Classic
DREAMCARS Mount Dora, Fla. (352) 385-1945
www.classicdreamcars.com
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1969 PONTIAC
GTO SPORT CONVERTIBLE
SORRY, YOU
MISSED A REALLY GREAT BUY- SOLD
TO DUBLIN, OHIO.
THIS IS A HARD-TO-FIND,
3-OWNER G.T.O. CONVERTIBLE FINISHED IN THE SUPER DESIRABLE COLOR
OF MATADOR RED WITH BLACK BUCKET SEATS AND SOFT TOP. BY 1969 G.T.O.
WAS IT'S OWN MODEL (NOT JUST AN OPTION) AND THIS CAR CARRIES ALL
THE TRICK OPTIONS YOULL WANT, AS FOLLOWS: THE "WT" 400
CUBIC INCH / V8 W/ 4V CARB, M-20 FOUR SPEED TRANSMISSION, CONSOLE,
PUSHBUTTON AM RADIO, HOOD TACH, POWER STEERING, POWER SOFT TOP,
POWER DISC BRAKES, 3:55 SAFE-T-TRACK POSITRACTION, RALLY WHEELS,
RAISED-WHITE-LETTER TIRES, AND BUCKET SEATS. THE ONLY THING LACKING
FROM THE ORIGINAL IS THE 8-TRACK STEREO - IT MATCHES THE P.H.S.
DOCUMENTS AND ORIGINAL SALES ORDER. THIS CAR COST $4568 NEW AND
IT WAS SOLD NEW BY BLACKHAWK PONTIAC IN ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS ON
MAY 14 1969. IT IS COMPLETE, EVEN DOWN TO THE MANUAL. THE OWNER
SUBSEQUENTLY MOVED TO MONTECELLO, CALIF. , THEN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
AND KEPT THE CAR UNTIL 2003 WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED BY A FLORIDIAN.
HARD TO COME BY?..... YOU DECIDE. IT IS A REAL PONTIAC G.T.O.
CONVERTIBLE (NOT A LEMANS) , AND A OLDER RESTORATION. PONTIAC
MOTOR DIVISION ONLY BUILT 7,436 G.T.O.'S CONVERTIBLES THAT
YEAR AND THEN, ONLY
2,415 DROP TOPS WERE
MADE IN 1969 WITH A STICK SHIFT (INCLUDING 3-SPEEDS). TOTAL PONTIAC
G.T.O. PRODUCTION IN 1969 WAS: 72,787 (LESS THAN 10% WERE CONVERTIBLES)
PONTIAC WAS THE THIRD RANKING AUTO MAKER AT 772,104 TOTAL BUILT
THAT YEAR. WE HAVE RECEIPTS FOR THE RESTORATION TOTALLING $16,933.84
+ RECENT ENGINE REBUILD. SHE CARRIES MILEAGE OF 58,817
AND YOU CAN BE THE FOURTH OWNER, 'STIMULUS' PRICED WAY BELOW MARKET
@ $48,500 (CURRENT N.A.D.A BOOK $71,500).
THE STORY:
The Big News for 1969
wasn't the alleged slaughter of 450 Villagers at My Lai in Vietnam
by William Calley but, the fact that Max Yasgur donated the use
of one of his cow pastures for a 'Festival' planned for August
15th,1969. Promoters hoped for a turnout of 100,000 people (@
$5 per ticket) but, were shocked to witness over 4 times that
many converging on the Festival Grounds. After trying to hold
back the mob for hours, they finally threw up their hands in disgust
and declared a "Free Festival". This concert turned
out to be legendary because of artists appearing like: Jimi Hendrix,
The Who, Sly & The Family stoned, Janis Joplin, Jefferson
Airplane, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Joe Cocker, Canned
Heat, Ritchie Havens, Mountain, Country Joe & The Fish and
Joan Baez. Not only was legend created but, this appearance bolstered
their entire careers ten fold. It was captured on tape,
film, vinyl and in peoples heart's for years to come. In the end,
it wasn't about the performers as much as it was about the 400,000
people that came. The sanitation facilities provided less than
adequate since the event was created for an audience 1/4 the
size. When it started to rain, naked bodies abounded. With food
shortages and lack of water, what could have been a Mini-Disaster
turned into a Happy Vibe as people pitched in together, rolled
in the mud and grooved to the great music. With today's
Rap music and Heavy Metal Screaming Rock, it makes you wonder
if given the same circumstances, it would have turned into a blood bath. Only 2 fatalities occurred...... neither of them
from violence (1 an overdose, 1 a tractor accident). Top singles
for 1969 were "Let the Sunshine In" (The 5th Dimension),
"Get Back" (The Beatles), and "Everyday People"
(by Sly and The Family Stone).
