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Welcome to Cactus GTOs, Inc.

 

   
 
by Bob Paris

 

Price Guides

Sports Car Market

  Low High
1968 GTO $16,800 $28,000
1968 Conv $22,500 $35,000
1969 GTO $18,200 $28,000
1969 Conv $23,800 $39,200
1969 Judge $32,200 $49,000
1969 Judge Conv $77,000 $126,000

** all with  4 speed and RA/RA3

NADA (July)

  Average High
1968 HT $26,300 $40,600
1968 Conv $32,500 $51,900
1969 HT $26,600 $34,500
1969 Conv $29,600 $49,200
1969 Judge $27,000 $45,000
1969 Judge Conv $44,500 $74,500

** all with  4 speed and RA/RA3

Hemmings (Apr 2005)

  Average High
1968 HT $19,500 $27,000
1968 Conv $27,000 $39,000
1969 HT $20,500 $27,500
1969 Conv $29,000 $40,000
1969 Judge $27,000 $45,000
1969 Judge Conv $44,500 $74,500

** all with 4 speed, tri-power or RA

Old Car Price Guide (Aug 2005)

  #3 VG #2 Fine #1 Exc.
1968 HT $17,700 $27,500 $39,200
1968 Conv $20,200 $31,400 $44,800
1969 HT $18,900 $29,400 $42,000
1969 Conv $21,500 $33,300 $47,600
1969 Judge $23,400 $44,100 $63,000
1969 Judge Conv $32,300 $49,900 $71,400

** all with  4 speed and RA/RA3

July 27, 2005

This is the third in a series of articles covering GTO values in the market place. Data is gathered from several sources (magazines, auctions, price guides, etc.) and reported in this column. There are so many variables when determining value that we can’t get too specific and at best we might be able to have an idea of the value range. Remember the data from these sources are a lagging indicator of average prices.

This month covers 1968 & 1969 GTOs

Auctions

1968 Conv

Barrett-Jackson

$39,800

Jan 05

1968 HT

Kruse-Ft Lauderdale

$15,700

Jan 05

1968 HT

Kruse-Dayton

$17,700

Feb 05

1968 HT

Mecum-Kansas

$17,200

Apr 05

1968 HT

Mecum-Kansas

$18,400

Apr 05

1968 HT

Mecum-Kansas

$26,400

Apr 05

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1969 HT

Barrett-Jackson

$26,000

Jan 05

1969 HT

Barrett-Jackson

$32,000

Jan 05

1969 HT Judge

Kruse-Ft Lauderdale

$90,500

Jan 05

1969 HT

RM-Boca

$15,500

Feb 05

1969 HT Judge

RM-Boca

$38,500

Feb 05

1969 HT Judge

RM-Toronto

$31,200

Apr 05

1969 HT

RM-Toronto

$32,100

Apr 05

1969 HT

Kruse-Auburn

$18,500

Apr 05

1969 HT Judge

Kruse-Auburn

$38,500

Apr 05

No 1968 or 1969 sales in May - June.

1968 – Car of the year

An extensive restyling distinguished the 1968 GTO from the previous models. Most notable was the new Endura color-keyed front bumper. The GTO was the first GM car to use this new flexible polyurethane covering that allowed minor dents to pop out without any permanent damage. Optional hidden headlights combined with the Endura nose created a handsome vehicle unlike any previous GTO. The stunning styling, powerful performance, solid engineering, and excellent market timing were all factors that helped the GTO garner the coveted Motor Trend Car of the Year award.

More horsepower was on tap for the new body style. All engines displaced 400 cubic inches, but the standard engine rose to 350 horsepower from 335 horsepower – the no-cost economy two-barrel engine gained 10 horsepower for a 265-horsepower rating. The optional HO engine remained at 360 horsepower, as did the optional Ram Air engine until March 1968, when the 366-horsepower Ram Air II option was introduced.

