GTO ID needed

[Roadrunner]

OK, fellas, I have this old AMT GTO box, but nowhere on the box does it state what year this car really is. I see that it can be done up as a convertible, and that really appeals to me, especially if it's a '65, as I  had a good friend years ago that owned a '65 convertible, and I've wanted to do a tribute build of his car (he died in a car crash when he was 20). 

Any ideas?

Edited December 10, 2015 by Roadrunner

[Sport Suburban]

That is a 65. If it is the annual it should say 1965 on the bumpers.

[Casey]

That is a 65.

Confirming this.

Edited December 10, 2015 by Casey

[Roadrunner]

That is a 65. If it is the annual it should say 1965 on the bumpers.

I only have the box, not the kit, but thanks very much for the verification of year. We completely rebuilt the 389, and it ran strong. He was killed one night in his mother's car, while we were on our way to a bar, and I've never forgotten our deep friendship.

I'll hunt down a kit, though that may take some time I guess. The car itself was black, but I don't seem to recall what color the interior was, though I think it too was black. I have no photos.

Edited December 10, 2015 by Roadrunner

[Roadrunner]

Are either of these two kits basically the same? Since I'll be going stock, all the fancy bits from the annual are not really needed, nor desired.

AMT 65 GTO Convertible

AMT 65 GTO Convertible 2

[Sport Suburban]

Those two kits are basically the same kit. The tooling is the same but has some revisions or restoration work on the tool itself. This was due to wear and tear on the tooling. The kit still builds up well but the earlier kits had better front bumpers and headlights.

[pack rat]

Are either of these two kits basically the same? Since I'll be going stock, all the fancy bits from the annual are not really needed, nor desired.

AMT 65 GTO Convertible

AMT 65 GTO Convertible 2

Those later kits are butchered versions of the original...I wouldn't recommend them.  

The box you have is for the first or second issue; after the '65 annual run it was re-issued soon after as a Trophy Series kit.  There was at least one other box variation after that, along with an "Elegance Series" version in a wide, flat box (very rare).

In around 1971, AMT butchered the kit as part of the Modified Stocker series.  

In the '80's, Ertl decided to return the kit to stock, but it was a half-hearted effort.

If I were you I would seek out one of the pre-Modified Stocker versions.  The later ones are pretty easy to spot...just look for the bug-eyed headlights.  If you don't mind starting with an old built-up, the earlier versions are out there, and I've seen them go for reasonable prices. 

       

Edited December 10, 2015 by pack rat

[Exotics_Builder]

Mine (still unbuilt) says 65 GTO and has the custom part on the side of the box and the convertible on top.

 

[Roadrunner]

OK, fellas, thanks for the info. Looks like I'll need to hold out for one of the earlier kits then, as I really want this to look as decent as possible.

[The70judgeman]

I third on it being a '65. Motion passed. Next case your honor.

[Roadrunner]

I third on it being a '65. Motion passed. Next case your honor.

No doubt. I figure this would be the site to ask the question. The same kit from my first post, is on feebay right now for $170 and change,... just a bit steep for me.

[Exotics_Builder]

Here is my box version from the kit stash downstairs:

 

 

[Roadrunner]

It certainly was a decent looking car, though I personally much prefer the '66.

[Mark]

The one with "1965" on the box is the annual.  The "tiger stripe" box kit is a 1966 Trophy Series reissue...one of the first Trophy Series kits that did not actually include a trophy.  Annual kits have "1965" license plate detail on the bumpers, "tiger stripe box" kits have "AMT" instead of "1965".  Elegance Series (molded in yellow) and 1969 Trophy Series issues have blank plates (not that you need to worry about tripping over either of those at a show...).  Parts-wise, they are pretty much alike: convertible body with separate glue-on vinyl-texture roof, customizing parts, Keystone mag wheels.  Then came the Modified Stocker... 

[Roadrunner]

You're absolutely right, Mark. I'd never noticed the "Trophy series" printed on the box in my first photo. I've had that particular box for a very, very long time. 

[Skip]

First car was a '65 GTO, the '65 was more Chevelle like than the later Goats.  Having had a '65 myself I've always liked that year better than the larger later GTO's.  They were plenty fast for their day, in retrospect the handling wasn't quite on par with the Horsepower, but it sure was fun!  

Mine was a Copper color, I've looked in paint books but have never found that color in any paint book. I bought the car from the original owner who told me that it had never been repainted.  When I touched some minor road rash the color had to be hand mixed to match the Metalic Copper color on the car combined with a black interior it was a really sweet looking car.

Something else that I just found out just recently is that the '65 GTO was built both as a Hardtop and a Post.  I was looking at a "Post" Goat for sale in California, thinking it was a Tempest Clone.  I looked it up on the Pontiac Registry only to find it to be a true GTO to my surprise there really were Post Goats.  (Should have looked for that mystery color while I was there.)

[The70judgeman]

First car was a '65 GTO, the '65 was more Chevelle like than the later Goats.  Having had a '65 myself I've always liked that year better than the larger later GTO's.  They were plenty fast for their day, in retrospect the handling wasn't quite on par with the Horsepower, but it sure was fun!  

