[Big Moe]

Ive talked to Bruce. You are right..it was bought by Ron with no motor,something to due with customs or something and the organizers wanting to get American racers and their car over for the racing. I have some Great pictures of it he sent me on my other computer I will post them.

[70Steve]

Thanks, that would be great. I'll scan the article too, though it wont be today.

[Big Moe]

Steve
From: Bruce Thompson
Hello Curt,

Yes, a Chevy engine since the car arrived in NZ. The 69 T/A season saw all the T/G cars with Chev engines while Pontiac were sorting the 303. As you nop doubt know, the 303 was on the track in '70, but it had terrible reliability problems.

Ron Grable brought my car to NZ in late '71 as part of a deal to bring US racers and cars here to boost the summer (Christmas/New Year vacation time meetings) Two NZ racers had looked at the Firebird in CA but decided against it, Ron was asked to buy this particular car, (without engine) given the money to make the deal, and bring it here.

He did two race meetings, the car was sold to a local racer and it stayed here apart from 3 trips to Australia to race there. The reason being that the car would have been subject to customs import duty, but be re exporting it every year it was not deemed to be a permanent import. The Australian promotors wouold have picked up the shipping as part of the appearance money.

Before you replace the front subframe, just make sure there are no unique T/G parts that could potentially get lost. You are lucky that you can get subframes easily. Apart from that, yes, it is better to have a nice strong subframe. maybe a good welding shop could plate or gusset the area, but if the subframe is just a stock one, it shouldn't be an issue.

I will find some T/G articles that you may or may not have and email them, but it will take a few days.



Bruce.

[ponchjoe]

This is a great thread! Thank you for sharing. I will be following the progression of this car, it is a very interesting piece of Pontiac racing heritage.

[MikeNoun]

Thanks for the info, Moe.

Is there anyway to re-upload those latest pics at a larger size? They seem to be thumbnail-sized, and when I zoom in, they become blocky and blurred.

I believe the main decision to run the Chevy 302 was not only because of reliability problems with the Pontiac 303, but also because the RAV 303 was about 75 hp weaker than the Chevy 302. The team needed track time, so they decided to run a proven engine combo so they could work out the chassis.

[Big Moe]

Try this..

[Big Moe]

More

[MikeNoun]

Much better, thank you!

[keith k]

Cool pics and info. The 69 with 68 nose is an odd looking beast... I can see they did more than the just fit the 68 bumper. The side body lines have been straightened and "connected".

Are any of the T/G '69 T/A race cars still around? (I know a lot of other original Trans Am cars are...).

[MikeNoun]

The cover of the Mid-Ohio program. You can see two 69 Firebirds, both with 68 beaks, one wearing the 1969 Trans Am paint scheme. Those Mustangs were hard to beat....

[Big Moe]

Here are the pics of my subframe and steering box. the "P" stamped number on the box is in 2 places and on the cover 305 8 is stamped. Chip at P\S restoration says that is the three hundred and fifth day of 1968 so that fits my cars 11/68 production. Just hate that the box is cracked.

[Sidponcho]

sorry if this was already posted
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2...ca/?refer=news

[turbo69bird]

Sweet cars and pics.
Having worked w many GT1 teams off and on I've always loved those cars

Paul lane sold one here in CT a few years back

Always thought that platform w one of my turbo set ups would be a killer club event car!
Www.Mayhemturbo.com. All I need now is to hit powerball!

[Big Moe]

Still trying to figure out what this bracket is for in the trunk. It is welded to the floor as if it was factory equiped. Anyone ever seen this?

[R68GTO]

It's for a 2nd spare tire....you know how with a T/A and a posi you burn both year tires to the ground

Seroiusly, have never seen a bracket like that before. With the car being a "pilot" it's hard to tell what they might have had in mind. It's also weird how there is a matching hole thru the trunk floor, like maybe for a wire?

[muscle_collector]

maybe it is for the jack

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by The Boss

I had assumed the wreck in post#4 was your car, but it's a 68 so that's not the silver car you bought -

Sure looks like a '69 to me. You can see the body lines running through the fender and quarterpanel....although it does seem to show a 'shadow' of the '67/'68 louvres on the quarter..I think it's just an illusion.
Also appears to have the earlier Camaro style spoiler?...still, it looks like a '69 to me.

[Big Moe]

Taking it to the next level!!! Going to do a nut-n-bolt restoration on the car. Just was going to install the fresh Ram Air IV and the rebuilt PQ turbo 400 but just couldn't. The car needs tobe perfect so........here we go

[Cammer-6]

I guess you know to buy plenty of memory for your camera and document everything.
You wont find another to compare to.

[boater bill]

Wow, this car which seemed to have been lost is now getting a major rotisserie restoration. Good Luck Moe and keep us up to date with pics!!!