[MikeNoun]

I'm in the process of putting together another web page about items seen on Pontiacs (or more specifically restored Pontiacs) that are incorrect, but these items are so common now, that people are beginning to confuse these incorrect items as "correct". A great example of what I'm talking about are the red aftermarket Pontiac air cleaner decals. This wasn't going to be a restoration page, but rather information and pics of frequently misused or misplaced items seen on Pontiacs. I figured it may help a newbie, or perhaps someone who may into other makes (Mopars, Chevys, etc.) but was always curious about what Pontiac guys call their "pet peeves".

Starting the list :

1) Red "Buick" style air cleaner decals
2) 1979 Trans Am's with Olds 403 engines using incorrect "T/A 6.6" shaker decals (400 Pontiac, 4-speed only)
3) 1967-1969 Firebirds, with 1967-1969 Camaro rear spoilers
4) 1969-1971 GTO Judges without Ram Air, or Judges with closed scoops.

Any others? Feel free to post, or PM me with any suggestions!

This will just focus on things that make you grit your teeth at car shows, not items such as incorrect bolts used for intake manifolds or anything like that.

[Bjorn]

none of it peeves me as I see the cars as "personally" adapted....

my pet peeves are more about the people on TV or radio (who SHOULD know better) who cannot speak English and teach our kids to speak wrong!

most of the time using "myself" , and "I" , " like me " etc in the wrong places

[mike nixon]

My biggest one car wise is a Chevy engine in anything that it wasn't OE in. Street Rods included.

People piss me of a lot more than cars ever do!

[Stuart]

Owners who describe their Pontiacs as having 'big block' engines.

[T A 70]

Originally Posted by Stuart

Owners who describe their Pontiacs as having 'big block' engines.

Yeah, that's pretty darn annoying

[Stuart]

Or owners who say they have 'six pack' carburetors.

[66GTO Jim]

Rear sway bars on older GTOs.

[David Jones]

Originally Posted by mike nixon

My biggest one car wise is a Chevy engine in anything that it wasn't OE in.

Top of my list. After that I don't really have a problem with to much. It's your car....have fun.

[428RA4]

From my understanding, the rear wing on a first gen F-body was a Pontiac design and GM corporate insisted that it be released on the Camaro first. Then it was dropped from Pontiac as a Chevy item only per corporate.

[69goatboy]

Older people that absolutely insist that when THEY bought a 69 GTO (just like yours) it cam with a three-deuce 389.

In my case, it's usually a relative that you feel hesitant to correct.

[Coach]

I am guilty of putting one of the red 400-4v stickers on my air cleaner. I saw it on one of the old Pontiac display cards and it looked like it belonged. I have to admit I was warned here that some people don't like them. Sigh........

So I am at a show recently sitting on my little chair chatting with a few folks I had just met. Most people are walking by, stopping, and admiring the GP. Then this one guy and his son stops by and the Dad let's out this stream of vile about what a hack job I have done on the car as witnessed by my use of the sticker. I was so shocked I was speechless, not something that happens often.

I plan to remove the sticker anyhow now that I know it is incorrect since it will cost me points during a concourse show, but people, it was a 5 dollar add on. The rest of the car is really nice, honest. LOL.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Coach

So I am at a show recently sitting on my little chair chatting with a few folks I had just met. Most people are walking by, stopping, and admiring the GP. Then this one guy and his son stops by and the Dad let's out this stream of vile about what a hack job I have done on the car as witnessed by my use of the sticker. I was so shocked I was speechless, not something that happens often.

It's not Pontiac specific, but this is my biggest pet peeve about car shows in general. I see people doing it all the time. I may not like something about a particular car, but the last thing I'm gonna do is say something out loud about it, particularly within earshot of the owner. That's just rude.

[MikeNoun]

I'll definitely add "rear sway bars" to the list! Can't tell you how many times I've seen them on 69-earlier GTO's, and of course on 69 Trans Am's. No Pontiac had a rear sway until 1970.

Once again guys, I'm not referring to when people modify their cars in their own particular way. What I'm trying to get are those items that always seem to appear high-dollar restos, cars that are supposed to be "correct", yet they make the same mistakes over and over again. Seems like these mistakes appear most frequently on "museum" type cars that are for sale (like the Volo Museum), where unsuspecting tire kickers believe everything written in the ad.

