“The Judge” Project: 1969 Pontiac GTO
Once the leader of the pack in the 1960s muscle car movement, demand for the Pontiac GTO started to decline in the late 1960s. The competition was fierce, and Pontiac began to look for ways to entice more buyers into showrooms. So, “The Judge” was born, a bright orange (at first) GTO that took advantage of the “here comes da judge” catchphrase from TV’s Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In. This ’69 Judge is a stalled restoration and needs someone to take up where work left off. A tip from Barn Finder Arkie, this Pontiac is in Douglasville, Georgia, and is available here on craigslist for $40,000 (not $40 as in the headline).
The Judge would help GTO sales only temporarily and would be gone after the 1971 model year. The mid-size GTO itself would follow in 1973 and the name would be used one more time in 1974 on a compact, the Ventura, which was a derivative of the Nova. Judge buyers got a rear spoiler, Carousel Red paint (other colors would follow), flashy decals, and either the Ram III or Ram Air IV engines that produced either similar horsepower ratings The hardtop would be the most popular in 1969 at more than 6,700 copies plus another 100 or so drop-tops.
As the story goes, this ’69 Judge was last on the road in 1989. And its condition now is pretty much as it was then, although we’re told the car is PHS-documented as the real thing. The owner passed away and the work that had been started ceased, for the most part. Some bodywork has been done and more is needed before the car can be repainted and put back together. The motor has been rebuilt, but sadly is not numbers-matching although the block is date coded to the automobile. A 4-speed manual came with the car when new.
Lots of new parts were sourced to get the vehicle as you see it today and the seller doesn’t mention if anything important is missing. But an exception to that is with the Ram Air which doesn’t have a lower pan or lid. The seats are there, but they will need upholstery. We’re told that delivery is available, but we suspect that depends on how far and how much. The ’69 Judge was the most plentiful in terms of production numbers, but those weren’t huge in the grand scheme. So a restored Judge is likely more valuable than a restored regular GTO.
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Comments
Apparently IKEA DOES make cars-here’s proof!!
For those with the time, money and wherewithal here’s your GTO, one of the best models IMO.
Note to poseurs-wouldn’t you really like to have a real GTO instead of buying a LeMans or the like and trying to make a fake one? A lot of Poncho owners like having a real Tempest or whatever a a decent price..
Guaranteed there are parts missing.
There me be parts missing, after all it is not a cocorse restored car.
Maybe you can buy one restored for 40K
I like Judges but walk past them at car shows because most of them you see are clones.
The original idea was to do a GTO that was decontented to compete with Plymouths Road Runner. John DeLorean refused to sign off on a lower-power Goat, so the ‘cheap’ GTO idea became a high end option instead.
Originally seen as a one-year offering, the Judge was continued for ‘70 by the new (non-enthusiast) management at PMD after DeLorean was kicked upstairs to run Chevrolet in early ‘69.
40K seems a bit steep for what we see here. IMHO. going to take a chunk of change to get it back to where it belongs. I’m sure there are people with deeper pockets than me tho
The judge comes with almost $15,000.00 in new and NOS parts
Let’s see now if I bought the car with no part’s for $25,000.00 and then bought all the part’s it comes with from year one for $15,000.00 would that come up to 40K ????
There’s more fake Judges out there than regular GTOs, I really prefer the GTO without the wing and stripes, 40,000 for this mish mash of parts is way way way out there, but there’s an ass for every seat
The judge comes with almost $15,000.00 in new and NOS parts
Let’s see now if I bought the car with no part’s for $25,000.00 and then bought all the part’s it comes with from year one for $15,000.00 would that come up to 40K ????
For what is being offered the price is kinda steep. Does it have a valid title?
yes it has a valid title!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
overpriced junk
Well one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.
Funny thing to me all you people leaving negative comments about this JUDGE, I would think you have never owned one in you life (jealous) but if it were your car it would be worth 50K right.