[fyrffytr1]

I went to a customer appreciation day at a local tire dealer's Saturday and met some fellow GTO owners. They were a father, son and grandson and had two 65s and a 71 GTO. The Father bought his car new in 1965, but he ordered it in 64 when the new models came out. He immediately pulled the heads and reworked them. Then he added headers and headed for the track where he beat everything in his class. The car was put up in the late 80s and now he is doing a restoration on it.
He said it took a year to get it because he wanted a two tone paint job. The trim plate lists the paint as 7A. Is this a "rare" car for lack of a better word. He said two tone paint was a special order.

[400 4spd.]

Did it also have SP for southern pine?

[goatless]

I don't think I'd call the two tone "rare" and surely wouldn't have added nearly a year to the production time! What is his reasoning? They had a hard time finding black paint to do the roof?!

[rexs73gto]

2 tone paint was not a rare thing for any Pontiac back in the 60's as it was a popular thing to do because it gave some of the cars a little class , also it was cheaper then a vinyle top.

[GT182]

I don't think it was all that rare. Tho they were painted like that due to customers not wanting the vinyl roof but wanting the vinyl look. These days you don't really see very many with the painted roof. I haven't seen any like that in my neck of the woods..... original or restored.

Goatless, he could have had the dealer order one for 65 back in 64. If that's the case it could have been a year's wait. IF the dealer could order like that, or the dealer held on to the order for him for that length of time to get a 65. Sounds strange tho.

[goatless]

The '65 models came out in the Fall of '64. I read it as he ordered it as soon as the new models came out- then "He said it took a year to get it because he wanted a two tone paint job."

[Option 382]

The 7A code you mention sounds like the build date and not the paint code. Looking at the pictures it looks like the paint code should be YA. The 7A would be 1st week of July 1965. If the car was special ordered in the early fall of 1964, there was a delay due to the GM stike that last a couple of months but I find it hard to believe it took that long to receive the car.

[Jerry H.]

I've owned a couple of 'painted' top cars over the years. As has been posted, they were not special order nor particularly rare. Due to changing tastes, most have had the tops painted car color or had a vinyl top added through the years. That's why you don't see many out there.

Agree with Option 382 that the paint code would be 'YA'. IIRC, the strike was at the beginning of the production year, (October or November) and was short lived. I, too, find it hard to believe it took him a year to get it if he ordered it.

[rexs73gto]

I to find it very hard to believe it took a year to get the car. If it took that long it would have been into the next modle year. I have a feeling his memory is a little off, it may have been more like a month or 2 but definitely not a year. 2 tone paint was no big deal back then, it happened all the time. It was definitely not rare either.

[arbys]

Could it possibly be that his recollection is a little fuzzy? Maybe he ordered it Sept of 64 and received it Jan-Feb 65.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by goatless

I don't think I'd call the two tone "rare" and surely wouldn't have added nearly a year to the production time! What is his reasoning? They had a hard time finding black paint to do the roof?!

x2.

I'd say "somewhat rare" but certainly nothing that would delay production. They were doing two tones in '64; for example, here is one receiving some lively discussion as we speak:

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...=741807&page=2

... and another different '64 attached.

So - nothing new or unusual for '65.

I know I've participated in a couple two tone threads on this site. A search for "two tone" in the thread title results in about 30 threads relative to the topic.

K

[The Boss]

$31.74 option if you chose from one of the 5 factory colors (White, Black, Blue, Turquoise or Beige)
$71.93 if you wanted a Special color not listed above.

Probably rare in that not many were ordered, even rarer on how many have survived. Unusual front end treatment on his car.

[Old Blue 66]

Originally Posted by The Boss

$31.74 option if you chose from one of the 5 factory colors (White, Black, Blue, Turquoise or Beige)
$71.93 if you wanted a Special color not listed above.

Probably rare in that not many were ordered, even rarer on how many have survived. Unusual front end treatment on his car.

In this area, you'd get pulled over for driving like that. He also needs to loose the Keystones.

[geeteeohguy]

I like the optional 'front clip delete' racing package. Never seen another one on the street, being driven, that's for sure. Ditto on the not rare two tone. Used to be very popular, but tastes change. They look very 'vintage' now. Had a friend who's '65 GTO was Nocturne Blue with a Yorktown Blue top. Yech.

[charles bledsoe]

My 69 GTO has a two tone paint job. I bought it from the original owner, who did special order the car, if you call going down to the dealership and filling out an order form, a special order. He checked off expresso brown, with a starlight black roof. He also checked the deluxe hubcaps box. The car has the trim for a vinyl roof, but is painted. I have been told that it is a pretty rare car, as no one in their right mind would order one in the same configuration

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by charles bledsoe

I bought it from the original owner, who did special order the car, if you call going down to the dealership and filling out an order form, a special order.

Yes.

The alternative is when the dealer places an order for the content he wants and parks the car on the lot for someone to see it and (hopefully) buy it.

K

[GT182]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Yes.

The alternative is when the dealer places an order for the content he wants and parks the car on the lot for someone to see it and (hopefully) buy it.

K

Back in the 60s I remember a dealer trying to sell my ol man a car the dealership had ordered. He would have none of it and wanted order what he wanted. Dealer talked and talked to him trying to get him to buy something he didn't want. Finally he said "see ya" and went to another dealership. I've seen that alot thru the years.

[fyrffytr1]

Originally Posted by Old Blue 66

In this area, you'd get pulled over for driving like that. He also needs to loose the Keystones.

The reason for the keystones is that when he first bought the car he put a set on it and now that his son is restoring it for him he wanted another set. To each his own!
And, the car was trailered to the event.
I may have looked at the trim code wrong. It may have been YA instead of 7A. i was looking at the trim plate through 63 year old eyes!

[GT182]

I remember when Keystones were popular back in the 70s and early 80s. Never owned a set tho as I prefered chrome reverse wheels.

[Jeff Hamlin]

IMO I think the Two Tone is almost a necessity with certain colors.
Seems to always look better on the yellow/cream/gold cars.