Frame Up Restored Numbers Matching GTO 400 V8 4 Speed

In the golden age of American muscle the Pontiac GTO was king; and today when you're looking to grab some of Detroit's finest iron without closing out your retirement, a numbers matching, investment grade GTO is one of the smartest purchases on the market. There's no reason a blue chip classic should cost more than the mortgage on your house. And there's ABSOLUTELY no reason spending your hard earned money should result in a 'rope and red carpet' trailer queen. After all, being a part of GM's rambunctious Pontiac family was never about striking pretty parking lot poses, and it seems that mindset still pervades the division's fans and collectors, even today. This fully-sorted '69 GTO hardtop, with its original Pontiac V8, original Muncie 4-speed transmission and correct red on red color combination, is the kind of car you can enjoy WHILE it appreciates. So, if you're the kind of gearhead who likes to look at their car and drive it too, we have your car!

To authenticate this Pontiac's status as a real-deal GTO, and confirm the car's numbers matching powertrain, I'll go ahead and break down both its VIN and cowl tag.

VIN: 242379R188314

* 2 – Pontiac
* 42 – GTO and Judge
* 37 – 2-door hardtop
* 9 – 1969 model year
* R – Assembled at GM's Arlington, Texas manufacturing facility
* 1 – One of the first 100K V8 cars produced
* 188314 – Sequence number

COWL TAG:

* 69 – 1969 model year
* 24237 – 2: Pontiac, 42: GTO and Judge, 37: 2-door hardtop
* BT – Assembled at GM's Arlington, Texas manufacturing facility
* 11172 – Sequence number
* 254 – Red interior
* 52 – Matador Red exterior paint
* B – Black vinyl top
* 06D – Assembled during the fourth week of June, 1969
* 178 – Arlington assembly body code

According to this sinister '69 goat's reproduction window sticker, it was originally produced at GM's Arlington, Texas assembly plant and delivered to Charlie Cox Pontiac in Albertville, Alabama. Recently, a high quality, professional restoration transformed the car into a straight, road-ready classic that looks great from any angle. And presently, all its moving parts function as well as the day they left the showroom, its correct GM code 52 Matador Red paint is clean and vivid; and its mirror-like clearcoat finish defines sculpted, muscular lines with excellent, unbroken reflections.

For 1969 GM tweaked the GTO's one year old redesign with a number of detail changes and subtle refinements. At the front of the car, Pontiac's familiar stainless trimmed twin grilles hang hidden horizontal headlights and a pristine white “GTO” script behind a revolutionary Endura bumper. Below that bumper, the car's curved front valence features revised and more aggressive parking lights; and above that bumper, a sculpted hood props a bright, black-faced tachometer at the base of Pontiac's legendary 'twin nostril' air intakes. Behind those intakes, like-new glass, which is cleared by the first production version of hidden windshield wipers ever featured on an American car, is bordered by an attractive layer of bright stainless trim and a correct chrome driver's side mirror. And below that mirror, expressive 'coke bottle' fenders are highlighted by dent-free stainless wheel well trim, straight stainless rocker moldings and traditional chrome door handles. On the front fenders, white inlayed “GTO” scripts add just the right amount of flash to the car's slick red paint. On the back fenders, '68-era arrowhead marker lights have been exchanged for V shaped, “GTO” branded units. And at the back of the car, a show worthy chrome bumper hangs showroom fresh tail lights between spotless stainless exhaust tips and a black “GTO” trunk emblem.

Pop the hood on this awesome GTO and you'll find its original 9790071 Pontiac 400 which was cast on June (F) 6th (06) of 1969 (9) and branded with a correct “WT” suffix code. Turning stout 10.75 to 1 compression into 350 horsepower and 445 lb./ft. of torque, this performance bred V8 utilizes open chamber heads, bigger valves, a hotter cam, a cast crank and cast rods to provide the legendary Pontiac performance we all know and love. At the top of the turquoise block a satin black, single snorkel air cleaner forces wind into a correct Quadrajet 4-barrel carburetor. At the back of the block, a traditional points distributor sequences power around fully restored cast iron exhaust manifolds via modern AC Delco Packard TV R Suppression wires. And at the front of the block, a factory-spec heavy duty radiator hangs a decaled fan shroud between fresh hoses, which are complete with familiar tower clamps, a Frigidaire AC compressor and a correct seven blade pulley fan. Naturally, the engine and its ancillary components were thoroughly reworked during the car's restoration. There's a freshly recharged air conditioning system, a fresh power brake booster which rides behind a remanufactured master cylinder and a new battery that's complete with a new topper. And aesthetically, the engine bay is fully-sorted and completed to a high level of detail with niceties such as a smooth coat of GM satin black paint, traditional chrome valve covers and a new chrome air cleaner lid providing just the right amount of sparkle to set things off.

Take one look under this monochromatic Pontiac and you'll find a solid, road ready undercarriage that can either be enjoyed 'as is' for years of carefree cruising, or fully detailed for show with very little effort. Spotless floor pans, which have been mildly undercoated to combat Mother Nature's worst temper tantrums, ride above a super clean frame which is held together with new stainless hardware. Traveling up and down those floorpans is new stainless fuel and brake lines that run to either a new stainless fuel tank or correct power front disc and rear drum brakes. In the middle of the chassis, the car's original Muncie M20 4-speed transmission, which wears a correct 3925660 casting number and a Muncie (P) M20 (A) manufactured on April (D) 23rd (23) of 1969 (9) assembly stamp, sends power to a fully rebuilt GM 10 bolt rear end that's complete with correct 3.23 gears. At the ends of the chassis, the car's original double A-arm front and four link rear suspension has been completely restored to factory specifications and features correct variable ratio power steering, fresh shocks and fresh bushings. Spent gases roll through traditional true dual pipes to great sounding Dynomax mufflers and pristine stainless tips. And power flows to the pavement through a sweet set of 14 inch Pontiac Rally II wheels which spin reliable 255/70 Goodyear Eagle STs around bright red “PMD” center caps.

Open this A-Body's solid closing doors and you'll find a correct GM code 254 red vinyl interior which, when combined with the car's Matador Red exterior paint, creates one cool and unique GTO! In front of the driver, a straight and crack-free dash hangs optional Rally gauges above bright wood applique which frames a correct Delco AM/FM radio. At the center of the car, a straight red console props an optional 8-track player and a chrome Hurst shifter between fully restored and stainless trimmed red vinyl bucket seats. At the sides of those seats good looking red door panels, which are set of by fresh stainless trim and stylish satin finished “GTO” emblems, feature bright chrome handles for both the doors and windows. Below those door panels like-new carpet, which is protected by color-keyed rubber floor mats, flows from chrome trimmed foot pedals to the car's plush rear bench. And above that carpet, a new red headliner is stretched tight between brand new sail panels and a fully functioning dome light. In front of the driver, a deluxe steering wheel spins satin finished spokes between a bright PMD horn button and a weather-free wood-look rim. And behind the cockpit a new package tray, which is complete with optional rear speakers, hangs over a fully restored trunk that's complete with a full-size spare tire, a functional courtesy lamp and a fresh decklid decal.

The sale of this striking tiger includes an original owner's manual and a reproduction window sticker.

This '69 hardtop is certainly one of the coolest numbers matching GTOs we've ever featured. And most diehard Pontiac fans will agree that 1969 was a high-water mark in terms of styling, performance and exclusivity. With a high quality restoration and a numbers matching drivetrain, nothing will interfere with this car being both a weapon on the street and a winner on the show field!