The seller tells us that this 1969 Pontiac GTO has been sitting in a Los Angeles backyard since 1988. It’s now for sale here on eBay, with bidding only at $3,550 as I write with no reserve. Thanks to reader Candice for this find and for telling us that she loves Barnfinds.com!
The seller tells us that the car took a good hit to the passenger side but everything is ok; the other non-original panel is the driver’s side front fender. You might want to take a closer look, but remember that this car is reasonably priced, has mostly original equipment and is being sold with no reserve.
It is nice to see only limited surface rust around the back window because that can be a difficult area to repair. There’s a video of the car in the auction listing that will give you more information as well.
I was actually pleasantly surprised that the interior looks as good as it does. Unfortunately, it’s not good enough for a restored car — which begs the question, would you leave these original components and refurbish them as much as possible, or would you go whole hog and replace it all with brand new reproduction components?
The engine is a rare Ram Air optional unit but this isn’t the desired Judge version. It does, however, have some air conditioning components and a PHS verifed build sheet. That way you know exactly what you should have. Is this yard find worth your consideration? If you bought it, which direction would you go? Let us know in the comments!
What? No Judge.
It’s much nicer underneath than one would guess by the looks of the hood and trunk lid. The Ram Air III engine will sell the car. PHS documentation is the cherry on top. It’s rough, but will likely need less total sheet metal work than many cars from back east if you factor in the floors and frame. This is a desirable car for Pontiac enthusiasts, the lack of reserve is refreshing, it suggests the seller is serious. There could be some good action the last few minutes of the auction.
Steve R
Sold, the high bid was $7,322.
Steve R
Don’t think the Judge was mechanically different than any other GTO. Just a dolled up goat.
The only significant mechanical difference was the base engine, for the Judge it was a Ram Air III.
Steve R
Rare
Should be restored.
This car should be brought back to original specs! Very nice car! Maybe a judge clone?
FYI there were 8,129 hardtop 1969 GTOs with this engine(6,143 stick and 1,986 auto). Of the 8,129 cars, 1,024 had A/C(295 stick and 729 auto). So this car is one of those 729 1969 GTO hardtops with Ram Air, automatic, and A/C.
Source: https://www.gtoheaven.com/gtostats/69gto.html
Also, of those 1,024 1969 hardtop Ram Air GTOs with A/C, 787 were Judges(trans breakdown of that 787 is unknown). So this car is also one of 237 1969 non-Judge hardtop Ram Air GTOs with A/C.
Based on the take rate of A/C in Judges vs. non-Judges, and that Judges were slightly more likely than non-Judges to be equipped with manual trans, it is likely that there were around 175 non-Judge 1969 hardtop Ram Air GTOs with A/C and auto trans.
neat-o…..
It could be a beauty…I think the salt air in places of California, like Hawaii & Florida attacks the sheet metal something fierce. I have seen a lot like this in these places. This ride needs to be saved, I agree with Steve R, frame & floors are probably great.
In most of California the salt air isn’t an issue once you get a mile or so inland, often less. It’s overstated. I grew up in the Bay Area, only a few miles from the coast, it was never a problem except for some friends that lived within walking distance to the coastline. It is not an issue for the cities that surround the bay either, only those directly on the ocean.
Steve R
I love this car. It’s got a correct engine and a true GTO. These engines are torque monsters down low. I’d go bone stock on the resto.
Question – did the ’69 GTO have the “rubber” bumper (I don’t remember the official GM marketing name for it)?
I always thought GTOs had the color bumper and LeMans had the chrome bumper. At least our ’69 LeMans had the chrome beak. Anyone remember?
Denver DBD, all ’69 GTOs had the “rubber” bumper, called “Endura” by GM. It had also been standard on the ’68 GTO. For 1968 you could delete it for a credit and get the Tempest/LeMans chrome bumper instead. There was no Endura delete option for the 1969 model year GTO. The Endura bumper would continue on the GTO through 1972.
I’m old enough to remember a Pontiac commercial with a guy smacking that new Endura bumper with a hammer and leaving no damage. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to bed with a clean diaper.
@Comet
That guy was none other than John Z DeLorean whacking away at the new 1968 Endura bumper. Here is a link to the original commercial.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vZNNu1YuQ6c