 |
|
| THE LOBBY A gathering place. Introductions, sports, showin' off your ride, birthday-anniversary-milestone, achievements, family oriented humor. |
| Reply |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
08-23-2014, 08:42 PM
|
|||
|
|||
My Starlight Black 69 GTO Judge!!
One year ago today I purchased the car that I grew up dreaming about.
1969 GTO Judge Starlight Black Black Vinyl Top Black Interior 400 Ram Air III 4 Speed (M-21) I have been a car guy my whole life. I caught the car bug at an early age living in a neighborhood that had a lot of car guys and a ton of cool muscle cars. Even though I was only eight years old, I knew this car was special and different from the other cars. I never dreamed that 41 years later I would own Mark Fry's 1969 Gto Judge. Mark was the second owner and purchased the car in Columbus, Ohio in 1972 and went through several motors including the original Ram Air III and a very stout 427 L88, yes a Chevy motor. Mark had the car repainted in 1977 and drove it until 1980 when he put it a way to clean up the bottom and turn it into a street/strip car. He pulled the original 10 bolt and built a bullet proof 9 inch Ford with 40 spline axles and a spool. He purchased a Richmond 6 speed and had an aluminum rod 440 Pontiac motor built to power the car. (I think he felt guilty about the Chevy Motor he had in the car) Mark continued to work on the car over the next several years but had some health issues that kept him from going all out on the car. Mark's health continued to decline and he struggled to get the car back together. Unfortunately Mark passed away in 2005 and never got the car finished, what he did get finished was very nice. He also made sure that everything he did to the car was done in a way that it could be returned to the stock configuration. His son took possession of the car and put it in storage in a mutual friends garage. It sat on a trailer in a very nice heated garage for the last 8 years. I stayed in contact with the mutual friend all of this time and made it known if Jason (Mark's son) ever wanted to sell it, I would love to get the car and keep in our circle of friends. In 2013 I started thinking a lot about Mark and the Judge and made a phone call to my friend storing the car and asked him to contact Jason. He called me back after talking to Jason and said it was time to sell the car and he would like to talk to me. I immediately sent away for the PHS documentation and confirmed the car was what I remembered. When I was in town for the Good Guys and the POCI Nationals in 2013 I was able to stop by and see the car in person. I had not seen the car since he took it off the road in 1980. I was pleasantly surprised how nice the car was and how many parts that came with the car. The car came with some very cool go fast and aftermarket parts. The more I learned about the car the more I was leaning towards restoring the low mileage car back to the way it was delivered to Marte Pontiac in Columbus, Ohio. I have sold the performance and aftermarket parts to get this great muscle car with a lot sentimental value back on the road. I have started collecting the original parts to get this Judge back on the road. I have truly learned a lot from this forum and have met a lot of great people selling and buying parts. I will continue to keep everybody update on this project. Here are a few pictures of the car when I first picked it up. John |
|
#2
08-23-2014, 08:50 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Paint looks pretty good for being painted in 77
|
|
#3
08-23-2014, 09:07 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Looks great just like it is. Some attitude.
Great story.
__________________
 frittering and wasting the hours in an off hand way.... 1969 GTO, 455ci, 230/236 Pontiac Dude's "Butcher Special" Comp hyd roller cam with Crower HIPPO solid roller lifters, Q-jet, Edelbrock P4B-QJ, Doug's headers, ported 6X-8 (97cc) heads, TKO600, 3.73 geared Eaton Tru-Trac 8.5", hydroboost, rear disc brakes......and my greatest mechanical feat....a new heater core. 
|
|
#4
08-23-2014, 09:10 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
car looks great! What rims and tires are on the back? They fill the well perfectly!
|
|
#5
08-23-2014, 09:16 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Nice Judge!
Good Luck with getting it back to original specs.
__________________
You never know what I might have that you are looking for. EMAIL me. Also check out my other ads here on PY. Just click on user name to view other ads. USPS Money Orders or Wal-Mart to Wal-Mart money gram wire transfer -preferred payments. If Payment doesn't show up in 3-4 days, I move on to the next person that wants it. Serious Inquiries Only - Shipping Isn't Free. |
|
#6
08-23-2014, 10:06 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Love the triple black - definitely worthy of a resto to original specs.
