Ever the promoter, Jim Wangers promised us "a hokey little show" to accompany the unveiling of the reincarnated 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge being built by Big 3 Performance that will bear his signature.
Billows of smoke engulfed a garage door, from behind which came the rumble and roar of a big V8. The door opened and there was Wangers behind the wheel of an iridescent orange GTO, smiling like a kid of 23 (not 83), as the unmistakable prow of his latest automotive endeavor parted the smokescreen.
Wangers, as the logo on his golf shirt proudly proclaims, is the "Godfather of the GTO," based on the innovative marketing tactics (and at times pure hokum) he devised to enhance the high-performance image of the model created in 1965 by Pontiac's Russell Gee, Bill Collins and John DeLorean. The promotional campaign that Wangers managed so successfully tapped into America's love of fast cars that it ignited the muscle car craze of the 1960s.
At 83, the man who created automotive icons such as the 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge (only 6,833 built) has become an icon himself. Pontiac enthusiasts flock to him for autographs as well as advice on rebuilding, restoring or locating the correct parts for their cars. They love him and he responds in kind, as we witnessed during the muscle car show and open house he held recently at his car collection in Oceanside, California.
"Now, more than ever, I feel responsible to keep the Pontiac hobby together," Wangers said to us as he strolled among the cars and chatted with their owners. "Pontiac is an important part of American culture with historic names like Trans Am and GTO.
As for the Jim Wangers GTO by Big 3 Performance in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Wangers told us he was honored. The Wangers GTO begins with 1969 Pontiac donor cars, either the GTO or Le Mans models. Then they're outfitted with a fuel-injected, iron-block, 505-cubic-inch Pontiac IA2 V8 with aluminum cylinder heads that makes 680 hp. Among many other items, the equipment list includes a Tremec 6-speed transmission, a Corvette front suspension, Wilwood brakes, fiberglass body panels and special Jim Wangers-signature three-piece HRE wheels that look just like the original Pontiac Rallye II items.
"They did what I wanted, which was to preserve what a 1969 Judge was all about," Wangers says. "They updated everything, but it is no resto rod. They keep it as original looking as possible, just better driving."
Big 3 Performance says production will be limited to 50 cars priced at $125,000.
Patrick C. Paternie, contributor
firstwagon says:
12:33 PM, 10/23/09
Is that awful rug his trademark or something? He must know how bad it looks.
desmolicious says:
01:28 PM, 10/23/09
C'mon Insideline, perform some investigative journalism and find out his real name!
"Jim Wangers" is obviously a porn name...
1970judgekid says:
08:26 AM, 01/23/10
Great Job on Car! I would buy one if I could afford another beast. I do own a 70 Judge already that has been in my collection of Pontiacs for over 25 years. Thanks to Jim and the Pontiac Legends we Americans enjoy our Muscle Cars! Buy American!