The Most Memorable
Movie that year would probably be "Butch Cassidy and the
Sundance Kid ", with the "X-rated" "Midnight
Cowboy" coming in 2nd (the First Major Motion Picture studio
to be rated so). For the Hardcore Cult Movie Buff: the low-budget
"Easy Eider" with Jack Nicholson and Peter Fonda. Ted
Kennedy won't be forgotten for this year's Chappaquiddick Scandal,
or the first withdrawal of troops from Vietnam's 543,000 peak,
but the New York Mets won the World Series in a 'Cinderella' season.
"Paul is Dead" was the rumor about he Beatles after
John Lennon sang..."I buried Paul" in "Strawberry
Fields Forever". By this time, the slogans were "Flower
Power", "Don't Trust Anyone Over 30", and "Save
Water, Shower with a Friend". This was the year Mario Puzo
wrote the book "Godfather" which would later become
a hit (Cult) movie. It was a year of prosperity but, quiet indignation
as American's grew tired of the war.
The G.T.O. Series
242 was based on a Lemans but, had achieved it's own Model status
by 1969. Standard equipment included a 400 c.i./ 350 h.p. V8,
Dual Exhausts, Heavy Duty Clutch, 3-speed Gearbox w/ Hurst Floor
Shift (not 4-speed), Power Flex Fan, Sports Suspension, Wide Oval
Tires, Full Cabin Carpet, Deluxe Steering Whl. , Disappearing
Wipers and choice of Seats (bucket or bench). The Slim Line Strato-bucket
seats were all covered in "all-expanded" Morokide (vinyl).
The headliners were Taffeta perforated with lower door panels
carpeted. The Dash carried a Walnut Grain appearance Instrument
Panel with panel lamp and courtesy lamp, plus, you got a Glove
Box, Ashtray and Lighter Lamp, Bright Stainless Pedal Trim, Decor
Group Moldings, Inter. Quarter Lamps and a Safety Glass Rear Window
in the Soft Top. Hidden Headlights were Optional and used for
the last time in 1969..... due to failing vacuum operated Eyelids
that frequently wanted to 'wink'. The car also came covered with
GTO Emblems, Side Marker Lights, and the famous Enduro Front Bumper.
(A GTO, Firebird and Camaro exclusive) the long hood, short
deck and three-pod dash concept was kicked into high gear after
1968 while Detroit's Muscle Car Pack PMD ads claimed.... "other's have caught on but,
they haven't caught up".
One of the Hallmarks
of these 'new' GTO's is that they offered a more rounded, more
clean, voluptuous look, and with the optional hidden headlights
it was more evidence that John Delorean was trying to clean up
styling. The new GTO was 7" shorter than it's predecessor
and had the addition of the all-new Enduro bumper. It was the
first GM car to use the synthetic material (in 1968 before Camaro)
and it had the added advantage of being impact resistant.
It was color matched to the cars body color. You could smack a
shopping cart or even hit another car up to 5 miles per hour without
any damage. The second advantage was styling. It allowed
Pontiac engineers to cut the cord on chrome-only bumpers, while
creating exciting new shapes. The development of the 'e paint'
that covered it was equally as significant. It was the first time
paint was used that would flex. Pontiac worked very hard to get
the paint to stick to the Enduro Bumper and even offered a no-cost
chrome bumper for a short time- for the GTO when it was released
early in 1968- while they perfected the process. This would
be the Last Year of the Pontiac Dynasty as John Delorean was promoted
to Head of Chevrolet, his brother George would leave and open
Royal Automotive. Jim Wangers , Milt Schornack and Dave Warren....
all left Pontiac but, it wouldn't be long before their loss was
felt in the GTO. By the time EPA regulations started to take over
horsepower, the 1970 GTO would be the last of the True Muscle Car Breed. Here's your chance to own a piece
of American Muscle Car History at a very "due-able"
price.