Pontiac's "The Judge" was a special options package available for the 1969 Pontiac GTO, with limited availability extending into 1970 and 1971. This iconic muscle car came standard with the 366-horsepower Ram Air III engine, with an even more powerful 370-horsepower Ram Air IV engine offered as an option.
The GTO Judge was introduced to compete directly with the rising popularity of the Plymouth Road Runner. Pontiac aimed to deliver a high-performance yet affordable muscle car, and The Judge fit the bill perfectly.
The name "The Judge" was credited to John DeLorean, then president of Pontiac, who drew inspiration from the popular Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In skit "Here come da Judge!"
In spite of how impressive the styling and performance was for The Judge, it only lasted 3 years. By 1971, the muscle car market was facing challenges due to rising insurance costs and stricter emission regulations. The 366 horsepower engine got 9.14 MPG and many consumers wanted better efficiency, leading to the discontinuation of The Judge after the 1971 model year.
…bob
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