George Meier, of Washington, bought this 1965 Pontiac GTO convertible just after graduating from Woodbridge High School in 1965. Meier paid the sticker price of $3,405 and has owned it ever since. The quintessential muscle car has undergone extensive restoration work over the years to keep it going strong. "It's always been a daily driver," Meier says. "Everything has been redone at least once." The stock 389-cubic-inch V-8 engine and four-speed manual transmission were recently rebuilt. Fueled by a four-barrel carburetor and driving a Pontiac Safety Track positraction rear, the car's 325 horsepower gives it plenty of get-up-and-go. Meier, just 18 when he bought the car, had the presence of mind to add dealer options including heavy duty suspension, radiator and alternator. "The only two other options were an AM/FM radio and seat belts," Meier says. "That's right, seat belts were optional in '65." (Of course, Meier got them both). The galloping "Goat," as the GTO is commonly referred to by muscle-car motorheads, also boasts a unique color. "Back then GM would paint your special-ordered car any color that was in their palette," Meier says, "a factory paint job for $50, yup, 50 bucks. It was a 1963 Chevy color and to my knowledge, mine is the only 1965 GTO convertible painted Cordovan Brown. Truly a special car from the outset."

Meier will show his lovingly preserved GTO convertible at the GTO Association of Pennsylvania's annual Pontiac, Oldsmobile and Buick Car Show Sept. 21 at Star Buick and GMC in Lower Nazareth Township. For show information, visit gtopa.org. The car remains a daily driver and can be seen at area car shows or simply cruising the streets in and around Washington. "My wife Marilyn and I drive it on every nice day that comes along," Meier says. "The top goes down in April and doesn't go back up until October." About his rare and beautiful '65 Pontiac GTO convertible, Meier says, "It's a solid car. It's just got so much power it snaps you back in the seat. It'll burn the tires right off. But I don't do that anymore. I'm getting a little too old for that."