This weekend, our club will be attending the 2014 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals in Rosemont Illinois. Here are just a few of the high-quality first generation Firebirds that we know are going to be there that you won’t want to miss.
Curt Richards will be unveiling the Scott Tiemann’s restoration of the Trans Am prototype developed by Pontiac Engineering. This is an exciting and historically significant car, as there were only two protypes and this is the only one that was not destroyed. This car was used to test the concepts and look of the creation of one of the most iconic high performance brands in automotive history – the Trans Am. To the casual observer, this car looks like a “wanna be” car as the Trans Am was never produced in silver, only white with blue stripes, and they never had the “Firebird” script above the word Trans Am on the front fender. But this car has been highly documented, and it is the real deal. You can learn more by visiting Curt’s Facebook page or Mike Noun’s website. Or see it for yourself on Saturday.
This is the writer Steve Kelly. Steve got the Silver Prototype for 2 weeks after John Delorean called him and asked him to do the Hot Rod magazine article. Steve took the car to Riverside Raceway twice during his time with it.
The Ram Air IV. What makes this restoration unique, is all the one-off parts not used in production.
The cockpit of the Trans Am prototype car.
Gary Riley and Level One Restorations near Denver just completed this full concourse level restoration in time for the unveiling at MCACN. This is one of 17 Ram Air IV Convertible 1969 Firebirds ever produced. What makes this car even more rare, is that it is one of only five made with an automatic transmission, and only two are known to exist today.
We are also fortunate to have a a few of our own Midwest Firebirds’ members displaying their cars at this year’s show.
This is Dave Armstrong’s national award winning 1969 Ram Air III Firebird convertible. Seen here in a picture from Hemmings Muscle Machines November 2011 issue.
Dave’s ‘bird with famed Pontiac race car driver Arnie “The Farmer” Beswick.
Dave was kind enough to share some of his restoration photos with us. Most of the NOS parts that he used in this restoration, were collected over time while he was a Master Pontiac mechanic at Montclair Motor Sales Pontiac Dealership near Chicago.
Dave has been such a fantastic resource to our club, with his wealth of technical knowledge of first generation Firebirds learned from first hand experience at the dealership.
If you’re at the show, take the time and look at every small detail on this car to see exactly what a perfect 1969 Firebird Convertible looks like. Another one of our member’s that will be displaying his Firebird at the MCACN show is Paul Gundberg and his 1968 custom color restomod seen below.
Paul’s 1968 Firebird 400 is all show and go. Not only is this a drop-dead gorgeous restomod show car, but Paul also loves to take it out to local shows and cruises. Here it is on our Summer Country Cruise.
Paul and wife Kelly, on our Fall Colors Cruise to Lake Geneva. Paul chose House of Kolors Pearl Orange paint with Pearl Silver ghost flames on the hood and sides.
Paul started with a real 400 Firebird, and worked it up to over 580 horsepower. With the 4-speed and 4:11 rear end, this car is a true high performance Pontiac!
You’ll want to take a closer look too. This is one of my favorite pictures of Paul’s car wile at the GTOA show in Pontiac Illinois this year.
A great view of the custom wheels and silver pearl ghost flames on the sides.
The final car on our MCACN “Must See” list belongs to club member Scott Shaffer. Scott will be leaving his ’69 Trans Am at home, and opting to show this beautifly restored 1970 Ram Air IV GTO instead. This was a total frame off, no-expense spared restoration done by our friends at Tri-Power in Libertyville Illinois.
This spring, our club was able to see Scott’s GTO under construction at the Tri-Power Open House.
A good look at the Ram Air IV power plant and front assembly in restoration.
All the attention to detail really paid off – Scott’s GTO won Best of Show in its debut at the Crusin Tigers Indian Uprising show this August, and is sure to be in contention for Best of Show at the muscle Car and Corvette Nationals.
If you’re at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals show this week please stop and say hello to any of our members – we always love to take the time when it comes to talking about our favorite muscle cars!
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