1969 Pontiac GTO

Description

So what do you do when you have a clean 1969 GTO with a missing engine? You find a replacement, use as many original components as possible, then put it all back together and go hunt Mustangs to destroy. Fast and fun, this Goat isn't saddled with a weighty pedigree and instead offers an affordable bottom line and all the fun you'd expect from Pontiac's best performer.

Repainted a few years ago to get rid of the dull original code 65 Antique Gold paint, this freshened Matador Red GTO nails the high-performance look. At this price, it's not perfect, but thanks to a professional touch-up a few months ago, it looks better than most of the cars you'll see at the local cruise night. Fit and finish are pretty good and the two-stage paint gives it a depth and luster that remains appealing all these years later. There are no stripes or fake Judge decals, but it does include a pair of hood scoops and a hood tach, both very important parts of the GTO look. The urethane front bumper fits extremely well, which only happens after hours of intensive hand fitting, and the '69 GTO has to be one of the best-looking muscle cars of all time. Pontiac is famous for interesting side marker lights, and this GTO is no exception, and the bright chrome rear bumper has a fresh coat of the shiny stuff to make it really sparkle.

The work continued inside, where the original code 258 black bucket seat interior was fully restored. Correct seat covers, new door panels, and black carpets that fit better than most kits have been installed and look completely unused. This is an original 4-speed car, and that slick center console has been refinished and topped with a Hurst shifter, and sharp-eyed viewers will also spot the auxiliary gauges tucked away under the dash. And as long as you have the car apart, why not add factory-style A/C, complete with an A6 compressor instead of one of those modern units that tend to stand out? A woodgrained wheel gives a good view of the gauges, with the hood-mounted tach up high and out where it's directly in your line of sight, which is just too cool. Even the trunk was restored and fitted with a full-size spare tire.

Few machines are as feared as the legendary Pontiac 400 cubic inch V8, and while this one isn't the original powerplant, it's correct and wears many of the original engine's components. Fully rebuilt, it cackles like something that escaped from a cage and pulls the GTO around with effortless ease. Dressed just the way the factory would have done it, there's the oversized air cleaner, lightweight aluminum intake, and deep-breathing 4-barrel carburetor. Also note the fresh hoses and clamps and the complete A/C system that uses all period components for a very OEM look, although the blower motor is acting up. Underneath, it's neatly assembled, with a big front sway bar, a great-sounding dual exhaust system, plus the best-shifting 4-speed we've driven in a long, long time. Correct Pontiac Rally III wheels with shiny stainless trim rings wear fat 225/70/14 BFGoodrich T/A radials at all four corners for a serious performance look.

The ultimate combination of looks and power, all at a price that makes this GTO a car you won't be afraid to drive. Call today!