Tiger Gold Factory Special Order
 

How can a person verify if a car came from the factory with the special order Tiger Gold paint on a 1965 GTO? Does the PHS or the cowl tag verify it?

I ran across a listing at Barrett Jackson Scottsdale 2020 that says it has "Factory documented Tiger Gold" paint.

After some research I found this same car sold at Mechum in Phoenix in early 2019 with Capri Gold Paint.

I've included the links below of the listings.

Thanks for your help.


https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Even...ERTIBLE-236458

https://www.classic.com/veh/1965-pon...40515-WqAlBqW/

https://www.mecum.com/lots/AZ0319-36...o-convertible/

I’m under the impression that the trim tag would just note special paint. If you don’t have documentation that says what special color it was, you’re out of luck.

I don't know, but the one in the Mecum link looks like a different car to me. No mention of a vin there, but different wheels, tri-power vs 4bbl and it does look like a different color to me. PHS is going to be the only way to know for sure.

Some trim tags include a Dupont (I think) paint code...there was a special order paint 64 on ebay recently that had this, and I have seen 65s with the same stampings.

Tiger Gold
 

I have a couple “Tiger Gold” cars on file (65 and 66). Both are Factory Original Paint.

Here are a few photos of a 65.

Chris.

Thanks Chris,

That helps, it looks like both the the PHS and the trim tag (paint code 2) would indicate that it is special order paint.

Thanks again for posting.

Brad

I've been told that back in 65 they only sprayed Tiger Gold in July, so you would have to have a late June through July build date. I wasn't around back then, but the guy that told me was. He also has a July build date 65 factory Tiger Gold GTO and has owned/restored several more.

Hi Chris, I have just bought a 65 gto with the 2-2 color code, Its loaded with options with a 4sp,Tri-power, Thank you very much for the post, If you know any other way of proving the (2-2) code please advise, Thank you.

Your welcome new member.

Now please post photos of this ‘65 for all to enjoy.

Thanks.

If your trim tag has code 97904 , that is defacto tiger gold.
2-2 usually means it also had a black top

Epay tiger gold 65 gto convertible with data plate 97904 paint code " tiger gold" painted sunfire red https://www.ebay.com/itm/286237577995
another tiger gold gto tri power 4 speed convertible https://topclassiccarsforsale.com/po...ocumented.html

Epay tiger gold 65 gto convertible with data plate 97904 paint code " tiger gold" painted sunfire red https://www.ebay.com/itm/286237577995

That was an extremely oddly optioned - low option GTO
Tiger paint, auto column , R1 , pwr antenna.


Another tiger gold gto tri power 4 speed convertible https://topclassiccarsforsale.com/po...ocumented.html

That one sold new in Flint Michigan and seller says it is rusty. Sure hate that for it.

If I remember correctly the special paint code merely indicates that it was special paint. It does not directly tell you what color that special paint was.

Could be Playboy Pink, or US Forest Green or Catapillar yellow or whatever.

You'd have to find it written on the build docs, or find a phyiscal place on the car where it had not been touched in order to verify the original color.

K

Info I have on '65 paint codes ~
'1' : standard GM paint (but not Pontiac),
'2' : special Pontiac color
'3' : Cadillac FireFrost color
'4' : body in primer
'SPEC' : special order color (non-GM)

Special Paint process (per Eric White):

The procedure for getting a special-paint car ordered went like this:

• The customer (or dealership) determines what color is desired.

• An All Series Special Equipment order form is filled out.

The information required for a special-paint-request on this form is:
• Lower Color Paint No.
• Upper Color Paint No.
• Make of Car & Year Paint Used.
I am guessing that obtaining the correct paint no. would be left up to the ordering salesman/dealership paint department.

In the '60s and early '70s, before colored plastic/fiberglass trim parts became common, any color paint could be ordered, as long as the dealer could supply the paint formula no. on the S.O. form. After the mid-'70s when the crash-bumper fillers became common place, special order colors were phased out except for large fleet orders. [Keith comment - or, steel components substituted for painted parts, as in the Endura front bumper on a '68 GTO]

Several codes were used on the Fisher Body trim tag to indicate a special-order paint. Codes varied between the years and between Fisher Body plants. Some of the codes used were:
1= Standard GM paint, not a Pontiac color
2= Special Pontiac color. Sometimes offered a half-year "springtime" color.
3= Cadillac FireFrost color. This paint was not normally allowed on a Pontiac build because of the special processes required to apply this type of paint.
4= Body in primer
SPEC or ** would indicate a paint color from a source outside GM (Ford, Chryco, AMC, John Deere, International Harvester, etc.) Colors could also be ordered to match school or business colors. As long as a formula no. could be identified by the dealership just about any color hue could be specified.

