1971 was the last model year that the GTO was available with "The Judge" option package, which had a bigger engine (455ci) than the regular GTO (which had a 400ci V8). The Judge also had a rear trunk lid spoiler, "The Judge" graphic and stripes, and uprated shock absorbers and springs, as part of a "ride & handling" package. One of the last true muscle cars produced, 1972 would see the GTO reverting to an option package on the Pontiac LeMans, and a further drop in power thanks to stricter emissions controls and ever increasing insurance premiums on performance cars.
Pontiac only sold a fraction of 1971 GTOs compared to previous GTOs such as the 68-69 version. Of those sold, only 17 were Judge Convertibles, making them extremely valuable to collectors today. The poor sales of cars such as the GTO were not due to the fact they were bad cars, but just the wrong car at the wrong time. Higher insurance costs and stricter emissions controls put a big dent in their popularity, and the 1973 fuel crisis finished the musclecar off completely.
GMP make this great model of the 1971 GTO Judge Convertible in a striking triple white colour (white body, interior and hood). Engine and interior detail is superb, and the look of the model is just right! It can be displayed hood up or down, and for this purpose you can swap the erected hood for a white hood cover that fits behind the rear seats. The front disc brakes have realistic brake lines running to them and the central propshaft turns with the rear wheels. The hood has a pair of air inlets which are marked as "Ram Air". The Ram Air system was a primitive form of forced induction (more commonly achieved with a turbocharger or supercharger) which sucked in lots of cool air via the hood scoops straight to the air intake of the engine. The extra volume of cool air raised the pressure within each cylinder, and the cool high pressure air resulted in more power. This Ram Air system is accurately represented on this model. Overall 9/10 marks.