Considering its high-performance equipment, the Ram Air II’s rating was probably conservative. It came with 10.75:1-compression forged pistons, forged steel crankshaft, new cylinder heads with round exhaust ports, free-flowing exhaust manifolds, a high lift camshaft with the corresponding high-performance valvetrain components, and a re-curved distributor. The Ram Air II put 445 lb.-ft. of stump-pulling torque to the pavement via the mandatory limited-slip Safe-T-Track rear end with 4.33:1 gears.

The coupe body style was dropped for ’68. Sales were tilted heavily toward hardtops, which sold 77,704 units compared to 9,980 convertibles. The popular hood-mounted tachometer option continued from 1967, too. The Ram Air cars had 5500-rpm redlines compared to the standard 5200-rpm limit. The external tachs helped the GTO project a powerful performance car image.

1969 – Here comes ‘The Judge’

GTO engines got even more exciting in 1969 with the introduction of the Ram Air III and Ram Air IV versions. Considerably underrated at 370 horsepower, the Ram Air IV was the zenith of GTO performance. The RA IV used many of the high-performance parts introduced on the ’68 Ram Air II, along with the cold air induction system that came with the Ram Air III. Both RA III and RA IV used driver-controlled flapper doors on the twin hood scoops. As powerful as the Ram Air IV was, it still used hydraulic lifters and was far more tractable in traffic than competitors’ solid lifter engines. The RA IV didn’t overheat or foul spark plugs. It was only available with a 3.90:1- or 4.33:1-geared limited-slip differential.

The real star of the 1969 lineup was the GTO Judge. The original intent of the Judge (although it’s commonly referred to as the GTO Judge or simply Judge; the fender decals said “The Judge”) was to combat the upstart low-price muscle cars like the Plymouth Road Runner.

Pontiac ’s initial answer to the Road Runner was to be called “ET” or “E/T” – a reference for the drag racing term “elapsed time.” The car was to be based on a stripped-down, bench seat, LeMans coupe with a flat hood and Rally II wheels without the trim rings. The engine was a Pontiac 350 with cylinder heads from the 400 HO engine. Tests of the prototype E/T against 383-powered Road Runners proved that the budget GTO could outrun the Plymouths.

As strong as the 350 was, it wasn’t a 400; and DeLorean was adamant about GTOs being powered by 400-cubic-inch engines. He quickly killed the 350 E/T project and requested a car that was up to GTO standards. Ironically, the resulting car turned out to be the most expensive GTO. The Judge option was available on hardtop and convertible bodies. About the only E/T parts that remained were the Rally II wheels without trim rings.

DeLorean is credited with naming The Judge. His inspiration was the hit NBC-TV show “Laugh-In,” which had a recurring bit with the tag line, “Here come de Judge, Here come de Judge.” In retrospect, it may seem odd to name a car after a bit on a comedy show, but “Laugh-In” was very hip with a huge audience of young viewers – the exact demographic DeLorean wanted to reach. This was an era where car companies named models after cartoon characters, came up with names like Boss, Eliminator, Grabber, Rebel, Demon, and Swinger, and painted them outrageous colors such as Panther Pink, Go Mango, Sublime, Banana Yellow, and Plum Crazy. In that light, “The Judge” wasn’t out of place.

The initial Judge color was bold and eye catching. Called Carousel Red, it was actually more of an orange hue. The shade was exclusive to the Judge for the GTO line, but the same color was available on Chevy Camaros as Hugger Orange. Approximately the first 2,000 Judges were painted Carousel Red. After February, Judges could be ordered in any GTO color, but approximately 80 percent of the cars sold in 1969 were Carousel Red. Besides the wild color, stripes, pop-art graphics, and hood scoops, Judges came with a massive 60-inch-wide rear spoiler.

Judge engine choices were limited to the standard Ram Air III or the optional Ram Air IV. Four-speeds and the Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission were available. Despite a late start, The Judge accounted for 6,833 sales out of the ’69 GTO’s total of 72,287 cars. Judge convertibles were rare. Only 108 were produced in 1969, making them one of the car collecting world’s most valuable finds.
 
 
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Next regular club meeting scheduled for Wednesday, June 27 2007