When I discovered the listing for this 1969 Pontiac GTO on our tip list, I started looking at other examples that have been covered here at Barn Finds. The commonality that I discovered is how many are non-modified, plain-jane versions that are pretty much survivors. It has really been an inordinate number, it’s as if their owners realized, somewhere in the ’80s, that there was something special about these mid-sized, performance-oriented Pontiacs so they just laid them up and sat on them for the long haul. That’s the story with this Grand Junction, Colorado domiciled goat. It’s available, here on eBay for a current bid of $19,700, reserve not yet met.
Surprisingly, this Pontiac is still in its hometown of Grand Junction, a place where it was originally purchased in June of 1969. The seller refers to this car as “a VERY cool and rare barn find“. Cool is subjective and everything seems to get tagged with the “barn find” moniker whether it is or not. Rare? No, there were 72K GTO’s produced in ’69, and 32K were outfitted in this car’s powertrain configuration of a 350 gross HP, 400 CI V8 engine attached to a Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission. The seller states that this 102K mile example, “drives and sounds great“. He further adds, “I did have to put a fuel tank, fuel hoses, pump and tires on the car. We also changed (the) filter, oil, antifreeze, and rear end oil“. That being the case, this GTO should be good to go.
The interior is an interesting study in that it has a front bench seat with a steering column gear selector, not exactly the stuff of GTO lore (and perhaps the reason for the seller’s “rare” comment). The parchment interior shows pretty well though the seat, along with the dash pad, has some splits. The instrument panel is the standard, bare-bones version, sans gauges. The seller adds, “The original owner said the ac did work when parked around 1986. So I think you could charge it up and get it working“. Hmmm…seems unlikely that a simple recharge would do the trick on a long-dormant A/C system.
The body shows well but there is some rust in what is referred to as “the normal areas“. Beyond that, there are scratches and door dings but nothing that looks like the remnants of crash damage or some other mishap. A surprise is found at all four corners where full wheel covers reside as opposed to Rally II wheels, the usual GTO dressing. The fact that this GTO came equipped that way isn’t the surprise, it’s seeing them still in place a half-century later that is notable – wheels were often one of the first “Day-Two” changes to occur.
I’d say that this GTO is every bit a survivor though that designation seems to have grown quite a bit of wiggle-room these days. That’s OK, I wouldn’t worry much about specific auto definitions, I’d go with what I see and like and I think this GTO will make its next owner pretty happy, wouldn’t you agree?
What a beauty. Not some over restored model with numerous added options like a good tach, like my 70 had back in 86. My 70 was a column shift auto with bucket seats. Mine had factory air and wheelcovers like this one. Crystal Turquoise is a rarely seen color and probably my favorite 69 color next to burgundy.
Darn auto correct. Meant to say hood. Not good.
This appears to be a really nice car, and looks like it might actually be a true survivor, unlike 99% of the cars people call “survivors”.
As a teenager in 69, this is very typical of the muscle cars I remember. Everyone seems to think today that every muscle car was a 4 speed, bucket seat, biggest engine available, fire breathing monster. The truth is that most muscle cars were far more basic models, with bench seats (though many with a floor shift 4 speed), wheel covers and white walls. I had friends with 396/325, column shift Powerglide, SS Chevelles; 302 2bbl bench seat Torino GT’s; bench seat, pillar post 2 door Road Runners; and 3 speed floor shift GTO’s.
My mother came very close to buying a similar GTO in 68. It was a 400 2bbl, exposed headlights, bench seat, column shift automatic, with full wheel covers, AC, PS & PB. That car also had a vinyl top and redlines. In the end she bought a Verdoro Green LeMans, much to my dismay.
Huge fan of this particular color
People usually drove them home with wheel covers, and added Cragers or some other day 2 wheel, even in the late 70s when I bought new cars, I’d take the credit for the wheels, drive one of my Grand Prixs I bought to the tire guy, and install Spokes and Vogues, I would even let them take out the radio, cause I was gonna change it anyway
Boo! I stopped once I saw the column shifter.
First of all, If it really a GTO and not a base Tempest or Lemans altered by someone in the 53 years since it was new, then it is special. The blue exterior color with contrasting white seats look very nice. There is rust and it will need a complete air conditioning change to the modern system. It lacks the bucket seats, floor mounted automatic and Rally II wheels that GTO buyers desire. Even Pintos and Vegas came with bucket seats. The consolation is thar the buyer will be driving one of the iconic muscle cars of all time.
If you can’t tell that is real, then something’s wrong.
The trim tag identifies this car as a real GTO. “4237” in the model number indicates this is a 2 door hardtop, GTO.
Treat that girl to some day 2 mods.
What surprises me is to see fact AC w/clear glass. Tinted glass w/AC is kind of a no-brainer.
Love the fact it still retains the original hubcaps.