Restoring my Grandmas 69 GTO
 

My Grandma bought this GTO brand new on 6-20-69 for $3637.54. She traded in a 66 GTO 4spd tri-power car for a credit of $1550:eek: My grandma (Nana) was 52 years young when she bought the 69 with a 4spd:D
I grew up 2 bocks from Nana and she was baby sitter for myself, sister and brother. I rode in this car ALL the time. It was her only car until 1988 and she drove it almost daily. It was very common for her to "burn the carbon out" and race it up to 90-100mph. Third gear is as new in this vehicle as she almost always shifted from 2nd to 4th.
She loved this car and gave it to me before she passed away 9-10-2001, she was spared seeing 9-11.
I have been working on a body off restoration for years now as time (read that 4 kids and wife) and money (read the same way) do not allow me to get much done fast. I plan on posting photos of what progress has been done to date and of progress made as I go. Please fell free to post comments.
Ps, my spelling and grammar suck, you have been warned!

http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/...th69GTO001.jpg



http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/...g/IMAG0958.jpg

Here are a few shots when I started taking apart. Original mileage!

Cool story and great pics...especially the first one...
Should be a good thread and looking forward to seeing it play out.

This photo was from around 89 or so. Nana was not it driving anymore, her sisters husband bought her a Ford Fiesta:gag: She never did like the Ford as NOTHING was ever as good as her old goat.
The last ride I remember taking in the goat was when she drove me and my girl friend somewhere. I had lost my lisence for 6 months, too many tickets. I had a 66 GTO and was 19, enough said! Anyway Nana was hammered drunk and scared the crap out of us! Nana got sober a short time later and finished out her life that way.

http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/...g/IMAG0961.jpg

Here is my folks with the 66 that was traded in on the 69.
Red int with headrests. My Mom is 3 months pregnant here with me.

http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/...g/IMAG0959.jpg

OUCH
 

Original mileage does NOT always look pretty!

http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/...anasGTO023.jpg

http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/...anasGTO022.jpg

Very, very cool. Knowing the story, makes looking at the pictures much more interesting. So many of the cars, are just "here" & there's no story behind them. Well, at least not a complete story. ;)

I agree with Greg, I am very nostalgic, & enjoy looking at old photos like that.

Great story, i look forward to watching the restoration progress!

Any clue where this picture was taken? I have a picture like this taken of one of my 78 T/A's Someday, I plan to take the car to the same spot & 'recreate" the same photo where my car was originally photographed.

I can relate. Mom bought her GTO 10-16-69 She had bad knees and dumped the clutch and did a burnout in the parking lot. So dad bought her the auto.
It was her daily driver until 83. Parked it for 19 years, pulled the body ect ect ect.
Have fun and take many pictures on everything. When you go to put it back together you will be thankfull.
enjoy and thanks for sharing.

patrick

that is just too cool

Great story! The best projects are the ones that mean something!

I bet every dent and scratch has a story to it.
enjoy the car,you are a lucky one :o)

Great story and photos. Eagerly awaiting more!

X2!

Cool story, cool lady. Looks like Grandma hit the garage a couple of times.

Ultra cool story and car.
Can't imagine either of my Grandmoms driving a 4spd GTO anytime anywhere !
Your ol gal was a real trooper. :)

One of mine did buy a new 64 Bonneville Convertible in fall of 63.
They brought me home from hospital in that car in winter of 63.
Been a Pontiac Man ever since.

That first picture is pure solid gold wall hanging quality. :first:

oh yeh, wanted to pass this tip along too.
When you scan old snapshots - do a preview first - it should have an option to make the scan a full pane/full window/full size transfer that fills the whole window.

Garage, ya right! This car, until I got it ,was never undercover. There are a lot of inches of rain in a year in the Pacific NW. Not much snow and no salted roads, but man have we got rain!

other than the 4 speed your Grandmas car looks exactly like mine. I have never seen another antique gold car with a Brown vinyl top. My car was also bought by a 55 year old lady in California. I have owned this one since 1987. keep the pics coming.