Ringbrothers, the world-renowned custom car builder and parts manufacturer, has unveiled its latest creation, a custom-built 1965 Pontiac GTO Convertible known as BILLIE. Combining more than 5500 hours of meticulous craftsmanship, extensive fabrication and modern performance, BILLIE subtly enhances the original GTO’s proportions while preserving the unmistakable character of Pontiac’s legendary muscle car.

Born as a 1965 Pontiac Tempest Convertible, BILLIE underwent extensive metalwork, including a five-inch-wider body, carbonfibre doors with reshaped front fenders, widened rear quarters and lengthened rocker panels, enhancing the Pontiac’s original proportions while retaining its iconic silhouette. The transformation is complemented by a custom BASF Glasurit “Billie Goat Blue” finish, polished chrome accents and contrasting black details.

“BILLIE began as a tribute to a GTO once owned by our client’s mother, who received the original car as a gift,” said Ringbrothers co-owner Mike Ring. “The owner wanted to recreate something that held real sentimental value, and during our early conversations, he suggested calling it GOAT. We came back with BILLIE, as in billy goat, and that moniker stuck. It’s a playful nod to the GTO’s heritage, but more, a deeply personal tribute to a car with a special place in his family’s history.”

The redesigned exterior features a bespoke carbonfibre bonnet with an enlarged scoop, precision-machined billet-aluminium inserts and functional vents. Additional carbonfibre components include the front wheel tubs, lower front valance and rear diffuser with integrated exhaust ducts. Custom-made bumpers, redesigned headlight surrounds and a one-piece machined billet-aluminium tail-light panel complete the exterior build. Extensive fabrication extends beneath the surface to the floor, boot, firewall and transmission tunnel.

“The challenge was widening the body five inches without losing the proportions that make a ’65 GTO so recognisable,” said Ringbrothers co-founder Jim Ring. “We spent countless hours massaging the factory lines, reshaping the fenders and refining how every panel transitions into the next. There’s a massive amount of fabrication hidden beneath the subtle touches in the design. The goal was to make those changes feel completely natural and organic, as if Pontiac had built it this way.”

Power comes from a Wegner Automotive supercharged 6.2-litre LT4 V8 producing 650hp and 650lb-ft of torque, paired with a Bowler Performance 10-speed automatic transmission and a custom Ringbrothers exhaust featuring Flowmaster components. A Roadster Shop FAST TRACK Stage III chassis, FOX coil-overs and six-piston Brembo brakes deliver modern handling and stopping performance. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres are wrapped around staggered 19- and 20-inch HRE G-Code wheels.

Inside, a bespoke grey-and-blue leather interior features a redesigned dashboard positioned four inches forward and two inches lower, custom-machined aluminium trim, Dakota Digital instrumentation, Vintage Air climate control and a Gentex auto-dimming rearview mirror. A restored factory radio conceals Bluetooth connectivity, while an olivewood espresso portafilter-inspired shifter adds an unexpected hand-crafted detail. Custom “Billie 6.2 Liter” fender emblems and “Raised by Ringbrothers” dashboard badging complete the tribute.

“More than 5500 hours went into bringing BILLIE to life, and the result speaks to the design and extraordinary craftsmanship of our team,” continued Jim Ring. “We’re also grateful to our trusted partners, including Gentex, HRE Wheels and BASF, whose support and expertise helped make this remarkable build possible.”

Ringbrothers offers a host of products for the Pontiac GTO, including several billet-aluminium parts, steering wheels, side-marker lights and more. Visit www.ringbrothers.com for more details. 

Ringbrothers
1965 Pontiac GTO Convertible

MAJOR MODIFICATIONS

• Widened entire car five inches
• Extended rockers down and forward through the fenders
• Fully bespoke bellypan and rebuilt main floor, boot floor, firewall and transmission tunnel
• Custom carbonfibre bonnet with factory-shaped, 20%-larger scoop with machined inserts
• Redesigned front grille frame into one-piece unit with reshaped headlight surrounds
• Carbonfibre front wheel tubs
• Rebuilt dash structure brought forward four inches and lowered two inches
• Rebuilt the dash structure to have a smooth seam transition, allowing the dash pieces to be wrapped in leather
• 3D-printed defroster vents with Pontiac logo
• 3D-printed speaker grilles 
• Reshaped leading edges of front fenders to blend to bumper, rocker and valance
• Carbonfibre lower valance
• Redesigned carbonfibre and steel door skins
• Carbonfibre rear diffuser with exhaust ducts
• Handmade front and rear bumpers
• Custom-designed and machined tail-light panel
• Custom EZ-ON Auto Tops Black Soft Top with glass rear window
• Rebuilt factory radio unit and converted to Bluetooth

ONE-OFF RINGBROTHERS PARTS

• Billet-aluminium machined tail-light panel
• Billet-aluminium machined hood vents
• Billet-aluminium machined hood inserts
• Billet-aluminium machined interior door handles
• Billet-aluminium machined dash trim
• Modified EMC Olivewood Espresso Portafilter as gear shifter
• Custom-machined shifter bezel
• Custom-machined badging, machined caps for underhood fluids, custom-machined door sills