the back seat directions.

Red car painted Black
Headlights and connectors are reversed or they only work on high beam.
Only the bottom bulb is burning.
Late 70's TA splitter repops are almost a common sight , but the installation is really poor.
Correct all green tach line for an early'ish car.

Carb tags are available in the catalogs.
Need to get the casting numbers off the center section of each carb.
7 digit numbers that are cast in raised numerals.

A better car would bring way more than this one.
They overpaid at Mecum from what I see.

Not running and driving puts it about 50-55k top dollar.
That's if everything else you can see top and bottom is proper.
50 and under seems kind of safe place to be on it.

I'd rather find a car in a factory color I liked , and was still that color.

[65madgoat]

100% what he said

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

I did see your pics and the ones on the current auction site.
Don't think there was anything showing underside condition..

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Looked at auction site again and there are more pics than I saw the first time.
Was wondering how there were comments on the dates etc ... Haha

Distributor is a later model with aluminum housing. March 9 1972
Should be a cast iron housing with a stainless steel ID band around the lower neck.

Its probably a good car overall and they don't all have to be perfect.
Mainly you just dont want cheesy workarounds like that horn button or the tailpipes.
And the seat bottoms backwards
Rims are always subjective to personal tastes

[ericisback]

Originally Posted by 65madgoat

Nice car. Get a proper steering wheel on it and you are in business. Could just be a bad alternator. Regardless with any used car you will need to go through it.

A matching numbers tripower 4 speed still worth at least in the $60s in this shape I feel. Great color. Cool goat.

1st gen GTO market has been soft for over a decade. So really don't see it getting above where it sold at mecum. Anything under a win.

Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin

You will have to base its condition top and bottom yourself.
I could only view 2 pics on Mecum site , of the dash/interior only.

Not sure if correcting the seat bottoms can be done with just nuts and bolts.
The lines should mimic the back seat directions.

Red car painted Black
Headlights and connectors are reversed or they only work on high beam.
Only the bottom bulb is burning.
Late 70's TA splitter repops are almost a common sight , but the installation is really poor.
Correct all green tach line for an early'ish car.

Carb tags are available in the catalogs.
Need to get the casting numbers off the center section of each carb.
7 digit numbers that are cast in raised numerals.

A better car would bring way more than this one.
They overpaid at Mecum from what I see.

Not running and driving puts it about 50-55k top dollar.
That's if everything else you can see top and bottom is proper.
50 and under seems kind of safe place to be on it.

I'd rather find a car in a factory color I liked , and was still that color.

Thanks for this great info!!!

[ericisback]

Im stunned! Based on my thoughts, and the feedback here, my friend decided to bid the car up to $50k, including all fees.....

The car sold for $77,500 PLUS 10% auction fees AND 7% state sales tax, for a total of $90,675.00. You could knock me over with a feather.

Prices have gone crazy!

[65madgoat]

That is A LOT for a car in that condition. Plenty other 1965 goats out there but (may not be numbers matching tripower and 4 speed). Granted finding that is not easy, but no way did I see $90k for this car. But it was worth it to one person!

[ericisback]

Originally Posted by 65madgoat

That is A LOT for a car in that condition. Plenty other 1965 goats out there but (may not be numbers matching tripower and 4 speed). Granted finding that is not easy, but no way did I see $90k for this car. But it was worth it to one person!

Without the protect-o-plate it’s not even guaranteed original engine. I guess it is as “matching numbers” as a 1965 can be without build sheet or protect-o-plate.

Tri-power, 4-speed IS rare for sure, but not even original color. I’m scratching my head.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Maybe the 65 3x2 4spd 3.90 project on eBay is worth buying and restoring after all.
They did build a lot of 65 3x2 cars , but 3.90 cars are hard to find

This hobby is still full of surprises - wow
90k with those drawbacks is above and beyond

[johns]

IMHO-change to stock wheels, dog dishes and red line tires. $65000 max.
John S

[ericisback]

Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin

Maybe the 65 3x2 4spd 3.90 project on eBay is worth buying and restoring after all.
They did build a lot of 65 3x2 cars , but 3.90 cars are hard to find

This hobby is still full of surprises - wow
90k with those drawbacks is above and beyond

Less than three out of every ten ‘65 models were factory tri-power… granted, there were more four speeds than automatics in 65, but the combination does not show up a lot nowadays…. At least not from the factory.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 65madgoat

That is A LOT for a car in that condition. Plenty other 1965 goats out there but (may not be numbers matching tripower and 4 speed). Granted finding that is not easy, but no way did I see $90k for this car. But it was worth it to one person!

Or two people.

Usually it takes more than one person that wants it bad to drive the price up.

K

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Over 20,000 tripower GTO's in 1965
The better cars with great color combos and correct drivetrains don't move around a whole lot..
Guys have seemed to hold them pretty tight for extended lengths.