In the late ’50s, Pontiac made a name for itself as General Motors’ premier performance division, a reputation that lasted through the subsequent decade and gave birth to the iconic muscle car movement. The GTO, be it a trim option or standalone model, was the perfect embodiment of this era – powerful engines, compact bodies, and striking appearances without any unnecessary frills.
Among those scarce units is a Matador Red hardtop with a captivating history. As a certified survivor, it boasts all the documentation needed to recount its 50-year journey. Completed on May 15, 1969, the car was shipped to a dealership in Cadiz, Ohio, along with a convertible sibling.
With a population of around 3,000 in 1969, it’s a wonder how many GTOs Pontiac expected to sell in Cadiz. Regardless, the two GTOs – intended as showroom cars – remained unsold until November when the 1970 models arrived. The dealership, seemingly optimistic about the local market, parked the unsold duo outside, hoping to catch the attention of any passerby willing to give these exceptional machines a new home.
For six months, the young man glimpsed the GTO every day, until finally, in the summer of 1970, he couldn’t resist any longer. He traded in his Chevy and became the proud owner of the GTO, which cost $3,400 with the Camaro covering $2,600. Thus, the brand-new Pontiac found its first owner more than a year after arriving in Cadiz, Ohio (population 3,000).
Although Pontiacs of that time were known for their “his and hers” dual shift gate, this Ohio family took it a step further by owning two GTOs instead. The 1969 Pontiac GTO was cherished by its owner, who spared no expense in caring for it, even as it served as his daily driver for the first three years. After a few winter adventures, the GTO became a seasonal delight, reserved for spring and summer outings.
Since 2005, the GTO has changed hands four more times. In 2022, it appeared at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals Show in Rosemont, Illinois, where classic car enthusiast Lou Costabile discovered it and featured it in a recent video.
With 45,454 miles (73,151 kilometers) on the clock, this GTO is a stunningly original example, given its history and condition. The engine, transmission, carburetor, exhaust, rear end, and suspension all remain factory-installed. Although the clutch was replaced in ’73, it took only a minor scratch on the left front fender (see the video for its size) for the original owner to decide to sell the car, no longer wanting to walk on eggshells around his prized GTO.
Remarkably, all subsequent owners have demonstrated the same level of dedication. The car has been driven only about 1,000 miles since 2005, and one fortunate owner even treated the Pontiac to a Dryce rejuvenation (dry ice-blasting rust removal) on its underside.
The 400 Ram Air V8, also known as Ram Air III, purrs as if the Apollo 11 mission were just launching toward the moon. The 6.6-liter engine remains untouched, never opened up or removed from its bay. Impressively, even the hideaway lights function as they did when new, with the vacuum-actuated covers moving at a leisurely 1969 pace.
The tale continues as the third owner, a devoted gearhead with a collection focused exclusively on “survivor” cars, traded three of his prized V8 gems, including our GTO, for a survivor Shelby Cobra in July 2018.
Additionally, the car boasts a Quadrajet Ram Air IV carburetor (factory installed on all Ram Airs in the latter half of the production year), distributor, heads, Ram Air III exhaust manifolds, alternator, belts, hoses, trunk carpet, spare tire, floor mats, paint (except for some parts), and vinyl top.
