[Hesster1977]

Now - this is as Rare as they come -
The 1969 Convertible Trans Am - only (8) ever built.
Not sure if one has sold recently or ever at Mecums or Barret's, but I did find one was bid up to $1.9 M in 2016 at the Kissimmee Mecum Auction. Don't think it sold.

https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0116-22...m-convertible/

[tom s]

FYI,the Brothers in OR own 4 of the 8 convert 69 T/As along with one of the 2 69 T/A silver mule cars.You would have a field day at their museum!Tom

[Hesster1977]

Wow! - That is like maybe $10M or more in valuation for (4) cars?.

Reading thru my old Pontiac Mags, I came across another blog on the (8) cars, and the VIN's were listed. At that time of the article writing (1980's), one of the (8) was unaccounted for.

But I found this blog attached on the "Pontiac Trans Am Forum".
The 8th car was found, and had spent a good deal of time in salvage yards, and was in bad shape. It seems it was found somewhere around 2014/2015, restored, and made its debut at the 2016 MCACN.

A great read!

https://www.pontiactransamforum.com/...onvertible.87/

[Hesster1977]

The 1970-1/2 2nd Gen Trans Am.

[Hesster1977]

Hmmm - You Sir are correct.
The article in my attachments says 15, the URL link says 14.

Mr. Google, who of course is never wrong, says:

"Just 14 "Swiss cheese" Catalinas were built, going to established Pontiac drag racers, including Mickey Thompson, Union Park Pontiac, and Maselles at Packer Pontiac. .May 5, 2014"

And:
"Only 14 Swiss Cheese Catalinas were built by Pontiac, and only nine are said to exist today.
https://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/...eese-pontiacs/

[Hesster1977]

The "Top 10 Best Pontiacs Built in the 60's".

Man - could we argue the subjective ranking in this list?

I am not a '60's expert, although I did own a '67 Tempest OHC 6 as my 2nd vehicle, and it kicked serious A** cause it was so light and handled fantastic. I totaled it

And I remember as a little shaver my Dad (worked for GM) would bring home Tri-power Bonnies and Cats, and they would go almost 25 MPH w/o stepping on the gas pedal, and he loved scaring the crap out of me and the Bro.. Guess the idle was pretty high?

[TRADERMIKE 2012]

Originally Posted by Hesster1977

The "Top 10 Best Pontiacs Built in the 60's".

Man - could we argue the subjective ranking in this list?

I am not a '60's expert, although I did own a '67 Tempest OHC 6 as my 2nd vehicle, and it kicked serious A** because it was so light and handled fantastic. I totaled it

And I remember as a little shaver my Dad (worked for GM) would bring home Tri-power Bonnies and Cats, and they would go almost 25 MPH w/o stepping on the gas pedal, and he loved scaring the crap out of me and the Bro.. Guess the idle was pretty high?

Mikes Reply: From my recent reading about Transmission's, an added washer on an Automatic at the Booster Regulator before the Pump will do the same thing, at least it did when I tried it. JMO

[tom s]

MT had 2 SC cars.Tom

[tom s]

Those exhaust manifolds were approved way back in at least 1961!60 years ago!They had a all alu engine in at least 1959!Tom

[Keith Seymore]

My dad tried running those manifolds on the street and burned them up.

They had been patched and repatched, with repairs on top of patches, until he finally made a pair of tubular steel headers. They were really short, so much so that you could look up through the collector and see daylight.

Mac McKellar saw those headers and really like them and said "I'm going to design you a cam for those". So he did. He even stamped the production numbers on the end.

The Ramchargers protested Dad one time and made him tear down. They checked that cam on the tailgate of their station wagon, laying in V blocks and with dial indicators, and pronounced it OK even though it was bogus as hell.

K

[77 TRASHCAN]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

My dad tried running those manifolds on the street and burned them up.

They had been patched and repatched, with repairs on top of patches, until he finally made a pair of tubular steel headers. They were really short, so much so that you could look up through the collector and see daylight.

Mac McKellar saw those headers and really like them and said "I'm going to design you a cam for those". So he did. He even stamped the production numbers on the end.

The Ramchargers protested Dad one time and made him tear down. They checked that cam on the tailgate of their station wagon, laying in V blocks and with dial indicators, and pronounced it OK even though it was bogus as hell.

K

My older friends that had knowledge of “happenings” back then say the Chrysler bunch were the biggest cheaters!!!!
I keep thinking of the Wayne county pro stock cluster. I don’t think we ever heard that whole story, and that’s a recent ordeal, nothing like the 60’s stuff....

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 77 TRASHCAN

My older friends that had knowledge of “happenings” back then say the Chrysler bunch were the biggest cheaters!!!!
I keep thinking of the Wayne county pro stock cluster. I don’t think we ever heard that whole story, and that’s a recent ordeal, nothing like the 60’s stuff....

Dad would tell them "I'll tell you every place I'm cheating if you do the same".

They never took him up on the offer, but he did notice it took three guys for them to take the spare out of their car.

K

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

My dad tried running those manifolds on the street and burned them up.

They had been patched and repatched, with repairs on top of patches, until he finally made a pair of tubular steel headers. They were really short, so much so that you could look up through the collector and see daylight.

K

I haven't talked to him for quite a while, but there's a guy here in the Minneapolis area running a set of the reproduction aluminum manifolds on his '63 Catalina. They were coated with Jet-Hot or one of the other similar products, and seemed to be holding up to street use. Of course, those kinds of coatings weren't available back when your dad was trying them.

[mgarblik]

Originally Posted by tom s

Those exhaust manifolds were approved way back in at least 1961!60 years ago!They had a all alu engine in at least 1959!Tom

I had the pleasure of working on a slant 6 Chrysler engine that was cast in the early 1960's. Aluminum bock and head. So all the OE's were giving a hard look at the new lightweight material for all sorts of uses. The "self porting" idea of the Pontiac exhaust manifolds was a really neat application!

[Hesster1977]

"Track Cats".
Early Super Duty race cars.
From Pontiac Mag Dec '85.

[Hesster1977]

"20 Years of Pontiac"
Part 1

[TRADERMIKE 2012]

Originally Posted by Hesster1977

"20 Years of Pontiac"
Part 1

Mikes Reply:

Some Pontiac Photos to add.

[TRADERMIKE 2012]

Originally Posted by Hesster1977

"20 Years of Pontiac"
Part 1

Mikes Reply:

I found these also.

[TRADERMIKE 2012]

Originally Posted by Hesster1977

"Track Cats".
Early Super Duty race cars.
From Pontiac Mag Dec '85.

Mikes Reply:

I had to read this two times; this is my favorite of your articles so far.
Photo number 2 is how my car will look someday on the next paint job.

1979 Pontiac TA:

[Hesster1977]

The XP833 Concept Car.
A mid 60's Pontiac 2 seater, that bit the dust as the Bean Counters and the Vette Platform said "no way".