[Steve Barcak]

I've seen pics of it in his books etc but, they were all black and white. Does anyone remember this car? It had cornering lights in the fenders and a vinyl top which set it apart from most other race GTOs.
I think it was an original Ram Air IV car.
can anyone verify history on this car. What was the original color? Eng? Whereabouts?
This car ran in southern California.
Steve www.pontiacheaven.org

[Steve Barcak]

I've seen pics of it in his books etc but, they were all black and white. Does anyone remember this car? It had cornering lights in the fenders and a vinyl top which set it apart from most other race GTOs.
I think it was an original Ram Air IV car.
can anyone verify history on this car. What was the original color? Eng? Whereabouts?
This car ran in southern California.
Steve www.pontiacheaven.org

[WDCreech]

I don't know, but I was under the assumption that it is the car that Keri Angeles has been racing, and seems to me it was maroon, but I may be thinking of another car.

[tom s]

Keri is racing a 69 firebird.Steve,I see John most every sat.Will ask him if I see him next week.Tom

[WDCreech]

Tom, Did Keri always run the Firebird? On Fulpers film John is show driving a Goat and when Keri's name started showing up I thought she was driving a Goat.

[tom s]

not sure,just know the last few years it is a RA IV SS bird.Tom

[Jim Zeek]

The car is a SS/HA 69 GTO. It is pictured on the front and back cover of Pete McCarthys "Pontiac Musclecar Performance" book. On the front cover is the 69 GTO along with the 69Firebird SS/GA they are currently running. The 69 GTO is white with a wide red stripe that runs down each side of the car and goes acroos the trunk.

[Steve Barcak]

Thanks for the input guys. I am looking for what the original color was and if it was an original Ram Air IV. Also, if anyone knows of its whereabouts. I may have located it here in Az. It should be PHS doc's soon which, of course, will provide some answers. Until then, I thought maybe some of the so Cal set may remember it running Irwindale, OCIR, etc. I think it was owned by John Angeles originally as Tom S refers to. If it is this car, there is a very happy owner. If not, oh well. I just have a hunch it very well could be.
Steve www.pontiacheaven.org
It has/had cornering lights and a vinyl top which is unusual for a race car and unusual for a Ram air IV car..
It had at least two paint jobs prior to the mid/early 80s. There is a b&w pic of it and was featured in one of the old "High Outputs" and in McCarthys first book that came out around 1982. Back before he became "pro corporate".

[Ron]

Keri has always driven the Firebird. She has run in the 9'80's with the car. RAIV headed car. Repainted it last year and looks fantastic. Bill Takanabe and I had a great talk with him at the World Finals...talking about performance differences between D-port and Round port.

I have no idea what has happened to the GTO..wish I did.

[Jim Zeek]

Steve, there are 3 pictures of the 69 SS GTO in the book. In 2 of the pictures it has a vinyl top on it in 2 different colors. The 3rd paint job has no vinyl top. All pics show cornering lights. Unless there were 2 different cars I would say the car has had 3 paint jobs. Pics are on front and back cover, page 79 and page 113.

[Steve Barcak]

Jim,
Your reference is to the 1982 (first) book? I have that book somewhere but, it is buried in my book piles. I haven't seen it in years. If I do remember correctly, all the pics are black and white correct? or do they show color? Thanks, Steve www.pontiacheaven.org

[WDCreech]

Steve, Jim is referring to the second book, Pontiac Muscle Car Performance 1955-1979. Three of the pictures are in color. Only the one on page 79 is b&w.

[Paul Spotts]

just give Pete McCarthy a call - he can tell you - he may even have the VIN number

[9 sec TA]

steve, I just got off the phone with john angeles, found out everything, hope your sitting down! john angeles baught the 69 ram air 4 gto july 7 1969 from LOUIS FRAHM PONTIAC in the city of downey calif. it costs 4279.62 the car was a 4 speed ram air 4 with 4.33 gears hood tach, gauges and was triple black! black int, black vinyl top, black ext. he put $800.00 down, his payments were $128.00 a month for 36 months. he drove it around for a couple of months and then started racing it in D/STOCK for two years. jardin and doug thorly used his car to make the first round port race headers! then john turned it into a SS/HA car. he did not cut the car up at all, best time was a 10.77 at freemont raceway, around 76/77 era. sold it to pete macarthy, car was then painted silver and had no vinyl top. car had hide away lites but john took them out for weight. then pete sold it years later to dick mire henry, this guy destroyed the car, striped it, put a big block chevy in it and raced the livin **** out of it! when john and his wife melinda saw the car again at some race, they almost cryed john could not belive what he did to that car! then he sold it to MONTE LEE in tulsa ok, he is putting the car back togather 100% original, john has helped him out with the pink slip, and paper work that he still had. john still has the sales paper work, melinda found it wile we were talking, the vin no.242379Z119981 MONTE LEES address is 14934 east 13st tulsa ok.74108 i hope this will help you guys out. lol charlie k455@aol.com

[rumair]

that's great info!

i guess it answers steve's questions.

[bmpmdf]

And people ask me why I enjoy putting a Pontiac engine in a chevy!!! At least this GTO is returning to what it should be. That is cool info.

[Guy Mazza]

...cool story!

[65madgoat]

https://www.hemmings.com/auction/196...ook-ok-571251?

[Jack Ferris]

I wonder where the engine/trans ended up.

[Tom Vaught]

Originally Posted by Ron

Keri has always driven the Firebird. She has run in the 9'80's with the car. RAIV headed car. Repainted it last year and looks fantastic. Bill Takanabe and I had a great talk with him at the World Finals...talking about performance differences between D-port and Round port.

I have no idea what has happened to the GTO..wish I did.

I miss seeing Ron and Bill when they came to the events at Butler's Tennessee drag strip years ago. Ron passed WAY too soon. Not sure of Bill's status.

Tom V.

An oldie but goody post by the way.