This month it is my pleasure to feature Rob Burch's super rare 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427 convertible. Rob was fortunate enough to find a good solid example and has spent the last several months bringing the car up to his strict standards. Rob tells us about how he purchased the car and of the improvements he has made so far:

I have been a Pontiac blooded American for over 40 years. It started when my father brought home a brand new Catalina in 1965. Since that time, I have always owned a Pontiac, with my first car being a 69 Catalina. After I turned 18, I started to really take an interest in the 2+2 models and for the first time became aware of the Canadian Pontiacs. Instantly, the big blocked 69 2+2 convertible became my favorite.

Over the years I have owned quite a few late 60s B-bodied Pontiacs and one A-body, a 68 GTO convertible. In 2007, thinking I was done owning classic Pontiacs, I sold the GTO and liquidated my parts collection. Just two years later, however, in September of 2009, I stumbled across an Ebay listing for a 69 2+2 427 convertible located in Florida.

At that point, I became a CP member and asked for some input and advice on the car. Some of you were part of that discussion and were also watching the auction. In the end, I was the one that ended up with the winning bid.

The car was being sold by the son of the original owner who had passed away some years prior to the auction. It had not been on the road too much over those years, but my plan was to fly down and drive it home to Michigan. At least that was my intention! I was about 400 miles into the trip when fuel from the tank was not getting to the engine. The original fuel lines, sending unit and tank were a combination sure to fail. As it turns out, it was a blessing in disguise. I didnt know it, but just ahead of me was a rain storm with monsoon like conditions that were so bad it closed down the Atlanta airport. As luck would have it, I ended up in a town that had a classic car dealer. The owner, who had lots of experience in shipping cars worldwide, made all of the shipping arrangements. The next day he even drove me to the airport to catch a flight home. Needless to say, it was an unexpected delay and expense, however, I have no doubt that the car would have sustained some kind of damage if I were able to continue the trip.

The car arrived 7 days later and the next 18 months were spent going over the car and replacing and re-chroming parts not up to my standards. The car has an amazing mirror finished paint job with a black base coat and a translucent green that really pops when the sun hits it. A new top with new rubber seals and windshield had recently been installed. The hydraulics had also been replaced with new parts. The engine had been rebuilt with a non original block due to a crack in the original. Overall, the car is in exceptional condition with a solid body, frame and floor boards (trunk pan had been replaced) but still needed upgrading of some original parts.

This is what I have done to this point: Removed all of the pin striping (couldnt wait to do that!); rebuilt the entire front and rear suspension; installed a new steering box; rebuilt all of the brakes; installed new stainless steel brake, fuel and transmission lines; installed new fuel tank and sending unit; re-chromed bumpers and all trim and light bezels; found and installed correct grille, nose and trunk emblems; restored the grilles; new taillight and parking lenses; new dual exhaust; detailed the engine with correct air cleaner and hoses; restored the console, shifter and all shift linkages; new pedal rubber and trim; new steering wheel; new sun visors and lastly a rearview mirror.

While I have replaced some of the interior parts, the interior is all original and will also be disassembled and upgraded this winter.

The car was on the Michigan road for the first time in June of this year. I have to tell you that I have never had so much fun driving a car. I have had 428 and 455 equipped Pontiacs but have never had a big block Chevy powered vehicle. Cruising at 70 mph on the highway and putting your foot down is amazing! Plenty of power left with the high revving big block! And to think I used to hate anything Chevy! This is a car I will be keeping for a long time.