This Trans Am was ordered with four options. Console, pushbutton radio, and tinted windshield were three of them. Big deal, right? Well, it's the fourth that makes the Bird one of the rarest and most desirable of all Trans Ams--a Ram Air IV engine. Under option code 342, and for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $389.68, the famed 370-horse round-port Ram Air IV delivered much more than simply an advertised 25 hp over the standard D-port Ram Air III engine. Power potential and rarity have driven R/A-IV-equipped Pontiacs to legendary status on the both performance and collectability sides of the Pontiac hobby's coin.
The Howells' '70 1/2 Ram Air...
The Howells' '70 1/2 Ram Air IV Trans Am scored 398 points out of a possible 400 at the '05 POCI Convention. What were the 2 points taken off? They haven't received the scoring sheet back yet to find out.
A set of F60-15 Polyglas reproduction...
A set of F60-15 Polyglas reproduction tires from Lucas Automotive in Springfield, Ohio, reinforce the showroom stock look of the Trans Am.
Advanced Plating of Nashville,...
Advanced Plating of Nashville, Tennessee, applied show chrome to a core rear bumper (and the original headlight bezels and grille surrounds). The wheel spats are reproductions.
Our featured T/A left Gould Pontiac Olds in Watkins Glen, New York, on August 14, 1970, with a Ram Air IV under its Shaker scoop, an M20four-speed trans, and a 3.73:1 Safe-T-Track rear. The intended owner? A 17-year-old girl who was graduating high school. (Ya think the parents would be interested in adopting a 38-year-old magazine editor?) The T/A's SRP was a mere $4,906.33. What's it worth now? A moderately sized house in the suburbs--on the good side of town.
Back in 1970, William Howell was already a Trans Am aficionado, but he was only 15 at the time, so a Ram Air IV Bird was out of the question. A scant three years later, 18-year-old Bill bought his first T/A, a '73 Buccaneer Red model with the standard 455 D-port engine. The die was cast.
The numbers-matching Ram Air...
The numbers-matching Ram Air IV engine makes this T/A worth its weight in gold. Backed by a four-speed trans, of the 88 produced in 1970, only 59 were made with the stick and 29 had the Turbo 400. Detailing on this engine is Concours Gold quality, so get out your notebooks.
The "WW" decal on the engine...
The "WW" decal on the engine block is a reproduction. As you can imagine, the factory-applied ones probably didn't last long in the underhood environment. The hood hinges are N.O.S. as are their springs, and the firewall, fenderwell, and radiator support are sprayed with GM Recondition paint.
Here you can see the correct...
Here you can see the correct flex fan that was used with the Ram Air engines instead of a declutching fan.
"Many years and many cars have passed through my garage since," Bill says. But his resolve for Pontiac's early Second-Gen F-body has not wavered.
Fate took over in 1991 when Bill married Mary, who quickly came to appreciate the attributes of Second-Gen Trans Ams as well. As Bill soon learned, nothing makes restoring vintage Pontiacs more fun than a supportive spouse.
The lower radiator hose, which...
The lower radiator hose, which has the "GM" logo and part number, is a reproduction from Ames that is considered correct for judging. According to Bill, the original hoses however, had a stripe on them.
This upper radiator hose with...
This upper radiator hose with the full GM part number is also a reproduction from Ames. Notice the correct battery, hold-down assembly, and spring ring cables. Also, the original windshield washer reservoir cap, which is not reproduced, has been retained. The power steering box has a yellow sticker with "8Z" on it that Bill reproduced, but none of us know what it means. Pete Serio provided the reproduction power steering hose that features red lettering. Of course, you can't miss the "614" on the heads that denotes R/A-IV.
See those four little nubs...
See those four little nubs on the N.O.S. rubber hood bumper? Reproductions don't have those, according to Bill.