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Welcome to Cactus GTOs, Inc.

 

   
 
by Bob Paris

 

Price Guides

Sports Car Market

  Low High
1970 HT $30,800 $39,200
1970 Conv $39,200 $49,000
1970 Judge $63,000 $77,000
1970 Judge Conv $175,000 $203,000
** all with  4 speed and RA3
1971 GTO $20,700 $27,600
1971 Conv $28,800 $33,300
1971 Judge $57,500 $74,700
1971 Judge Conv $143,800 $258,700
** all with  4 speed and 455

NADA (Sep 2005)

  Average High
1970 HT $26,300 $42,900
1970 Conv $33,800 $55,100
1970 Judge $37,300 $63,200
1970 Judge Conv $80,700 $120,000
1971 HT $24,400 $36,100
1971 Conv $33,900 $48,200
1971 Judge $35,700 $56,500
1971 Judge Conv $101,600 $147,600
** all with  4 speed and RA3/455

Hemmings (Apr 2005)

  Average High
1970 HT $15,000 $21,500
1970 Conv $21,000 $30,500
1970 Judge $28,500 $51,000
1970 Judge Conv $47,000 $76,000
1969 HT $15,000 $20,500
1969 Conv $21,500 $28,500
1969 Judge $28,500 $58,000
1969 Judge Conv $51,000 $119,000
** all with  4 speed and RA3/455

Old Car Price Guide (Aug 2005)

  #3 VG #2 Fine #1 Exc.
1970 HT $19,600 $30,400 $43,400
1970 Conv $22,100 $34,300 $49,000
1970 Judge $29,400 $45,600 $65,100
1970 Judge Conv $33,200 $51,500 $73,500
1969 HT $18,900 $29,400 $42,000
1969 Conv $21,600 $33,600 $48,000
1969 Judge $28,400 $44,100 $63,000
1969 Judge Conv $32,400 $50,400 $72,000
** all with  4 speed and RA3/455

September 2005

This is the forth 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. The prices are changing so rapidly that on the older dated publications prices appear lower.

This month covers 1970 & 1971 GTOs.

Auctions

1970 Conv

Barrett-Jackson

$58,000

Jan 05

1970 Conv

Barrett-Jackson

$36,000

Jan 05

1970 HT

Kruse-Ft Lauderdale

$27,700

Jan 05

1970 HT

Kruse-Ft Lauderdale

$23,300

Jan 05

1970 Conv

Kruse-Scottsdale

$51,500

Jan 05

1970 HT Judge RA4

Russo & Steele

$87.300

Jan 05

1970 Conv

RM-Phx

$36,000

Jan 05

1970 HT

Silver-Phx

$24,300

Jan 05

1970 HT

Mecum-Belivere

$50,400

May05

1970 HT

Leake-Tulsa

$37,000

June05

1970 Conv

Leake-Tulsa

$79,000

June05

1970 Conv

Mecum-StPaul

$20,500

June05

1970 Conv

Leake-Tulsa

$37,400

June05

 

 

 

 

1971 HT

Barrett-Jackson

$13,000

Jan 05

1971 Conv

RM-Boca

$30,500

Feb 05

1971 HT

Silver-Coeur D'Alene

$16,000

Jun 05

1971 HT

Kruse-Verona

$11,200

July 05

1970 – Sales start to slide

The Judge was designed to help boost 1969 GTO sales, and its popularity carried the new model into the 1970 model year. Unfortunately, sales of all GTOs started to slide; only 3,635 Judge hardtops and 162 convertibles were sold, and total 1970 GTO sales of 40,149 units were down from ’69.

The ’70 GTO was mildly face lifted and, mechanically, they were as strong as ever. The economy two-barrel 400 engine was dropped, but a 360-horsepower 455-cubic-inch with an amazing 500 lb.-ft. of torque was added. Extra-beefy 12-bolt rear ends were mandatory when the 455 was ordered. The 455 wasn’t offered on The Judge until late in the model year, so only 14 hardtops and three convertible Judges were built with the 455.

1971 – Lower compression foreshadows the end of an era

Increased competition, rising insurance surcharges, and tougher emissions standards hit the muscle car market hard in 1971. The GTO suffered along with all the other muscle cars. Adding to the lackluster sales was the corporate decision to drop compression ratios so all GM engines would be compatible with new low-lead fuel. The standard GTO 400-cubic-inch V-8 compression ratio was dropped to 8.2:1 from 1970’s 10.25:1 – down already from 10.75:1 in 1969.

The Judge option barely made it into 1971. Production was halted in January after just 357 hardtops and 17 convertibles were built. All ’71 Judges were 455-powered and today they are some of the rarest, most desirable GTOs. It was also the last year for the GTO convertible. Including the 17 Judge versions, a mere 678 GTO convertibles were produced. Ironically, poor sales in ’71 have translated to high collector interest today.


 
 
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Next regular club meeting scheduled for Wednesday, June 27 2007