Rare RAM III 400 V8: 1969 Pontiac GTO
The Pontiac GTO was still one of the industry’s best-selling muscle cars in 1969, but sales were off a third from their peak in 1966. So, they introduced The Judge edition in hopes of boosting sales, but it only helped incrementally. The seller’s ’69 coupe has been off the road for 26 years, but it’s a fairly rare Ram III model which only saw 1,986 copies produced that year with an automatic transmission. It may be mostly complete, and the seller has paperwork from PHS to back up the car’s credentials.
General Motors redesigned their mid-sized cars in 1968, so the Tempest. LeMans, and GTO all got a fresh look that would carry them through 1972. A 400 cubic inch V8 was standard equipment (the 455 wouldn’t come along until 1970) and most didn’t have forced air induction like this Poncho. When this automobile was built, it carried medium blue paint (matching interior) and a white/cream vinyl top. The paint and top are in trouble, but what we see of the interior doesn’t look bad.
The seller calls this Pontiac a “Queen’s edition” which, to the best of my knowledge, is lingo for a car that has been trailered. Its numbers-matching, an important selling point in the process of restoring this muscle machine to its former glory. It’s also only had two prior owners and has been dormant since 1998, although we don’t know why.
This Pontiac once had factory air conditioning, but the parts that were removed are presumably in a box since they will come with the sale. There is some rust on the car and its former life in Arizona may help explain that compared to the Winter weather you’d find in its current location of Aurora, Illinois. The seller is asking for $20,000 OBO here on Facebook Marketplace and is not opposed to considering trades. Kudos to Barn Finder T.J. for this muscle tip!
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Comments
If I had deep pockets, I would love to have this restored.
Yes, deep pockets for a complete restoration unless you can doo most of the work yourself. But that is a fair asking ( or best offer) for a numbers matching ram air GTO!!!
I was born and raised in Aurora, I just might have come across this GTO at Northgate Shopping center on a warm summer night in the early 70s when that was the muscle car hangout. My 65 GTO would have been closely monitoring its exhaust note. I suspect there is serious rust under that vinyl top.
Does it have the 433 rear gear?
Not with AC, probably 3.23’s.
Steve R
Ram Air III, not Ram III. I know, rather pedantic but I don’t want any of the PMD boys to get their headdress feathers in a ruffle, Now to the car. When you combine the fact that it is a RAIII clad in an attractive color combination, this would definitely be a worthwhile project for someone with the space, skills and money. Just thinking what it’d look like freshened up with shiny coats of Warwick blue with the white top is enough to get me excited. Would make a beautiful car restored. Someone could also get the car sorted out mechanically to get the car back on the road and enjoy as-is or restore little by little. Either way, it’d be nice to see this Goat back roaming the streets.
You beat me to it. Ram Air III. Not a pickup formerly known as Dodge.
Ragtop Goat Nah! Plus all the rust a guy could ever want when removed. No thanks. Queen of pain 😢 and $$$$ pit.
The seller was asking 20K for the GTO on this site, but now you go to Facebook site and he’s asking 25K NOT A GOOD WAY TO DO THINGS.