[Judge273]

Wow BJ,

That was a nice day for a cruise! Cold and snowy today 20 or so at best.

The Black reflective on stripe is the faded one in garage. Red and yellow not reflective.

Good thing I put some plates on car beforehand?

[OVERULD]

Originally Posted by Judge273

Wow BJ,

That was a nice day for a cruise! Cold and snowy today 20 or so at best.

The Black reflective on stripe is the faded one in garage. Red and yellow not reflective.

Good thing I put some plates on car beforehand?

Mike:
It was a GREAT day for cruising. I got tickled at how many times you changed that one tag around. We used the same tag to drive the car I bought from you, your 71 and the 69 RAIV Judge sitting next to it. I'll never forget that ride! I still remember those young boys who were playing a game of touch football in that small park...as we cruised by you opened the exhaust cutouts and goosed it just a little and that awesome cam in that RAIV motor was talking to those boys saying: "This is a Ram Air 4 Pontiac GTO Judge - the most awesome and meanest SOB that ever roamed Woodward Avenue. Stand at attention and show some respect as I pass by!"

They did too - stopped their game and just stood there, jaws agape, wishing they were old enough to drive it and saying to themselves that one day...they would have to get one of those cars! You made several Pontiac fans that day Mike!

BJ

[Wakepowell]

Originally Posted by JLHarper

There was an interesting side bar article in the AUG 09 issue of High Performance Pontiac discussing Pontiacs color selection regarding the 70 JUDGE.

This was in the main article of Jeff L.'s of NJ White/Red 70 RAIII Judge titled "Captain America"

Titled: Why Orbit Orange Became the 70 Judge Feature Color.

Article said: Judge was supposed to be a one year only model, and as a "spoof" of the musclecar wars, "so outlandish that people would have to pay attention to Pontiac".

They talked about how they detached from the CR color of 69 and promoted the JUDGE as a POLAR WHITE color, and the sales teams didnt understand the motivation behind the Judge campaign or the power of the CR color in 69.

Mr. Wangers went on to say in the article:

Bad sales start turned to horrendous, and an emergency meeting was called. It was going to be cancelled, and Pontiac wanted to find a way to save it. The White Judge wasnt getting the attention from the public. They got the paint supplier to do a quick Judge in CR paint trying to save the Judge.

So after they did up this "one off" CR 70 JUDGE prototype, the execs found it "frightening", so the article said in a "never before revealved until now" revelation.

The CR color didnt carry over to the new body style of the 70. Said it was "to big of a statement"

They softened the hue and Orbit Orange "saved" the JUDGE from being cancelled.

Interesting stuff.....ever heard this before?

Jeff

Jeff,

The information published in the '09 August issue of High Performance Pontiac was provided to them by me. It recaps a lengthy one on one discussion that I had with Jim Wangers at the 2008 POCI National Convention in Spearfish South Dakota. Jim was assisting me with documenting the use of my Judge by Pontiac during the ’70 model year and he provided a wealth of information about the ’69 and ’70 Judge models.
The ’70 Judge that they painted Carousel Red turned our awful according to Jim. The redesign of the nose, stripes and the darker orange color made the front clip of the car appear to be longer than a Grand Prix. Seeing this they continued to “tone down” the orange color until they achieved an acceptable appearance. This is why you only see Orbit Orange on GTO’s. The other colors such as Carousel Red were offered by other GM Divisions, i.e. Hugger Orange.

[Judge273]

Thanks BJ for the reminder,

But, since I do that alot around town I forget.

I drove my daughter and her friend around one day, and opened up the RA IV for fun. I bet she remembers the smoke in the rear!!

( kinda like the avatar) Driving them is fun!!!

PS: Wangers liked the LB 69 Judge too, he signed the core support with Arnie. Those guys like to drive them too...

[OVERULD]

In his book, Glory Days, Jim Wangers talks about how he really only felt that The Judge was a one-hit-wonder and really didn't think it was a good idea to continue production into the 1970 model year (Pages 191 - 192). He goes on to say that the ad they initially released for the 1970 model was a "...decidely unexciting color of white with black accents. It died in the marketplace." Continuing, he says: "In a last minute attempt to save The Judge, a mid-year re-announcement was authorized, this time presenting hte car in another outrageous color. A new shade of orange was selected, called "Orbit Orange", and it did help turn sales around."

