1969 Pontiac GTO Unknown

366 hp, 400 cu. in. Ram Air III V8 engine, Muncie four-speed manual transmission, independent front suspension with unequal-length A-arms and coil springs, live rear axle with four-link suspension and coil springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 112" • Equipped with a Ram Air III V8, a Muncie four-speed and more • Documented with copies of build sheet and window sticker • Fully restored Just in case the owners of competing muscle cars began thinking Pontiac’s GTO was getting soft by 1968, the folks at Pontiac reminded them on December 18th of that year that the GTO’s tradition of performance was indeed alive and well. That reminder came with the release of “The Judge,” an unrestrained performance GTO with an irreverent attitude and marketing to match. Famous taglines included “All rise for The Judge” and “The Judge can be bought.” The WT1 Judge Option was priced at $337 more than a standard GTO but packed plenty of value. The standard engine was Pontiac’s 400-cubic inch Ram Air III engine with 366 rated horsepower. A 60-inch wide wing graced the rear deck, and the GTO’s innovative Endura front bumper surrounded a blacked-out grille with optional retractable headlight covers. The outrageous Carousel Red finish was topped by flashy body-side graphic accents and accented by a set of Rally II wheels mounting fiberglass-belted blackwall tires. Higher-rate springs and recalibrated shocks brought handling and road-holding up to the same standards as the engine’s performance. Only 6,725 Judge hardtops and 108 convertibles were built for 1969. The survival rate of these road rockets has been small; however, the performance and charisma of The Judge – not to forget the visual impact of its flashy graphics – have made it a favorite. The GTO Judge hardtop offered here is a superb example of these American muscle cars, with the most desirable performance options for 1969 backed up by copies of its build sheet and window sticker. It was purchased by the past owner five months after seeing it at the Woodward Dream Cruise and treated to a complete restoration by Brent Jarvis of Performance Restorations in Chicago. Original performance equipment included a Hurst-shifted Muncie M21 close-ratio four-speed, a heavy-duty Safe-T-Track rear axle, heavy-duty cooling and a hood-mounted tachometer. It is devoid of power-robbing options with manual brakes and steering, while an AM radio is the only other optional feature. With its great panel fit, paintwork and chrome, this example also features a terrific undercarriage and an excellent engine bay. It is a genuine Judge with the right color options, a superior restoration and full documentation.