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Windward Blue 1969 GTO convertible restoration, engine view. Nice. CLICK->
Is it going to rain? Jim's put his top up. Jim tells us, "The interior is Parchment. I have red line tires to finish it off and I am using 15 inch Rally II wheels instead of 14 inch - the car looks better. Additional options when done will be cruise control, power windows, power trunk release, power rear antenna, vacuum door locks, tinted glass, 8 track, power bench seat, power disc brakes, posi, stock number matching 400 with automatic on the column, wood grain steering and rally cluster package. No A/C - oh well. People can see after 13 years and a lot of devotion this is the end result." CLICK->
Rear end view of Jim's 1969 GTO convertible restoration project. CLICK->
Jim comments, "Here are a few more shots as my car comes to the end of this 13 year restoration. I find it hard to beleive I stuck it out this long. The car is at the interior shop to have the white convertible top professionally installed. Other than this step, I have done everything else. All body and paint work, chassis and drivetrain as well as the interior that I will install when the top is done." CLICK->
Another shot of the convertible top installation on Jim's 1969 GTO convertible. CLICK->
Jim's Windward Blue 1969 GTO convertible with the top installed. He's got the Parchment interior back in too. CLICK->
Passenger door panel for Jim's Windward Blue 1969 GTO convertible. The lower part of the door has a strip of carpet the same color as the carpet on the floor of the car. Parchment interiors always came with black carpets. CLICK->
There's a bench seat in Jim's 1969 GTO convertible. CLICK->
Here's the rear seat. Notice that even the rear 1/4 glass is powered. Jim adds, "I am only hours away from completing this project. I still have some adjustments here and there and then a front end alignment. Then it's off to the car shows and open road." CLICK->
Jim's Windward Blue 1969 GTO convertible looks good as new (see the window sticker). Jim comments, "I should have the car registered within two weeks. All that's left is a front end alignment. I hope my years of work can be helpful to someone getting started on one of
these cars. Other than the top, I did every phase of the restoration myself."
In July of 2004, Jim sent me the following enthusiastic note about his GTO, "After 13 years I finally hit the road crusing this weekend. I found it to be the greatest experience in cruising I have had since I can't remember when. I turned 50 in June and now I feel like a kid again driving this car. Everything is working great. It feels like a new car. It's all stock original and rides like a dream. I owe you and the site a sincere thanks in posting my dream and hoping the other folks enjoy them. I plan on a lot of roadtrips this summer and will find the right setting for some nice photos and forward them to you. For all the other folks in the middle or just getting started on their project, I say keep the faith. I did and you can see the results. Thanks again, and you do have the best GTO site in the country." CLICK->
Jim explains, "This photo is result of a mistake I made while fixing the photos on my computer. The photos came out too bright and I was unable to fix properly. I accidently hit the negative button while enhacing them and this was the result. The F-16 looks really cool as well as the car." CLICK->
In 2005, Jim Carbone found some old Polaroid shots of his car that were made in about 1990. He says, "Here it is in the field I found it in 15 years ago. You will note just how rough she was. As soon as the warm weather hits I plan on taking all new photos of the finished car. I spent the winter detailing her and she looks real nice now." CLICK->
A shot of the Before and After of the interior. Jim continues, "I have to remind everyone I came so close to giving up so many times it's amazing this junkyard dog made it. I put this car in storage for five years after I got so disgusted at one point. But I always came back and finally finished her." CLICK->
Before and After shot of the door panel. Looks like mold and dirt. But the finished door panel looks spectacular. CLICK->
Here's Jim driving his Windward Blue 1969 GTO convertible. New York has eight characters in their license plates! Other states I've seen only have seven characters available. PICTURE SET CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE ...
Here's a comment from a recent visitor...
Says Lance Armstrong (crowbeau@aol.com) - "I enjoy reading all the news about GTO drifting here. You always have the latest stories and headlines on the sport of GTO drifting."
