1969 Pontiac GTO Convertible

Description

The short list of great muscle cars must always include the Pontiac GTO, and this 1969 Pontiac GTO convertible is a great way to get your piece of the legend, complete with an awesome pedigree. Great colors, a 400 cubic inch V8, and those three little letters make this a car with a small price that will get big attention wherever it goes.

The design was all-new in 1968, so in 1969, it was freshened a bit but nothing too radical. The best thing to come out of the redesign were those hidden headlights, which were optional and completely transformed the GTO's look. Wearing code 51 Liberty Blue, which is this car's original color, this GTO has a more mature, sophisticated look than its brother the Judge, who can usually be seen in bright orange duds. It was repainted a few years ago and still looks good, but a professional buff would really make this car shine. Hood scoops and an Endura front bumper make this car easy to recognize from the front, and aside from a few bumps and bruises, it's in very good shape overall. The chrome and stainless trim is probably original and showing some age, but from ten feet away, the car still looks like a million bucks and when you're hammering down the road, everyone is going to wish they were you. The emblems are correct, which really matters on a GTO, and with a little time and effort, you could really have something special.

The code 257 Ivory interior is what Pontiac fans usually call Parchment, and it's a great choice with the dark blue paint. We're pretty sure it's original, so it's not perfect, but it's much too nice to replace and has a comfortable look that's more inviting than some repro parts would be. Besides, reproduction parts wouldn't have the same detail and crisp pleats that the factory stuff does. The original three-spoke steering wheel will look familiar to GTO fans and a center console is pretty much a mandatory option on something this sporting. Gauges cover only the basics, but the three round pods look suitably racy and it's original enough that even the factory AM radio is still in the dash, although an AM/FM/CD stereo has been stashed out of sight. Other options include factory A/C (needs to be serviced) and a heavy-duty TH400 3-speed automatic transmission. There's also a bright white power convertible top and a neatly finished trunk with a full-sized spare on board.

We're inclined to believe the YS-coded 400 cubic inch V8 is the original, numbers-matching engine, but we can't verify the numbers beyond knowing that the date code is correct. It starts easily and has a very healthy sound that's matched by a huge swell of torque at just about any speed. The engine bay is in good order, with a factory twin-snorkel air cleaner, fresh hoses, and options like power steering and brakes. It's been enhanced with an Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold under the original Quadrajet carburetor, but the modifications are minimal. The dual exhaust system sounds great but never gets annoying and this is one clean car underneath, with surface scale but nothing scary for the seasoned GTO collector. Rally II wheels with trim rings look great and carry recent 205/70/15 radials so it rides and handles great.

Documented with the original window sticker, 17 years' worth of maintenance records, original manuals, and even the Protect-O-Plate, making it a solid piece of Pontiac history. A little TLC would make this car amazing, but even as it sits, it's a fun, affordable drop-top that's ready to rock. Call now!