1969 Pontiac GTO - Judge Him Not

A Ram Air IV Judge Steals the Show

"So, just how many GTOs do you own?" asked the interviewer.
Whether the long pause was due to slight awkwardness over his embarrassment of riches or simply the time taken to tally up a total is difficult to say. The answer came: "Fourteen."

That should put to rest any question of whether John Robinson is a true Pontiac man. Since he is a three-term president of Minnesota's Land of Lakes GTO club, this was never really a question anyway. "But," he hastens to add, "most of them are project cars or, in some cases, should really just be considered parts cars."

The 43-year-old metal-stamping industry CFO was a GTO fan from an early age. He acquired his first, a red '67 four-speed coupe, at just 19 years of age after seeing (and falling hard for) a coworker's father's '66 GTO. That he purchased a four-speed is particularly poignant because, at that time, young John did not know how to operate a manual transmission. So awkward was this that the used car salesman actually had to drive the car on the testdrive, and, ultimately, delivered it to John at home. Ouch. But at least he got to learn the intricacies of a stick driving his own car. His own GTO, no less. We should all have been so lucky.

2/8 If Carousel Red alone wasn’t enough for the Judge buyer, the rear-deck airfoil was certain to turn heads. Combined, the result was a sure looker.

John's collecting tendencies began to show themselves shortly thereafter. Within 18 months, he had added a second GTO, this time a '66 model. Unfortunately, a disapproving fiancée quickly put paid to his collecting, issuing the timeless edict every car guy dreads: "It's me or the cars." While the love affair eventually faded, John's obsession with GTOs had not. Soon he was back in the market for another car. In 1994, he bought the car that has become the anchor of his collection: a striking black, worked-over, and nasty 1969 Pontiac GTO model.

 

 
This Ram Air IV Judge's history remains mostly obscured by the mists of time. What is known is that the car, already restored, found its way to a fellow LOL GTO club member by way of Duffy's Collectible Cars in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. That the restoration is now at least 15 years old speaks to the high quality of the work. According to Pontiac Historic Services, the car was purchased new in Mason City, Iowa, with a sticker price of $4,660.55. This suggests the car has spent its entire existence in the upper Midwest.
After a few years of ownership, John's club mate started making noise about selling the Judge. "He didn't enjoy driving it, mostly because of the 4.33 gears," relates John. He knew the rarity of the car, of course: 297 RA IV Judges were built, 239 of which were four-speeds, and certainly just a fraction of those were so heavily optioned. "I was very interested in the car but frankly didn't have the money, and he wasn't quite ready to let go. So we kicked it around every time we saw each other, to the point it almost became a running joke."

3/8 The Ram Air IV 400 has been rebuilt to stock specs and runs just as sweet as on day one. The points-style ignition is still in place, as are the ever-desirable Ram Air exhaust manifolds. The only deviation from OE is a small cam, roller rockers, and a pair of Flowmaster mufflers. The engine churns out 399 hp at 5,400 rpm and 430 lb-ft at 4,500 rpm.

Just when it began to look like the transaction would never take place, John learned of an inheritance headed his way, and his club mate finally decided to sell. Fate had stepped in and timed its arrival to perfection. Finally, the Judge was his.

Four years have passed since John purchased his RA IV Judge, and he is still as passionate about his GTOs as he was all those years ago. Granted, his driving skill has improved markedly, but the enthusiasm lives on. Though he does show the car five to 10 times per summer, he admits it doesn't see as much use as one or two of the others. Why? "The 4.33 gears are no fun on the highway." Even so, he's quick to point out that he does drive it to the shows; it is never trailered.
It's no surprise that John's Judge is often the star of whatever show it attends. Carousel Red on a Judge is always a crowd pleaser. The Ram Air IV engine, combined with the plethora of options, is appreciated by those in the know. So while there are those who will accuse him of stealing the show, not a court in the land would convict.
At a Glance
1969 GTO Judge
Owned by: John Robinson, Crystal, MN
Engine: 400ci/399hp Ram Air IV V-8
Transmission: Muncie M21 close-ratio 4-speed
Rearend: GM 10-bolt with 4.33 gears and Saf-T-Track differential
Interior: Black Morrokide bucket seat
Wheels: 14-inch Rally II
Tires: 195/70R14Goodyear Eagle ST
Special parts: 1 of 297 RA IV Judges, 1 of 239 4-speeds; highly-optioned for RA IV car, including Judge package, power disc brakes, power steering, heavy-duty battery, tinted glass, rally gauges with clock, hood tachometer, and tinted glass

---

4/8

8/8 The 15-year-old restoration on John Robinson’s Judge is still in excellent condition. John shows the GTO regularly but never trailers it; it is always driven to the shows.