__________________
keith k 70 Trans Am RA III / T400 / Lucerne Blue / Bright Blue 70 Trans Am RA III / M20 / Lucerne Blue / Sandalwood 70 Formula RA III / M21 / Lucerne Blue / Bright Blue |
|
#7
08-23-2014, 10:09 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
congrats on finally getting it. post a copy of the phs if you don't mind.
|
|
#8
08-23-2014, 11:23 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
One of my favorite color combos! used to have one in a convertible...
|
|
#9
08-24-2014, 11:14 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
...beautiful, black is the perfect color
...I have a black 4spd Judge convertible |
|
#10
08-24-2014, 12:35 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I think Mr. Fry would be proud you are taking care of it.
John |
|
#11
08-24-2014, 12:37 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Man, I don't care how much you paid for it, when you get a car like that, that you've admired since you were a little kid, you just hit the lottery just by getting it! Congrats. It's beautiful.
__________________
Greg Reid Palmetto, Georgia |
|
#12
08-24-2014, 05:34 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
You are honoring his memory! Keep us posted on your progress, let us know if there is any way we can help.
__________________
Some guys they just give up living And start dying little by little, piece by piece, Some guys come home from work and wash up, And go racin' in the street. Bruce Springsteen - Racing In The Street - 1978 |
|
#13
08-24-2014, 07:18 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Looks real good with those Welds on there. I think I would leave em on there. Jim
__________________
74 LEMANS GT 350 4SPD MAROON |
|
#14
08-24-2014, 07:51 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Triple black Judge... it doesn't get any better than than that!
 Congratulations on fulfilling a lifelong dream! 
__________________
1968 GTO / 400 HO / 4-SPEED 
|
|
#15
08-24-2014, 08:20 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Very cool story! It is also great it is going to someone who truly appreciates it.
-Dave
__________________
2 wrongs don't make a right, 3 lefts do. 4 lefts make a NASCAR race but who cares? ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004 Grand Prix GT daily driver 1974 LeMans GT 455 |
|
#16
08-24-2014, 08:47 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Lucky man! I don't think Mark could have chosen a better "next owner" to care for it.
Keep us updated, it's going to be sweet. |
|
#17
08-24-2014, 10:29 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Thanks guys, this forum has been a huge help in educating me on what I need to know about this car. Every member I have talked to has been very knowledgable and friendly. Whether I was buying parts, selling parts or just asking for information, everybody has been great. This forum is by far the most helpful, most respectful group of people I have seen in any of the forums.
In the paperwork that came with the car he had several dash plaques from past GTO National events as well as several issues of The Legend news letter dating back to the mid 80's. He was always talking about the "Goat"! I'm looking forward to getting back on the road. Mark was a great guy and true Pontiac enthusiast, this car meant the world to him. (See the Photo Below) The Weld Wheels do look great on the Judge, they fit perfect! The custom fitted 9" was the key to the way they fit. The fronts are 15x4 with Pro-Trac P215/75 and the rears are 15x10 with Firestone FireHawks 10.5 x 29.5 x 15. It was tempting to leave them on it but they were about 15 years old. More pictures to come on the progress so far. |
|
#18
08-25-2014, 07:33 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Keep the pictures coming John. I remember talking to you at Norwalk last year about this car. Glad the deal went through. I know the car is in proper hands to get her back to her former glory.
__________________
Redline Design |
|
#19
08-25-2014, 10:14 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
My brother, Mark, also had a 69 Judge. He passed away at the age of 49 last December. So this story real hit home. Rest in peace Marks.
|
|
#20
08-25-2014, 11:51 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Great story and car. Mr Fry departing at just 51 seems criminal in the scheme of life.
__________________
"If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward." |
| Reply |
|
|
The PY Online Forums is the largest online gathering of Pontiac enthusiasts anywhere in the world. Founded in 1991, it was also the first online forum for people to gather and talk about their Pontiacs. Since then, it has become the mecca of Pontiac technical data and knowledge that no other place can surpass.
Linear Mode
