1965 GTO “Unrestored Survivor”
 

It’s been 6 years since I was able to strike a deal with the eBay seller of this “Cream Puff” (that’s what my good buddy Grant Baber calls it).

Ms. Cordelia Gevas purchased this car New from Broad St. Pontiac in Newark, NJ when she was 35 years old.

She finally learned to drive a car at this late age from the urging of her two other sisters.
The automobile she learned to drive was a ‘65 4 door Tempest.
With her training being successful and license in hand, she set off to purchase that same familiar model, Pontiac Tempest.

Turns out, General Motors just went through a nation wide 30 day strike (Sept. 25, 1964 ~ Oct. 25, 1964) and her local Pontiac dealer was out of Tempest and Lemans.
The only automatic “Tempest Series” car on the lot was this Mayfair Maize GTO.
Sold! Good choice Cordelia, you stepped up girl.

Unfortunately Cordelia passed away in Dec. 2014 at which time her nephew John was instructed to sell her car.
John and his wife were kind enough to document this ‘65 coming out from under the bed sheets in the secluded one car garage.
John also took the time to tell me what he recalled about his Aunt and her GTO.

A time capsule for sure, as this car was never driven in rain or snow.

I named this car “Cordelia” as it should be.

Chris.

Wow!

Love it....my hat off to Ms. Cordelia Gevas....she was a smart woman.

Dan

On the way to the left coast
 

One of the sisters was on hand to witness the start-up, trailer to a storage facility and eventually onto a car transport truck to my door of 3000 miles away (NJ to California).

A quick drive to the DMV to verify this car and register the “period correct” Black and Yellows.

Factory Paint
 

100% Original Factory Paint, Pinstripes and Cordova top.

Chrome and stainless are excellent.

Because this car is an early ‘65 build (4 months into build year), it came with the 1964 wire wheel disc covers (no cooling slots).

There are several other components on this car related to an early ‘65 build.
I will point those out later.

More exterior
 

The chrome cast metal dealer plate was in the glove box, but unfortunately is missing the BR.

Cordova top is Perfect. No rust bumps or peeling.
The flexible retainer is very cool to see how it was installed for the secure finish of the fabric.

One of a kind, congrats!

WOW, I love cars, and stories, like this!!

'

True Sweetheart deal in every way!
:beers:
~ Pete

.

Can we please see pictures of the engine bay.

Thank you,

Dan

Wow, that's awesome!

Awesome car, very similar circumstances as to how you acquired it in comparison to my '65 shown in another post in this thread.

Wow, just wow!!:headbang:

Beautiful!

Is this a Baltimore built car?

Notice that in every modern photo where a human being appears, that person has a great big smile!

K

Great story and great car. Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

Wow, you don't see creampuffs like that every day, and that's the perfect word for it.

The BEST photo is the photo of the GTO in the garage and the rifle rack on the wall :)

It says....you mess with my GTO....I mess with YOU! Love it!

Dan

----What a great Goat and great find! I'm so envious......Bill S

What a beautiful car, your a lucky man. Thanks for sharing.

Gregg

Congratulations on the acquisition of an irreplaceable piece of history.
I love all of the original details on this car... it is just INCREDIBLE!

Next up, OEM Interior
 

The interior is probably one of the nicest you will ever see .... like showroom new.

The only flaw, a small worn spot on the LH bucket seat piping.

Door service sticker (1987 ~ 41025 miles).

Optional Custom Sport Wheel is amazing. The simulated wood grain is very strong, zero light areas as well as the 6 dove tail joints.

This car was built with no seat belts. Seat belt “Delete” equals $11.00 credit.

Cordelia had ‘64 vintage seat belts installed early on.

PS, The vintage toy tiger setting on the rear package tray is still in it’s spot.

Chris.

Interior
 

Everything works as it should.

Power antenna extends out to around 51 inches. Actually I don’t recall as it’s been over 5 years since I activated it. I know it may not clear some low bridges.

The Rally Clock and Door Edge Guards most likely were installed at the dealer as they are not on the PHS or W/S.

Oh, by the way ..... the old smell of the 60’s Pontiac morrokide engulfs you when you open the door. What a Great smell.

What an amazing car & story. It looks like the same garage in the old photo as the modern photo!

Unreal! Why can’t I find a ‘65 Olds like that?!? Congrats on the find and the patience it took to obtain such a fine specimen.

Build information / Numbers
 

Original Window Sticker copy.
The actual W/S could not be found, but John had this copy in Cordelia’s paperwork.

