Carousel Red Roller: 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge
Pontiac GTO was the self-appointed leader of the muscle car movement of the 1960s. However, an increase in competition (and rising insurance premiums) had sales moving backward by 1969. The company addressed this by introducing “The Judge” special edition, which had flashy graphics and the most powerful 400 cubic inch V8s available that year. 6,725 coupes were built in ‘69, plus another 108 drop tops and many of them came with Carousel Red paint like the seller’s car. It’s a project that looks rough and has no engine, but extensive work has been done on the suspension and undercarriage.
The Judge got its name in part from a bit that Sammy Davis Jr. used to do on the TV show, Laugh-in. You remember it, right, “Here comes the Judge”? For an extra $337 new, your GTO could be ordered with the Judge package, and the seller’s paperwork indicates this car is authentic, not a clone. We don’t know what variant of the 400 this Pontiac came with as the motor is MIA – but it is a 4-speed, making it a bit more desirable (the transmission is in the trunk).
Most of the seller’s photos focus on what’s below the sheet metal and he/she says that a bunch of expensive work has been done down below, resulting in a body-off frame initiative (with the body back on, but is it buttoned down?). The brakes have been converted to four-wheel discs. Most of the parts that came with the Pontiac appear to be there, sans the V8. The seller is including a spare rear clip, a new gas tank, and used hood scoops for Ram Air. For an extra charge, you can also have a 1968 engine block.
This is a project vehicle belonging to a friend of the person who listed the car. It’s located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and is available here on eBay where $26,450 has not been enough to crack the reserve. This will be an extremely costly car when fully restored, but a 1969 Judge may be the most desirable of the GTOs. They were only built for three years (1969-71) before fading away, as did the moniker three years later.
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Comments
Not to be judgey but the original engine is gone and still needs much work
Good luck with sale
Hard pass. It’s really rusty, the performance suspension parts and Chevy 12 bolt don’t bring much to the table for a car that would likely be restored to stock. The “restored” frame and rear end, which supposedly bring a lot of value to the car are pitting in every picture, best if all, you have to pay extra for the NOM engine. Better to keep looking until something better comes along.
Steve R
Totally agree.
I agree, but in the end, it comes down to the eye of the beholder. I am continually amazed that folks will throw big money at projects like this, and it must be a personal connection. My weakness is a 67 California GS. I spent 3 hours at a Buick dealer in 1967 trying to pull the trigger but it just didn’t make financial sense. I have deeply regretted not doing that, even for the right reasons. I have come close a number of times to buying a GS, I lost out on a couple of bids at Barret Jackson in Scottsdale (when it was at least reasonable) and have traveled a few times to inspect. Not yet but I am going to get one if the clock doesn’t run out on me!
Mark I hope you get the buick.you sound like you want one bad an I hope you get it .you only live once an life is short. Most men say I have to ask the wife.wife always ends up with what they want . Not saying this is your president but a lot of them are.
26,450 for this gem, it will take an easy 100,000 to put it back to show room condition. maybe more than it’s
worth.
That color is actually Carousel Red used on the 69 GTO Judge. Orbit Orange was a 1970 GTO Judge color.
I didn’t think this was Orbit Orange. My neighbor just had his restored a few years ago and it really is Orbit Orange, this is not even close to the same color as his.
Pontiac’s “Carousel Red” (and Chevrolet’s “Hugger Orange”) was GM paint code 72 for model year 1969.
What a piece of sh – t! It’s barely even a parts car! It’s beyond me how people can let this happen!
There’s a lot of things missing here due to the tin worm, including the frame rails to mount an engine to most likely, and why not? Everything else is badly rusted. I see a donor car here without a lot to donate. I’d sentence this “Judge” to the crusher..
I can still here Flip Wilson proclaim, “Hee come ‘da Judge!
I can hear Sammy Davis Jr. saying “here comes the judge.”
I live 50 miles from this junker. Not worth the gas to go look. If a RAIV with original engine a big MAYBE, but $25,000 plus before you give a body shop $30,000 and that’s just a start. NO. Some fool will cash in his 401K for this. Today’s kids want Acuras and VWs. People that want this are either dying or don’t want the aggravation. I am pushing 70. Love GTOs, had a 69 and 70, but now cruise in my Town Car.
Every penny spent on this car was blown money. Tubular A-Frames, wrong rear end, rear disc brakes. Anyone buying this car will want to go back original, hence wasted money. My opinion is that the owner already had this stuff and needed a car to put it on, OR they were going to fix it and got cold feet because of the cost to do it. Cost to fix it would be over $100,000.00 investment for a non original engine car.You can buy a more original car for same or less.
Again another car for sale ,that basically is worth nothing,not kidding.But you can have it for the small sum of a million dollars,that’s how crazy this is.i would be really embarrassed to post this for a sum like this what the $$#& wrong with people.
Can I pet that Dog???
No low ballers, I know what I have…..
3,000 is to much for this rust bucket
If the guy wants that kind of money for it then he should have kept it in better condition. Missing the engine is a huge strike against it. I hate it that he at least started to put it back together and has decided to stop.