Numbers-Matching: 1970 Pontiac GTO “The Judge”
The word “iconic” is probably one of the most overused in the classic world. However, few can better describe Pontiac’s GTO “The Judge.” It became a staple of the muscle car sector, and pristine examples invariably command plenty of attention. This 1970 model isn’t perfect, but it is ideal for someone seeking a high-end driver featuring its numbers-matching drivetrain. It is 1-of-2 owned by the seller, who feels it deserves a new home with someone who can appreciate all it offers.
The backstory of this 1970 GTO Judge is fascinating. The previous owner purchased a new example in 1970, selecting the newly-released Orbit Orange to cloak its exterior. In 1988, he purchased a matching car for his wife, with both remaining garage-kept when not prowling the streets. It saw regular use until around ten years ago when it was placed in hibernation. That owner coaxed it into life every few months, but it remained safely squirreled away from the elements until it was purchased by the seller. However, there was a twist in the tail, because the previous owner would only part with his pair of matching Judges as a package deal. Therefore, the seller finished up with both. He elected to keep one, with our feature car destined for a new home. Its exterior presentation is hard to fault. The paint shines beautifully, with no significant flaws or defects. The decals are crisp, the panels are as straight as an arrow, and the doors close effortlessly. The underside shots confirm this classic is rust-free, and the only cosmetic work performed by the seller was to have the wheels sandblasted and repainted to achieve an as-new appearance.
The good news for potential buyers considering the long-term investment potential of this Judge is that it retains its numbers-matching drivetrain. The Window Sticker confirms that it should provide an effortless driving experience. The first owner equipped it with the 400ci Ram Air V8, a three-speed Turbo Hydramatic transmission, and power-assisted steering and front disc brakes. The V8’s ability to produce 366hp and 445 ft/lbs of torque confirms the Pontiac’s muscle car credentials, allowing it to storm the ¼-mile in 14.5 seconds. The Judge hadn’t seen genuine active service for nearly ten years before coming into the seller’s care. Therefore, he worked through a meticulous revival process, planning on retaining the car. He replaced the fuel tank, exhaust, brakes, shocks, hoses, belts, and fluids. The seller includes a front-end and steering rebuild kit for a potential buyer wishing to “tighten” its handling. He completed the work, and his wife then queried whether they could justify owning two Judges. Therefore, the winning bidder will benefit from a turnkey classic that runs and drives well, and that was revived with a view to long-term ownership by the seller.
The first owner selected Black vinyl to trim this Judge’s interior, with the car featuring bucket seats, a console, and an AM/FM radio with an optional rear speaker. The overall presentation is tidy for a driver-grade classic. There is minor damage to the console shifter plate and wear on the driver’s seat outer edge piping, but the rest of the interior has no apparent needs. Finding a replacement for the damaged shifter plate shouldn’t be difficult, and an upholsterer might be able to address the piping issue without the need to replace the seatcover. Otherwise, the dash and pad are excellent, the carpet is equally impressive, and there are no apparent problems with the door trims, back seat, or headliner.
This 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge has a fascinating backstory that stands as a testament to the passion of a genuine enthusiast. It has always been treated respectfully, and with the increasing desirability of these classics, I suspect that trend will continue. The seller listed this Judge here on eBay in New Albany, Indiana. It has received a solitary bid of $60,000, with the seller indicating he has set the reserve at $69,000. That figure is realistic, but with the auction approaching its conclusion, potential buyers may need to act fast. Are you tempted?
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Comments
Love it. If everything checks out it seems like a decent investment that you could enjoy
Looks like the one in the movie dazed and confused awesome Pontiac
I JUST watched that movie and thought the same thing!!
Looks like the car from the movie dazed and confused 1993 very nice pontiac
Same colour GTO Warren Oats drove in Two Lane Blacktop.
Dazed car has vinyl roof
I can never believe they never put trim rings on the wheels of a good looking car like this it always looks like it’s unfinished!
Orbit Orange. Was this offered on other GM cars that year? Dual gate would be cool. All my life I’ve referred to these as a GTO Judge, never putting “the” in front of it.
Sometimes you see it this way as the option package was officially called “The Judge” package. However, you are correct that this car should be referred to as a 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge, omitting the “The.”
The automatic shifter has that function. Push it to the right and it will only go up one gear at a time, same with the Firebird floor shifter from 1969-1981 and Camaro from 1973-1981.
Steve R
Alright. I’ve seen the Chrysler slap shift but thought dual gate was something else.
I believe the dual gate shifter is different from Chrysler slap stick. With dual gate, you actually move the shifter to the right, into a separate “gate” that allows up and downshifting between gears.
The slap stick works vertically by shifting it down from the “D” position into 1st gear, then you “slap” the shifter forward to go into 2nd, then 3rd.
My modern Charger had paddle shifters, but you could also use the console shifter to “slap” through the gears.
Nelson,
Steve R is correct. The Hurst Dual Gate(aka “His and Hers” shifter) was used on automatic, console equipped GTOs for 1967 and 1968. Starting for 1969 Pontiac used their own ratcheting shifter. Here is a good explanation: https://phscollectorcarworld.blogspot.com/2015/03/hot-options-hurst-dual-gate-his-n-her.html
Nelson,
Like Steve R said, the console auto shifter starting for ’69 had an internal ratcheting(or speed shifting or slap stick) function, replacing the Hurst Dual Gate “His n Hers” shifter that was used for ’67 and ’68.
They used one of these for a chase scene in Adam 12. I always wondered if it was the same car from Two Lane Black Top
That is twolane GTO on Adam 12 and it is not a Judge,same car can be seen on Barretta,Colombo, McCloud,and other 70s tv shows.
Ended at 60K.
Reserve Not Met.
Hi Dennis, this is what I saw on the Ebay site. Take care Buddy, Mike. This listing was ended by the seller on Wed, Sep 11 at 8:58 AM because the item was sold.
Hey Mike, Good to hear from you.
Funny, I’ve never seen this before. I looked only at the price and it said that Reserve Not Met.
I had another look and now I notice the banner that said it was ended because it was sold.
I’ve never seen both on the same item before.