’69 GTO Judge
Written by Keith Fudge

In 1969, Pontiac made a bold attempt to boost slumping sales for its GTO. This production and marketing strategy resulted in a special appearance and performance package for the GTO, and ultimately, the GTO Judge was born.

Sporting “Mod” graphics and a hot rear spoiler, these cruisers were something to behold on the streets, and even though there were only a few more than 6,700 ever produced, there is one that sets the standard among these groovy ridesthe Ram Air V, GTO Judge!

On this edition of Hemming’s My Classic Car, Dennis traveled to Albright Pontiac, in Loogootee, Indiana, and met with Ray Hopkins. When we arrived, there was the Judge, gracing the showroom floor. It was a rather cool day outside and we were glad that the GTO was indoors so we could give it a thorough “going-over.” Ray walked us around the car, and we examined the exquisite restoration of this fine example of a true muscle car. The exterior sported the popular “Carousel Red” (which is in fact rather orange), and the interior was outfitted in sleek black vinyl. The interior was immaculate, yet Spartan in the sense that this was a car that basically exempt of interior options other than the wood-grain steering wheel, T-handle shift knob, and the badge that proudly boasted “The Judge” located near the glove compartment. But as sweet as the interior and exterior were on this car, what made this GTO special was the hood and what was beneath ityes, that’s right, we start with the hood. Fitted with the famous “hood-tach,” this Ram Air V was even more special in the fact that the hood tach had “fitted up-shift lights” mounted in the tach itself! Next, it was time to see the beast beneath and Ray and Dennis popped the hood and we were not disappointed one bit.

The Ram Air V, 400/4bbl came “built to the hilt,” with a solid lifter cam, 780 cfm dual line Holley carburetor, dual plane aluminum intake, forged steel crank, and 11.5:1 pistonsin other words, it was a full-blown racing engine. Although originally rated at 375 horsepower, Ray told us that in reality the engine dynos somewhere between 500 and 525 horsepower! After we heard that, Dennis was surely ready to go for a ride!

We threw on our coats and braved the elements, but this GTO was already hot and ready to roar! As Ray took us for a ride, we discussed the fact that his car was “never really in existence” at all from the factory, but was built to Ram Air V specs. Originally, this Judge had been a Ram Air III, car and Ray has owned it for almost a decade. Ray then told us that actually only close to “eighty-something” Ram Air Vs had ever been built, and that the Ram Air V option was actually a dealer installed package, and not a factory option.

The “throaty” exhaust sound only teased our imaginations hinting at what this GTO could do when “let loose,” and when Ray put the “pedal to the metal” we knew that everyone within range would definitely say, “Here Come Da Judge!” Thanks Ray! We had a great ride in your Ram Air V!