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This 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge Was Repainted, Sold, Parked in a Barn, Saved, and Refreshed

1970 Judge needs a new home 24 photos
Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/eBay seller nickypotata
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The Judge managed to breathe new life into the GTO in 1969 when it rolled off the assembly lines for the first time, but it couldn’t stop the declining sales.
Pontiac sold 6,866 Judges in 1969 for a total of 72,287 GTOs, down from over 87,000 units in 1968. The decline continued next year when the GTO sales dropped to 40,149 units. The collapse became even more dramatic during the next model years, with the 1972 GTO attracting only a little over 5,800 buyers.

The Judge continued to be a highly desirable collectible, especially in tip-top shape. A 1970 example posted on eBay is likely to sell fast, especially because it comes in good condition, with a working engine and lots of documents.

Its story starts with the Judge rolling off the assembly lines and leaving for a customer in Virginia. It remained in the same place until 1988, when it traveled to New York to get a fresh coat of paint and meet the next owner. The car was purchased by a collector who parked it in a pole barn. It's been sitting ever since.

eBay seller nickypotata says they pulled the GTO a few months ago. The car received the typical tune-up, so it's now in working condition, wearing new wheels and tires.

The metal looks very good, especially considering this GTO's age. However, the most disappointing part is probably hiding under the hood, where the car lost its original drivetrain (the owner says the engine and the transmission "got lost" in Virginia).

Whoever buys this GTO will have to settle with a 1968 400 big-block unit donated by a LeMans. It sports 1967 GTO 670 HO heads, a 1970 Ram Air III Judge exhaust manifold, and is paired with a 1968 Muncie M21 660 4-speed transmission. It's a Pontiac mix that works properly today, but if you were looking for an all-original Judge, this isn't the one.

The original documents prove the Judge rolled off the assembly lines with several desirable options, including a Cordova top, a custom sport steering wheel, and a Harrison heavy-duty radiator (still in the car today).

The seller explains on eBay that they're also in touch with the previous GTO owners, so if you need more information about it, your best option is to contact them. Unsurprisingly, the bidding has already recorded several offers, but the top $31,700 bid is yet to unlock the reserve. We're only a few hours away from the moment the auction ends, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the car failing to find a new home this time.

If you want to take the car home without a fight, you can trigger the Buy It Now option, in which case you must pay $46,000.
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About the author: Bogdan Popa
Bogdan Popa profile photo

Bogdan keeps an eye on how technology is taking over the car world. His long-term goals are buying an 18-wheeler because he needs more space for his kid’s toys, and convincing Google and Apple that Android Auto and CarPlay deserve at least as much attention as their phones.
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