Canadian Barn Find: 1969 Pontiac GTO

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The Pontiac GTO is largely credited with the start of the muscle car race in 1964 (although others suggest it was the Chrysler 300 Letter-Series in the mid-1950s). The second generation from 1968-72 would be the most popular for the name (most commonly referred to as “gas, tires, and oil”). This 1969 edition comes with little information other than the seller saying “this is a good winter project.” There are a lot of parts and pieces missing under the hood and the floorboards have as many holes as metal. But it can be found up north in Brownsburg-Chatham, Quebec and is here on eBay for the Buy It Now price of $17,000. If that’s a little rich for you, offers will be entertained.

While the GTO spawned a whole slew of competitors, it lasted longer than many, from 1964 through 1974. For its first two years, the GTO was an option package on the intermediate LeMans. It would become its own series in 1966-71, reverting back to option status again for 1972-73. The swan song of the GTO was in 1974 when it was an option on the compact Ventura. The GTO had the honor of being selected as the Motor Trend Car of the Year in 1968. So, the 1969 models, like the seller’s, were riding a wave of praise and popularity by that point.

This 1969 GTO is said to have been stored in a barn since 1982. It looks to be wearing a faded version of Carousel Red (aka orange) paint, which was pretty common on the Judge during its brief run. While the sheet metal doesn’t look bad, buyers should be wary of the underpinnings of the car. The floorboards have achieved see-through status and it wouldn’t be a surprise to find it elsewhere, such as the trunk floor. There’s a rope tied to the back that looks to be keeping the bumper hooked to the spoiler. There’s not much good to be said for the interior as it may have been vandalized by critters while in the barn. Most everything there is torn or worn through.

The engine compartment looks to have been vandalized, too, but by the humankind. While the seller says the motor itself is complete, most everything else you would expect to find, like a radiator, is long gone. It’s almost like someone started to part the car out back in the day. We don’t know what flavor of engine is under the hood. The most common choice would have been a “standard” 400 cubic inch with an automatic that accounted for 32,000 units in 1969. The hood has scoops, so it could have had Ram Air Induction, but nothing is said of it.

According to the online value guides, a really sharp ’69 Goat could go for up to $60,000. Even one in decent shape could be half that. The checkbook needed to restore this one is going to need a pretty robust balance to get past the acquisition price, transport (to the U.S. if destined there), and ultimate restoration.

Comments

  1. Mark C

    Either someone thought $17k was fair or the owner couldn’t bear to part with her after all. Either way, someone is getting well acquainted with an angle grinder and a welder. Still, I really like these Goats and especially in “Carousel Red”. Reminds me of this ad for the ’69 Judge (with Paul Revere and the Raiders). https://youtu.be/aUSg2WoX2XA

    Like 6
  2. Johnny

    No inner fenders,parts of the motor gone,holes in the floor,interior shot. I wouldn,t give $1,700 for it let alone $17.000. Someone needs to tell the owner. This is NOT April Fools Day. I had a 68 GTO in alot better shape then this. All was wrong with it was the drivers door was pushed in a little and I sold it for $140 and the guy drove it. I,ll bet their isn,t $500 in parts on this car. Get real and quit thinking what the value is when it is fixed up. Its gonna take alot of money to get this thing road worthy. I wouldn,t have it if it was free.

    Like 22
  3. Tooyoung4heyday Tooyoung4heydayMember

    This one needs more detail given. For a base GTO in this condition I’d call it a little pricey. If it were a little more higher optioned it becomes questionable. A-body gm so aftermarket makes this doable. I’m going to strongly disagree with comments made prior about free, cheap, and worthless. I hope that’s exaggerated because there’s clearly value even if parted out despite this one being savable. I’ve personally seen a ’69 GTO come back from almost nothing. Granted it was a RAIV Judge but it turned out great. Lets face it, this is pretty typical condition for a project car. Let me put it this way. The fewer cars that get restored, means less cars available per type thus driving up prices which everyone seems to complain about. Some of us actually like restoring these old projects. Sometimes its more cost effective to just buy it done but there is the satisfaction of having done the work yourself too.

    Like 8
  4. Ken Kingston

    I’d tackle that in a heart beat, maybe for $5000

    Like 0
  5. Desert Rat

    Well, Johnny I would take for 1,700 and you could surely give it to me for free! This is my favorite year GTO but now way am I paying anywhere 17 grand for this one.

    Like 6
    • Johnny

      I saw one last summer in alot better shape then this one. The guy I was with turned it down for $5,000. I know another guy was GIVEN FREE—a 53 vet and a 55 chevy in nice shape. The old guy got tired of looking at them and he liked the guy. You,d be surprised at what people has in these old sheds you drive buy each day. Stop and visit and spend some time with these older folks and they appreciate it. You,ll be surprised what good-honest-respectiful- friendship will do.

      Like 7
  6. Charles Sawka

    Bottom line. No. There were a lot of these, this one is just as finished as the ones in the wrecking yards that have been written off. Let it go.

    Like 3
  7. Charles Sawka

    And for those posters whose Uncle Ray had one or they had one in high school. Those days aren’t these days. Even if you had a perfect one the cost of fuel, fuel additive and maintenance would relegate it to once a week only. And insurance ?

    Like 1
    • jokacz

      Maintenance? These things are simple cars. Low tech hydraulic lifter engines, torque without much horsepower. In “those days” these were high school drop out cars, one step above a Roadrunner or a 396 Chevelle. These old clunkers run fine on Low Lead 100 Avgas.

      Like 3
  8. Skip

    I can buy a nice driver for 25K! No way would I spend years restoring that pos when I could be driving one in that time.

    Like 2
  9. Brian K.

    Holy floors Batman! This has basket case written all over it. If somebody got this to bare metal, what would be left could be even more heartbreaking. I have a soft spot for all GTO’s but, this one looks too far gone.

    Like 3
  10. Troy s

    Probably last saw service in the early eighties, maybe a few years more. Was a cool “high school dropout” car at one point. I like that reference up in one of the comments, funny but true.
    It’s toast at this stage which is too bad really. Love that Carousel Red color without the judge decals. I’ll just pretend it was a rare RA IV pavement scorcher and tip my hat.

    Like 3
  11. Claudio

    Another drug user trying to sell junk for his addiction …

    Like 2
  12. Stan Marks

    It breaks my heart, to see how these classic old cars turned out, after years of neglect.

    Like 0

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