The 1969 GTO Judge - Throttlestop's Restomod Ram Air V Beast

Lot's of folks probably know what a GTO Judge is - a special edition package introduced for the 1969 model year with more performance and looks than your average run of the mill GTO. Well this isn't a full restoration as many of the cars are that we've featured before - this is a subtly modified version featuring up-to-date suspension components, a solid upgraded 5-speed and the legendary Ram Air V motor that we love so much at The Throttlestop. Our good friend Mike Janotta walks us through a closer look at what makes this vehicle special and why it is often out on the road racking up miles and not being babied as it should be. Turn up your speakers because this thing rips....

[@morganbrantley9058]

Freaking awesome. Some people daydream about winning the lottery, I daydream about driving a ram air v.

[@puddleduckist]

Man with u 💯 %%%! I settle for my 69 gto with a 455 but wish it had a ram air 4 or 5 motor for sure! What a saweeeet gto!!!! Love the exhsust system!!!

[@christopherhuot2826]

Couldn't agree more, Beautiful car!!!

[@barryfoster6265]

Build one

[@nikifalcon]

Winning the lottery could afford you a GTO tbh

[@troyvan6952]

The stance on this car is amazing.

[@fuzz7boy]

Looks great, sounds awesome! I'm glad it was built to be a "driver" and not just a "looker" though.

[@michaelwisner4941]

What a gem , one of the best looking cars ever made, good job!!!

[@andyharman3022]

'69 GTO Judge was my first dream car, when I was 7 years old. I still love 'em, and even more with RA V engines. I would do mine up with a 6-speed manual and 17" wheels on more aggressive rubber. A 428 would be fine.

[@TheOneAboveAll-001]

Yay it's got the right branded motor! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@josephgeorgeejr7039]

No better sound in the car world than a Pontiac 400 engine, is the symphony orchestra of the car world! My dad had a 70 judge , my uncle had a 69 liberty blue gto ,my uncle won alot of sanctioned drag races in his 69 gto, these cars look modern nowadays, they are works of art, there will never be another car mankind can make that comes close to looking as good as a 69 gto and also a 70 gto, definitely my dream car if I ever hit the lottery, hell I might get one soon even if I don't hit lottery!!

[@kurtzimmerman1637]

I had a 65 gto with a 428, edelbrock round port heads, and roller valve train. it was a beast! nice car!

[@josephgeorgeejr7039]

The clips of the car from the front going down road are amazing, the 69 gto is by far the most beautiful meanest work of art in an automobile that man has ever created!!!! Goat!!!

[@husky3g]

Man, the Judge is something else. A superbird is #1 on my list but not by much. The GTO Judge is #2 followed closely by the 68 Charger.

[@gregkistner1955]

Well done! A Great car of course!

[@scotchbudmeister9018]

Nice! My earbuds loved this episode 👍

[@puddleduckist]

Wow, one awesome goat! I've owned my 69 gto 30 Years. Has a 70 455 currently and a th400. The ram air 5 stuff is the holy grail! We knew an old time pontiac racer who had pontiac drag cars and had Ram air 5 stuff, his name was Rudy, sadly he passed several years ago. Thanks for sharing!!!

[@w41duvernay]

This car was perfection, that you could only wish. 428 ram air v heads.

[@thethrottlestop]

We agree! Thanks for watchin!

[@Firehawk-205]

Ram Air 5 = Tunnel Port! I had 2 =1970 GTO's. My 2nd was a rare with "driver controled exhaust" The Ram Air 5 was a super rare prototype from what I remember!

[@mlp-hot-rod5824]

Wonderful build on this one. Still got that unicorn engine with modern gears and suspension making it easier to daily drive. Despite the 11.5:1 compression ratio these had. Be proud. Actually, according to what I've heard from old engineers & racers, if you put R/A V parts onto a 428 block with a single quad, it's then classed as a R/A VI and dual quads would make it a R/A VII. Meaning this GTO Judge actually has a Ram Air VI.

[@TheDejael]

Awesome! My favorite years of GTO are 1968-69. Gorgeous design by Jack Humbert for John DeLorean, VP of Design Engineering at PMD. Jim Wangers favorite too! You guys did a great job on this one! Love the colors! I had a 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix Model SJ with the 428-V8 and it was a great driver and performer!

[@CJColvin]

Man thats one beautiful 69 GTO Judge brother.

