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TOM AND LITA’S SCHAFFER’S 1969 GTO
After graduating from college and starting my first job that paid real
money (not ranch wages as I was used to) at Lawrence Radiation Lab, as it
was known at that time, I decided that since I was making more money than
anybody could possibly spend, I should sell my 1957 Ford Hardtop and buy
a brand new car. I looked around at the cars available in 1968 and had
decided to buy a 1968 Mercury Cougar because I thought it looked pretty
sporty and the sequencing taillights were really cool. I was about to go
buy it when a friend of the family who worked at a Pontiac dealer in Lodi
talked me into going and looking at the cars that Pontiac had to offer.
A High School buddy had a ’64 GTO and it was really nice so I
decided to check-out what Pontiac had to offer. I test drove a ’68 GTO
and was hooked. Two weeks later in September of 1968 I ordered a new 1969
GTO for $3650.00. I remember thinking at the time that it was a huge
amount of money that I probably could never pay off. It was the first ’69
GTO to be delivered by Tokay Motors in Lodi, California in October of
1968.
The car is Verdoro Green with dark green interior, has a WT engine
that has been rebuilt to stock specifications, a Muncie 4 speed wide
ratio, 3:55 Limited Slip (Safety Trac), a push button AM radio, Rally
Gauge Cluster - Tachometer, Custom Sport Steering Wheel, Console, Power
Steering, and the Ride & Handling Package. The only regret I have is
not ordering Air Conditioning (who wanted to give up 3-4 horsepower for
an unnecessary item like AC ?). Sure wish I had it at times now. I still
have the original papers on the car including the Window Sticker,
Protecto Plate, and Build Sheet.
The interior, including the upholstery, carpet, headliner, console and
dash, is still all original except for the rubber floor mats.
The exterior has been repainted and is close to the original Verdoro
Green in a Clear Coat. The rims were replaced in February 1970 with
American Racing Torque Thrust Mags.
The only change to the engine was to replace the intake and carb with
an Edelbrock High Rise and Holly Carb.
After driving the Ford for years I found the GTO to be more car than I
had expected, as the original tires lasted only 13000 miles and that was
only because I rotated the tires often.
I put a lot of miles on the GTO when I was dating my wife, driving 200
miles round trip almost every weekend between Livermore and Sacramento.
But at the time gas was cheap.
The car is considered OURS because the FINAL payment was made when we
got married.
I have only once thought of selling the car and getting something
different. That was in the 1980’s. But after looking at what was out
there and my wife telling me that if I sold it I would only want to buy
another GTO later and why not save the hassle and keep this one, I
decided sometimes wives are right.
I had never shown the car before joining GGG but since joining I have
had a great time with the club at the different events that I have
attended.
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