Here's a couple more :

"Ram Air" stickers on the hood of GTO, where the scoops are closed.

69 Trans Am or 69 Judge rear spoiler on a regular Firebird or GTO. Nice touch, but many people think that was an option because so many are floating around.

Rally II's on a 65-66 GTO. They look great, and it's a nice touch, but many people may not realize the wheels weren't available until 1967. I actually see a lot of "museum" cars, especially 66 GTO's, with Rally II's.

Can you think of any more?

[David Jones]

Originally Posted by Stuart

It's not Pontiac specific, but this is my biggest pet peeve about car shows in general. I see people doing it all the time. I may not like something about a particular car, but the last thing I'm gonna do is say something out loud about it, particularly within earshot of the owner. That's just rude.

Absolutely! And 99% of those folks drove to the show in their Corolla.......

[Bjorn]

Originally Posted by 428RA4

From my understanding, the rear wing on a first gen F-body was a Pontiac design and GM corporate insisted that it be released on the Camaro first. Then it was dropped from Pontiac as a Chevy item only per corporate.

I dont know if it was a Pontiac design or not, but as I was talking to Bill Porter (designer of the 69 Firebird and other Pontiacs) last week in Estes Park (he was our speaker) I was pointing out my Buick rims and the spoilers as he was looking at my car....my 'add ons' being non Pontiac...he said they found out that the spoilers really worked in the wind tunnels...they gave the better down force , but he never mentioned it being a Pontiac design....neither did he say it was Chevy design.

but since it works , helps at higher speeds I use them as "upgrades"....they DO help quite a bit with steering at speeds over 80 mph .

and if the designer of my car (69 Firebird) has no problems with me adding the spoilers (yes, both!) then who am I to disagree ! LOL...if they look good to him (yes he said so) then they are fine with me! LOL

[Brian Baker]

Heater hoses that have "GM" printed on them every 6 inches...especially when on a car that otherwise appears to be "concours correct".

[boater bill]

I've got a front and rear spoiler and really like the added downforce and looks.
I hate it when a know it all says the OHC-6 is a Chebby 6 cylinder with a different head.

[codyyy]

Pet peeves for me? Chevy people. I don't see why they have to be close-minded a lot of the time. I don't care if your Chevy can stomp my Pontiac. I don't care that you have a Chevy 454 that costs much less to build than a Pontiac engine. I'd rather not take the easy way out.
To be honest I don't understand the deal with rear swaybars on older GTOs. Is it supposed to be a concours thing, or does it have to do with not improving the rear suspension? My '68 will have one, for function. The car will not be correct.

[67 LeMans 326]

I have a few myself. Being a former 68 Firebird owner (10 years), the Camaro front and rear spoilers on first gen birds just drive me nuts (short drive I might ad).

And for an overall pet peeve, white letter tires on ANY car older than 69. And, the number one that gets me the most, non-stock original rims & tires. I just don't get it, I see really nicely restored cars with great big wheels & tires. When asked to judge at shows, I will not choose ANY classic car for an award if it has big ass rims & tires. IMO stock/factory hub caps look better than a big ole Boyd rim or even Craigers for that matter.

Sticking with Pontiac for example, the rims choices are all so nice to choose from steel wheels and dog dishes, Rally I, Rally II, 8-lugs, many hub caps to choose from etc. so why even bother with great big gaudy looking rims when you have so many original designs to choose from that were designed specifically for the car?

If I lived to be a thousand years old there are two things I'll never understand, smoking habit and big rims on classic cars. LOL

[MikeNoun]

I think the Camaro chin front spoiler on a 67-69 Firebird would qualify too. Again, there's nothing wrong with it, but sometimes you see people advertise Firebirds as "nut-and-bolt restorations" or "no expense spared", and they have a chin spoiler.

Just another one of those things where people may wonder whether it's correct or not, because it's such a popular add-on.

The sway bar deal; DeLorean didn't like a rear sway bar because he felt it affected ride quality. When he left Pontiac in 1969, Pontiac adopted rear sway bars for their 1970 models. Oldsmobile used a rear sway on all their 442's, and from 1964-1969, they could always out handle a GTO.