GM built a bunch of A-bodies in 1969 but there’s only one GTO. Standing apart from it’s corporate cousins, the GTO was still the fast car every guy wanted in his garage. Styling was all-new in 1968, but it was a dramatic event in a segment full of ordinary stuff and the 1969 cars continued the theme. Bright colors, handsome interiors, comfortable ride, and the ever-potent 400 cubic inch V8 were just some of the reasons that the GTO was special. Today it remains the same and even non-car people know this Carousel Red GTO convertible is a big deal when they see it. And what’s not to love?

Check the PHS documents or the cowl tag, and you’ll see that this eyeball-burning Goat was originally code 67 Burgundy—handsome enough but not really the right mood for something this potent. So when it was restored about three years ago, it was stripped bare and refinished in code 72 Carousel Red, the archetypal GTO color. The bodywork is very straight and the work was very well done, so there are no traces of the original paint anywhere on the car—even the door jambs and trunk are Carousel Red. Good gaps and panel alignment suggest this ragtop has never been wrecked or bent and Pontiac’s unique Endura front bumper is beautifully finished with none of the usual stress cracks or flaking. A wing and stripes from a Judge were added at the same time, although this is not a real Judge and they wisely omitted the Judge emblems. There’s also a hood tach, which is still one of the coolest features of the era. Pontiac always added special side marker lights, so check out the GTO shield lights on the rear quarters, and while there’s not a lot of chrome, the bright trim on this car is in fantastic shape.

There’s an argument to be made that Pontiac’s Parchment upholstery is the most appealing choice—the slight metallic sheen gives it a very upscale look and this was the original color in this Goat. Black carpets and dash keep it from being too bright, and a few well-placed woodgrain accents warm things up appropriately. The interior looks almost new, including the seat covers and carpets, and there’s fresh foam underneath so both buckets feel appropriately firm and comfortable. Standard gauges cover the basics (remember the tach is out there on the hood) and the original AM radio is still in the dash doing its thing. The center console houses a Hurst shifter with a T-handle for the Muncie 4-speed underneath, which is original to the car. The white convertible top is showing a bit of age but powers up and down easily and seals up reasonably well, and if you’re doing it right, you’ll only use it in emergencies. There’s a matching Parchment boot to make it look trim, so nobody will see it anyway. The trunk is outfitted with a correct mat, full-sized spare on a matching Rally II wheel, and a correct jack assembly. And have a look under the mat to see just how clean this thing really is—nice!

The engine appears to be the original, numbers-matching 400 cubic inch V8 with a matching VIN stamp. With a 4-barrel carburetor, it’s rated at 350 horsepower, a pretty stout number, and it moves the relatively light weight GTO with real gusto. There’s torque aplenty off the line and the durable Poncho V8 takes a beating and keeps coming back for more. It is correctly detailed in Pontiac Turquoise engine enamel with an OEM air cleaner assembly and chrome valve covers, as original. It’s currently running a modern Edelbrock intake and 4-barrel carburetor, but the original QuadraJet and intake manifold are included with the car. Power steering was still optional in 1969, but it’s a nice feature in a big car like this and makes it very easy to handle. It fires up easily, idles nicely, and has a great V8 burble that’s every bit the soundtrack of a proper muscle car. There’s a bit of a burble on the overrun between gears and it pulls hard in any gear at almost any speed, which is what muscle cars are supposed to do.

Underneath you’ll find a Muncie 4-speed manual transmission which also wears a matching VIN stamp. Clutch take-up is easy and smooth, the gears are right for the torquey V8, and the PHS documents suggest there are 3.55 gears out back that really are the right choice—punchy but not too aggressive for the highway. The undercarriage is clean but not detailed for show, but there are no issues or significant modifications and you’ll note the rocker panel areas are in excellent shape so this convertible has obviously not suffered through much winter weather. A newer dual exhaust gives it just the right sound and exhales through a set of chrome turn-downs under the rear bumper, and there’s a new gas tank hanging out back. New shocks give it a surprisingly comfortable ride and sporty Rally II wheels carry 215/75/14 redline radials for just the right period look.

Documentation includes the original owner’s manual and a full PHS package that verifies this car’s pedigree.

This isn’t a show car, so don’t call us wondering wha you need to fix to make it perfect. Instead, use this GTO to have some fun—you’ll quickly realize why these were such special cars. Docile when you’re just cruising but ferociously fast when you bury the loud pedal, the GTO’s split personality is a big part of its appeal. With matching numbers, a great color combination, and a quality restoration that has mellowed into a great driver, this is the right way to have fun in an old car. Low stress, lots of fun, and a solid place to park some money while you do it. Cal today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.