[jmt455]

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...ed-voe-option/



Looks like the real deal.
With a build date in early March of 1970, it must have been one of the latest VOE cars built.

[padgett]

Note the VOE knob and bracket. Is why it could not be ordered on a car with RA. Have never seen a bracket with two knobs.

[jmt455]

As a GM licensee I was able to request GM drawings when we (Waldron's Exhaust) were reproducing the VOE mufflers and control systems.

There was an engineering change to the under-dash Ram Air bracket that added 2 holes along the upper edge of the bracket. Those holes were added to allow the installation of a second mounting "tab" to allow the installation of the VOE switch on a Ram Air equipped car.

As I understand it, VOE was never offered with Ram Air because there was insufficient vacuum at idle to operate the actuators. BUT, the car in the "Humbler" commercial was equipped with Ram Air AND VOE controls on the under-dash bracket. It can be seen when the driver reached down to activate the VOE switch.

I installed a system on a RA IV car for an article written in High Performance Pontiac by Paul Zazarine. The muffler actuators could not fully open the bypass valves until the engine was operated off-idle for a few seconds.

[JSchmitz]

Sounds like a simple solution would have been to add a larger diameter actuator.

[padgett]

Interesting. My RA (not III) Judge has plenty of vacuum at idle even with a 744 cam. Power Brakes use A Lot of vacuum. RA IV or V maybe...

Be interesting to know the date on the 2 hole drawing revision. Was a '70 thang only and AFAIR 233 were installed. Memory (no guarentee) was that it used a special muffler and were not available for very long.

Have a couple of cut-outs but they go in the exhaust pipe.

[einstein]

Quite a car. No mention of the reclining seat.

[OG68]

Found this in the 69 Assembly manual, dated July 17, 68. Approved Sept 68.
Why didn't the VOE get released for the 69 models?
They show two brackets for the vacuum knob. With and without T42 (Hood Air Inlet)
T42 doesn't appear on the 69 option list I have but it does for 70 models. Standard with the Ram Air engines, optional with the 455

['ol Pinion head]

Originally Posted by jmt455

As a GM licensee I was able to request GM drawings when we (Waldron's Exhaust) were reproducing the VOE mufflers and control systems.

There was an engineering change to the under-dash Ram Air bracket that added 2 holes along the upper edge of the bracket. Those holes were added to allow the installation of a second mounting "tab" to allow the installation of the VOE switch on a Ram Air equipped car.

As I understand it, VOE was never offered with Ram Air because there was insufficient vacuum at idle to operate the actuators. BUT, the car in the "Humbler" commercial was equipped with Ram Air AND VOE controls on the under-dash bracket. It can be seen when the driver reached down to activate the VOE switch.

I installed a system on a RA IV car for an article written in High Performance Pontiac by Paul Zazarine. The muffler actuators could not fully open the bypass valves until the engine was operated off-idle for a few seconds.

Yes, have examined an original RA cable bracket with the tab for the VOE switch. Came out the Arlington Parts Distribution facility in the 80's. Looking forward to pics of a very special RA car factory built with VOE coming very soon.

[OG68]

Strange, photos were attached last night.

[jmt455]

Lots of action on this auction.

At 11:00 pm ET, October 30:
CURRENT BID: $110,000 ENDS IN: 6 days

[turbo69bird]

Didn’t the 1970 TV comercial show it on a car with ram air ?
I don’t know squat about this option just feel like I remember there being a silver 70gto w ram air and this option. I never knew it was even ever sold. Very cool option.

Found it:


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7JNj9sEdPF0

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by jmt455

As a GM licensee I was able to request GM drawings when we (Waldron's Exhaust) were reproducing the VOE mufflers and control systems.

There was an engineering change to the under-dash Ram Air bracket that added 2 holes along the upper edge of the bracket. Those holes were added to allow the installation of a second mounting "tab" to allow the installation of the VOE switch on a Ram Air equipped car.

As I understand it, VOE was never offered with Ram Air because there was insufficient vacuum at idle to operate the actuators. BUT, the car in the "Humbler" commercial was equipped with Ram Air AND VOE controls on the under-dash bracket. It can be seen when the driver reached down to activate the VOE switch.

I installed a system on a RA IV car for an article written in High Performance Pontiac by Paul Zazarine. The muffler actuators could not fully open the bypass valves until the engine was operated off-idle for a few seconds.

