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Old 12-26-2022, 06:02 PM
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Default March 1970 Super Stock magazine RAIV Trans Am

So I was given a vintage magazine for Christmas and noticed something interesting. It’s a March 1970 Super Stock magazine with articles on the brand new 70 1/2 Firebird lineup. Okay, so it is my understanding that all RAIV Trans Am production took place in July 1970. Maybe my eyes are deceiving me, but that look an awful lot like a RAIV in the TA in the article.

Considering this magazine article is dated 4 months prior to July 1970, what are everyone’s thoughts on the “July 1970 only RAIV production” subject?














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Old 12-26-2022, 06:10 PM
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Last page of the article plus I noticed an ad with “Big Iron” in it, which is a 1969 RAIV GTO or Judge. I’m fairly certain it belongs to a board member here.

Close up of TA engine bay

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1970 Trans Am

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Terminator X sequential EFI fabrication and suspension by
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Old 12-26-2022, 06:22 PM
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round port heads, heat riser on passenger side, i would say its a ra4 too bad there is no pic of the vin.

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Old 12-26-2022, 06:30 PM
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How cool is that!

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Old 12-26-2022, 10:26 PM
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Most all if not all the cars shown from that article are pre-production early press release units. You'll see a few non-production parts on that RAIV TA such as the shaker top. Likely, that TA was converted into a RAIV by the engineering department specifically as a test unit to evaluate RAIV and/or the still born "Super Duty Ram Air" engines.

IIRC, there's an old thread here that states this event was done in December '69 or January '70, since lead time for mags back then was typically 2 to 3 months. A March mag would be on the stands or in the mail the middle of February.

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Old 12-27-2022, 06:44 PM
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Those are some great views of the pre-production shaker that is all rounded in the front with no water drain area. Neat article!

John

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Old 12-27-2022, 07:39 PM
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Pre-production RAIV test mule. Same car was tested by Hot Rod and Motor Trend in the same timeframe. Hot Rod pulled 13.9 out of it in the quarter.

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Old 12-28-2022, 12:03 AM
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Can also spot the dual snork breather pan, and a California Carb .

Weird picture of one car where the passenger door jamb is a different color than the body or rocker panel. No idea on that

Great magazine and a really great gift !

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Old 12-28-2022, 01:13 AM
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I think that door jamb appearing to be a different color is just the lighting.
one of the pilot Formulas was a red automatic car - That’s probably the red car, and the sun is shining off the quarter panel, and not the jamb.

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Old 12-28-2022, 12:39 PM
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I’m uploading the articles in case the image hosting site goes down
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Terminator X sequential EFI fabrication and suspension by
https://www.funkhouserracecars.com/
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Old 12-28-2022, 02:56 PM
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Nice, thanks!

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Old 12-28-2022, 04:13 PM
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that is probably my favourite 1970 Firebird review article.
An interesting one is the Popular Mechanics(!?!) one... lol

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1970 Formula 400
Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior
A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car.
Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left.


1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing)
2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs)
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Old 12-28-2022, 07:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by unruhjonny View Post
that is probably my favourite 1970 Firebird review article.
An interesting one is the Popular Mechanics(!?!) one... lol
X2...

Dennis

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Old 12-29-2022, 02:40 PM
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Feb. 1970 Hot Rod, same pair of Birds. I will try and find Feb 70 Motor trend as well.
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Old 12-29-2022, 05:12 PM
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what confuses matters is that the road tests refer to the RAIV Trans Am as a “ram air; 345hp” car.
Also there was a RAIII Formula in the mix of test cars.
There were also two different Trans Am’s used in magazine testing - the date of the test determined which car was there.

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1970 Formula 400
Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior
A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car.
Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left.


1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing)
2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs)
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Old 12-29-2022, 06:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by unruhjonny View Post
what confuses matters is that the road tests refer to the RAIV Trans Am as a “ram air; 345hp” car.
Also there was a RAIII Formula in the mix of test cars.
I've always believed the 345 horse notation was simply the only info the press had available at the time, quoting the 1969 value for a RAIV Firebird..

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