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the age of 10. As a young man Pogrant married his high   increasingly digital, it’s a lovely reminder, and change of
           school sweetheart, and drove to Arizona, “straight from   pace, to see a quality restoration that transports us back
           the altar” with his new bride in 1987. With his ’69 GTO   to the days of the analog American muscle car. And this
           convertible in the lead, towing a U-Haul trailer, he was   machine does exactly that. It’s a paean to prodigious
           ready to begin a new life.                           horsepower, time-honored graphics, and the deep chested
           After working with another Arizona shop for just over   and resonant rumble of an American V8. Pumped up
           a year, Pogrant ventured out on his own and founded   in all the right places, the GTO has always been a classy
           Patrick’s Classy Cars in November 1988. He found     and unique muscle car; a GTO never apologized for its
           success, and recognition for his meticulous skills   comfort and style along with the proper proportion of
           and deep knowledge. He was especially well-known     tire smoking power, speed and attitude.
           as a builder and restorer of the 1955 to mid-1960s   Hidden behind that sinister grille lies the supercharged
           Chevys, then as now a central element of the collector   heart of a Corvette Z06, GM’s 6.2-liter LT4 V8 engine.
           car world. He brought all of his skills to his own ride,   Producing a factory-rated 650 horsepower and 650 ft/
           now no longer simply Patrick’s 1969 Pontiac GTO      lbs of torque, this power plant is all business and inhales
           convertible but a timeless and stunning product of   via custom built cold-air intake and intercooler and
           Patrick’s Classy Cars.                               announces itself thanks to a set of Ultimate Headers with
           For his personal ride, Pogrant followed the well-trod   a full 3-inch ceramic-coated exhaust system.
           path of fitting new mechanicals to a classic body. The   The V8 also sports a Street Shop front accessory drive
           end result checks every box. Dressed in deep black,   system and custom-built coil pack covers with chrome
           with the classic “The Judge” motif tastefully slung along   accents, giving the engine a clean look. A Quick Time
           the side, this “Goat” is more than ready to exercise   bellhousing connects the V8 to a TREMEC TKO-600
           its judicial authority, and indeed does just that with   5-speed manual transmission with a .64 drive ratio
           self-possessed swagger. In a world that has become   and Mcleod RST twin street clutch. Completing the
                                                                drivetrain is a polished 3-inch aluminum driveshaft
                                                                with billet ends and Strange Engineering S-Series rear
                                                                end with 3.89:1 ratio and Strange 31-spline axles. The
                                                                GTO rides on an Art Morrison Sport chassis with an
                                                                independent front suspension, chrome control arms
                                                                and C6 Corvette spindles.

                                                                In keeping with the Resto-Mod theme, the Pontiac
                                                                features a Detroit Speed power rack & pinion steering
                                                                with Strange Engineering monotube coilover shocks and
                                                                chrome rear trailing arms. The GTO stops on a dime too,
                                                                as braking power is handled by a set of 14-inch Wilwood
                                                                brakes with 6-piston calipers up front and 4-piston
                                                                calipers in the rear.
                                                                Completed in 2019, this GTO was one of the last
                                                                products of Pogrant’s master skills and marks a special
                                                                moment for Barrett-Jackson. Pogrant sadly passed away
                                                                in October 2021 and the consignor has chosen the 2022
                                                                Scottsdale Auction to pass the car to the next lucky
                                                                owner. With acknowledgment of his commitment to
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                                                                craftsmanship, the camaraderie for which Pogrant was
           IT’S A PAEAN TO PRODIGIOUS HORSEPOWER, TIME-HONORED   known will live on.
           GRAPHICS, AND THE DEEP CHESTED AND RESONANT RUMBLE    – Eric Becker

           OF AN AMERICAN V8.                                   For up-to-date information on this vehicle, visit Barrett-Jackson.com
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