['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.

[keith k]

Originally Posted by 'ol Pinion head

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.

It's likely there were indeed people who felt that way about traction in the snow being improved with "2 wheel drive" vs 1WD. Especially if they were running snow tires in the winter, which was common in those days.

Pontiac didn't call it "Saf-T-Track" to imply that it was good for the drag strip

With the wrong tires, though, both wheels spinning just means you go off the road sideways much more quickly. Have seen plenty of that in my years of living in the snow belt, too!

[eaglesan13]

Coronado Gold is a nice color, and it looks great on second-gen birds.

[johnta1]

Yes, Sir!!!!!!

[johnta1]

Was the pic with the boy the same car as the 1st 2 Formulas.

[eaglesan13]

No, the car in the picture with the boy does not have a rear spoiler on it. I'm pretty sure that was a real RA III, four speed car.

If I remember correctly, that kid's father is a famous firebird guy.

Originally Posted by johnta1

Was the pic with the boy the same car as the 1st 2 Formulas.

[keith k]

Originally Posted by eaglesan13

No, the car in the picture with the boy does not have a rear spoiler on it. I'm pretty sure that was a real RA III, four speed car.

If I remember correctly, that kid's father is a famous firebird guy.

And the kid in the picture just started his freshman year in college, so it was taken a pretty long time ago!

It was taken along old Woodward Avenue in Birmingham, MI, during Dream Cruise week, as I recall. Yes, original RAIII 4-speed. I believe its owner sold it out of state shortly after that.

[GTO JONES]

Originally Posted by eaglesan13

Coronado Gold is a nice color, and it looks great on second-gen birds.

The first 2 pics you have there is my sons car, lol.

[eaglesan13]

Nice car. I don't remember when or where I got those pictures, but I keep picture files of cars by color, and those were in my Coronado Gold folder. Is this his car too?

Originally Posted by GTO JONES

The first 2 pics you have there is my sons car, lol.

[GTO JONES]

Originally Posted by eaglesan13

Nice car. I don't remember when or where I got those pictures, but I keep picture files of cars by color, and those were in my Coronado Gold folder. Is this his car too?

Yeah parked in the garage.

[bird72]

I have 4 prints (remember them?) of this car. They were mailed to me about 20-25 years ago. I had a little 70-73 Formula webpage. It had "Readers Rides" section that was why these pics were sent to me. I lost the name of the owner then, and the data file for the webpage is gone also. Wish I had all the reader rides pics from back then. I had pics from all over the world, even one with a Formula on a flat open barge being transported. Damn.

But I remember this one was all hi po option RA one.

If anyone owns this car, you should have the pics. And if you sent me the pics, remind me!