[@michaelroberts6450]

Years ago, when I worked at a Pontiac dealer one of our customers had a 67 GTO with a 428 tri-power swap it was nice. It was so unique to me hadn't ever heard of anyone doing that before. This was back around 1985 ish. That Judge seems really different too in a good way. Fantastic car mix of old school and modern done tastefully .

[@thethrottlestop]

Yeah we agree, modern ideas in an old school way, this car runs out just great. Thanks for the watch!

[@jP-nw7nm]

I need to see more on this one… my jaw is still on the floor btw

[@kickazz999]

Sounds like a real rip snortin' growler...classic!!

[@allantaylor3288]

Now that’s one awesome muscle car right there. Pontiac got these spot on straight from the factory. With what’s available aftermarket these days they can be made to handle and perform as good as any modern car and I’d have one in a minute if that was an option.

[@RyanBassForLife]

I love the 1969 GTO.

[@markaylott1780]

Now that is a nice car! Driven, not hidden 😎👍

[@scottlyon7426]

The correct terminology for the interior colour is Parchment not ivory . Gorgeous Judge

[@thethrottlestop]

Thanks for letting us know!

[@MrJohnnyb42]

Only made 50 ram air V. Lucky to have one.

[@sum12see]

That sweet..Im restoring one right now at my shop..Same one as in this video?

[@thethrottlestop]

Awesome! Hope not on it being the same one, this one was just right!

[@chrisgabbert658]

I remember the ride in a Judge in 69 and it sitting in the front yard, I was 8 and was told it was a two fours, 4 speed and 4:10 and 4 miles to a gallon.

[@hotwheel6663]

The stance is just right.

[@lawrencebabicz5874]

Thanks for the video. Love the Judge. Did you guys sell it? Or are you holding on to it. Awesome muscle car.

[@alanshaw68]

did I miss the stated HP?

[@23727bgk]

Would be interesting to know what modifications were done to the front suspension, steering and brake systems. Fantastic car; was the body and frame when new a GTO Judge?

[@johngibson4834]

Beautiful 69 GTO 👀😍🤠🇨🇦

[@thethrottlestop]

We agree!

[@williamnovas9491]

Beautiful GTO. Did the Judge have a 428?

[@joequillun7790]

Not from Detroit. But this one does. :)

[@danielmathys289]

Hey All ..this car looks great keeping that nostalgic rally II wheel with 15 inchers...can anyone advise the wheel size,15x7? tire size?..i would luv to follow that style keeping it straight up simple.thanks

[@tonedeafist]

Amazing

[@joequillun7790]

Throttlestop, you guys are "killin me". !st the 69 T/A, and now this. Absolute perfection. Fantastic job, I would pay just to see this in person, and click off a bunch of photos. (Unfortunately, I'm in new England.) :( You didn't mention the rear gear. Gutta be a 3.73, or 4.10, seein you got the OD. RAV heads on a 428. I think Speedwin Automotive offered a similar eng. in the 70s, only it had RAIV heads, and a Doug Nash Tunnel Ram. (Way cool). If I had that car, I'ld remove the power steering, fat frt tires, and stick a Mr. Gasket V-gate shifter, and take it to the drags. Yeah!. But this one is a cool road car, I guess. Thanks again for posting. Nice.

[@jasonmacneil2256]

Well then THANK THE GOOD LORD you don't own her! Because the mods you would do, SUCK!

[@joequillun7790]

@@jasonmacneil2256 Says you. Personal opinion. All in the way you were raised. Next, I'm sure you'ld convert it to a P/G, and put A/C in it.

[@jasonmacneil2256]

@@joequillun7790 If I changed anything, it'd be to put a tremec 5 or 6 speed in it, update the suspension with pieces from ridetech, and put some 6 piston corvette brakes on her. Unlike the duchebag things you'd do. Oh, and probably do a paxton underhood supercharger.

[@joequillun7790]

@@jasonmacneil2256 Handling improvements. Sure, cause those cars are really known for their handling. And all your improvements are for what? Salome racing? Autocross? Cross country racing? Or just park it in your garage 50 weeks outta the yr, and show it off at a couple cruise nights. RAVs are for high RPM performance, not putzing around on the side roads. You've already shown your cards, and I'm bored, so I'll let you have the last word.

