1971 Pontiac GTO Judge

The 1971 GTO Judge carried Pontiac’s legendary muscle car formula into its third year combining aggressive styling bold color choices and advanced performance engineering. Finished in Lucerne Blue this example displays the signature rear spoiler bold Judge stripes and unique front and rear design updates that set the 1971 model apart from earlier versions.

This particular car is one of only eight known pilot cars built in August of 1970. These early-production examples were assembled similarly and shipped to dealerships to generate interest in the upcoming model year.

Under the hood the Judge features Pontiac’s top-of-the-line 455 HO round-port V8 rated at 370 horsepower. Equipped with a factory aluminum high-rise intake manifold a close-ratio 4-speed transmission and a 390 Posi-traction rear end the car was engineered for serious performance. Additional equipment includes a hood-mounted tachometer heavy-duty suspension and a rare combination of options such as factory air conditioning and power door locks.

The 1971 Judge represented the last of the original high-performance GTOs blending muscle car strength with increasing luxury and refinement. This example stands as a rare and important link to the final evolution of Pontiac’s most celebrated performance nameplate.