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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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.
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While Pontiac intended it to be an inexpensive, stripped-down model to compete with Plymouth’s Road Runner, The Judge became the expensive version.
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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.
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