[transam1972]

I ran across this on E SLAY...been looking for this article for 30+ years...note the shaker and air cleaner and chrome valve covers...opinions...

[transam1972]

...........ARTICLE

[transam1972]

page 2...

[4birds]

All 70 Trans Ams came with chrome valve covers and all Ram Air IV T/As came with a dual snorkel air cleaners. The scoop is obviously a pre-production prototype.

[transam1972]

in my excitement to post the photos I have not even read the article..I was thinking it was a RAM AIR 4...that's something I never knew, dual snorkels on a RA4...pretty cool!!..I like the prototype shaker!!...thanks!!

[Tellyshavilli]

Yes RAIV and looks like California delivered car . Also automatic and has a very early production dash face which you would not see on a RAIV TA . So there are some contradictions if these pics are all of same car .

[transam1972]

.....please tell me the differences in the dash plate...I have the original and the TRANS AM interior shows a 4 speed???...this definitely is a prototype/early T/A...I wonder if it was sold????.....thanks!!!!

[TA455HO]

It looks like a 4 speed to me, too. I can see the letter H on the shift handle. Plus no console so if it was automatic it would be column shift most likely.

[bossbirdta]

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=744756

[unruhjonny]

That exact TA is in a couple articles, I believe it has been discussed here about hte variations from regular production items that it had...

Another article shows better pictures, which make it quite clear to be a one-off shaker.

[transam1972]

Originally Posted by bossbirdta

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=744756

.....ON THE $ BOSSBIRD...I believe that is a super rare shaker on that 70 T/A...would make sense that the seal wore out and no replacement...I wonder if the owner would be kind enough to share some photos...it looks like the one in this 1970 article

[Tellyshavilli]

Originally Posted by TA455HO

It looks like a 4 speed to me, too. I can see the letter H on the shift handle. Plus no console so if it was automatic it would be column shift most likely.

What about the brake pedal?

[transam1972]

...as it is easier to see in the original photo..however you are right, the pedal to the left of the accelerator looks huge!!..a crazy mixed up T/A this is...TELLYSHAVILLI please tell me if there is a difference on the dash plate..thanks!!

[68bird400HO]

Originally Posted by transam1972

...as it is easier to see in the original photo..however you are right, the pedal to the left of the accelerator looks huge!!..a crazy mixed up T/A this is...TELLYSHAVILLI please tell me if there is a difference on the dash plate..thanks!!Attachment 353651

The earliest 1970 non-AC bezels had the bird to the far right like in this photo. Sometime around June of 70, the bird moved to the left of that open space where the AC vents would be on an AC car. Since all of the RAIV cars were built late in the year, it is believed that all of them had the later bezel. This later bezel with the split lights/wiper opening and bird to the left was used through 1972. AC cars had the vents and no bird so that bezel was the same 1970-72.

[Tellyshavilli]

Originally Posted by 68bird400HO

The earliest 1970 non-AC bezels had the bird to the far right like in this photo. Sometime around June of 70, the bird moved to the left of that open space where the AC vents would be on an AC car. Since all of the RAIV cars were built late in the year, it is believed that all of them had the later bezel. This later bezel with the split lights/wiper opening and bird to the left was used through 1972. AC cars had the vents and no bird so that bezel was the same 1970-72.

Exactly and raivs all built July and later

[transam1972]

WHAT????....can anyone tell what engine this is...Ram Air III or Ram Air IV?...and if it is a RA4 then a special early build as magazine is January 1970

[SD73]

Those center exhaust ports look like they're round ports like a IV would be. Not "V" shaped like a RAIII.

[Dens71TA]

Round port heads, gotta be a Ram Air IV.

[transam1972]

I am so stupid...I know nothing about Ram Air III...they are not roundports...so this is a special early build...I only barely know the 1972 TRANS AM...

[SD73]

Yeah. RA3 throws people for a loop because it's the only RA that's not a round port. Easy way to tell a Roundy is by just looking at those center ports. If they have that "V" then you know it's a "D." ...and ya know what they say about VD...