I remember seeing my first 69 in 1969 when I was in the 6th grade. I also remember a cousin who purchased a brand new 67 convertible and drove a few of us around a couple times.
Then, when I went to college, a classmate had a 1970 Formula 400. I decided I had to have a Pontiac but wanted something different from him so I stumbled across a 69 and that was my first car.