I have a 1969 GTO convertible with a 455. How many were made or is it rare.
it has the tach on the hood.
They made 7328 convertibles for that model year. If it is a "Judge", then only 108 were made. The 455 isn't original. It isn't listed as an original option. The tach is also an add-on.
7,436 convertibles were made that year. The 455 was not sold that year so you have a non-original car. You should decode the VIN to find out what your car had originally. http://www.drivinithome.com/gto-production-numbers/
That would be extremely rare, considering none of them were ever made with a 455. Your data plate will contain an engine code that will indicate what it originally came with. Someone must have dropped in a 455 in the past. You can find production numbers here: http://www.gtoheaven.com/gtostats/69gto.html
This car was bought new by my father. nothing has been added or changed at all. The last 25 years or so, is has been in the garage since he quit driving it. The 455 and the tach and scoop were on it when he bought it. I can't find those options being available.
Maybe it is actually a 1970. I don't know the GTO specifically but hood tachs were an option on Firebirds in 67 and 68, probably other years too.
How about some photos?
Pontiac was likes it's Olds and Buick siblings, all of them were "embargoed" by GM from putting out real hi-po performers as they wanted Chevrolet to be their premier racing division. It wasn't until 1970 you saw them dropping 455's in their Cutlass, Skylark, or GTO base models. Pick up an old-school source book on Pontiac (or Olds or Buick) and you'll see the struggles they had getting their real radical street performers marketed past GM's obstinate pro-Chevy board.
399 convertibles with the 455 were made in 1970. Maybe yours was sold in late 69 as a 70 model.
Hood tach information --- http://www.rctach.com/hood-tach- article.html
No '69 GTOs had 455's because 1) GM didn't allow engines larger than 400 cid in cars smaller than full size, or a Corvette, and 2) Pontiac didn't make the 455 until '70
No 1969 model year GTOs left the factory with 455s. The very first Pontiac 455 production engine wasn't even built until after the last 1969 GTO had been built.
I have a 69' with a 455 Judge convertible, The VIN# shows it's a true 69' convertible but doesn't mention Judge or the 455.
Steveiep, go to Pontiac Historical Services http://www.phs-online.com/ and order a history report for your car to find out about its origins. PHS is the gold standard as they are the only ones with the actual production records from Pontiac for 1961-1986, plus some other records as well.
Dealer installed engines were common for dealers like Royal Pontiac back in the sixties.
In the PHS charts, my '69 Judge convertible could very well have had a factory installed 455 at the end of the 1969 production run. Only 108 Judge convertibles were produced in 1969.
'69 frontend
Rare because it never happened. The 455 didn't come out until 70. It was never installed in a 69 from the factory
Steve probably bought a clone. He would need a lot of documentation to sell that story to anyone that knows Goats.
Mark, according to the VIN# it's not a clone. The 455 was not available straight out the door but it was produced and available in that time frame.
All of you guys are wrong... pontiac began putting 455’s in GTO’s in the second wave of 1969. That’s also when they started offering more colors. They were available in the convertible and also the judge. I own a maroon, second wave, 1969 gto/judge, ordered in June 1969, delivered in July 1969, in Pontiac, Michigan. It has a 455cid engine and the factory mounted hood tach. All of the numbers are matching and the car has been completely documented by Pontiac Historical Society as 100% original...do your homework!
Many people think the hood tach was optional. It was optional in Firebirds or other apps. If it was a 1969 judge, the hood tach was part of the judge package...I have documents to prove it...
Hi. if the 69 gto was ordered in june 69 what is the built date of the engine ? Thanks
People - Please stop spreading false information. There are "Not Any '69 GTO's with a 455". Wasn't even available in a '70 till mid-year. EPA rules alone would not allow them to build a couple in 1969. The data is so easy to find these days. Can't believe people are putting up posts like this. If you think you have documents showing one, contact PHS and ask them to compare your information to the documents on file. You will find out your have been given some false info. Keep those Pontiac's rolling!!
I agree with 9Z9D2F. Post a pic of the body tag and some of us guys can decode it...
Also, the hood mounted tach was a available option for the Judge... not standard. My 69, PHS documented, has the Judge option listed on the invoice and the hood tach is listed as a separate option
