The GTO was born in 1964 as a performance option on the mid-size Tempest/LeMans. Internal sources at Pontiac only expected to sell about 5,000 units in the first year and were surprised when more than 32,000 deliveries took place. And the numbers would continue to grow from there. More than 72,000 GTOs would be produced for 1969, and just 4,700 of those were convertibles with a 400 cubic inch V8 and an automatic transmission. This ’69 drop-top was restored in 1985 and presents well but has departed from stock in a variety of ways. Located in Louisville, Kentucky, this GOAT would make a nice weekend car. It’s available here on eBay where the bids have reached $22,100 (no reserve).

While the majority of 1969 GTO convertibles came with a 4-barrel carburetor, Ram IV induction was available as an option. The seller’s car didn’t have that set-up when new but it has been added since. That’s just one of the changes the seller has made since owning it for at least the past 27 years. Those other modifications include the following:

• swapping motors to a 455 cubic inch V8 from a 1973 Grand Prix; it has been modified from its original state for higher performance
• balancing the engine and installing headers
• switching the original automatic transmission for an Oldsmobile TH-400; this was a substitution made by a repair shop that the seller was unaware of for at least a year, but it works fine
• adding 3.55 posi-traction to the rear end set-up; some work was also done on the front suspension, leaving an alignment that’s still needing to be done
• installing factory-style air conditioning that required replacing the dashboard so it would have the correct duct work

This Pontiac was originally painted white, but the seller stripped it all away and substituted Verdoro Green (without clearcoat) and it continues to look nice. A prior owner didn’t care for the original parchment-colored interior and swapped everything for green that blends well with the exterior color. The car is not perfect, but the remaining issues don’t seem to be alarming ones. For example, there is pitting in some of the brightwork.

The headlights are the hidden kind and one of the vacuum operators leaks, so they’re apt to stay either closed or up but can be coaxed into the other position. The convertible top opens or closes fine but you must press hard on the switch to make it work. The car needs new tires and the brakes appear to be a bit soft to the touch although the power booster looks to be fairly new. As long as perfection or originality is not your primary goal, this could be a great car for weekend outings and car shows.