There is no denying the fact that this 1969 Pontiac GTO will require a full restoration. However, it does appear to be a complete vehicle, and the rebuilt V8 that is sitting in the engine bay will provide an excellent starting point for its next owner. It has the potential to be transformed into a distinctive and potent classic that would attract plenty of attention wherever it goes. The GTO is located in Granger, Indiana, and has been listed for sale here on Barn Finds Classifieds. You can take this Pontiac home for a mere $7,995.

The Pontiac is finished in Midnight Green, which is its original color. The owner states that it will require some reassembly work, but there are some rust issues to be addressed before this process can be commenced. These problems are in all of the usual spots that you might expect, including the front floors, trunk pan, and the inner rear wheel wells. The front fenders will require patches, but the owner believes that the buyer will be best served if they replace the rear quarter panels in a bid to address the rust in this location adequately. It isn’t clear whether all of the glass is present, but the visible glass seems to be in good condition. The same would appear to be true of the trim and chrome, although there are a few pieces that might require replacement.

The owner purchased the Pontiac around 18-years-ago, and it seems that this is one of those restoration projects that had managed to stall before it started. It has been garage-kept during those years, so it hasn’t had a chance to deteriorate a great deal in that time. Before his purchase, the 455ci V8 that we see here had been treated to a rebuild. It hasn’t fired a shot in anger, but the owner has conducted a compression test. It appears that this has returned good and consistent figures across all cylinders. The engine is fitted with Ram Air heads that are casting #48. That should give this GTO plenty of grunt, with an output figure of around 370hp or more on the cards. Backing the 455 is a 4-speed manual transmission, which has recently been rebuilt. This process included fitting new linkages and the correct shifter, and it is ready to be slotted back into the car. It appears from the photos that the Pontiac has no power assistance for the brakes, but I believe that it was originally fitted with power steering.

The Green interior trim of the GTO is original, but it will require a retrim. Once again, this does appear to be mostly complete. The radio is missing, and it looks like some of the gauges might be as well. However, the majority of the more significant components like seats and trim seem to be present. One of the attractions of cars like this GTO as a restoration project is the ready availability of parts. For example, a dash trim kit is easy to find for around $115, while a carpet set is about $170. All up, restoring the interior to its original glory is going to cost around $2,000, but the result should be well worth the cost and effort.

As a project car, this 1969 Pontiac GTO seems to hold a lot of promise. I admit that it will require a full restoration, but on face value, it would seem to be well worth the effort and expenditure. The rebuilt V8 is a bonus, and addressing the rust issues would seem to be straightforward. These are a desirable classic, and you will battle to find a nice example in the market today for under $40,000. From there, prices head rapidly into the stratosphere. The asking price for this vehicle seems to be extremely competitive, making it worth a lot more than a mere passing glance.