Throughout the 1980s and the better part of the 1990s, musclecar magazines included as required reading a "found in a barn" story in just about every issue. It would seem that an unsuspecting speed crazy kid would stumble across a farmer's old Ram Air IV GTO, now being used as a chicken coop, in a pasture somewhere. The kid would offer up the cash in his pocket-less lunch money-and the farmer would unwittingly sell his potential cash cow for the price of the coming month's electric bill. A hose-down at the local Quicky Clean and the kid had a priceless classic for little coin-and the farmer was none the wiser.
We haven't heard many stories like that in the past few years, what with the musclecar feeding frenzy of the late '80s in which our heritage was being auctioned off to overseas bidders. Then there was the recession of the early 1990s when the bottom fell out of the market. Now, of course, with the economy so good, prices on GTOs especially are at an all-time high.
So to throw caution to the wind we have discovered a good old-fashioned "I found it in a barn! " Judge story, with a purchase price that will make you punch your pillow and a happy ending. Buckle up and take a ride to learn about the Judge deal of the '90s.
To add insult to injury, bear in mind that Michael Vatasin wasn't even looking for a new project when fate presented the opportunity of a lifetime for any Pontiac gear head. In 1998, while cruising the Pennsylvania countryside to show his wife the old haunts of his youth, the then 40-year-old mechanic from Kinnelon, N.J. spotted this Carousel Red 1969 Judge in a barn. It just so happened that in Mike's opinion, "The 1969 model was the nicest GTO design." Intrigued, he approached the owner, who informed him that the Judge was purchased new in '69 and in 1981 the trans blew so it hadnot been driven since then.
Mike decided a closer look was in order. He quickly realized that the Judge was all original, from the Quadrajet carb to the WS block and Ram Air exhaust manifolds, and though the body was dirty and the paint was faded, it was filely rust free. Mike offered to take the Judge off of the owner*s hands for the tidy sum of $1,000. Yes, the number of zeroes is correct. Mike Vatasin paid $1,000 for a rust free 1969 Judge with its original drivetrain intact. Did I mention that the Pontiac had only 25,000 miles on the odometer at the time of its purchase?
My guess is that Mike had to pinch himself just about every mile as he towed the Judge 100 miles back to his New Jersey home. Once in the Vatasin garage, a plan was made to get the Judge not only up and running but refurbished to a like-new appearance. Being a mechanic Mike took on the mechanical endeavors. As he recalls, 'The 366-horse 400 Ram Air III engine was still in great shape, so I replaced the cam, lifters and timing chain and installed a new water pump. This was followed by the replacement of all of the engine gaskets, which had dry rotted during its rest." Once the engine was reinstalled, a full Gardener replacement exhaust system was bolted in from the Ram Air manifolds back.
The ailing transmission was rebuilt to stock specs by the Car Factory in Garfield, N.J. and the factory 3.55 geared Safe-T-Track rear still resides out back. Installation of repro quarter skins, refurbishing of the body panels, the application of the multiple coats of Dupont Chromobase basecoat/clearcoat in Carousel Red and the fresh decals was left to Roxbury Radiator in Great Meadows, N. J.
Beneath the rockers, Mike decided to perform a few upgrades, though the disc/drum brakes were rebuilt to stock specs along with the front and rear suspension, modern KYB gas shocks dampen road irregularities and a 1 1/4-inch Trans Am front stabilizer bar is paired with 7/8-inch rear bar to promote flat cornering. Larger 15-inch Rally II wheels were added along with modern Dunlop radials.
Inside, the extended stay in the elements took its toll on the once pristine Morrokide upholstery. As a result, the carpet and door panels were replaced and Town Auto recovered the seats.
A quick glance at the engine reveals a missing original part that has become part and parcel of a Judge-the Ram Air system. This omitted component on a GTO that was so original and low mileage, dredges up a debate that*s raged for years. Nowadays, Judge purists go into convulsions when Ram Air systems aren't on Judges. For their own Judge, they buy an original setup for $1,000 or more or they resort to reproduction pieces. But why was this system missing? Because the owner did what would currently be an act against God and country, but which was commonplace back in the day. He quickly grew tired of the gymnastics required to find his carburetor and he became weary of the system*s weight and suspect of its actual ET improving potential. So he yanked the system and chucked it in favor of speed shop chrome-topped open element air cleaner. Heathen! How could he? Well he did, so Mike is contemplating purchasing the system, but is still on the fence.
A second glance at the engine compartment reveals some burnt paint on the center exhaust ports and some rusting on the exhaust manifolds. Why? Because Mike drives his Judge and enjoys it the way Pontiac intended. Even with the missing Ram Air system and the cosmetic wear on the engine, Vatasin's Judge took home a Bronze certificate at the GTOAA Eastern Regionals last year. And with all the driving he does in his Judge, you can bet he always keeps an eye peeled for what is hiding in those unassuming barns that loom large at the roadside.