By the time 1970 rolled around, the muscle car craze that defined the ’60s was beginning to fade. Rising insurance premiums and looming government regulations started to choke the demand for big-block power. While Pontiac had no way of knowing it at the time, the legendary GTO—nicknamed “The Goat”—was heading toward extinction.
Sales took a nosedive that year, dropping to just 40,149 units, a far cry from its former glory. Consumers were turning their backs on high-displacement engines, and the writing was on the wall. The hardtop GTO still found over 32,700 buyers, but the convertible was nearing the end of the road, selling just 3,621 examples—making it a rare find today. Even the iconic Judge package saw its final year, with just 3,635 hardtops and a shockingly low 162 convertibles produced.
In an effort to stay competitive, Pontiac held prices steady from the previous year. The base hardtop came in at $3,267, while the convertible started at $3,492. The Judge package added $337 on top of those prices, offering serious performance and style for the time.
Most Judge buyers opted for the 400ci Ram Air III engine, rated at 366 horsepower. Around 2,300 of them chose the manual transmission, while 1,000 went with an automatic. But the rarest configuration of all was the 455ci V8—only 14 hardtops and three convertibles came with this powerhouse.
That’s what makes any surviving 1970 GTO Judge convertible a true collector’s prize—especially one like the example recently listed by Collector Motors. While it looks impressive at first glance, there are a few caveats potential buyers should know.
First, despite the Judge decals, this isn’t an authentic Judge model. The dealer admits the decals were added during a previous restoration simply because the paint job was too nice to redo. While it might look like a Judge, it doesn’t have the pedigree to back it up.
Second, the original engine is long gone. Instead, the car now runs on a non-original 455ci big-block paired with an automatic transmission. While details on the engine are limited, the car appears to be road-ready and in solid overall condition, especially considering the restoration work was completed years ago.
This GTO is far from perfect. The front bumper needs some attention, and purists may be turned off by the missing original drivetrain and Judge impersonation. However, if you’re looking for a rare convertible muscle car with curb appeal and Sunday cruiser potential, this could be a smart pickup—especially if you can negotiate the price.
Currently listed at $65,000, the seller is open to offers via eBay, giving buyers a chance to strike a better deal. Just remember, this isn’t a real-deal Judge, so pricing it as one wouldn’t be realistic.
Located in Houston, Texas, this drop-top GTO is available for inspection, and the listing remains active for about four weeks. If you’ve been dreaming of adding a classic Pontiac to your garage, now might be the time—just be ready to make your case to your significant other.