Of course my favorite thing he says in the whole book is this: "Ironically, today the 1971 Judge is one of the most desireable of all collectible Pontiac musclecars..." (He has some good things to say about the 455 H.O. too!)

BJ

[Uncle Judge]

By Judge273: Thanks BJ for the reminder,

But, since I do that alot around town I forget.



Mike, You have done a great job detailing that 71. That is one that I wish I had kept! You just do not see many 71's!

[Judge273]

Hi Jeff,

I remember you taking me for a ride in the 71. Sideways!!!

I'm glad they did the Judge for all 3 years!!

[Uncle Judge]

Originally Posted by Judge273

Hi Jeff,

I remember you taking me for a ride in the 71. Sideways!!!

I'm glad they did the Judge for all 3 years!!

That H.O. rips in that 71! One of the fastest that I have driven for sure. You have them all! Running and ready for action!

[orejudge]

70 Orbit convertible,white top,saddle interior 4speed, US and Canada doc"s. 70 Atoll ht,sandlewood 4 speed.

[GTOJOE228]

Mine is a 1970 Judge...Ram air lll, 4-speed, 3.90 Rear...#'s match. Granada Gold with saddle interior. I recently changed the factory color stripe from green, yellow and white to the red, yellow/goldenrod and black combo. I know it's not correct but what a difference it made in the cars appearance and the amount of attention it now receives. Went to Hemmings Musclepalooza show and I placed Best Pontiac at the meet. I was blown away.

[OVERULD]

Originally Posted by GTOJOE228

Mine is a 1970 Judge...Ram air lll, 4-speed, 3.90 Rear...#'s match. Granada Gold with saddle interior. I recently changed the factory color stripe from green, yellow and white to the red, yellow/goldenrod and black combo. I know it's not correct but what a difference it made in the cars appearance and the amount of attention it now receives. Went to Hemmings Musclepalooza show and I placed Best Pontiac at the meet. I was blown away.

Love to see a couple of pictures for comparison, sounds like a neat combo!

BJ

[GTO JOHN]

GTOJOE228; can you post some before and after pics of the Judge with the stripe change? I also have a Granada Gold 70 Judge but mine has a Sierra Yellow painted top and Sandalwood interior. Thanks, John

[Silver Judge]

Originally Posted by OVERULD

Love to see a couple of pictures for comparison, sounds like a neat combo!

BJ

GTOJoe, congrats on getting best Pontiac @ the MusclePalooza
Definitely post some pics !

[allen smith]

Does anyone know which 1970 green color has the most metalic? Palisade, Verdoro, or Pepper...

thanks

[OVERULD]

Here is a link to Joe's car at the Richmond County Pontiac Association's website. Nice bunch of Ponchos on Staten Island Joe!!

http://www.richmondcountypontiac.com...970-gto-judge/

BJ

[Bobbyg]

My '70 is Atoll Blue/Blue int. Auto, 3:55. It's your typical rusty convert getting torn down for a frame off. Numbers match.

Hope this helps with your list.

[birdsandgoats]

70 Orbit Orange Ram Air 3 4spd brown interior 70 Cardinal Red Ram Air 3 3spd Red interior 70 Verdoro Green Ram Air 3 4spd Green interior 71 Cameo White 455HO 4spd WT7 Blue interior

[68gtoMN]

Anyone know of anyone with a 69 Judge, White with Red interior??

[GTO JOHN]

I know of three 69 Judges that are white with red interior. Curiously all were built about the same time frame in the Pontiac plant.

1. the real car that sold on ebay a few years ago. Pictures of this car are now being used for the $19,500 scam Judge on Craigslist.

2. one listed on Utlimategto that was undergoing a frame off restoration. Not sure if that one got completed or not yet.

3. one that is sitting in a barn somewhere.

[Old Blue 66]

Originally Posted by allen smith

Does anyone know which 1970 green color has the most metalic? Palisade, Verdoro, or Pepper...

thanks

Is Palisade a fairly rare color? I haven seen many of them.