Best Pontiac Powered Stockers

[oldskool]

While lookin thru the Petersen archives for the '72 Indy race, I kept noticing pics of this early '70's T/A.

But, the pics weren't made at the Indy track.

And, although the section was for something that happened in around the 1st of Sept, 1972, the shaker scoop has SD-455 decals on it. But, the 1st year of SD-455 cars were '73 models. Don't think any SD-455 powered Birds would have been sold by Indy race time.

So, I concluded that the Bird in the pics must have been a test car of some type. So, I posted the pics on the PY Pontiac forum, asking for info.

Sure enuff, some of the members were familiar with the car. It was indeed one of the "mule" cars which was used for testing SD-455 engines, and other parts.

The pics show that it had a trunk mounted fuel tank, with the filler neck coming right up thru the trunk lid. Also had lots of small vent holes in the tail panel.

These pics are obviously in b&w. The car was actually gold colored.

Any of ya'll familiar with this car ?

[oldskool]

Here's a colored pic of the SD-455 T/A test mule.

It is said that this Bird was later destroyed, rather than being sold. Can't verify.

More info & pics:

https://www.yenko.net/forum/showpost...3&postcount=15

[oldskool]

2 Pontiac Stocker combos will get a 5hp reduction for next season. These are hp factor reductions NHRA granted, which were requested.

Pont 455 335 330 325 1971 T-37

Pont 455 360 335 330 1970 GTO

(1) Don Turk has the only 455HO powered '71 T-37 Stocker I I know of. It was made famous as the "Super Sleeper", raced by Rock Running, back in the '70's. Then Ken Shawver ran it some. IIRC, I read that Danny Ashley made some upgrades to it. But Don Turk has it now.

(2) Todd Kuhn has the only 455 powered '70 GTO Stocker I know of.

Don't know how much 5hp will help these guys. But, they can at least run the same class, at a slightly lower weight.

Somebody requested a reduction for the '69 GTO 366hp RA3 engine. But that request was denied. Don't know of anybody running this combo, in recent years. Assume the hp factor has never changed from the factory 366hp rating. IMO, it's way too high. The VERY similar 350hp engine has an hp factor of 325hp. That's probably competitive. 366hp is not. I assume somebody wants to race a '69 Judge tribute car, without having to run the rare & expensive RA4 heads.