By 1969, Pontiac’s muscle car, the GTO, was in its sixth year of production. Looking to generate even further interest in the machine, Pontiac introduced “The Judge” option, taking marketing advantage of the skit with Sammy Davis, Jr. on the popular Flip Wilson Show. The package would be available for three years of which ’69 was by far the biggest seller. This GTO Judge may have been off the road since 1979 and doesn’t run but has a solid body for restoration. From Simi Valley, California, the Pontiac is available here on eBay where tendered bids have reached $17,850, with the reserve yet to be met. Kudos to Tommy T-Tops for finding this tip for us!
For $332 extra, The Judge option came with a Ram Air 400 engine, Rally II wheels without trim rings, Hurst shifter, wider tires, a rear spoiler, and fancy decals. Pontiac marketing professed that the spoiler helped at higher speeds, producing a wee bit of downforce. But at legal limits, it had little difference. Earlier runs of The Judge only came in Carousel Red paint, but other colors came later. Pontiac built 6,833 Judges in 1969 out of 72,287 total GTOs, but the number dropped to 3,797 in 1971 and just 374 in 1971, which would be the last year of The Judge as muscle car mania was all but over.
As the story goes, the seller found this ’69 Judge languishing in a yard in Los Angeles in 2020. It was sold new in Las Vegas, Nevada and its most recent registration sticker is 42 years old. The car was kept covered, so rust has been held at a minimum. We’re told the floors and frame are rust-free though there is a bit in the trunk, along the lower rail of one of the rear windows, on the hood, part of the trunk lid, and the rear bumper, which is chrome. The seller says the car was repainted once in the 1970s.
The engine is not 100% numbers-matching as the block and carburetor have been replaced, but with period-correct substitutes. The 400 cubic inch V8 does not run though it can be turned by hand. The M20 Muncie Wide-Ratio 4-speed manual is original to the Pontiac, and the seller believes the combination of the exterior color, Parchment interior, and conveniences like power windows make it somewhat rare. We’re told the car has been documented by PHS Historical Services.
Judges can be some of the most valuable GTOs, when in the right condition. Purists will note that the Judge decals are in the wrong spots (probably a mistake when the car was repainted 40-some years ago). Most of the car is there, like all of the Ram Air parts, but the optional tachometer has disappeared. The automobile here may be a diamond in the rough as it could be worth $50-60,000 with the right work.
A car from the era where you could have fun with cars. A totally restored Judge makes a great looking car with good value to boot.
Holy shart that’s cheap for the current bid. An iconic muscle era car
Up to $28k. Has all the nice stuff especially the 4spd. Very decent.
That’s a Chevy Quadrajet
What’s that red button, ?
Ram Air pull.
The knob on the Ram Air cable, but it should be chrome. Pull to open
Well optioned car, power windows, tilt, 4spd and air conditioning. Buff the paint, make it mechanically sound, address the interior, then drive it.
Steve R
Thanks Russ and Tommy T-Tops, I am the owner of this Judge. Yes Tom you are correct, it’s a 1972 Chevy carb. Heads are date coded B269, 2/26/69, which sync perfect with 4/10/69 build date. Exhaust manifolds are there and correct intake 9794234. It has a Nogales High School Student Parking sticker in the windshield, so some teenager was rockin’ this thing in the 70’s. It has air shocks in the rear with the fill valve behind the license plate flap. Get some gas and jack it up for Friday night street races!
you can buy a new corvette today a real head turner. the price for a muscle car today is not worth it !!
yeah sure a new corvette is faster and handles better, but the feeling you get driving an old muscle car is like no other, yeah sure driving that new vette is pretty great, but driving an old chevelle or mustang is like nothing else, you just cant beat it.
Makes a person giddy inside.
I remember Sammy Davis doing his Here Comes da Judge skit. I was a junior in H.S. Wanted one of these so bad when they came out.
A friend of mine /Sold one last summer .4speed. The works. Needed some body work.Not much.For alot-lot less–$5,000. It looked as good as this one. Look around and you can find them-reasonable. Someone is gonna get lucky saleing this one for that price. I had a 68 in 78. Sold it for $150 .All was wrong with it was the drivers side door was pushed in a little and it ran perfect–400–his and hers Hurst shifter. I made the guy promise he would not sale it to this one guy and he did. Drove the car straight to this guy and sold it. About a month later he got killed.
A friend of mine /Sold one last summer .4speed. The works. Needed some body work.Not much.For alot-lot less–$5,000. It looked as good as this one. Look around and you can find them-reasonable. Someone is gonna get lucky saleing this one for that price. I had a 68 in 78. Sold it for $150 .All was wrong with it was the drivers side door was pushed in a little and it ran perfect–400–his and hers Hurst shifter.
Grammar police here. You sell a car once it up “for sale”. Go back to 3rd grade. I have a hard time believing anything that some who would make you promise to “not sale a car”. Has to say.
A local Judge bought a new ’69 Carousel Red Judge and earned quite a reputation because of it.
At 28K, it is priced high missing original engine, AC compressor and a POS 72 Chevy carb. Have you seen prices for a correct RA carb? Probably $3,500 and it will need a rebuild. But all all, this car us very solid. What that one comment said, sort out the mechanicals, spend a few days wet sanding and buff. Drive and enjoy. 4 speeds much rarer than automatics. Love this car.
I agree with all of the above. I’ve been told recently by two very well known Q-Jet restorers that ‘71 455 HO 4 speed Q-Jet CORES are worth $7000. Unbelievable…