Out of all the discontinued automakers in American history, few have Pontiac's long and storied reputation. The company produced several world-renowned rides over its time on the market, but the GTO is one of the automaker’s best. The GTO debuted in 1964 and quickly became one of the defining members of the muscle car generation.
However, by the end of the decade, the Pontiac GTO experienced a decline in sales. Most people believe this to be due to competition from icons such as the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Chevelle. To turn things around, Pontiac introduced the GTO Judge in 1969. But unfortunately, the automaker only produced this new version of the GTO for a short time.
Despite the short run on the auto market, the Pontiac GTO Judge is truly loved by gearheads worldwide. Not only because it mostly has the sporty muscle car appearance of the regular GTO, but because the car is multiple steps up in relation to performance. Today, the Pontiac GTO is highly sought after by gearheads. Unfortunately, given that Pontiac only made the car for a couple of model years, it’s also pretty rare.
Despite the Pontiac GTO Judge being hard to find, it’s a dream car for many gearheads. It may not have been the most successful vehicle upon release, but it has a strong reputation on the used car market. Here’s what gearheads love about the Pontiac GTO Judge.
The Pontiac GTO Judge Engine And Powertrain Is Impressive
There are many reasons why gearheads love cars. However, often the most important reasons are the engine and powertrain of a specific vehicle. Regarding the 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge, the automaker designed a vehicle it hoped would be fun enough to gain more market share. The Pontiac GTO Judge has a 400 ci Ram Air V8 engine with a maximum output of 366 horsepower, and buyers could choose either an automatic or manual transmission.
When it comes to performance, the 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge accelerates from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 6 seconds and has a top speed of 118 miles per hour. While fans consider this a fantastic car today, it simply wasn’t enough of a standout to succeed against its biggest competitors.
Gearheads Love The Pontiac GTO Judge Exterior
Gearheads also love the 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge because the car has a dynamic design. For the most part, the GTO Judge looks like your standard muscle car from the 1960s. However, the automaker made several design decisions to make the car stand out. While many people love these unique design elements, some find them quite weird. The most prominent example of these quirky designs is the automaker deciding to include a tachometer on the car's hood.
The headlights on the Pontiac GTO Judge are another design feature that gearheads love. This car features proper hideaway lights. Instead of using popups, the team at Pontiac decided to install the headlights in the vehicle's grille. For many, this is one of the most satisfying aspects of the car because it was different.
One more aspect of the Pontiac GTO Judge’s exterior is the emblem. It reads “The Judge” in a font fit for a superhero. Apparently, the artist behind the emblem drew inspiration from a magazine advertisement. For many people, the symbol is their favorite part of the car’s exterior because it adds a bit of character. Overall, the Pontiac GTO Judge is a beautiful yet unique car. Its appearance still holds up today.
Pontiac GTO Judge Price Today
Like most classic muscle cars, the 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge is worth a pretty penny on the used car market. According to classic.com, a GTO Judge is worth an average of about $75,000 and one in pristine condition can sell for around $107,000. A significant reason for the ridiculous prices for the GTO Judge is that it’s a rare vehicle, since Pontiac only made it for a few model years.
Vehicles like the GTO Judge show that while not every car will be successful when first released, it can still gain a strong following in the decades to come. Unfortunately, the Pontiac GTO Judge failed to reinvigorate interest in the GTO nameplate, and the vehicle was eventually discontinued a few years after the attempt. However, it’s a car that many gearheads adore. Not only for the usual reasons such as performance, but also because the automaker took risks to try to stand out. It may not have been a significant success, but we’re glad this short-lived ride from the once highly successful Pontiac exists.