Vehicle Description
This 1969 Pontiac GTO Ram Air IV is one of 310 units built with a
4-speed manual and Ram Air IV engine combination. It has undergone
a partial restoration focused on reuniting its original,
matching-numbers 400ci Ram Air IV V8 engine (with service
replacement cylinder heads and rated at 370hp) with the car after
56 years. Originally removed due to valve spring issues common to
the Ram Air IV's high-lift cam and original metallurgy, the engine
was replaced in the early 1970s with a 1965 389ci Tri-Power V8 for
street racing. The original engine changed hands but was never
reinstalled in another vehicle. In 2004, it was purchased via an
eBay auction and shipped to Ken's Speed & Machine Shop in
Brooksville, FL, where it received a $2,800 rebuild that included a
.030-over bore, new pistons, bearings and gaskets. Seventeen years
later, the original car - still with its factory Muncie 4-speed
transmission - was located and purchased from the original owner in
Sun Valley, CA, where it had spent its entire life. The drivetrain
includes a 12-bolt rear end with 3.31 ratio gears, swapped in
during the 1970s to replace the original 4.33 HD axle for better
highway cruising. The suspension retains its factory configuration
with coil springs, and power disc brakes provide stopping power.
The fuel system is original, while cooling is managed by a factory
radiator with an electric fan. The factory-style exhaust system
complements the drivetrain. The car rides on factory Rally II
wheels with period-correct tires. While not a frame-off
restoration, the car received a fresh coat of its original Mayfair
Maize paint and retains its 80,000-mile survivor status (the title
reads exempt). The partial restoration and reunion of the
drivetrain were completed at Auto Restorations by Harry in Malabar,
FL, fulfilling a long-term goal of reuniting the GTO with its
original engine and transmission. Documentation includes the
original purchase order, sales contract, scheduled price sheet,
Window Sticker, PHS paperwork, Protect-O-Plate, owner's manual,
warranty pamphlet, original California license plate with 1969
registration, engine rebuild invoice, 16 years of correspondence
between the previous owners and eBay auction records. ** PREVIEW
