Here Comes The Judge! 1970 Pontiac GTO Project
By the time 1969 rolled around, the mid-size muscle car market was littered with competitors. That meant the “godfather” of the movement, the Pontiac GTO, was seeing a decline in demand. To boost interest, they created The Judge edition which applied a little more muscle, special graphics, and (in some cases) wilder colors. This ’70 Judge once wore Orbit Orange paint, which may have been applied to just 618 cars that year (it was unique to the Judge). Needing a lot of work and missing its original powertrain, this project Poncho is available here on eBay in Rockton, Illinois. The current bid is $17,200 and the reserve is unmet.
The Judge, which took its name from the Laugh-In catchphrase, “Here comes the Judge”, was a three-year model at Pontiac. Based on the 1969-71 GTO, the Judge was discontinued in 1972 when Pontiac downgraded the GTO to option status rather than a series of its own. The Judge did little to help with sales as just 6,833 copies were produced in 1969, followed by 3,959 in 1970, and a mere 374 in 1971. Less than three percent were convertibles, so the hardtop was the overwhelming choice. For $337 extra, The Judge package brought with it a Ram Air III, a Hurst shifter, a rear spoiler, and wider tires than the stock GTO.
According to the seller, this ’70 Judge is a PHS-documented vehicle that came with a wild/rare color when new. The drivetrain has been pulled and you’ll be getting instead what may be an incomplete replacement engine and a Muncie 4-speed (from 1967). It comes with a correct Judge interior, but the color combination is not. The floors and trunks are sold, but there is some rust in both of the front fenders. And the rear quarter panels may have been replaced.
This Pontiac presents as a work-in-progress where some of the heavy lifting has already been done. But finishing the body and interior will both still be a lot of work. And that doesn’t include what it will take to put the 400 cubic inch V8 back together again. Though it will be a rare Judge when completed, it will not be numbers-matching.
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Comments
Judging by the look of it, it’s more like the Junk than the Judge
And who’s to day that it’s not just a LeMans? The tell is the Pontiac name plate on the dash over where the console should be.
Writer said orbit orange was only offered on Judges in 1970. If its 242 vin and paint code is for orbit orange that should be proof. The Judge emblem was attached to the glove box lid, not the dash.
That Pontiac badge on the dash is a blank off plate for the center air-conditioning vent that appeared on air conditioned cars. The F-Body twins (Camaro/Firebird) had a similar blank off plate in the center of the dash above the radio. Factory A/C cars also deleted the driver and passenger footwell vents, since A/C cars were equipped with GM’s then brand-new “flow-thru” ventilation system, with the heater fan that never turns off (the lowest setting for the heater fan is “LO”).
Classic comment
I don’t see the heave lifting that has been done. Just partly dismantled.
Even where bidding is at now, it seems like a lot of money to me given that this car still needs a ton of work and will not be #’s matching when completed. Good luck to the next owner, hopefully they’ve got mad skills or a big bank account. Going to need one or the other.
There was the judge!
This Judge retired, enjoyed a pension, and then died. He’s been exhumed from the grave!
Not worth the task .. To much. Don’t advertise GTO THE JUDGE if its missing its original heartbeat motor. Now its just a shell..
Send to the junker…
Like all the “Z28” Camaros with a different engine.
And who’s to say that it’s not just a LeMans? The tell is the Pontiac name plate on the dash over where the console should be.
The 242 VIN and PHS. 2 foolproof, no questions asked pieces of documentation
That Pontiac badge on the dash is a blank off plate for the center air-conditioning vent that appeared on air conditioned cars. The F-Body twins (Camaro/Firebird) had a similar blank off plate in the center of the dash above the radio. Factory A/C cars also deleted the driver and passenger footwell vents, since A/C cars were equipped with GM’s then brand-new “flow-thru” ventilation system, with the heater fan that never turns off (the lowest setting for the heater fan is “LO”).
All quite possible however I didn’t see a vin plate in any of the photos and as someone else said it will never be an original numbers matching car even fully restored. For me all that would dent the value. But each to it’s own.
Somebody’s else’s money pit.