FOR YOU PONTIAC DUDES, 70 GTO RAM AIR 4 PICS

[442w30]

If it was the original color, there's a very good chance it wasn't a real Judge ragtop.

[StealthBird]

And the 71 455 H.O., which came in all 1971 Judges and all 1971-1972 Trans Am's (optional in the 71/72 GTO, and optional in the Formulas) was definitely not a station wagon engine. It was one of the best engines of the 1971-1972 era. Many people confuse the 1971-1972 455 H.O. engines, which had round port heads and an aluminum intake (basically a low compression version of a RAIV 455) with the 1970 455 H.O., which, unfortunately, was just a basic D-port engine 455 with a standard steel intake. In 1970, the 455 H.O. was basically the 400 H.O., with extra cubes. In 1971, the 455 H.O. was a true high performance engine with many unique parts.

[442w30]

The '71-72 HOs were the kings of low compression engines till, perhaps, the Super Duty came about. The only car that may have had an edge was the 1971 LS6 Corvette.

[MultiMopars]

[ QUOTE ]
If it was the original color, there's a very good chance it wasn't a real Judge ragtop.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why do you say that?

I bought this car about 1976-77. No one was cloning these cars then. I bought it from a local guy in my small home town who bought it from the original owner. I don't know the name of the color but to me, it was a medium--dark blue color.

As I said I sold it to a Pontiac dealer, who of course tried to grind me on the price. I told him that he certainly knew that it was a special car that they couldn't have made many of and if he wanted it there was no negotiating on the price. I think i sold it for $4700. Top dollar for a car like that at the time. I had no idea of how few were built when I sold it.

My guess is that the Pontiac dealer that bought it may still have it or knew the production numbers on it and it sold to another collecter at some time but it was over 30 years ago. With this in mind and as few as there were made I would think that the car is still around and would not be hard to verify. There cetainly are people that are tracking these cars.

[southernfriedcj]

[quote
I bought this car about 1976-77. No one was cloning these cars then.

[/ QUOTE ]

There was in '78.

I cloned my '69 Firebird convertible 350 into a RAIII. I added a Formula wheel, '70 T/A motor, a 400 hood w/ tach and a 400 front bumper & Ralleye wheels.

Len (the guy who founded Year One) cloned his '69 Firebird into a '69 T/A, complete with Formula wheel, home fabbed hood, extractors & spoiler.

My buddy Vance cloned his '70 Malibu into a SS396, complete with 396, cowl hood, SS wheels, and badging.

There were a few of us poor boys trying to fake until we could make it.