1969 Pontiac GTO The Judge
More than 6,800 Judges, not quite 10 percent of all GTO production in 1969, were built in its debut year and gracing our Hallowed Halls for consignment, this Carousel Red muscle car in very nice condition. This car checks all the right boxes with its tail spoiler, retina searing paint and smile inducing 400ci V8 and 4-speed manual transmission. A "Goat" which is more like a wolf in sheep's clothing and is ready to lay down the law with its nicely performed restoration, blistering acceleration, PHS documentation, and beautiful good looks...Cue up Paul Revere and the Raiders because court is in session in our West Mallway!
Exterior
For 1969 GM tweaked the GTO's one year old redesign with a number of detail changes and subtle refinements and this example is bathed in Carousel Red. While the finish remains in the deep end of the pool territory, we do note evidence of body filler in nearly all of the lower panels with some areas succumbing to body contour line blurs in the filler. At the front of the car, Pontiac's familiar stainless trimmed twin grilles hang dual headlights and a pristine white "GTO" script behind a revolutionary Endura bumper. Below that bumper, the car's curved front valance features revised and more aggressive parking lights; and above that bumper, a sculpted hood with Pontiac's legendary 'twin nostril' Ram Air badged intakes lives between the fenders. Behind those intakes, like-new glass is bordered by an attractive layer of bright stainless trim and the correct side mirrors. Below the mirrors, expressive 'coke bottle' fenders are highlighted by dent-free stainless wheel well trim, straight stainless rocker moldings and traditional chrome door handles. On the front fenders, white inlaid "GTO" emblems add just the right amount of flash to the car's slick orange paint, but this is not to be outdone by the swoop spear neon orange highlighted black decal that follows the curving beltline starting at the front quarters and gently wrapping up to the B-pillars. On the back fenders, '68-era arrowhead marker lights have been exchanged for V shaped "GTO" branded units. At the back of the car, a show-worthy chrome bumper hangs showroom fresh taillights between spotless stainless exhaust tips and a white "GTO" trunk emblem. Lest we forget the Judge specific rear spoiler that stands off from the trunk with the edges wrapping down to meet the tops of the rear quarters. 15-inch Pontiac Rally II wheels are on all 4 corners and are wrapped in staggered width BF Goodrich Radial T/A's from 2021.
Interior
Take a look inside this A-Body's cockpit and you'll find a snazzy correct black interior. Front and center, a straight and crack-free padded dash in black grabs our attention with its deeply inset gauges and fresh wood applique dressings. The factory AM radio is still in its original location and a 3 some of chrome trimmed gauges within an applique dress bezel hang below, and we note a black faced gauge to the right and the functional Ram Air pull to the left. On the floor, an original console with its long armed Hurst shifter sits between the two beautifully sculpted like new black vinyl bucket front seats. At the sides of those seats, stainless-trimmed door panels hang with the tail of an arrow designed right into the panel and come with fresh hardware and pliable armrests. Below those panels, clean black carpet frames chrome-trimmed foot pedals in front of heavy duty floor mats. In front of the driver, what looks like to be the original wood rimmed steering wheel spins around a Pontiac branded horn button. Behind the passengers, the trunk hides a gray felted mat as well as a bumper jack.
Drivetrain
Under the twin nostril hood resides a non numbers matching 400ci V8 that is dated 1971 and is correct for a GTO/Firebird. It is dressed in Pontiac Blue with chromed valve covers, a chrome alternator and the foam sealed functional Ram Air air cleaner assembly. This is a 300hp automatic transmission equipped block based on the YS stamping code and is topped by a single 4-barrel carburetor. A circa 1966 Muncie M20 4-speed manual is behind the mill and shifts through the gears flawlessly. On the back is a correct casting number 9795084 10-bolt rear axle and based on the PHS documents it is a 3.55 geared heavy duty Safe-T-Track axle.
Undercarriage
Give this car a lift and we are met with independent front coil spring suspension and a 4-link and coil spring rear suspension. Power disc brakes up front, and power drums on the rear to bring it to a quick halt. Dual exhaust with headers and turbo mufflers snakes its way from the mill back to chrome tips and past the black menagerie that makes up the chassis. Speaking of which, we note painted over surface rust on nearly every component along with amateur repairs performed to the trunk pan and flooring. That aside, the frame, rockers and inner wheel houses remain solid and sound.
Drive-Ability
We had some fun test driving this restored car on our test track. A turn of the key and this judgemental goat was ready to send the competition to Greaterford prison for 20 years to life. It had snappy acceleration, good handling, and bias free panic stopping. It handled very well, and all functions save for the horn not beeping worked as they should.
Overall a very nice example of the first year example of a PHS documented GTO Judge. Runs great, shifts smoothly, and is a looker to boot. While i'm no appointed judge, I can give you my verdict....4 out of 5 stars and a sentence to be served in the garage of a lucky Pontiac aficionado. Here Come Da Judge!
242379B160167
2-Pontiac
42-GTO
37-2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
9-1969
B-Baltimore, MD Assy Plant
160167-Sequential Unit Number
