Pontiac sold 72,287 examples of its GTO in 1969, with 4,385 buyers choosing the Convertible featuring the standard 400ci V8 hooked to an automatic transmission. That represents only around 6% of total sales, but the seller believes that the factory options chosen by this car’s first owner may raise the stakes considerably. They have been its custodian for thirty years, lavishing attention on it to ensure it is in excellent physical and mechanical condition. All good things must end, and this GTO is now listed here on eBay in Sun City, Arizona. Bidding currently sits at $10,885, which is, unsurprisingly, below the reserve.
Pontiac was onto a winner with the GTO, a vehicle that effectively defined the muscle car sector. It faced stiff competition by the time this Second Generation Convertible left the line in 1969, but its healthy sales tally justified its continued presence in the company’s model range. The seller has been the custodian of this Convertible for three decades. It has seen very limited service during that time. The odometer read 78,000 miles when the seller took delivery, and it has only climbed to 81,400 since then. They treated the GTO to a cosmetic refresh, and while it wasn’t a frame-off restoration, it included performing a repaint in the Pontiac’s original Matador Red. It still presents exceptionally well, with no significant cosmetic imperfections. The seller believes the GTO retains all its original steel. Although some frame parts sport a dusting of dry surface corrosion, there is no penetrating rust to spoil the ownership experience. The Black soft-top and boot are new, and the rear bumper has made a trip to the platers. Adding to this classic’s appeal are the Rally wheels and hide-away headlights.
Lifting the hood reveals why the GTO was considered to be a genuine muscle car. That year’s Sales Brochure quotes power and torque figures of 350hp and 445 ft/lbs for the 400ci V8. The first owner teamed the beautiful V8 with a three-speed automatic transmission, adding power-assisted steering and front disc brakes for an effortless driving experience. The seller states that apart from an electronic ignition conversion, this GTO’s mechanical components are original and numbers-matching. The engine and transmission were rebuilt after they took delivery, while the car also features a rebuilt front end, a new Borgeson power steering box, a new exhaust, new rear springs and shocks, and an almost completely renewed braking system. It is serviced twice a year, seeing occasional weekend outings and trips to car shows. It is a turnkey proposition that is ready for a life of adventure with the winning bidder.
The interior is where this GTO demonstrates its potential rarity, courtesy of the factory options. The first owner ordered it with a bench seat and a column shift for the automatic transmission. However, the seat is power-operated, with the Convertible also featuring air conditioning, power windows, a power antenna, a power top, and an AM/FM radio. The presentation is first-rate following a retrim and dash reconditioning. The seller converted the clock to quartz operation for reliability, but has made no other changes. There are no cosmetic issues, with the interior carrying the hallmarks of a classic that has been treated respectfully.
It will be fascinating to gauge your feedback on two topics regarding this beautiful 1969 Pontiac GTO Convertible. The first is whether you believe that the factory options make it rare, while the second is where you feel the bidding will head before the hammer falls. Recent sales results suggest it should nudge $50,000, though the market’s unpredictability at present means I wouldn’t bet the farm on that figure. So, it’s over to you for your views on both subjects.
The interior options make it rare, but not really more desirable. I’d rather have a bucket seat console interior with manual windows and manual seat. He didn’t mention if those options were documented through PHS, in the 1980’s and 1990’s I had a couple of friends that made a living by selling and/or installing factory options on muscle cars like this. There were a lot of owners that installed convenience options when they restored their cars. Highly optioned A-body’s were not hard to find in wrecking yards, there were at least 6 or 7 Pick N Pull style yards you could go to in a day if you started early. They rotated their inventory roughly once a month, there was always fresh of new cars. The Goat Farm and GM Sport Salvage employed people to bring them options.
As for this car, the seller seems attached to it, I wouldn’t br surprised if the reserve is above that of recent sales.
Steve R
I find it hard to believe that any GTO would be sold with anything but buckets and a console. But I used to believe that about the Grand Prix too. I ended up with one, a ’65, with a manual bench seat and shift on the column. It was factory.
I had a 69 GTO with a bench seat, column shift , 2 barrel 400 with phs document . it was the low budget low HP option for a GTO
Bench and column shift were not unusual in muscle cars from GM to Mopar. It’s amazing to me that so many think this is an anomaly or never happened. I even had one guy question one of my 442s, a ’69, saying that they came with buckets and a floor shift only. I attempted to explain to him that this is not the case and the 344 VIN proves what the car is, but it was pointless.
And, as Steve R stated, while the options may make this Goat a bit more unique, it does not equate to making it more desirable.
I went to highschool with a guy who had a 1970 GTO with a bench seat and 4 speed with power windows but no power steering or brakes. Go figure.
Options are nice, but I don’t think it raises the rarity! As far as the bidding goes maybe around 25 – 30 grand
A retirement community like the one I live in a few miles down the road,a bunch of old timers in both have classic cars like this,mine is 66′ Mustang.
what makes this rare??? bench seat. sometimes buckets were an option. looks to me like a red gto with a burned-up a/c clutch and the wrong style wheels and center caps. i see no rarity here just trying a good sales pitch
In college I owned a 1970 convertible GTO, Matador red with white top, bench seat, column shift, manual seat and windows, 400si (4 barrel carburetor? May be wrong on this – a long time ago). One of the attractive features was the brawny front end – screams Muscle Car. Hide-away headlights on this 1969 GTO is a disappointment. While my 1970 had lousy mileage, gas wars were common and mileage wasn’t the reason I bought it in the first place!
I would bet the bench seat and column shift would be a deal breaker for a lot of potential buyers. It certainly would have for me in my youth. I have owned three Cutlass Supreme convertibles I sought out. I passed on several otherwise nice cars because of their bench seats and column shifters. A friend of mine, who owned a Cadillac/Oldsmobile dealership (he inherited it when his father died young and my friend became the youngest Cadillac dealer in the U.S.), once told me the conversion to floor shift was fairly easy and inexpensive, since on the automatic floor shift models, the steering column sleeve still rotated as though the shifter were still there. The shift linkage on my Cutlass had broken and my friend used the column sleeve to shift the car so he could drive it to his dealership for repair. I was astonished. Bucket seats, however, were not cheap. Junkyards seemed the best bet on those. My feeling is the car will go for less than the typical similar car because of the bench seat and column shifter.