1969 Pontiac GTO

Description

Recently restored, this slick blue 1969 Pontiac GTO is a matching-numbers car with some nice options, proving that you can still get a high-grade Goat for not a lot of cash. Following the factory specs, it is handsome as well as fast, comfortable as well as intimidating, all things that made the GTO a legend in its own time.

That's correct code 53 Warwick Blue, a rather unusual color, but that's how this car was originally ordered. It's not much different than what the Chevy guys were spraying on Chevelles and Camaros, but it gives this GTO a more sophisticated look that's more akin to its siblings the Grand Prix and Bonneville than more blue-collar muscle cars. The shiny paint tells you all you need to know about this car and the restoration, as the reflections are distortion-free and the gaps are excellent all around. The GTO didn't need stripes or even a wing to stand out, although the two scoops on the hood might serve as a kind of warning, and this car sports optional Hide-Away headlights, a popular option with GTO fans. The chrome and stainless trim was restored, too, so it sparkles against the icy blue paint.

The incredibly inviting dark blue bucket seat interior is quite likely nicer than it ever was when it was new, with nicely detailed seat covers that emulate the always-interesting Pontiac design motif. New carpets, correct door panels, and a woodgrained center console make it look factory fresh. Interestingly, this car carries the standard gauge package, which covered only the bare minimums like speed and fuel level, but the original owner did spring for factory A/C, which has been converted to R134a refrigerant and works quite well today. There's also a digital AM/FM stereo radio in the dash, cleverly disguised to look like the original pushbutton AM radio, including the knobs which blend right in with the rest. Open the trunk and you'll find nicely restored components, including a full-sized spare with matching Rally II wheel and a restored jack assembly.

Even the base GTOs got the big guy: 400 cubic inches and 350 horsepower are on tap here. This is the car's original, numbers-matching engine, rebuilt and detailed correctly, and now showing some signs of use. Bright chrome valve covers and a bolt red and white decal on the air cleaner suggest that the Pontiac guys knew their buyers would spend a lot of time under the hood, and someone went the extra mile to make sure the little stuff was right. You'll note correct finishes and materials used throughout the engine bay, from the brake booster to the Pontiac Turquoise paint on the block, and it runs great. It will sound familiar when you turn the key and barks through a set of twin tailpipes that give it a smooth, powerful voice. A heavy-duty TH400 3-speed automatic feeds 3.54 gears in the 12-bolt rear end, so it's fast off the line but doesn't mind highway drives with the A/C blowing. It isn't detailed for show underneath, but with a car like this, the experience is about driving, not looking at it with mirrors. The Pontiac Rally II wheels were restored, too, offering bright trim rings and PMD centers, as original, and they're wrapped in 225/70/14 BFGoodrich T/A radials all around.

Documented with PHS paperwork, this affordable GTO offers the style, performance, and yes, even a bit of luxury that made Pontiac so special in the 1960s. Call today!