Vehicle Description
You might note with some alarm that the prices on GTOs are going
through the roof, making this absolutely stunning 1969 Pontiac GTO
hardtop is the one to own. With a stunning restoration, matching
numbers drivetrain and documentation, you can't go wrong. A tribute
to the Judge and built to Ram Air III specs just add to the
fun!
We actually don't see cars this nice very often, tribute car or
genuine article. Finished in Midnight Green (a rather uncreative
color the Pontiac marketing department came up with), it totally
nails the original Judge look. Designed to be a low-cost
alternative to something like a Road Runner, it quickly became the
signature model for Pontiac performance, and the handsome green
bodywork does nothing to hide that fact. It's simply beautiful in
every way, with a huge amount of time, effort, and money spent on
the bodywork to make it as straight as anything else with a
pedigree. No customizations, no alterations, just an ultra-clean
GTO with all the right markings. Green was added to the color
palette late in the 1969 model year (they originally envisioned all
Judges being Carousel Red), but we can see why it became popular,
especially with the slightly subtler Judge decals and stripes.
There's still a wing out back and a pair of hood nostrils, but this
car doesn't beat you over the head with its attitude, and we like
that a lot.
It's filled with a matching green bucket seat interior that's all
about performance. No console, which is how it should be, but it
does have the important matching numbers 4-speed gearbox with a
Hurst shifter on top. The upholstery is new, the carpets are new,
the door panels are new, the headliner is new, and, well, you get
the point. If you can touch it, it's new. The gauges are crisp and
easy to read, and it include a factory tach in the dash as well as
the original AM radio, which might be due for an upgrade. A
three-spoke steering wheel is a familiar piece for Pontiac faithful
and adds to the racy vibe of the GTO. The trunk is also beautifully
finished with correct spatter paint and zero signs of trouble, and
it comes with a matching Rally II wheel that's a tire away from
being ready to go on the pavement.
A original matching numbers Pontiac 400 cubic inch V8 was rebuilt
to Ram Air III 366 horsepower specs, which is how the base Judge
was equipped. There's a correct Ram Air camshaft inside, big valve
heads, and a factory intake with 4-barrel carburetor on top.
Pontiac Turquoise engine enamel and chrome valve covers duplicate
the Judge look, and it's only an OEM air cleaner away from being
able to pass muster on the show field. It runs extremely well and
has a big whack of low-end torque, and thanks to power steering and
brakes, it's always easy to handle. The 4-speed shifts cleanly and
clutch action is surprisingly light considering how much power is
churning through there. A 10-bolt rear end was standard equipment
on the Judge, with this one being filled with easy-cruising 3.55
gears that are a nice compromise between street and strip. A new
reproduction exhaust system, fat sway bars, and a very tidy
undercarriage make this a car you can own and drive with
confidence. Those aforementioned Rally II wheels are properly
presented without trim rings, and they're fitted with new 225/60/15
BFGoodrich radials.
It would be a mistake to dismiss this car, because it duplicates
everything that matters about the original Judge, and does it to a
level that few real cars ever achieve. Call today!