Judges

[Mr70]

From the 1/05 issue of MCE.
They asked Marty Schorr: "Did you ever get to sneak a peak at some interesting high performance hardware or cars that never made it into production?"

MS:"The Pontiac Ram Air V is a good example,because there were plenty of Ram Air V cars running around at the Milford proving grounds,and I drove them there."

[Steve_Hoog]

Oh no no no Mr. Schorr can't say that, because those cars didn't exist without PHS documentation.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Stinkin Bean-Counters

[Canucklehead]

So can someone summerize as to what the order would be as to the best to the worst combo's of GTO's?

[StealthBird]

As in fastest to slowest in just the 1970 model year? If we're just talking 1970 GTO's, then the pecking order from highest to lowest would be RAIV, 455 H.O., 400 HO (RAIII), then the 400.

On the all time GTO list, I would say the 69 RAIV 4-speed, 70 RAIV 4-speed, 67 XS Ram Air 4-speed, 71/72 455 H.O., 66 GTO tri-power 4-speed.

As for slowest all-time Goat, the rare 67-69 GTO with the 2-barrel option would probably top the list, followed by the 74 GTO, 73 GTO 400, and the 64 GTO 389 4-barrel with the 2-speed auto. Of course, certain non-performance option combos may trump some of the above.

Worst combo would have to be a loaded 68 GTO convertible, with a/c, p/w, etc., with the 2-barrel option, 2.93 non-posi, and the rare chrome bumper nose. Make mine light yellow with a white top.

[442w30]

I disagree that the RAIII is slower than the '70 455.

You also forgot the RAII in the equation. There are some who still believe it is faster than the RAIV.

[StealthBird]

Granted, the 1970 RAIII and 455 are close, but I believe the 455 had the edge. There weren't very many original road tests comparing the two, but from what I have:

1970 GTO Judge(RAIII), 4-speed, 3.55 posi, 14.77 @ 94.42 mph
1970 GTO (RAIII), 4-speed, 3.90 posi, 14.60 @ 99.55 mph
1970 GTO 455, Turbo 400, 13.98 @ 101.88 mph
1970 GTO 455, 4-speed, 3.31 non-posi, 15.0 @ 96.5 mph
1970 GTO 455, Turbo 400, 3.55 posi, 14.76 @ 95.94 mph

The big difference here is that all 3 of the 455 cars tested had a/c, and the 455 car that ran 15.0 even had p/w and p/dl, and was a peg-legger. The 400 RAIII's tested were pretty standard, no a/c or other weight related problems. The 14.60 turned in by the 70 RAIII above was after an entire morning of tuning (the car ran consistent high 14's until then).

Pontiac marketed the 1970 455 as a cruiser, not a 1/4 miler, but of the 455's that were tested, even with a/c and loaded up with options, still were comparable to the RAIII.

Go figure, I forgot about the 68-1/2 RAII's. How embarrassing, one of my favorite powerplants too. Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue.

[supergonzo]

StealthBird "In truth, both the engineers and DeLorean felt the 400 RAIV was enough"

Yes I have heard this story as well, and they did get unfortunately sidetracked with the RAV

[ANDY M]

The best combo GTO is the one parked in your garage.
The worst combo is the GTO parked in someone else's garage.
BTW, the photos are from the old Muscle Car Review.
Andy