Sunday, February 7, 2016

Meet the Only Triple-Green ’69 Pontiac GTO Judge in the World

BOLD RIDE

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Classic cars are a bit like ice cream flavors; different tastes gravitate toward different styles. With that in mind, given the breathtaking appearance of this 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge… one could presume the original owner was a bit of a Mint Chip fan, or Pistachio aficionado. Either way, they had great taste in muscle cars. 
 
Not only did they buy a Pontiac GTO during the height of the muscle car era, they bought “The Judge,” and the only 1969 triple-green Judge at that. Green interior, green top, and a stunning Limelight Green exterior. Richard Rawlings, if you’re out there, this sounds like your kind of ride.

The one-of-one GTO Judge is slated to cross the Auctions America block in Fort Lauderdale on April 2nd, and this is one judge that can be bought, pardon the pun. It’s expected to fetch between $100,000 and $140,000.

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While the Pontiac GTO arguably started the muscle car era in 1964, it was “The Judge” of 1969 that kept the party going. The name is said to have been inspired by Sammy Davis Jr.’s “Here Comes the Judge” skit on Laugh-In, and it brought with it a dash of comedy to the muscle car segment: bright colors, shouty graphics, cartoonish “The Judge” badges, and an extra-wide rear spoiler, not to mention the serious performance goodies.

All 1969 Pontiac GTO Judges came equipped with the Ram Air 400ci V8, which offered up an underrated 366 horsepower in Ram Air III guise, and another conservative 370 hp in the optional Ram Air IV. This accompanied standard Rally II wheels, taut GTO suspension, and a three-speed manual. A four-speed close-ratio manual and three-speed automatic were options, as were power disc brakes, rally gauges, and a hood tach, among others.


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Pontiac sold 6,725 Judge hardtops in its debut year, but only 108 GTO Judge convertibles in ’69. This Judge, an automatic-equipped convertible, is said to be one of only 29, in addition to its unique colors. Looking for rarer still? It’s believed that Pontiac only sold five 1969 GTO Judge convertibles equipped with the Ram Air IV package. This car sports Ram Air III.

According to the auction, this Judge enjoyed a full body-off restoration and it keeps its original numbers-matching 400ci V8 and automatic transmission, to which it adds luxuries like power disc brakes, electric windows, and those lovely redline tires. All rise!
 

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