Mine was a Copper color, I've looked in paint books but have never found that color in any paint book. I bought the car from the original owner who told me that it had never been repainted.  When I touched some minor road rash the color had to be hand mixed to match the Metalic Copper color on the car combined with a black interior it was a really sweet looking car.

Something else that I just found out just recently is that the '65 GTO was built both as a Hardtop and a Post.  I was looking at a "Post" Goat for sale in California, thinking it was a Tempest Clone.  I looked it up on the Pontiac Registry only to find it to be a true GTO to my surprise there really were Post Goats.  (Should have looked for that mystery color while I was there.)

This is the book I use for color references. I don't see it either. Maybe it was a special order color.

Edited December 11, 2015 by The70judgeman

[Roadrunner]

I'm not sure what you mean by "post", Skip.

[Skip]

They're called "Post GTO's because they have a "B" Pillar behind the door with fixed glass, a door which is also framed around the door glass.  Versus a true hard top car which has roll up windows in the door and behind the door as well, the chrome strip on the behind door glass gives the illusion of a narrow pillar which also seals the door glass.  If I remember correctly there were more Hard Tops built than Posts, but not so few that they are rare just not as common.

Think Hard top Nova Versus mainline Chevy II which has that same type of B pillar arrangement.  On the Post GTO it is probably a carryover from the Tempest and done at the factory as a True GTO build.

[Roadrunner]

OK, thanks for the explanation. The more I look at that second photo at top, the more that blue begins to appeal to me. The one I'll build as a tribute will be black, but I may also have to hunt down another for myself.

[StevenGuthmiller]

This is the book I use for color references. I don't see it either. Maybe it was a special order color.

Is there the possibility that it could have been special ordered with a Cadillac color?

The only copper available in GMs line up in '65 was a Cadillac color called "Samoan Bronze".

Could this be the color you're thinking of?

 

Steve

 

[Edsel-Dan]

I have the "Elegance Srires" issue of this GTO

Yes Molded in Yellow

And with Electric Blue Windows!!

 

It could Not be built Stock out of the box!!!

Rims were "Johnson Bridged Hub Mags" only (That is what they are labeled on the box!!)

Also Stock exhaust manifolds were not included

Only the custom Headers.

 

I took the stock parts from a Tan plastic Ertl issue

Then decided to turn that one into the Safari Wagon

so had to get another to replace the parts I took for the Wagon conversion!!!!

 

I am not sure how I will complete the Elegance issue

It still has the sunvisors on the windshield header, so a Good convertible is possible here,

while All after have lost them after the Modified Stocker wreck!!

Interior is Not as well engraved as the original either.

It is usable, but could be better

[Mark]

The Modified Stocker revision butchered every major part in that kit.  The chassis was gutted, the interior cut in half, and the body hacked up.  I was surprised to see the reconstructed AMT/Ertl version when it first appeared in '84 or '85.  Unfortunately the parts in the box didn't quite match up with the box art, which showed a built pre-Modified Stocker issue.  The AMT/Ertl chassis plate and interior bucket were new tooling at the time, and aren't up to the originals.  The restored body again isn't up to the earlier version, but if you ever get a look at the Modified Stocker body you'd cut Ertl a little slack on their effort.  I did dig in and build that first AMT/Ertl version back then...molded in the roof, cleaned up the wheel openings and added wheel lip moldings, drilled out the crudely engraved headlamp detail and stuck in parts from another kit, filed off the molded-in windshield wiper detail (it was re-engraved putting the wipers below the windshield molding) and scratched some heavy-handed windshield wipers for it.  Not a contest-level build by any means, but I was happy with it back then. 

Ertl later did another revision to the GTO, re-engraving the headlamps again (causing them to stick out because they cut further into the tool to do it), reworking the panel between the taillights on the rear bumper, and engraving better GTO emblems on the quarter panels (but in the wrong place; they are too high).  If you are able to attend a couple of major model car shows a year, or check eBay, you should be able to turn up a built early issue kit with a usable body, interior bucket, and chassis.  The newer kits have the smaller parts, which weren't messed with: engine, instrument panel, bucket seats, and other things.   

Of the nine Modified Stocker kits AMT issued in '71-'72, only the GTO has not been reissued in that form.  It probably can't be changed back to that without a lot of work, and probably can't be issued as an improved stock version without a lot of work either. 

[Snake45]

I'd think a new-tool '65 GTO should be high on some kitmaker's possibilities list--Revell, most likely, but maybe Moebius. It's such an iconic musclecar, even more so than the '64. Revell could use their '66 chassis, engine, and related parts.

[The70judgeman]

I'd think a new-tool '65 GTO should be high on some kitmaker's possibilities list--Revell, most likely, but maybe Moebius. It's such an iconic musclecar, even more so than the '64. Revell could use their '66 chassis, engine, and related parts.

I'd buy a few for sure...stock, "day two", and....?