[rdl]

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Here's how one of the few prototype aluminum Ram Air V's escaped from the factory:

December 1969

Mac wheeled the truck passed the main entrance gate to the security post. The evening air was cold, and it nipped at his cheeks as he rolled down the window. The guard recognized Mac with a warm smile. "Working another late night?" he asked. "Not if I can help it", replied Mac with just an hint of scorn in his voice. The guard waved him through with a light chuckle. The truck continued on its way through the dusting of fresh snow that covered the grounds. Between two large industrial buildings, a faint brake squeal brought the panel truck to a gentle halt. Engaging reverse, Mac positioned the vehicle in the empty loading bay, set the parking brake, and killed the engine and running lights. The bay was dark and still. The compound was deserted. Checking his watch, Mac estimated he had at least one hour before the next sentry would circle past for a routine check. He took a moment to ponder his next steps.

Well seasoned and in his late 50's, Mac had been an engineer for almost 30 years. Climbing through the automotive ranks, he had gained the respect of his peers as a pioneer of performance designs. The last ten years had been spent in Pontiac Division's Special Design & Products Department. A cutting edge think-tank and design team assembled by the brass to point the division down the road of the future. With a generous budget, Mac's team had designed and built some of the most impressive performance platforms GM had ever created. While some of the ideas were incorporated into production designs, for reasons of pure politics and economics, the boldest of the designs never saw the light of day. This was never truer than with Mac's latest project. The thought of it boiled his blood. While showered with praise for his accomplishments, word had come down that the project, ... his baby, was to be canned. There was going to be a shift in design parameters for the next decade: high performance was out; emissions and economy were in. In fact, with the labour disruptions, the whole Special Designs team was to be disbanded before the end of the month. Right before the holiday season! "Heartless bastards", Mac muttered under his breath, knowing all too well he was also slated to be axed. Worse news yet: all prototypes and current ongoing projects were to be seized for immediate destruction. A decade of hard work and dedication was about to be cut up and melted down.

Mac brought a flame to a filterless Camel, and took a long, slow draw. With an affirming nod, he flipped the latch and slipped out of the cab. He swung the rear panel doors open and turned to the building. Rattling his keys he worked the big pad lock to the roll-top door. The bearing wheels groaned in a low thunder as Mac heaved open the big door. Darkness. Reaching into his pocket he removed a pen-light and brought a small beam of light to focus on the abyss. In the dim glow, there near the door, were ten unmarked, sealed crates of varying sizes. A smirk creased his now wind-chilled face. With a small dolly he quickly but carefully went to work loading the items into the truck. Fifteen minutes later, the roll-top door was secured and Mac was back at the wheel. The snow was coming down hard now. Just as well, he thought, it will cover my tracks. At the gate, his old pal tipped his hat as he passed. Mac nodded and eased the truck back onto the main road for the trip home.

As tension left his body, warm satisfaction moved quickly to replace it. His ultimate engineering achievement was now safe from the merciless fires of the inferno. The prize was his. Of the five working prototypes, he had assured that this one would not be destroyed...


... to be continued...


PS. Everyone knows this is tongue in cheek, right?
FYI - I'm just another one of the Pure Stock guys who's dropped in for a visit. Nice thread. Excellent info and impressive list of contributors. Cheers!

<font color="blue">rdl</font>