Here's a picture of The Humblers Ram Air pull cable bracket with said 'holes' for mounting the VOE bracket. I took lots of pictures of this car in it's as-found condition at the 2019 MCACN show.

Turbo69bird, It's a RAIV car with a '69 RAIV engine since it was very pre-production.

Dennis

[turbo69bird]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

Here's a picture of The Humblers Ram Air pull cable bracket with said 'holes' for mounting the VOE bracket. I took lots of pictures of this car in it's as-found condition at the 2019 MCACN show.

Turbo69bird, It's a RAIV car with a '69 RAIV engine since it was very pre-production.

Dennis

Tanka’s for the info and the pictures that is one cool car . Too bad it got to that point. Happy someone saved it and displayed it I that configuration though it’s it’s history . Very cool car . Curious does the PHS show it as a RAIV since it was pre production or was it a drop in by engineering or something. I’m sure it probably does but figured I’d ask .

[SD455DJ]

I don't have a copy of it's PHS, nor do I remember seeing one, not that it doesn't exist. This was the pilot car for the 1970 model year and also double dutied for the commercial it is well known for now, cruising through the drive-in and opening op the VOE exhaust. It has lots of '69 parts/pieces since it was Body 001 (!) and assembly the 3rd week of May, 1969. There is original silver paint below the blue re-spray on the nose. There a many more people that know a lot more than I do about this car. I believe it is going to be one of the unveilings at this years MCACN, restored by Gary Riley at Level One in Colorado. It is a very cool and historic GTO and amazingly still has it's original '69 drivetrain.

Dennis

[turbo69bird]

I was under the impression level one wasn’t doing anything but brothers cars anymore
Or is this a brothers car

Man I like
See that car just the way it was when you took those pictures . It’ll be great restored too but that’s so cool too .especially the RAIV engine in that state . Good stuff!

[SD455DJ]

Level One has 6 unveilings at MCACN this year out of 25 planned (4-Pontiacs, 1-Yenko Camaro, and a R/T convert), none are The Brothers cars. This is in the MCACN Pre-show catalog that was sent out last week. The "Humbler", a '70 Judge, and RAII & RAIV Birds. Gary's been real busy the past couple years!

Dennis

[turbo69bird]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

Level One has 6 unveilings at MCACN this year out of 25 planned (4-Pontiacs, 1-Yenko Camaro, and a R/T convert), none are The Brothers cars. This is in the MCACN Pre-show catalog that was sent out last week. The "Humbler", a '70 Judge, and RAII & RAIV Birds. Gary's been real busy the past couple years!

Dennis

That’s really cool can’t wait to see what they’ve put together. Happy to see some new stuff coming out of that shop.

[turbo69bird]

Found this posted in 2019


Truly an incredible find. The car has 4 invoices; factory company car, engineering, Pittsburgh Zone tagged as a Display car, then sold to a dealership in Pennsylvania.

Body # 001, built in May 1969. All the components are dated pre-May 1969. RAIV engine and trans do not have VINS. Also has VOE (not on the invoice). The car was updated to 1970 MVSS specs when it was shipped to the Pittsburgh Zone Office. Pontiac built five 1970 A-body pilot cars, one of which was this Palladium Silver RAIV GTO. The pilot car can also be seen in the factory 1970 Pontiac high performance brochure, and was road tested in the Sept 1969 edition of Motor Trend.

Cool stuff, and amazing how the owner stumbled upon this significant piece of GTO history.

Mike

[Forrest]

Hey Guys.Have not posted on here for quite some time..Still alive and kick'n!. yeep! That's one of the cars I restored back in 2012 I think..( pic. attached when I finished it) I talked to Ron..( the guy that bought it)..about a week ago.. first time I have seen the car since I sold it.. It WAS a # 1 "correct" car then.. He did add some of his preferences since then!.( red st. wheel..air dam. reclining seat..rear wing..many others also).Anyway selling for abit more than I sold it to him for.. that's great!..Nice to see it again though!.. I wish I could have known the future when I sold the 1972 lemans GT 455 H/O ram air ragtop 1 of 5 cars a couple of years ago.. market was somewhat down... oh well!... Hope you all are doing great.. I'm semi retired!!?? LOL...

[Forrest]

another..interior..