• The order was then routed through the Pontiac Zone office, which then routed it on to the Central Office.

• Central Office then entered a request to the paint supplier, usually PPG/Ditzler, for the appropriate paint.

• The paint supplier shipped a quantity of paint to the appropriate assembly plant.

• The special-order build was scheduled and coordinated between the Fisher plant and GMAD or Pontiac assembly.

• Build was delivered to dealership with a quart of touch up paint in trunk.

[Keith again:]

I have also seen a && (double ampersand) to designate special paint, on a Pontiac plant cowl data tag.

Most assembly plants have/had a special paint system, separate from the main line, where smaller paint pots could be loaded with low production volume colors, which would minimize the amount of waste when flushing the system. Typically these were done for fleet and special equipment runs (Grand Trunk RR, RCMP, Bell Telephone, etc). We also have had some plants were the special colors were run through the paint repair line rather than the main assembly process.

Would that be Superior Pontiac-Cadillac in Flint? Can you make out a dealer code (07-783)?

That's were we got our '68, I think. The building is still there but is now a bus maintenance facility for the city.

K

Yep . 07-783 is what I came up with from it's document.

Wallace has this memo listed with it --
This dealership was owned by Bill Packer Sr. in addition to Packer Pontiac Detroit (later Auburn Hills)

Those guys were really high stepping in those new Tiger Gold cars in 65.

Whole lot wrong in this photo.
Not 77 heads. Stacked gaskets.
Incorrect PB booster.
Not a ‘65 finger guard for a 3x2 car.
Valve covers on wrong …. again.

Heater hose goes to inner fender - either the rotisserie restoration was done by a Chevy guy, or it's smog pump is MIA. Chevy clutch pedal pad too. Windshield washer hose gets pinched by cowl seal. Couldn't find wingnuts for the air cleaners. Aloominium radiator and electric fan.

The only time the heater hose would travel over to the RH fender skirt on a ‘65 is on an air condition car.
No smog pump (A.I.R.) until ‘66.

Need to see a PHS on this car.

Wow, Thanks alot, It does have that code on cowl tag, Can you Please advise how you know this info, Thanks again.

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Tried to post cowl tag on your post, I was able to get it on mine, Thanks Again.

Cool car.


The tag decode of the lower letters:

E - tinted glass
O - 2 tone paint

2LC
C - instrument panel pad ?
L - Muncie 4 sp

5N
N - GTO


:)

cowl tag
 

:usflag::usflag::usflag:

97904 is the Dupont paint mix formula number for Tiger Gold.
When they have that listed , it is for certain the special color was Tiger Gold.

I'm not too sure "O" in EO stands for 2-tone paint.
That doesn't quite jive right overall.
Possibly it is just the Fisher code that makes provisions for the molding group that divides a vinyl top or 2-tone paint scheme.

Im thinking the second 2 in 2-2 trim code is for black vinyl top.
It would be extremely ultra unusual to have a 2-tone with 2 different special order colors.
Don't think that would fly with the zone order proof readers.

Seymore might can scour his original 65 PMD build sheet and see if any of the numeric box groups list a code for 2-tone or vinyl top.
And we can decode your PHS document to see if it has one of those.

From the Ocala FL GTO on Clist

I do remember that Hurst had a promo campaign with Pontiac about the new Hurst Wheels.
Where you could order a set of the wheels as a dealer installed option and it would go onto the balance of your new car finance contract , aka part of your monthly car payment.

This car isn't wearing the wheels.

I can remember a couple of purpose built Hurst Promo cars in 65.
But I'm not familiar with 100 Black Vinyl Top Hurst promo cars.
Can anyone validate this ?

Not knocking his car.
If it has numbers drivetrain it's probably worth every penny he is asking for it.

[ATTACH]:police::police::police:[/ATTACH]

Thanks Baron, Thats Awesome.

I'm not for sure on the 'O' some stuff I have says 2 tone, some say the molding strip that separates the upper and lower halves.
Since it's on the cowl tag, it would pertain to the molding strip I guess.


:confused:

First I ever heard of 100 being made for contests. The reggie jackson car sold for a hammer price of $60,000 at the monteray 2024 auction. At least that is what is reported on the mecum website. Looks like a very nice restoration.

I always thought there was only one give away car, that being the infamous GeeTO Tiger with gold plated hurst wheels. Pretty sure it was in Bob Marvin's collection up until a few years ago. I read that Dana Mecum may have it now (?) Seems to have last been offered in 2022.

