A GTO with a four-speed manual transmission, a top that goes down, and is green! What more do you need (well, maybe another color if you’re unlike me and don’t like green)? Claimed as the result of a full restoration, this goat looks sharp, very sharp! Let’s dig in here and see what the results of that restoration have produced. This GTO is located in Fontana, California and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $30,500 with 36 bids tendered so far.
With production numbers of approximately 40K GTOs in ’70, only 3,700 or so (9%) were convertible body styles. The VIN authenticates this second week of December 1969 built car as a genuine GTO, produced at GM’s Fremont, California assembly plant. The color and trim codes indicate that this Poncho was originally Granada Gold with Saddle interior and a black convertible top. I’d say the repaint did this car a favor though the Irish Green finish does not look like an original Pontiac shade. No worries, it presents beautifully over its nice, straight body. It’s claimed to be a nut and bolt restoration that is 100% rust-free and the images bear that out. The white folding top works well with the deep green hue and was a good choice, though the green highlighted Rally II wheels are a matter of subjective preference. Of note is the stainless trim along the lower trunk edge, it doesn’t look original or correct. Also, the GTO decal badges have not been replaced.
Get up and go is provided by a 350 gross HP, 400 CI V8 engine hitched up to a Muncie four-speed manual transmission. It’s a bit suspicious that there is no top-side image of the engine, just a partial shot of the block and fuel pump – the seller states that interested parties should text him for engine images, hmmm. The seller adds, “Motor Sounds Good. Demon carburetor and comes with the original carburetor…Motor was rebuilt when (the) car was restored roughly 8 years ago. Transmission shifts perfectly. Clutch is Smooth“.
In place of its original “Code 255 Saddle” upholstery is a redone interior finished in Parchment and black though Saddle would have worked well with dark green. The interior environment presents as new – the only concern being that Parchment will yellow over time (note the seat backs) and more willingly show dirt. Interestingly, the strato-bucket seats look like those from a ’68 or earlier model as they have no headrests though they do possess the ’69 and later seatback release buttons. Of note is the A/C system, this is an air-conditioned car but the compressor has been removed.
So, a Concours restoration? No, but it doesn’t need to be either, color and interior changes happen all of the time. The lack of badge decals, misplaced trim, and missing headrests are minor in the scheme of things. All that said, I think a prospective buyer is entitled to an image or two of the engine and I don’t mean just the underside. There are five days to go with the bidding and there’s no telling where this GTO will top out, but it will go to a new home and the next owner should get a lot of enjoyment from this convertible. I’d rate it a driver, one that can be enjoyed without worry, wouldn’t you agree?
- VIN: 242670000
- Winning Bid: $40,300
Not the green I want to see on this car.
Plus, it seems like the kind of paint that hides things.
Just my take.
And perhaps there is someone out there that has always wanted a forest green goat with matching green wheels and a chrome trunk lip.
It’s a real shame the owner couldn’t keep it the original color. I don’t mind green cars but this shade looks as if it was pulled from the Rustoleum catalog. I’m not sure any manufacturer painted a car this color except for commercial use like the forest service. Regardless bidding is strong so either people like the owners choice or they are factoring in the cost of a repaint.
Last time I saw this color it was on a Sinclair fuel truck…..
a BP truck before Exxon Valdes
That green color reminds me of Earl scheibs any car any paint $99.99! 😂
That was my first thought, when I saw this car. My cousin use to own a body shop, he always referred Earl Scheib paint jobs as “you roll the windows down, and everything goes in one coat”.
Anytime you see an ad where the car’s just been hosed down and left wet, you just know it’s been done because it’s the only way the seller can get the paint to look like it shines.
Any car, any color. — $19.95. !! Of coarse you’re talking about painting the chrome trim, headlights and glass!! LOL
Guess your pretty young Big Bear. I remember Earl Scheib’s ” I’ll paint any car…any color …only $29.95!! He would have probably charged ab extra $5 for this green though…lol.
The fuel pump pic is to show the 400 casting stamp I reckon
The rubber facia is also wrinkled above the headlamps–exposed to heat maybe? Doesn’t look right at all. This is no “restoration”. More like an update to get it on the road is all. The shade of green doesn’t look like a factory offering either.
