A POPULAR DECISION

From Controversy Comes Clarity

- RYAN MATTHEWS

During the build or restoration of any car, there are a few big decisions and millions of smaller ones. Usually the major issues become the easiest to make as in which car, what color to paint it, which engine to build, etc. It’s the multitude of little dilemmas that often cause the greatest angst. These smaller quandaries often mean the difference between a nice car and an awesome build. For Tom Farnsworth of Pinedale, Wyoming, the act of standing in judgment of his own instincts is what made his ’69 Pontiac GTO Judge the crowd-pleaser it is.

Tom was first exposed to Pontiac’s marketing genius in the spring of 1969. By that time the GTO was already one of the staples of the muscle car scene. The new A-body debuted in 1968 with a shorter wheelbase shared with the Chevelle and 442; however, the GTO was the only A-body with the new Endura color-matched front bumper. This made it look even better and further established the model as the biggest influencer in its class.

During the ’60s, each division of General Motors had its own distinct personality. Cadillac was the aspirational upper crust. Buick was the refined, conservative brand. Oldsmobile was looked upon as unique and innovative. Chevrolet was all about youthful appeal and blue-collar work ethic. Pontiac was the wild and creative one, and nothing confirmed this more than the release of the GTO Judge.