1970 Pontiac GTO Judge Clone

Description

There were only 3,629 GTO Judge coupes built in 1970, so it's much easier to look cool behind the wheel of your muscle car when you don't have to be worried about preserving rarity. Owing a clone is a way to have a faithful tribute to these extremely rare muscle cars while also saving huge money. Plus, when it looks as good as this one, it's up to you to decide if you want to share this car's secret.

Getting a GTO right is no easy task. For starters, the stylish and dent-resistant Endura front bumpers were exclusive to the GTOs and not shared with any other mid-size Pontiacs in 1970. The functional dual-scoop is another unmistakable icon of this muscle car. All of this is set off with a bright mint turquoise paint to grab everyone's attention. When showing up or showing off, enthusiasts know The Judge is much more than just getting the highly stylized decals accurate on the fender and the trunk. This package was about adding more street-smart aggression, so getting one of these right has to include extras like the wild colored side stripes and the rear spoiler. The Rally II wheels are a hallmark of these muscle cars because they have a stylistic flair with the PMD (Pontiac Motor Division) center cap that gives them a hint of industrial inductiveness.

Inside, the deep black bucket seats are all about sporty business. The chair's dark vinyl matches the color of the door cards, center armrest, roof, and dashboard, but the interior is not a monochromatic experience. There is wood appliqué' on the center console and surrounding the gauge cluster. Plus, 1970 was the first year when Pontiac's performance cars would feature a section of billet aluminum trim – a touch many other clones often miss. The steering wheel is actually a later unit out of a Trans Am, which gives it the comfort of a smaller diameter, and better grip. This tribute to The Judge comes with plenty of convenience options such as power steering and air conditioning (factory in this car, but needing parts to complete it). Looking for the tachometer? It's outside, mounted on the hood. It was a head-up display option for racing, and quite frankly, also just another way the designers back then were showing how they were always thinking about cool showpieces.

Underneath the hood is the stout numbers matching 350 cubic inch V8 motor. The three-speed automatic transmission and front disc brakes makes the coupe good for cruising, but the performance exhaust upgrade will announce to everyone not to mess with this Judge. Plus, there's an extra feeling of confidence from behind the wheel of these tribute cars. This Pontiac coupe came down the same assembly line in between its GTO brothers, but it likely didn't spend its first few years making jackrabbit starts at each traffic light like most GTOs did. Instead, this one just has all the appearance of a cherished original at a fraction of the price.

Pontiac used to have fun in its advertisements about how "The Judge can be bought." It all holds true with this tribute clone...just for a lot less.