Description

GTO fans, rejoice. Here's an unusual 1969 GTO convertible that keeps a very stock look but runs like it weighs 1000 pounds less than it does. How's that possible? How about a freshly built 408-inch Poncho that's been built for combat, a 200R4 4-speed automatic, and a suspension built to plant it. Oh, and did I mention that it's an ultra-clean Texas car with fresh paint and a tastefully upgraded interior. You're going to love it.

The entire point of this car was to build a stock-looking 12-second GTO convertible. Have they succeeded? Well, you'll have to run it and let us know, because since the expensive engine was finished and that gorgeous Limelight Green paint was applied, it really hasn't turned a wheel in anger. That's the car's original color and when the time came for a fresh paint job, it was simply to freshen a car that's now more than four decades old, not to repair a rust bucket. As a result, it's super-straight with great panel alignment and looks outstanding from every angle. And for subtlety, this car nails it with just a few well-placed GTO badges and two modest nostrils on the hood-in a world of resto-mods this one looks fantastic and will catch a lot of folks asleep at the wheel.

You're going to dig this car's interior, which comes complete with unusual fabric inserts instead of the usual all vinyl setup. The carpets and door panels are well-preserved, and the dash still carries all its original instruments, including a factory tach, plus the usual auxiliary gauges underneath. The wood-rimmed wheel is simply gorgeous, and you'll note that the laminated center console insert has been stained to match to tie it all together. This is also a factory air car, highly unusual in a GTO convertible, and all the system's components were reinstalled when the new engine went back in. An AM/FM/cassette stereo is in the dash instead of the original AM unit, and the trunk is neatly finished with a stock mat and full-sized spare. A matching green power top lowers itself in a matter of just a few seconds and lives under a snug-fitting boot.

Now, about that engine. It's a correct 1969 YS-code 400 block that's been bored .040 over for a total of 408 cubic inches. The stock reciprocating assembly was balanced and topped with Speed-Pro forged pistons for a 10.75:1 compression ratio that's still totally streetable. A Crower cam and Comp Cams roller-tipped rockers actuate the valves in the aluminum KRE D-port heads, and it's all fed by a surprisingly stock Rochester 4-barrel that obviously gets the job done. Hedman headers and an all-new X-pipe dual exhaust system provide an awesome soundtrack, and with that 200R4 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission, it's both a beast out of the hole and an easy cruiser. The rear end is a 10-bolt with 3.55 gears inside, which are a perfect compromise for a high-performance street car, and the suspension has been augmented with heavy-duty springs, Edelbrock shocks, and big sway bars so it handles, too. Stock 14-inch Rally wheels with fat 225/70/14 BFG radials complete the look.

A beautifully done GTO that offers a lot of subtle upgrades to create one of the slickest pieces of muscle we've seen in a long time. Call today!