I’m certain the first thing any Pontiac fanboy can think of when hearing about a 1969 GTO is the “Judge” package.
The $337.02 package has become incredibly desirable today, especially in all-original condition and with the Ram Air IV engine with 370 horsepower (though these are extremely rare).
However, few people remember that 1969 wasn’t the best year for the GTO. The goat’s sales went down due to insurance costs and people walking away from muscle cars, so Pontiac shipped only 72,287 units. The hardtop continued to be the top choice for most customers, accounting for over 58,000 orders, while the convertible was the favorite choice for 7,328 buyers.
The ’69 GTO in these photos is as mysterious as possible, not because we can’t decrypt some of the essential tidbits from the shared pictures but due to the lack of information provided by the owner.
I’ll start with the obvious: this is a project that requires a complete restoration, likely after many years of sitting. The seller doesn’t share such details in their Craigslist post, but they do reveal that the GTO is a family-owned Pontiac. The car spent its entire life with the same family, and considering its condition, it’s safe to assume it was left in a garage for at least one decade (please double-check these assumptions with the seller if you’re interested in the car).
The GTO is no longer running, albeit the engine is still in the car, but it’s impossible to tell if the V8 is seized or could be brought back to life. The owner also says the GTO is “mostly original,” so an in-person or a third-party inspection is mandatory if you want to get a clear picture of what happens under the hood.
The most intriguing tidbit is the car’s chances of getting a full overhaul. The seller claims the GTO “is a bigger project than I thought,” and while this could mean multiple things, it looks like the car deserves a true connoisseur that can preserve its original setup.
There’s a lot to discover on this GTO, and I invite my readers to decrypt the car in the comment box below, especially regarding how original it continues to be and the engine under the hood. It could help potential buyers decide if the car is worth an in-person inspection, especially because the listing doesn’t include all the details we’d like to find about such an intriguing goat.
The seller won’t let the car go cheaply, as they want $22,500 for this GTO. They also encourage buyers to call with questions, so make sure you ask everything you want to know before committing to a purchase. If possible, inspect the car in person and put it on a lift to check out the undersides.