Ringbrothers has revealed BILLIE, a 1965 Pontiac GTO convertible built over more than 5,500 hours for a client whose mother once owned a GTO. The car debuts at the SEMA Show on Tuesday, November 3, at the Gentex booth, number 23889, alongside the Spring Green, Wisconsin shop’s returning 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle RECOIL at its own booth. The name came from the client’s suggestion to call the car GOAT. Ringbrothers countered with BILLIE, as in billy goat, and it stuck.
The car started as a 1965 Pontiac Tempest convertible and was widened five inches through reshaped front fenders, carbon fiber doors, widened rear quarters, and lengthened rocker panels. Ringbrothers also fabricated the floor, trunk, firewall, and transmission tunnel to suit the build. The carbon fiber hood has an enlarged scoop, machined billet aluminum inserts, and functional vents, while the front wheel tubs, lower front valance, and rear diffuser with integrated exhaust outlets are also carbon fiber.
Ringbrothers fabricated the bumpers, redesigned the headlight surrounds, and machined the taillight panel from a single piece of billet aluminum. The car is finished in a BASF Glasurit color called Billie Goat Blue, with polished chrome and black accents.
Power comes from a Wegner Motorsports supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 producing 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, paired with a Bowler Performance 10-speed automatic. Ringbrothers built the exhaust using Flowmaster components. Underneath is a Roadster Shop FAST TRACK Stage III chassis with FOX coilovers and six-piston Brembo brakes. Staggered 19- and 20-inch HRE G-Code wheels wear Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.
The gray and blue leather interior has a dashboard moved four inches forward and two inches lower than stock, along with machined aluminum trim, Dakota Digital gauges, Vintage Air climate control, and a Gentex auto-dimming mirror. The factory radio was restored but hides a modern Bluetooth system.
One of the more unusual details is the shifter, which uses olive wood and was shaped to resemble an espresso portafilter. Custom badging includes “Billie 6.2 Liter” fender emblems and a “Raised by Ringbrothers” plaque on the dashboard.
Jim Ring said the goal with widening the body five inches was to make the changes look factory, with the extensive fabrication hidden beneath the reshaped panels.
GalleryPhotos by Ringbrothers
