“Here come Da Judge!” Introduced as an option package on the Pontiac GTO in 1969, the Judge included, as standard equipment, the 366-hp 400-ci Ram Air III engine, Rally II wheels, functional hood scoops, rear spoiler, a Hurst T-handle shifter, and a variety of exterior colors with bright side stripes and decals. For 1970, the Judge option returned, combining the GTO’s new Endura nose, muscular flanks, and revised rear-end treatment with the same in-your-face styling of the previous year, with new multi-hued eyebrow stripes and a significantly larger spoiler bolted to the trunk lid.
The 366-horse Ram Air III 400 carried on as the standard powerplant while an all-new 455-ci V8 was added to the Judge’s list of available options late in the model year. But the Ram Air IV flavor of the 400 was the real mover. Producing 370-hp and 445lb-ft of torque, a RAIV equipped Judge could smoke the quarter mile in under 14 seconds. Despite its impressive performance and head turning good looks, of the 40,000 GTO’s Pontiac produced in 1970, less than 4,000 were Judges. It may not have been the best selling muscle car of 1970, but it certainly was one of the wildest.
GMP’s 1/18-scale diecast replica of this colorful boulevard brawler is pretty wild itself. Seen here in an eye-catching Cardinal Red paint scheme, the model rightly captures the look of the original, from the distinctively sculpted Endura nose, with chrome headlight bezels and realistic mesh grille sections, to the hood-mounted tachometer and black scoop inserts, to the large spoiler and lower front air dam. An assortment of additional chrome plated parts, like the window and wheel well moldings, rocker panels, and wide rear bumper, have been brilliantly cast, and the Ram Air and Judge decals have been precisely replicated. So have the eyebrow stripes, although the trailing edges of the front stripes on my sample are slightly warped.
For a mold that’s virtually three-quarters of a decade old, the fit of the opening panels – including the hood, trunk, and doors; the latter of which operate on real-aspect hinges – are remarkably tight, except for the hood which is a bit loose when not fixed in the upright position. The seven year old goat also features a picture perfect stance, riding on splendidly pliable soft rubber Firestone wide ovals mounted on steerable Rally II rims. The Pontiac wheels are exceptionally detailed with PMD center caps and properly painted spokes, but without chrome trim rings, which was the accurate look for the Judge in 1970. In my opinion, these are some of the best Rally II’s ever produced in scale, and it's no wonder why GMP sells them separately.
Under the GTO’s hood is a masterfully miniaturized replica of Pontiac’s Ram Air big-block. Hands down, the centerpiece of this assembly is the real foam gasket that surrounds the air cleaner and marries the motor to the air supplying scoops in the hood. The engine employs a number of other sharp castings like an authentically painted block and intake manifold and chromed valve covers. Soft PVC radiator and heater hoses and a myriad of appropriately placed wires bump the realism up to a higher level while the painted fluid reservoir and period correct battery and battery cables add to the overall effect, along with readable decals on the fan shroud and a genuinely detailed brake booster and master cylinder with brake lines.
One thing GMP has proven with their line of high detail replicas is that they know what it takes to put together a first class interior, and the cabin of the 70 GTO is a fine example. Upholstered in a realistic red garb, the interior features a nice blend of materials, like the soft simulated vinyl of the tilt-forward bucket seats, woven fabric seat belts, and color-keyed carpeting which incorporates a lifelike texture and depth. In addition to the tactile elements, the interior is underscored with many visual highlights, including a wood-grain instrument panel with three legible gauges, an accurate wood-rimmed Formula steering wheel, a Hurst T-handle shifter, and a Judge decal on the glove-box door. The interior also sports a detailed headliner with posable sun visors, and, my personal favorite, the fixed side windows slotted between the door and correctly molded door panels.
Stashed in the trunk is a full-size spare, jack equipment, and an instruction label on the underside of the trunk lid. Detailed with a proper spatter paint finish, the area is pleasantly put together, as is the GTO’s chassis with a separate metal frame, primered floorpan, and a fully functional front and rear suspension with coil springs and working rear shocks. The gas tank and accurately wrought exhaust feature an authentic stainless steel finish with dual exhaust tips peeking out beneath the GTO’s rear valance. Other parts, like the lines routed to the front brakes, the wired starter, and the fuel pump with its copper fuel line, earn this model its high-detail chops.
It’s models like this 1/18-scale 1970 GTO Judge that have earned GMP a reputation for building some of the finest limited edition diecast replicas the industry has to offer. It was the one that put GMP on the high-detail 1/18-scale muscle car map, and seven years later, the mold still measures up to some of today’s greatest pieces. Whether you’re new to the hobby or are a veteran collector, if you’re a muscle car enthusiast, then GMP’s latest 1970 GTO Judge, available in Cardinal Red or Polar White, comes highly recommended. Proving what a great organization GMP truly is, as a token of their appreciation for those collectors and dealers that have supported the company over the years, GMP produced a limited run of 51 Polar White 1970 GTO Judge's with the WT7 option, matching the actual number of real GTO's that had this option in 1970, which included a black wing and black tachometer on the hood. While these truly rare 1 of 51 goats are going to be tough to come by on the secondary market, the good news is the standard issue Judge, to quote a controversial 1969 Pontiac advertisement, "can be bought." For $130 to be exact. But with a limited production of 500 copies per color, you better act fast before this court is adjourned.
Happy Collecting,
DetourDave
GMP
#G1801217 1970 GTO Judge
Cardinal Red
Photography & Review by Dave Nicholson
