[tekuhn]

It was the early '80's - probably 1983 or so. I was living in a very small West Texas town. The town had a local mechanic with a small auto repair shop. I had been keeping my eye on a 1969 Carousel Red Judge hardtop sitting against the building that had been there for quite some time. One day I went in and asked what the story was on the car. I was told that it belonged to a young man who was in the military and was stationed out of state. The engine had coolant in the crankcase and the owner didn't want to pay to have the issue investigated any further. I asked if the car was for sale and the shop owner said that it was. He went on to tell me that he didn't think the car was worth the asking price and that the engine might well have a cracked block. I looked the car over and it was not in very good shape for a 14-15 year old, but I clearly remember it being very complete and probably more dirty than anything. All the Ram Air pieces were present. I did not know enough at the time to determine if it was a RA-III or RA-IV. I had never seen a Judge up close in person before but my daily driver was a '71 LeMans so I was certainly aware of the GTO mystique (that my LeMans was missing). I was fresh out of college, married, in my early twenties, and struggling to get a new computer business established. Money was tight. I chose not to go any further in the negotiations. The car remained there for several more weeks and then one day it disappeared. I never found out what happened to it.

The asking price? $500. No kidding. I kick myself every time I think about it.

[BLACKGP]

In the early to mid eighties, old musclecars could be bought for cheap. I was young and crazy enough to have a 69 Grand Prix as my daily driver. Guys would ask me if I wanted to buy 69-72 GPs, or other old Pontiacs they knew of. The BIG ONE I missed? Guy I met while washing my GP says he knows a guy selling a white 73 SUPER DUTY TRANS AM!!! Had engine problems and the seller wanted $3000. Short on funds and no storage, I said no thanks. Today I can kick myself in the arse making THAT decision, lol!

[muscle_collector]

back in the late 70's / early 80's I bought several judges for $500.00

[4dblnkldude]

I honestly believe that until you are ready to buy with cash in hand you do not ask about the car. It disturbs the lore or aura around the car. It happened to me twice, once on a 65 GTO and once on a 70 GTO rag. I'll never do it again.

[Stuckinda60s]

MId-80's, I had just gotten my '64 Goat, that I had bought as a roller, on the road. I had noticed a '64 in back of a small gas-only. I stopped in and asked the owner about it. He said that a kid who worked for him owned it. I stopped and asked the kid about it and the answer was a very vehement "NO!" I gave the kid a card and left.

Three weeks later it was gone. I asked the station owner about it and he said it had been towed to a local junkyard. I went to the junkyard and it had never made it there. I assumed the tow driver had paid for it himself and taken it home. All of the trim, including bumpers, was off and stored in the passenger compartment. The interior was obviously in need of work. The paint was bad, but it appeared there had been no repaints. There was light surface rust but nothing that minor sanding wouldn't take care of. The body was actually in better shape than what mine had started at. The rest of the story? It was a sedan, which was actually what I preferred.

I learned that if you really are serious about a car, it's a good idea to not readily accept a refusal to sell. You don't have to be obnoxious, but it's a good idea to make an offer and stop back in a few days after the owner has had a chance to think about it.

I don't know why the car was junked. Whether the station owner got tired of it and laid down the law or if the kid lost his job and the owner got rid of it for storage or something. Who knows what circumstances were behind its being disposed of so quickly. If I had offered him $500 for it I'm sure he would have remembered the offer and I might own it, today.

[Stuckinda60s]

Originally Posted by tekuhn

It was the early '80's - probably 1983 or so. I was living in a very small West Texas town. The town had a local mechanic with a small auto repair shop. I had been keeping my eye on a 1969 Carousel Red Judge hardtop sitting against the building that had been there for quite some time. One day I went in and asked what the story was on the car. I was told that it belonged to a young man who was in the military and was stationed out of state. The engine had coolant in the crankcase and the owner didn't want to pay to have the issue investigated any further. I asked if the car was for sale and the shop owner said that it was. He went on to tell me that he didn't think the car was worth the asking price and that the engine might well have a cracked block. I looked the car over and it was not in very good shape for a 14-15 year old, but I clearly remember it being very complete and probably more dirty than anything. All the Ram Air pieces were present. I did not know enough at the time to determine if it was a RA-III or RA-IV. I had never seen a Judge up close in person before but my daily driver was a '71 LeMans so I was certainly aware of the GTO mystique (that my LeMans was missing). I was fresh out of college, married, in my early twenties, and struggling to get a new computer business established. Money was tight. I chose not to go any further in the negotiations. The car remained there for several more weeks and then one day it disappeared. I never found out what happened to it.

The asking price? $500. No kidding. I kick myself every time I think about it.

More likely than not, the block wasn't cracked. Instead, the timing cover probably had eroded and let coolant drain into the pan.

[tekuhn]

Agreed. A cracked block was the least likely scenario, which I knew. I just didn't have the money. I paid $25 for the '71 LeMans I was driving so $500 was a lot! The $25 LeMans is another story......