Stored Since ’86: Running 1969 Pontiac GTO

Pontiac’s GTO is considered the Godfather of mid-size muscle cars. It rose to fame in 1964 and peaked in sales at 100,000 units in 1966. The 1969 model year was the last year of large production numbers before the market segment it helped create went into decline. This ’69 GOAT is a two-owner car, having been in storage for nearly four decades. Some disassembly has begun for a restoration, but we’re told it still runs as it should. Perhaps most of the work needed revolves around the exterior and paint.

The company built about 75,000 GTO Sport Coupes in 1969 of which less than 7,000 had both a 4-speed manual transmission and Ram Air Induction (III or IV). The 400 cubic inch V8 was the only engine offered due to a GM edict that limited its mid-size automobiles to that displacement (which would change the following year with the introduction of the 455). The seller’s car is one of the 7,000 and also has a Safe-T-Track differential and factory air conditioning. This is a well-documented hot rod, including paperwork from PHS.

We don’t know when the seller acquired this Pontiac, but he/she bought it from the estate of a friend who was the original owner. At 27,000 miles (or 127,000), the vehicle went into storage 38 years ago and presumably has been there ever since. It’s a hometown ride built in Arlington, Texas, and resides within 30 miles of the then-Pontiac manufacturing plant. The interior looks good, but pieces of the exterior have been removed and the Warwick Blue paint has been replaced by grey primer (the car also once had a vinyl top).

Said to be rust-free, the Pontiac starts and runs well even though the photos might suggest otherwise. And the seller provides a video to help substantiate this. A couple of the photos show the massive number of parts that come with the GTO, so perhaps it’s all there. Available here on eBay, the current bid is $15,950 and there is no sign of a reserve. Maybe most of the heavy lifting has already been done?