1965 Pontiac 421 2+2 , survivor vs "make it run"

I was approached by a friend to help him prep this car to sell or trade.

When I saw this giant rust-free VIRGIN musclecar I was faced with a morale decision and now I need some advice.

Most of the 421 engine and 3-spd manual is sitting in his garage floor in need of a rebuild. Due to the cost of rebuild he wants me to "do what it takes" to get this car running; which means pulling a 455 from an old trans-am and making everything fit.

Call me crazy but I really dont want to start modifying such a perfecty preserved muscle-car. For example, to make the engine look fresh should I paint over the original lavendar paint on the firewall or leave the survivor paint intact

I believe this car is worth more "as is" (some ***embly required) but I dont know where to find an enthusiast that will buy it "as is"

Is there a market for these giants as a collectable or should we just make a cheap engine fit and sell it as a driver?

 

make it run with the 455, sell the 421 with the car.

on the other hand, what's it cost to rebuild a 421? 2 grand??? might be worth 2 grand or more with the right motor rebuilt... provided that is the motor that came with the car from the factory.

 

Just leave it in my driveway, you don't want that old metal! Hell yes there is a market for what you have! Original engine and trans? Don't butcher it up. Sell it as is with all the original parts. Original iron is getting real hard to find. Good luck! Bob

 

I wouldn't do it and if you do make sure its reversible.
There's some that needs changed, and some that shouldn't be touched.
The 421 cars bring big $ . The Big manual cars bring big $ . The 2+2 brings $. Originality brings big $. You have all of that in one.
Nuts to change it.

 

are you f n nuts what a perfect canidate to redo, put the money in the 421!!

 

Certain cars deserve to be left alone, and a stick shift, 421, 2 + 2 is one of them in my opinion. The body and interior look very decent, and you could be modifying a car that is worth some serious money. I think it is one of those cars that you will be kicking your **** over in future years if you do anything but keep it stock.

Don

 

Did those have the 3x2 intake option????..
Inquiering minds want to know...
Like mine!..

 

That "lavender" color was know as "Evening Orchid" in 1965 on Chevrolets. I don't know what Pontiac called it, but it was fairly rare if I remember correctly. My opinion, don't mess up a really nice, straight car that has more value in stock form than modded.

 

Oh Baby, that 2+2 is way too nice to not make a corrrect survivor!
Clean and detail as needed but put the 421 and heavy duty 3 speed back in.
I could be wrong but I think Pontiac used a toploader Ford 3 speed in that era!
Great color I believe Pontiac called it Iris or Heather Mist, rare color!
The wheels look great on that car, era correct and makes the car look "tuff".
Just my 4 cents.
KK

 

Very valuable car.
The 3 speed and 421 are very rare and desirable.
Keep it all ORIGINAL please!

 

Damn nice looking car. Please don't put a 455 in it. This one should stay original.

 

Get in touch (pm) this guy, applekrate. He's really into the Pontiac muscle cars and would have a good idea what it would be worth as is

 

Pretty sure they did, Deuces. A buddy of mine had a 63 Gran Prix, 421 with trips. Since GM didn't ban tripower until 67 this one could have had it as an option.

Those wheels actually good pretty good on there, but that would be the only thing I would change. If you try to sell it with 455 it will devalue it a lot IMO, even if you have the 421 to give with the deal.

Don

 

My buddy had one he got in 1973 for $300. 421, trips and the 4-speed, a ragtop to boot. Rusted to ****, dirty and dented but it went like a ****d ape. No idea what happened to it.

Bob

 

A new set of redline tires would make it look sweeter...

 

Here is some info on that year 2 + 2.

Don

http://www.oldride.com/library/1965_pontiac_2+2.html

 

I'd think that a hard core Pontiac performance nut would come close to giving more for it as it sits with the correct 421 laying on a pallet beside it than he would with the 455 sitting in it.

Hell, if the Trans Am runs and drives and looks half way presentable he might sell it for enough to freshen up the 421.

 

Do what ya hafta to leave the 421 in it. A three speed is really rare and not necessarily that desirable, but remember the fastest ever Pontiac factory drag car was a 3 speed, albiet a 389 super duty. 421s rock!

 

Don't change it....neat ol' car.

I bought a '66 like that in '72 from a guy who needed cash to take his gf somewhere for the week-end. He took $165. for it. 421, 4 speed posi. that was it for options. It had little flags on the lower ft fenders that said "Nascar 421 SD"

I sold it to a Pontiac guy that watched it burn up in a garage fire. There can't be many of those left.

 

The 421-stick setup is what will make this car valuable, all the work in putting a 455 in it will go to waste when the new buyer pulls it right back out after rebuilding the 421. An engine swap will be a waste of time and won't help the value at all.

Either rebuild the stock drivetrain and re-install or sell it as-is. With a different motor swapped in, it's just a big purple boat.

 

If the 2+2 option box was checked you got a heavy duty 3 spd standard in 2+2.
4spd and turbo 400 was optional on top of the 2+2 option .
As well as plenty of other stuff .
2+2 trim and bucket seats, heavy duty suspension and a 3.42 rear gear was standard 2+2 affair.

You could get 3 different engines 421 4 bbl, 421 tri power, or 421 HO tripower .
Tri power intake was available thru dealer but the 421 tripower was its own engine.

 

Not only a waste of time, it may even hurt the value because the "well funded" best buyer might ***ume stuff was changed too much.

If it were me, I'd try to test run the 421 on the floor. If it runs at all, put it in, and then sell it as a stock, restorable, original car

 

Put a BB Chevy and a Powerglide in it.

 

I know your freakin' joking...

 

Yea I just picture his avatar saying it.

 

Check this out.......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmOSW7tEI2w&feature=related

 

Absolutely! The 2+2's are highly sought after and '65 & '67 are rather rare.

A Tri-Power setup was an option. All 2+2's came with a 421 cu.in. A single Carter AFB 4bbl carb was the base carb.

The Pontiac color was called Iris Mist and it is extremely rare. It was also offered on a GTO as well as other Pontiac models. This color is also a 1 year only color for Pontiac.

This appears to be a very nice restorable piece. It does appear to be missing the center console that was standard in all 2+2's. Also I question if the ****** is the original or if it's a 3 speed. As far as I know (and I've got 40 years with Pontiacs) all manual transmission 2+2's were 4 speeds. I can't be certain on that one but I've seen many and never seen one with a 3 speed. I'm not saying you couldn't get it, hell they put 3 speeds in GTO's.

Nice car! Do it justice.

 

The car companies did a lot of unusual things back then. Back in the late 60's I had a 65 Chevy SS convert with the normal buckets and console but a 3 spd on the column

 

If you posted this for-sale on the Performance Years site it would go fast!

Like stated before. Sell the Trans Am to fund rebuilding the 421. These 2+2 are in high demand with the Pontiac guys. Put it up for sale here, it will go fast. I'm sure of that.

The old Trans Am he has sitting out back it probably an HO,or SD car.

 

Do a Google search, "1965 Pontiac 2+2". You will learn a lot about them and find out what they are asking for them. What I saw looked like the 3 speed was not available, but a 4 speed was.

I think it would be a tragedy to replace the engine.

I think you will end up falling in love with and acquiring the car!

~Alden