Debuting in 1964 as a performance upgrade for the Pontiac Le Mans, the GTO quickly became a legend. This muscle car, born from Pontiac’s clever work-around of a General Motors performance restriction, ignited a craze that would grip the American car market for years. Initially offered as an option package, the GTO’s immense popularity led Pontiac to raise it to a standalone model by 1966.
The 1964 GTO found homes in over 32,000 driveways, and its success continued throughout the decade. The 1965 model, featuring the attractive combination of a mid-size body and a powerful V8 engine, was particularly alluring.
This winning formula stemmed from Pontiac’s defiance of the GM performance ban, allowing them to create a muscle car masterpiece. While the 1965 Pontiac GTO secured its place in muscle car history with robust production numbers, particularly the over 20,000 Tri-Power variants manufactured in its second year, there were exclusive offerings that set certain GTOs apart.
Pontiac, keen to capitalize on the car’s dominant image, employed a predator theme in its marketing and even introduced a color scheme that evoked a powerful feline. The Tiger Gold package was a head-turner, featuring a bold black and yellow exterior with a matching black interior.
With only around 100 examples ever produced, this particular configuration embodies true rarity for GTO enthusiasts. This elusive piece of automotive history is poised to cross the auction block once more.
