10. 1969 Pontiac GTO The Judge
Every nickname is given for a reason. They nicknamed the ’69 Pontiac GTO “The Judge”. With ad slogans like “The Judge can be bought” and “All rise for the Judge”, Pontiac introduced a special package to its popular GTO that boosted performance and added extra looks to the already fast selling model.
Getting the Judge package on your GTO cost a whopping $332 extra dollars, but added the benefit of a Ram Air IV engine, wider Rally type tires and wheels, and a rear spoiler, and retractable hood scoops. The Ram Air IV featured high-rise aluminum intake manifold, four-barrel carb, and high flow exhaust manifolds and cylinder heads. It pushed 370 HP like a breeze.
And though many consider this a rough driving car that requires skills to handle, it performed with the best of them. Even though there weren’t many bells and whistles on the interior, it had a flashy exterior, complete with a blackout grille and The Judge decals. It was only released in Carousel Red, but Pontiac opted to offer more color options in response to popular demand.
While The Judge was considered a “budget” muscle car, it didn’t stop people from saying “Here come de Judge” when they saw this classic fly by.
Engine: 400 Ram Air IV V-8 – Top speed: 153 mph –
Quarter mile time: 13.9 seconds – 0-60 mph time: 5.1 seconds