[@jasonmacneil2256]

@@joequillun7790 I'm also guessing you'd never rode in the concept 69 GTO Judge that Jim Wanger was a part of? I'd like to see Jim's face when you spout your bs. He has been a friend of our familys for some time, and he will be the first to tell you how awesome the 69 GTO can handle with a little work. Too bad you are only smart enough to travel in a straight line!🤣

[@richardwarfield7386]

Killer Goat - luv it

[@rudyme7565]

beautiful stance

[@RoverWaters]

perfect ride height

[@thethrottlestop]

Agreed! Thanks for watching!

[@rubber-duck]

Beautiful car, nice to see a 5 speed ya need that 5 gear for highway speeds I'd might go little higher gear in the rear end like a 342 posi.traction

[@thethrottlestop]

Right on

[@MrJohnnyb42]

6X heads can't be beat!

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Freaking gorgeous!👌🥰👉♥️👍

[@bluesman7475]

What ring an pinion ratio is in it?

[@briandick3193]

sick

[@carlking3964]

I had 13 gto's growing up while seeking them out! From the 64 up to the 74! The only one I drove though was a black 66,love those cat eyed tail light man! To me, the 66 was the shit! Glad to hear you don't baby yours, as I didn't baby mine! 😎 these mustang guy's think those old heavy sleds weren't fast lol lol lol 😃 they need to take a close look at big chiefs Pontiac crow hmhmhmhmhm 😃 and don't shit yourself mustang guy's, their a lot of ponchos running around, u still don't want! 😎 he he and ha ha I know, you will find out! 😁

[@thethrottlestop]

13!?

[@josephnubile1970]

Hello, could you please tell me the rim and tire sizes front and rear.

[@morganbrantley9058]

How stock built is this 428 ram v ? Just to know how does the ram v power feel compared to ram 4 and other great pontiac motors ? Everybody always said the ram v could have been the hemi killer. It seems you have driven a couple ram v's. Pontiac all the way.

[@robertwright5487]

@Michael Harper The Ram Air V was a little known option that came in the trunk and was dealer installed.

[@chrismair8161]

By the time you got your lisp off? I found one.

[@thethrottlestop]

Thanks for watchin!

[@N.D.J.S.]

build pontiac its engines forself? or is it like plymouth with chrysler technic? and what is with oldsmobile?

[@shannonshepard5047]

How much more performance will you get from a RA V versus the RA IV? The RA parts are expensive, but is it worth it?

[@antoniotutt4894]

Yes believe me it is!

[@FROMMCMLXIX]

Mike looks like Fred Flintstone

[@thethrottlestop]

is it Fred? I thought the dinosaurs name was Dino?

[@MrJohnnyb42]

How much?

[@charlesprevost2099]

Want it

[@_Chev_Chelios]

Don’t confuse the ivory with white. The ivory looks a lot more ivory. Good to know.

[@carllavell8673]

👀...🔥👍😝👍🔥

[@djmegahurtz]

Saw 1 today in a field surrounded by weeds, same color & all I dnt think it’s a Judge tho not sure

[@tonihaukijarvi]

To me Pontiac GTO -69 Judge > the rest

[@buckmclean8391]

Beuatiful car but...if u own a 68 or 69 gto you should beg, borrow, or steal the money for a hidden headlight conversion.

[@tonny.c]

3:30 "This isn't like the preservation where we don't want to get on it too much, as you will see" Proceeds to show a preservation drive by with no acceleration whatsoever xDD Just buy it please lmao we're afraid of our rebuild

[@antoniotutt4894]

The RAV should have been a regular production engine! What a waste of Pontiac engineering

[@georgevue8175]

Back in high school one of the $rich$ kids had a brand new Judge, I loved seeing it leave the parking lot as I got onto the poor kids bus ride home. Even though I was better looking than the $rich$ kid he was able to score the pretty girl I wanted, which proves hypergamy is in a woman's DNA.

[@jasonmacneil2256]

Nice goat, but just because it has ram air 5 heads DOESN'T make it a ram air 5 car!!

[@finney086]

5 years 😂😂😂

[@thethrottlestop]

Thanks for watching

[@gambler0101]

From the time when americans knew how to build a good car.

[@thethrottlestop]

Absolutely one of the best from the era! Thanks for the watch!

[@nederlandsfatsoenkanaal.4842]

I’m 21 rn I own a 1988 5.0 firebird still fun car I fucking love driving a ridiculous American car to college in Europe. yet my dream cars are always muscle cars from the 60s but the prices for those are just to the moon to the point I’ll probably will never have the money to buy one below the age of 50.