1969 Pontiac GTO Convertible Lived Under One Roof for 43 Years, Packs Replacement V8

You see, despite not blowing anybody away with crazy sales figures, Pontiac still managed to win over the hearts and minds of driving enthusiasts across the nation, and it’s easy to understand how they did it.

Simply put, the GTO did not pull any punches. It was fast from the get-go, and the carmaker made sure to focus on performance above anything else going forward. Inadvertently, this led to many nicknames getting attributed to these cars over the years, and we’re talking official nicknames such as “The Great One”, or “The Tiger,” or even “The Humbler” - all created by Pontiac’s marketing people.

The one that stuck the most was probably “Goat”, simply because it mirrored ‘GTO’, from a syntax standpoint. As for why these cars were called GTOs in the first place, well, Pontiac drew inspiration from Enzo Ferrari and his Ferrari GTO, where the three letters stood for Gran Turismo Omologato.

Let’s talk about the second-generation GTO, because that’s when GM decided to go with a curvier design, featuring a fastback-like styling and a shorter wheelbase. It’s tough to say whether these “newer” cars look better than late first-gen models, but as always, to each his/her own.

One interesting feature found on the second-gen cars was that of hidden headlights, available at an extra cost. Well, it so happens that we found a 1969 Pontiac GTO convertible equipped with hidden headlights, plus a replacement 400 ci V8 engine mated to a four-speed manual gearbox.

The car is currently up for grabs to the highest bidder, and while it’s not exactly what we’d call ‘mint condition’, it should still fetch a decent price.

Visually, the exterior was repainted red back in the mid 1990s, from its original Midnight Green – which is a shame, because all muscle cars look good in green. Other highlights include the power-operated white convertible top, the body-color front bumper, chrome rear bumper, faux hood scoops, plus a set of 14” Rally II wheels with PMD center caps and 235/60 BFGoodrich Radial T/A white-letter tires.

Inside, you’ll find white vinyl front bucket seats matching the rear bench, a center console, faux woodgrain trim, retractable front lap belts, and a three-spoke steering wheel.

As for its engine, according to the ad, the replacement 400 ci V8 was rebuilt in 1993 using a 1974 engine block with a factory-style camshaft, intake manifold, and cylinder heads. It’s hard to say how much horsepower is being produced (sadly, the seller doesn’t say), but you should still expect a decent amount.