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How The Pontiac GTO Became 'The Judge'
By ELI SHAYOTOVICH
The Pontiac GTO is considered by many as America’s first true “Muscle Car.” However, it began as a $300 option package for Pontiac’s LeMans before becoming its own vehicle.
In an attempt to appear more hip, GM released a new version of the GTO called “The Judge” in 1969, with inspiration for the name coming from a comedy show called “Laugh-In.”
The popular “Laugh-In” was a fast-paced sketch show with an ensemble cast. It featured one skit titled “Here Comes The Judge,” first made famous by Flip Wilson and Sammy Davis Jr.
The skit featured a judge in a powdered wig quipping with the defendants and hitting them with a cartoonish gavel. Davis Jr. elevated it with his song and dance routines.
While Pontiac intended it to be an inexpensive, stripped-down model to compete with Plymouth’s Road Runner, The Judge became the expensive version.
Pontiac used slogans like “All rise for the Judge” and “The Judge can be bought” to sell the car. However, only 11,004 were sold then, making it a relatively rare GTO version.