As promised, part two of our story on the POCI national convention in Wichita, Kansas will focus on the first generation Firebirds that were on display. Unfortunately, there were only a handful to be found, but what was lacking in quantity, was more than made up for in quality! There were two particularly rare birds in this grouping. The first is a 1967 Ram Air, Plum Mist Firebird that tore-up the track with a heart pounding 12.58 quarter mile time – which was one of the top times for the pure stock class that night.
The second is an ultra-rare, 1969 Ram Air IV, Midnight Green convertible. We did a full story on this (one of 5 known to exist) car back in November when we were fortunate to witness its national unvailing at the MCACN show in Rosemont, Illinois. We posted a video on the car, and enjoyed talking with the man that did the concourse-level restoration, Gary Riley from Level One Restoration in Denver.
This last first generation Firebird at the show was perhaps the best of show and most certainly the rarest of our group. I was fortunate to talk to both the owner and the restorer last year and actually sit in this car. I remember the surreal feeling of being overwhelmed by the new car smell in an almost 50 year-old vehicle, and the absolute perfection of the restoration. Here’s our video of this car from the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals in November.
Want to learn more about these rare beauties? Here’s one of the best articles we know on Pontiac Ram Air engines and cars from our friend, Mike Noun. Special thanks once again to our three members that were at the POCI show; Larry DeLay, Dave Sullivan and Hank Kollross.
Next week our club is heading to Lake Lawn Lodge in Delvan Wisconsin for an enormas car show on the lake. We look forward to bring you that story as we cruise in from all over the Midwest to this event. Stay tuned….
(Story by Ken Pitcher & Larry Delay. Pictures by Larry DeLay, Dave Sullivan and Hank Kollross.)
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