Data Plate.
11A = first week of Nov. 1964
BAL = Baltimore built (a Chevrolet controlled plant)
213 = Black interior
Y6 = Mayfair Maize (lower body) ~ Black Cordova (upper body)

This Y6 can be confusing.

Cordova tops in the “1965” Tempest Series cars were only offered in Black or Beige.
Other years used a different Vinyl code and or color.

The ‘65 upper body in Black vinyl is signified with a “6” from the BAL plant.
The ‘65 upper body in Black vinyl at the other plants used the number “2” code.

To make things more confusing my PHS “Car Billing History Card” shows the typical Y2A = Mayfair Maize / Black / A, Black wheels.

I found a treasure about three years ago when I removed the rear lower cushion.
Stuffed in the spring was a very important paper.
It matches up to the Data Plate and offers more information on the options.

All the dates (green circles) throughout this car, shown on ‘64 calendar range from Aug. 8, 1964 through Sept. 17, 1964.

This car was in the “Strike Zone”.

Cool Stuff.

What an absolutely stunner and great family story! :)

WOW ! :worship: :drool:

Chris... I'm so glad to see that you've finally shared "Cream Puff" here for all to enjoy. A great story and beautiful survivor car like this needs to be seen. You my friend are the perfect caretaker for Cordelia's GTO!!

Grant

Engine Bay
 

389 CI / 335 HP / Carter AFB

A few odd things under the hood as one would expect.
Easily resolved over time.

Valve covers on wrong sides.
Red heater hoses. Fit-All radiator hoses.
There was an alarm horn and switch before I tossed them.
The large fan guard had what looked like numbers etched into the top through the paint.
Also looks like someone did some touch-up with a black rattle can.

I removed most everything down to the bare engine.
I slid a large 4’x4’ tray underneath the engine and emptied a case of GUNK over a few days and I began to see more of that ‘65 blue paint.
I didn’t expect to see the OK-5 on the cylinder head, but there it was, cool.

The after clean photo with the 4 red arrows points to a few of the early items used for about the first 4-5 months of ‘65 production.

RH View
1) Red positive battery cable
2) Fan guard “without” the turn down corner. Later ‘65 had this single corner turned down to give more clearance for the upper radiator hose.
3) Steel plug at top RH corner of intake manifold.
4) Heater hose bracket was a silver cadmium. Later brackets were all black paint.

LH View, other early components.
5) Power steering pulley was an open cast iron.
6) Aluminum fuel line with 4 bends. Later ‘65 had 5 bends.

Born with plug wires (3-Q-64). They are original to this car and in perfect condition.

I was able to locate NOS upper and lower radiator hoses with the correct factory yellow ink with part numbers and alignment lines.

The long heater hose with 3 raised lines was removed about 45 years ago from a low mile wrecked Lemans. I finally found a car for it, LOL.
I spent decades in wrecking yards accumulating OEM goodies.

Voltage regulator and master cylinder with their factory coding were saved, which I had rebuilt and reinstalled.

Check the blue paint on the OEM dated fan clutch.

Chrome valve covers, twist AC oil cap and air cleaner lid are factory.
A gentle bronze wool and polish brought them back.

PS, Notice the blue overspray around the bottom edge of covers = Factory.

I’m tired.

WOW just WOW

It takes many, many years of vigilance and steadfast resolve for a car to end up that nice.

Damn, what a woman!

What a great find, I'm really enjoying the pictures and education.

So great to see cars like this still around and in the hands of good people keeping them preserved so we can see how they were as delivered.

Powertrain
 

In a motor vehicle, the word “Powertrain” comprises the main components that deliver power to the road surface.
This includes Engine, Transmission, Drive shaft, Differential and Wheels.

The use of the word Drivetrain technically leaves out the engine.
Too many people use this term when describing their car.

On to my Powertrain numbers.

I made a list of most of the components and their codes for this ‘65 once I finished the sorting.

Thanks, Chris.

More Engine Bay documentation
 

Alternator, Starter, Water pump and the AC 6550 Fuel pump were all rebuilt by the pros in those fields.

Battery cables.

I elected to keep both OEM cables with their factory numbers on the car.

Both cables had the spring rings severed and generic ends installed.

I installed a much cleaner cable end that solders on. Good for now.

Thanks for all the great pictures

One great 65 GTO and my favorite. Thanks for sharing..... incredible car.....

Wow
 

Wow, What a Car.....You are a lucky guy......

Awesome pictures, thanks

The date consistency of all the parts is astounding!

Great car and story.Congrats you GTO is beautiful!