['ol Pinion head]

Have never heard a bias against optional factory instrumentation. Have met & known many Pontiac & Chevrolet dealership principals & 60's/70's sales managers over the years. Some were "Car guys", some were not. Have been fortunate to see how a few of them ordered out performance Pontiacs of that era. In the late '60's & early '70's, it often came down to putting a price competitive model on the lot.

From my experience, it was very common to not see Safe-T-Track ordered under a '70-73 400 M40 AC equipped Formula. When I was researching & compiling the "GT-37 Survey" in the early 90's, one thing I did note was there were far more base engine (350 2bbl) GT-37's ordered with Safe-T-Track in far northern Plains states than further South. That was explained to me that it was important during the Winter to be able to put the traction of both rear tires to the ground. That trend may have been mirrored with early Formulas, nearly all the early Formulas I've had, or parted in yards were originally sold in the southern Plains, TX, AR, CA & NM, & not from Northern Plains states.