[MikeNoun]

On February 11th, 1971, Pontiac issued Car Distribution Bulletin #71-71 stating that The Judge option was discontinued. All new orders for Judges beginning February 15th, 1971 would be rejected. A few Judges were still in the Order Bank when this announcement was made. The latest Ship Date I had was Starlight Black car with a Ship Date of 03/01/71. I have a couple examples of Canadian cars with later Ship Dates, but cars destined for Canada had much later Ship Dates as they had to be processed through U.S. Customs. For example, a 1971 Judge destined for Canada was shipped 03/17/71, but has a build code of 02D. I have another example of a 1971 Judge (U.S. destination) with a Ship Date of 3/22/71, but it's a re-invoiced car built much earlier.

June 2018 - A sibling to an original owner of a 1971 Judge (his father-in-law) has come forward asking questions about his father-in-law's Judge. He stated that his father-in-law claimed his 1971 Judge hardtop was ordered after Judge production stopped and built with special paint, Orbit Orange, a 1970 color. The car was parked back in 1980, moved once to be put up on blocks around 2003. The father-in-law recently passed away, and now the sibling is trying to gather info.

Well, turns out his father-in-law was not crazy, his car was indeed built after Judge production stopped. The trim tag confirms it was built the first week of April 1971, and the color was indeed Orbit Orange.

How did this order get through the system in April 1971 when Pontiac stated that all requests for Judges would be rejected after February 15th, 1971?

I'm guessing that this dealer managed to push this order through because the buyer was willing to fork out the extra $115.85 for special paint, and some dealers would do anything to close the deal. Still interesting that Pontiac accepted the order. Makes you wonder what other cars were built outside the norm...

Mike