The green paint is simply horrible…car needs stripped and redone correctly. At least it’s a 4-speed car so it won’t be a complete exercise in futility. I have wasted all of the time I wish to on automatic cars. No more for me, unless maybe I get too old to push the clutch in someday…then I’ll just buy a Riviera or something and I won’t feel bad about it because you couldn’t get a stick anyway.
Hear, hear!
Increasingly barn find “treasures” are introduced to to potential buyers in the trashiest, ugliest photo setting. Following these garbage photos with a photo of a cleaned up car may not always work out, as many potential buyers are already totally turned off.
I was surprised to see the “ORIGINAL” battery cable tube. (designed to keep the battery cable away from the exhaust manifold) The last time I saw one on a Pontiac was probably 1973! I like the Pontiac greens with white interior and tops. But this paint was stolen from the Forest Service and not my cup of tea. (Ok on an F350 crew cab!)
This girl I was friends with was given a 71 gto droptop by her uncle. It was a little banged up, the interior a little rough and it was getting a to needing a new top, but it ran and drove good. I don’t know what engine was, it was also automatic. That was a fast car, It would set you back in the seat. She was selling it cheap,something like $250. I lived with my grandparents I already had a car,so no deal.bumed out!
$199.99 Maaco green paint special?
Good write up Jim. You are correct that is not any green paint offered in 1970. I owned a southern California 70 GTO hardtop 35 years ago in Palisade Green. Beautiful. Sold it years ago like a dunce. That cowl where the body plate is looks like it was under salt water since the 70s. Terrible paint job. While Granada Gold is more of a brown shade, it is certainly better than this train wreck. Yuck. And the green paint on the wheels. Ugh.
I remember Earl Scheibs could paint a car for $29.99 and everyone could tell where you got your paint job from. It stood out like a bill board.
LOL, there was overspray on the windows and they never bothered to tape the chrome model IDs.
That chrome strip is hiding LeMans trim holes and/or rust bubbles – that decklid has been replaced. That’s a LeMans trunk lid, which had holes across the bottom for the factory trim. GTOs did not have this trim across the bottom, plus you’ll note no holes for the GTO logo on the right side. Not a bad car, but count on getting a real GTO decklid or doing some welding to fill those LeMans holes…
If I was able to get this car I would have the green paint stripped and repainted in the Granada gold it was painted from the factory. Then put the saddle interior back in the car and change the white top back to the black convertible top and put the Air conditioning compressor back in the car.
Personally, body color wheels belong on a farm tractor.
The fact that its a 70 4 speed convertible its worth the restoration at the right price. And that’s not a 1970 Pontiac green.
Regarding the first image in this posting, THAT’s how you store a supposedly restored classic in your garage?
That’s not an authentic picture. They did that so as to make it appear to have been a barn find….you can tell by all the handprints on the car and “stuff” piled so neatly on the top of the inside of the car where it wouldn’t damage the paint. What a joke…..who would fall for it?
You are correct, I avoided using it for that reason but my decision was overridden.
JO
I like the green better then gold.
Horrid “restoration.”
I shared a gorgeous new medium blue 1969 GTO (4spd) with my mom as my “senior” car in HS. (Back in Minneapolis) >>> I am now retired in MT, and I was blown away to find out my farmer neighbor has the same car (same color) rotting away in his shed, gathering about an inch of dust. Unfortunately, automatic, and someone stole the carburetor, or I might have been interested in buying it to restore. I loved my GTO!
$40,300 now, no good engine photos, they even have the hood open.
Potential buyer best go take a loo, or have a professional do it, current bid over $40,000
How is this drivable? In the 1st picture you see the owner uses this car as a garbage can. Too many mistakes on this, badging, trunk lid etc etc.
Click on this guys feedback number. Scary!!
Owner’s neighbor: “Hey..I’ve got some boxes and other junk I don’t have room for. Can I store it in your garage?” Owner: “Sure…just pile it on top of my vintage 70 GTO. No problem. The top’s down so there’s plenty of room…Just keep it away from my Honda.”