1969 Trans Am
 

"NHRA Tech Department makes changes to the Stock Car Classification Guide

April 18, 2018

The NHRA Technical Department recently made changes to the Class Guide.

Pontiac 1969 added Trans Am"

http://www.nhraracer.com/content/gen...695&zoneid=132

How many of these cars were made?

Re: 1969 Trans Am
 

According to Google, 697 were built.

Re: 1969 Trans Am
 

Growing up, there was one around the corner from my house. I used to walk by it on my way to basketball practice and drool. It was a 4 spd. I've mentioned it to some of the older car guys here. Many remember it but nobody can recall the owners name. -Al

Re: 1969 Trans Am
 

In the summer of 69 (love that song by Bryan Adams) I started working the wash rack at the Local Pontiac/Buick dealership.Many performance Pontiacs and Buicks went thru there, and one in particular stood out.One salesman who had a fast 68 FireBird drag car, ordered any performance Pontiac as soon as they were available from GM.One day that summer a 69 TA showed up.It was very popular,and was test driven often until the owners son took it out after hours and had a little accident with it.He took it out to the local 1/4 mile testing grounds called the cabin to the tracks .It ended on its roof,and in the body shop for major repairs, as the roof in one area was crushed down to the headrests on the bucket seats.The car was repaired and as I remember they changed the paint from white ,to blue.It was sold later(did the new owner know of the repairs? I have no idea).I was told it was documented in a book about the 69 Trans Ams,and was for sale in the back of a 1970s HotRod magazine..I hope it does survive today.

Re: 1969 Trans Am
 

I bought a wrecked one back in 1979 , Ram III , 4spd . Stripped it and went to the scrapper . Of course I wished I kept it now . With all the parts available at NPD , it would be cool for someone to clone one for Stock !

Re: 1969 Trans Am
 

Don't get excited anyone.
Yes, the hood is different. Any better? Who knows?
Ram Air IV not available. D port rated the same!
Thanks for nothing.

Re: 1969 Trans Am
 

Hey Mark , I checked my Firebird history book and it said 46 of the 697 Trans Am's came with the Ram Air IV engine . Or are you saying NHRA doesn't recognize that combo ?

Re: 1969 Trans Am
 

Not shown on Dwight's site .
The 345 is round port.
The 335 is D port.

Re: 1969 Trans Am
 

Hey Yak, surely someone in the know can get it in and at 225HP to boot.

Re: 1969 Trans Am
 

It is interesting to me that these now have become a separate "model". When they were first available, they were just a separate package option on a standard Firebird like a Z28 package on a Camaro. Now, 50 years later they are their own identity with a different shipping weights. I would like to see the documentation that verifies the shipping weights. 3450 for the coupe and 3600 for the convertible sounds too "rounded off" for the data of those days.

Re: 1969 Trans Am
 

A friend of mine who had his own body shop redid a white with blue stripes 1969 Trans Am for a father who's son had died many years ago. I don't recall the engine/ trans that was in it, all I recall is he was amazed and greatful with the finished product.

Dwight, the same situation exists with a 1986/1987 Grand National, it is only a trim package on a Regal which includes a turbocharged engine, black only paint, special wheels and seat trim. A T-Type is the same thing, including the Black T-Type package. What is different is the T-Types have aluminum wheels. Cars randomly had aluminum bumper supports and brake drums which I doubt are noted in the shipping weights.

Re: 1969 Trans Am
 

Back a about 5 years ago I did a Muncie rebuild for a guy that was restoring a 69 Trans Am about 2 blocks from My house in Wisconsin. Ram IV, white and blue, numbers matching, really solid car, kind of a barn find but better stored. When car was done it was a beautiful, rare car. Went to auction somewhere in South Carolina.

Dirk
A/S 5036

Re: 1969 Trans Am
 

Much like the Buick GN, which was only available in black, the 1969 Trans Am's were only available in white with the blue stripes. I don't think most people realize that...useless info of the day...

Re: 1969 Trans Am
 

pontiac listed shipping weight on a RA IV coupe at 3319 and a conv. at 3602--- hoods and front fenders are definitely different also on the Trans Am vs a regular Firebird the whole nose might be unless it was just painted--- probably was the Enduro bumper not a Steel/plastic one--FED 387

Re: 1969 Trans Am
 

The fender scoops are bolt on, over the originals, I believe.
The rear spoiler is TA only, and as mentioned, the hood.
Definitely available with the RA IV. The RA III is also open hood.
Somebody out there is confused. What's new, right?

Re: 1969 Trans Am
 

Question is : Is this right or wrong and not better or not right?
I thought we all now could come together and clean up all the makes without parity!

p.s. How many will be built?

Re: 1969 Trans Am
 

Yup. And you mentioned the one that throws the most people for a loop- any black-colored '86-'87 Regal T-Type is automatically assumed to be a Grand National, just because it's black and has the intercooled turbo 3.8.

Re: 1969 Trans Am
 

I can't tell you how many times when getting coffee at McDonalds the girls at the drive thru windows would tell me their boyfriends had a "Monte Carlo" just like mine...
(It dropped off nearing the end of the 25 years I owned it:-)