Vehicle Description
1969 Pontiac GTO
In early 1963 a team of engineers and designers got together at
Pontiac and decided to focus more on street racing and power. The
Tempest had been in production for a bit, and a more "muscular"
powerful car was needed. Hence the acronym GTO or Grand Tempest
Option became the code for the secret new development that would
take place. John DeLorean actually claims the GTO came from the
Italian Gran Turismo Omologato or Grand Touring Homologated
(certified) which in reality the car was never meant for grand
touring, but to be the fastest straight-line Pontiac produced.
For consignment, a car found by our consignor sitting in a
neighbor's driveway then purchased and as what usually happens, the
most basic of plans started in 2002 as a simple repaint then turned
into a 4 year long frame off restoration. An original engine muscle
car with a WT block, hidden headlights up front on the split grille
and bathed in mirror quality applied and carefully finished
Burgundy. Inside a Hurst shifter and like new Parchment interior.
All finished off with Pontiac Rally 2 wheel's...time to get your
classic "Goat" groove on. To top it all off this car is loaded with
options all of which are verifiable through the provided PHS
documentation.
Exterior
Our wonderfully restored car starts off with a hidden headlight
horizontal ribbed split grille. This has a GTO badge and is split
in the middle by the Pontiac "beak". This Endura beak forms a bump
that runs to the windshield and along the way sports 2 air scoops
for that just right muscle car look. Straight steel for all the
rust-free panels and all bathed in miles deep correct Burgundy.
Shiny window trimmings and bumpers, the rear housing the taillights
within it. On the fenders, pristine GTO badging in white and chrome
gives the competition a hankering at what they're up against. Nice
stainless steel polished trim for the wheel well surrounds and
rocker trim, meanwhile up top is a ultra clean Parchment vinyl roof
that compliments the Burgundy nicely. A nicely sloping rear window
gently makes its way to the trunk line and it almost forms a
hatchback look. Dual pipes are peeking out from underneath the
bumper and 14-inch rally 2 wheels are wrapped by red line
rubber.
Interior
Opening the doors takes us past Parchment vinyl paneled doors that
have pristine Parchment padded armrests, shiny actuators, and
window cranks and clean black carpeting below. This interior was
also the beneficiary of a complete restoration, and it looks the
part. Nice Parchment vinyl buckets with some tuck and roll inserts
and smooth bolsters are curved nicely to meet the headrests which
nestle on the tops of the buckets. A center console/armrest,
covered in black rests between the buckets and sports a storage
compartment and chrome handled Hurst shifter. In back a wide bench
in the same design and in more Parchment stretches from side to
side. Upfront the dash has been restored and now is showing very
clean and very original looking. A black padded dash top floats
over a black dash front housing the triple round deep-set gauge
cluster fronted by a wood rimmed original steering wheel atop a
factory tilt column. As we move across the dash, we find the
factory AM radio in the center just below the slide controls for
the heat and A/C, and for the passenger a black door glovebox. The
black carpeting is like new, and a crisp Parchment headliner is
hanging tightly above.
Drivetrain
Under the hood and the chrome lidded air cleaner is a rebuilt and
numbers matching 400ci V8 in these tight quarters. This mill
carries a correct WT stamping code and 9790071 casting number.
There is a single 4-barrel carburetor on top forcing fossils and
air through a port matched intake manifold and cylinder heads.
Behind is a numbers matching 4-speed manual Muncie M20 tranny.
Final drive works out to be a correct to the car 10-bolt 3.23
Safe-T-Track rear axle. All looking good and showroom under this
hood.
Undercarriage
It always fascinates this writer when a frame off restoration was
completed, and you can view a virtually new frame and mechanical
environment. This one does not disappoint as we gaze upon a new
fuel tank, new stainless brake lines, new stainless fuel lines, new
dual Gardner exhaust and straight black texture finished floor pans
and toe kicks. Independent coil springs provide the ride for the
front, and on the back is a 4 link with coil springs. Power disc
brakes for the front and power drums for the rear. Very nice under
here.
Drive-Ability
A wonderful experience as described by our decoder and test driver.
She handles great, accelerates like a 350hp car should, and has
strong bias free brakes on the panic stop. The interior is fully
functional with only the AC blowing warm, but we did hear the
compressor kick on, and all buttoned up the seating and surfaces.
The only other issue that crept up on his drive was the headlight
doors would not close on their own. Plenty of get up and go, and
this car sure got up and went.
All is looking just fine for the exterior, interior, and drivetrain
which is very special under that long hood. A great design year as
Pontiac was finally into its own on the muscle car front. All boxes
are checked in this classic, just turn the key and point the beak
nose front end towards home.
VIN DECODE
242379B146665
2-Pontiac
42-GTO
37-2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
9-1969
B-Baltimore, MD Assy Plant
146665-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
ST 69 24237-1969 GTO 2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
BDY BAL555402-Baltimore Body #
TR 257-Parchment Vinyl Buckets
PNT 67E-Burgundy, Parchment Top
12D-4th Week December Build
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.
