Every classic car has a story to tell, although some are sadder than others. Take this 1969 Pontiac GTO “The Judge” as a prime example. Until recently, it had been part of the same family since Day 1. However, it has spent more than two decades sitting in this spot, exposed to the elements. The seller rescued it and was pleasantly surprised to discover that it is a structurally sound classic with a motor that runs off an external fuel source. They feel that this Judge deserves a second chance at life, so they have listed the car for sale here on eBay. The GTO is located in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, and bidding has hit $24,100 in a No Reserve auction.
Introduced for the 1969 model year, early examples of The Judge wore Carousel Red paint. Pontiac expanded the color palette during the year, with our feature car rolling off the line wearing Matador Red. The seller indicates that the previous owner treated it to a repaint in this shade, but the car is otherwise original and unmolested. There is evidence of Bondo in the driver’s side rear quarter panel but no indication of prior panel replacement. After years of exposure to the elements, it would be fair to expect this classic to be riddled with rust, but the opposite is true. The lower body extremities have a few issues, but these appear patchable propositions. The floors wear heavy surface corrosion and a few soft spots, but there are no structural problems. The same seems true of the trunk pan. The buyer won’t face major rust repairs, but the overall desirability of this classic leads me to believe that a complete nut-and-bolt restoration would be the best way to do it justice. Distinctive items like the original rear spoiler and Rally II wheels are intact, and the overall impression is that whipping the panels and paint into shape should not be difficult. Encouragingly, the seller invites in-person inspections, allowing potential buyers the chance to develop a plan of attack on this project.
The original owner ordered this Judge with the 400ci Ram Air V8 that churned out 366hp. The power found its way to the rear wheels via a four-speed M20 manual transmission, and with the ability to storm through the ¼ mile in 13.8 seconds, there was no doubting The Judge’s performance credentials. This Judge may have a story to tell because the seller indicates that it is not 100% numbers-matching. They believe that the car received a service replacement short block in 1972, although the cylinder heads and other ancillaries may be original. They have confirmed the transmission as original but cannot verify the rear end. After more than twenty years of inactivity, the engine bay looks pretty scruffy. However, the seller has coaxed that 400 back to life off a fuel can and says it sounds nice. There will be plenty of work required to return the car to a roadworthy state, but it seems that the buyer can commence the process with some confidence.
One aspect of this Judge that springs a surprise is its interior. It isn’t showroom fresh, but there are plenty of components that will present well with little more than a deep clean. The original owner’s decision to order the car trimmed in White vinyl was brave, and the seat upholstery looks remarkable for its age. The door and rear trims look rough, but a patient new owner may be able to revive them without resorting to replacement. If originality is a crucial focus of this project, it would be worth the effort. The shopping list will include a headliner, carpet set, and dash pad, but with those items installed and the remaining trim cleaned, the interior should look okay for a survivor.
Of the 72,287 GTOs sold during the 1969 model year, 6,725 were Hardtop Judges. Many have succumbed to the passage of time, although our feature car has defied the odds by surviving against adversity. Two decades of exposure to all that Mother Nature offers should have seen it reduced to a crumbling hulk, but it is a solid survivor that richly deserves total restoration. While it could not be considered a cheap project, its solid nature and potential value suggest that the bidding is appropriate. I’m glad that the seller rescued it, and I rejoice in the fact that someone has the chance to return it to its rightful place on our roads. Are you tempted to become that person?
Boy, if I had the room patience and the$ to do this one! When i was a old 13-14 young . We would ride our bikes around looking for cool cars. A Favorite stop at night was the local grocery store. Someone that did night stocking had a beautiful, orange Judge. This was around early 70,s. Seen it often, but never saw who ever drove it.I sure hope this goes to a respectable buyer that try’s to keep it mostly stock. God help me if someone went pro street or more.
“Here comes da’ Judge, here comes da’ Judge”,,,Automakers of the 60’s and 70’s often often jumped on the latest TV bandwagon, in order to sell cars. In Pontiacs case, and may be unknown to the author, the absolute funniest show on TV, that broke a slew of boundaries, was “Rowan and Martins Laugh-In”. My old man wouldn’t let us watch it, but my mom loved it. It relied heavily on the hippy( hippie?) movement, and one of the acts was Flip Wilson, dressed as judge, he was a very funny guy. Well, I read, the bigwigs at GM decided, what better name for their new GTO, than “The Judge”, clearly, unlike Wilsons character, one of the most important people in our society. I read, most were 350, automatics, and appealed to a wide range of people. I have a friend ( you do? oh, shut up) whose mom had a Judge, a 1970, I think. He painstakingly did the “nut and bolt” schpiel, over many years, abandoned the project a couple times, he said he just couldn’t keep up with rising costs. FINALLY, as a tribute to his mom, he finished the car, has TENS of thousands into it, and that was 15 years ago. Real stories for your information.
Standard engine in a 69 judge was the RAIII 400. RAIV was optional. 350 was never available in any gto until 1974 when it was the only engine available.
i thought the 400 motor with no ram air was the standard motor and any ram air was an option.
Howard,
Like your family, my parents didn’t understand Laugh-in and said it wasn’t appropriate, but my younger brother and I were able to watch later re-runs. 50 years later I introduced my girlfriends to Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-in, and after all that time, it’s still very enjoyable for us.
While Flip Wilson made the line “Here comes da’ Judge” very popular on his later comedy series, the original Laugh-in line was uttered by Sammy Davis, Jr whenever he was on the show. The line is from the well-known singer and comedian Pigmeat Markham’s 1968 song “Here comes the judge”. That’s Pigmeat Markham as the judge, in the upper right skit in the photo.
Don’t know if I’m reading you post correctly, but there were no 350’s in a Judge in 69.
Thanks, got it. I believe it was the 350 hp, 400 I was thinking of.
Those pictures bring back some memories. I had a Judge this same color back in 74/75 time frame in high school.Mine had a bench seat with fold down arm rest and a 4 speed. Did a lot of street racing back in the day with it.
So, there are still people who don’t have access to information about these kind of cars, in 2022. I understand being hidden away in a barn, garage, etc. But sitting outside? For decades? They must live in the middle of a woods, with zero neighbors, friends, or relatives.
Who is hidden away? Howard or the Judge??!! (Just teasing Howard!)
Lol!!!
QUESTION; “Of the 72,287 GTOs sold during the 1969 model year, 6,725 were Hardtop Judges.”
So… What then, we’re the other 65,000 GTO cars? Certainly they all weren’t convertibles, right? If not a hardtop, then what we’re they?
Thanks
All Judges were GTOs not all GTOs were Judges
Craiger, 72K GTO’s built total. Only 6,725 hardtops and 108 convertibles were with the Judge package.
Restored rally II wheels look pretty darn good even without the trim rings.
I don’t think Judges came with trim rings. Rally 2’s look better that way IMO.
I’d fix the basics and not do a full respray, they have a lot more character with the used look
Ya Someone is going to get a good start with this one.
Being from western Nebraska, the humidity is low which would be more metal friendly. I think this car is not too far from my dad’s hometown of North Platte.
What would this be worth if it wasn’t “The Judge”. Seriously, how much does the badge add to the value. And why. Seriously want to know.