Because of the intense competition between muscle car makers for sales, and because the GTO had been released five years earlier in 1964, the sales for the standard GTO had started to fall off by 1969. As a result, Pontiac created the Judge add-on package. For $332, GTO purchasers could convert the standard version of the car into a muscle car that could compete with its peers on the open market. Identify 1969 GTO Judge by looking for the add-on features that distinguish the Judge from the standard GTO.
Instructions
- 1
Identify the year, make and model of the car in question. Since Pontiac made the Judge add-ons available from 1969 to 1971, examine the car's title, if available, to ensure that you are in fact examining the 1969 model. You may also need to search for the vehicle identification number (VIN) to identify the car.
2Locate the decals on the Judge. Pontiac added Ram Air decals to the sides of the hood scoops, Judge decals to the front fenders and multicolored pin stripping running from the front fender to the C-piller.
3Examine the rear of the car to determine whether the car has, or has had, a spoiler. The GTO Judge has a 60-inch spoiler across the lid of the trunk. If the spoiler has been removed, look inside the trunk for evidence, such as screw holes, that it was once attached.
4Examine the car's interior for distinctive Judge characteristics. Some GTO Judges had a small emblem on the glove box. Pontiac canceled this emblem for a short time, and it may not be present in all Judges. Also, cars with a manual transmission had a T-shaped gearshift handle.
5Verify the engine type. A standard GTO came equipped with a 350-horsepower, 400 cubic-inch engine. Pontiac upgraded its Judges to include Ram Air engines of various sizes, depending on the upgrade selected. A basic Judge came equipped with a Ram Air III---a high flow, 366-horsepower engine. An upgraded Ram Air IV was also available, which ran at 370 horsepower. The presence of any Ram Air engine indicates a Judge upgrade.
If the trunk lid with spoiler attached will not stay up the car may not be a real Judge. Real Judges had stronger trunk springs due to the added weight of the spoiler.
ReplyDeleteNot true.. you can move the spring inside the trunk to accommodate the spoiler weight. It has different tension settings. They are all the same.
DeleteWas there only a couple months in 69 when the build the judges ? Are did they build them all year long
ReplyDelete69 Judges hit the streets the spring of 1969. They were mainly carousel red (orange) initially but later came in other colors.
ReplyDeleteThe 71 Judges had blacked out grill and standard 455 HO engines. They made 335 hp with 480 lb. ft of torque. Emblem on glovebox door. Ram air scoops on hood that funneled air into Rochester carb. I know, owned one. I miss it terribly!
ReplyDeleteI have a 1969 Pontiac GTO all there engine block tranny looking to know how much I can get for it
ReplyDelete