The CL ad strikes me as a difficult, unmotivated seller. I don't understand why people make these ads, demand 75k, and can only put 4 pictures up. His comparison to the Reggie Jackson car does not justify his asking price.

That is a re-printed copy of an order sheet highlighted py PHS.
What we might need , is the Billing History Card , if Keith Seymore finds a 3 digit code on his PMD Plant build sheet that correlates.
I don't think there is , but maybe.

Congrats on having a specimen with TriPower 4spd and other good equipment.
What axle ratio was it built with ?

The buyer odered it with a 2:23 pos, (per phs) If you look on the cowl tag it has the dupont paint code you said was Tiger gold also it was built last week in June, Not sure if you got to see the tag, Its definatly on my posts, I am having trouble loading pics up on the py forum. also I do have the pmd plant build sheet, but its hard to make out very blury, Thanks

I think Pontiac used that combo in some ads for 65 GTO's.
But I don't remember if any were wearing Hurst wheels
But the seller , or a friend of his , added some poetic liberty into the mix involving Hurst with Tiger Gold.

Here is where part of his data comes from, an article published by AutoEvolution
Penned by Razvan Calin

" The division even offered a color scheme that reminded the customer of the majestic Asiatic feline. The Tiger Gold option had a yellow-and-black exterior with a black interior, and around 100 examples were sold in this chromatic combination. That is a rare find, no matter how we put it, and one of those examples is for sale.

...The car has changed hands several times since the Hall-of-Famer athlete sold it in 2009
Six years later, in 2015, the car was deemed worthy of $74,000, and two months ago, it was sold again for a nice, round $70,000. A month from now, it will go under the hammer once more at the Monterey auction. "

The Hurst Wheels could probably be incorporated into any Pontiac car sale in any car size or any car color by participating dealers via the Hurst Wheel campaign.

Yes I saw your cowl tag pics. Bonafide
Probably meant 3.23 axle with Wide Ratio 4spd

The factory build sheet is an item that is only found within the car itself , on rare occasions.
Keith has a pristine example.
What you probably have is the Billing History Card from PHS.

It does seem like most of the Metal Roof Tiger Gold 65's I can recall had Black vinyl tops.
Probably more to do with the color ads in magazines prompting the choice.
That would add another chunk of coins to the sticker price on top of the extra charge for special paint.

Someone from back when might actually know if it was a requisite to get the vinyl top with that color , but I have my doubts about it.

Could be mix-and-match recollection? Thom
McAn's Tiger Gold GTO contest soon followed.

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1740528621

I'm not sure this is a credible source.

I see these Autoevolution articles and get the impression these guys are just regurgitating stuff they have read elsewhere on the internet.

K

Thank You Keith!

Thanks Baron, Yes this one was ordered the black vinyl top (per phs), Thanks Again for all your help.

I think the 100 number is a wives tale handed down from hear-say.
The 100 Hurst Promo an even farther stretch tacked on.


But I am curious if anyone has owned , or has any living proof , of a metal roof 65 Tiger Gold without a Black Vinyl Top.

It does seem like all the 65's i can recall had Black tops and Black interior.
I have seen a Convertible TG that did not have Black Interior. Had Gold Interior

All the 65 Z16 Chevelle SS 396 cars were Vinyl Top - if maybe there is some similar rhyme or reason with it.

This one:

http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/...9.jpg~original

Photo is from the inaugural MCACN in 2009.

It was either Colin Comer or Dana Mecum at the time (I don't recall which).

K

Dana did buy the Hardtop a couple-few years ago at one of his auctions.

There were also two White 65 Convertible Hurst/Motor Trend/Riverside 500 pace cars.
One given to the race winner and one to a ticket holder.
Dana bought that one too.
Believe it was at the same auction/event.

"20,650 miles since new.
One of only two Pace Cars and the only example known to exist.
Originally purchased by Motor Trend Magazine and George Hurst of Hurst Performance Products
Original Protect-O-Plate made out to Motor Trend.
1964 California title application issued to "Mr. George Hurst, Hurst and Campbell Company".
The first car was awarded to the 1965 Riverside 500 race-winner Dan Gurney, and this car was awarded to a lucky ticket holder.
The first cars to wear Hurst mag wheels.

https://www.mecum.com/lots/499124/19...side-pace-car/

Yep , more likely.
Being it's a Fisher Body code , it would be for the molding provision operations.
Which could apply to either vinyl top or 2-tone cars.