[Baron Von Zeppelin]

We should try to assemble a Group Buy and get that car !

[BirdBrain]

I do know where the car is and it does NOT have the same paint scheme on it and hasn't for years if we are talking about the same 68 Indian. It needs a restoration in a major way. The owner won't sell the car for sentimental reasons, which as he explained to me….has nothing to do with the fact it is a Tin Indian. Trust me… it's a sad story.

Out of respect for the owner, I won't go into more detail. I think a few other members here know about the car and it's history since 1970 and would echo my sentiments.

I heard very recently that he has spoken to a few shops to restore it. I hope he brings it back to it's former glory.

BirdBrain.

[fiedlerh]

Some info on the Truman Fields Birds
http://www.dragracecentral.com/drcstory.asp?ID=14902
"In 1968 Truman Fields and his brother Dennis returned home from service in the United States Marine Corps. As part of their homecoming celebration they each purchased a brand new 1968 Firebird with the very rare Ram Air II engine option."

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

History tends to re-write itself on Pontiacs sometimes if enough people aren't paying attention. A lot of times its accidental or circumstancial.

Truman has corrected the writers errors before.
Their cars pre-dated Ram2

"Probably" the Ram Air Induction stuff was only things in the trunk.
But at minimum he did get Ram2 upgrades at some point.
He reads here sometimes, and he may enlighten us with his own direct account.

He gave great personal accounts about his 72 Pontiac on here a while back.
And a few crates and pallets of parts that arrived after the car.

[Jim Mino]

Originally Posted by fiedlerh

Some info on the Truman Fields Birds
http://www.dragracecentral.com/drcstory.asp?ID=14902
"In 1968 Truman Fields and his brother Dennis returned home from service in the United States Marine Corps. As part of their homecoming celebration they each purchased a brand new 1968 Firebird with the very rare Ram Air II engine option."

FYI,

Truman's car was a RA I Firebird (WI engine). It was delivered to Jake Sweeney Pontiac in Cincinnati, Ohio and sold to Truman on 12/21/67. I know this because I bought the car from Truman last year and have all the paperwork on the car (which has since been sold).

The first RA II Firebird was built on May 20, 1968 and delivered to Weidner Pontiac in Mansfield, Ohio. (This has been confirmed by PHS).

The Royal Pontiac Firebird in the May 68 Super Stock magazine article was probably a RA I car with pre-production RA II heads from Pontiac engineering. (the lead time for the article would be around Feb or March 68, much too early to be a production RA II car).

That story about RA II parts in the trunk is probably a lot of bull...to feed the NHRA tech guys back in the day!

Jim Mino

[fiedlerh]

Sorry, guess one can't believe everything on the internet.

[fiedlerh]

If anyone has more info/data about it , be Glad to list it .
Anyone have a way of contacting the owner ?

Saw that 68 bird today at a local show, it's a Ram Air I. Chet Kumm is the owner, I believe he and his son have been in the hobby for years.

[The Boss]

Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin

We should try to assemble a Group Buy and get that car !

I've got college to pay for now - my big dollar car days are over for the next 5 years!

[bulletpruf]

Green bench seat car changed hands at $150k. I looked at it yesterday -- it's a nice car, said to be numbers matching. Older restoration - finished in 2014 - still holding up pretty well.

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_de...=SC0514-184375

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Finished in `04 .
What was seller fee on 150k ? 10 % ?

Originally had 250k asking price.
150 is still a LOT of money
New owner played smart and should be real happy with purchase.

Such a sleeper it would be real easy to walk right past it without 2nd glance at a big auction full of heavy hitter cars.

[TedRamAirII]

I've got one. Mayfair Maize. 4 Speed. I am the third owner and have had it since 1985. It was purchased New in Ocala Florida at Dingman Pontiac. I dont have the date of the sale but its here somewhere. Heads are marked R A on the end exhaust ports, next time I have the valve covers off I will note the date code. It has the upper and lower air cleaner housings. Still has the Cast Exhaust Manifolds, I thought I was going to install headers but glad I didnt. I didn't know what I had, neither did the guy I bought it from, I knew the hood was functional though. After I bought it, I figured it out, remember this is before the "net". It didn't have the original 400 or the correct carb (holley) and at the time I wanted to go fast,(young and stupid) so I installed a 428 short block and put the RAII heads on, with Comp Cams stamped roller tipped rockers and a new Ram Air IV cam. I did get a 68 Q jet and cast iron intake installed on it, the rear had been replaced with a 12 bolt 3.73 Posi Traction Camaro unit. It didn't have a console and I found one at a swap meet and added a rear Camaro Spoiler. I put the battery in the trunk. Thats the only mods I have made. Sometimes I think I want Rally 1 wheels but the Rally 2 wheels are good. I think I want redlines, but I cant see paying that kind of money for them. I also replaced the radiator with a Aluminum unit that looks like the oem stamping and I painted it black to blend in. It had 4 wheel drums and I replaced the front with Camaro Disc brakes, next is a power booster. VIN is 22337U170085

[johnta1]

AWESOME!

Any pics?

Would you have the PHS/billing card?
Window sticker?

[keith k]

Originally Posted by TedRamAirII

I've got one. Mayfair Maize. 4 Speed. I am the third owner and have had it since 1985. It was purchased New in Ocala Florida at Dingman Pontiac.

Very cool.

[BirdBrain]

Here's a few pictures of the RA I 68 firebird that Hot Rod Magazine did its performance test on in 1968. Fully documented. I took these two weeks ago. Hopefully these pictures attach correctly. Hot Rod's best quarter run was 14.3 in the quarter mile.

[TedRamAirII]

[ATTACH][ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH]

[Judge273]

I would say that car looks nice as is, and even better knowing it's a RAIi 4 speed with a 4:33...

Thanks for the pix!

[The Boss]

Originally Posted by BirdBrain

Here's a few pictures of the RA I 68 firebird that Hot Rod Magazine did its performance test on in 1968. Fully documented. I took these two weeks ago. Hopefully these pictures attach correctly. Hot Rod's best quarter run was 14.3 in the quarter mile.

I know that car - came out of the Mesa Proving Grounds! Very cool that he still owns it!

[The Boss]

Originally Posted by TedRamAirII

[ATTACH][ATTACH]Attachment 365272[/ATTACH][/ATTACH]

Cool car Ted!

[PONTIAC LARRY]

May be Fair ly a Maize ing Badd Ass ! RA II

[bulletpruf]

Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin

Thanks for that update on one of the Bronze cars !

Mino built couple/few clones over the years - possibly that April Gold was one of them ?
He only specified his 2 Bronze cars as being genuine.
Once in a while he checks in on us - maybe he'll be back before long.

I'll update a Bronze one belonging to Kevin now, in my file.
Will post the update version next time.

Man, that's a freaking gorgeous car! Pics here -

http://corvettes-musclecars.com/gall...RAIIB.jpg.html