1969 Trans Am Convert Clone

[Steve_Hoog]

Notice specific reference to RAIII. Granted parts cataloging does not indicate what was on the original order sheets, however it is a GM publication. Whether GM referred to RAIII at point A or B, is not so much relevant to the fact that GM did reference RAIII.

Notice also 67 listing for Ramair, not just a matter of a pan in the trunk? I would imagine this meant cam in engine from assembly line.

GM is not an exact science, explore the facts with caution.

[StealthBird]

Steve, yep, as I stated above, Pontiac started calling the 400 HO the Ram Air III in 1970 in their internal documents, but not on the window stickers or on the order forms. Pontiac also never had hood scoop decals that said "Ram Air III", they simply said "Ram Air".

And yes, the 1967 Ram Air engine (later known as Ram Air 1) was a different animal than just getting the Ram Air option on a 1967 GTO. The 1967 Ram Air engine included the Ram Air setup, but also a different cam, better valvesprings, and 4.33 gears. They were sort of the shotgun version of a GTO, designed for dragstrip duty and street racing.

Cool cars.

[Jeff H]

Sounds like the Drag Pack combination on the Fords.

[Steve_Hoog]

Mike

Wasn't directing that at you, yours was just the last post to reply from. My bad.

[StealthBird]

Steve, no problem! I realized you were commenting on other posts.

Back to the T/A clone topic, another odd thing about the 69 Trans Am's were the grilles. The standard 69 Firebird used silver/gray grilles, the Firebird 400's used the same silver/gray grilles, but had a unique chrome trim surrounding each grille, while the Trans Am (built off the Firebird 400) did NOT use the chrome 400 grille surrounds. They simply blacked out the grille.

Other discrepancies are the front bumper arrowhead emblem, which all Trans Am's and Firebird 400's had (but many promo photos show Trans Am's without the emblem), and depending on the build date, sometimes the blue stripes on the rear deck went under the spoiler (leaving the spoiler white), and sometimes the stripes went over the spoiler.