[oldskool]

'71 Pontiacs

(1) Compression lowered.

(2) 1st year of the the round port 455HO engine. RA4 engine dropped. The 455HO engines have won lots of races, beginning back when they were new.

(3) Last year of the Judge

(4) Completely different hood & nose on GTO.

(5) Some A-bodies were T-37 & GT-37 models. I've seen the T-37 described as a "Poor Man's GTO".

(6) Bird bodies had very few changes. Non-T/A models had short rectangular front fender vents. A 1-year-only item.

There were probably lots of '71 models raced. The most famous T-37 I can think of was raced by Rock Running. It was later raced by Ken Shawver. Don Turk is racing it now.

Most famous '71 GTO had to be the one raced by Mick Leiferman. It was a nat record holder for at least 5 years, & he was RU @ Indy, 3 years in a row.

Scott Underhill held the E/SA record a few years back, in his T-37.

Some of the most famous '71 Birds were raced by Max Sterling, Gary Moore, & the Green Brothers. The Axemakers had a nice '71, driven some buy Sam Reuland, and still active by new owner. Scott Burton may be the most famous Pontiac racer who ever raced a '71 Bird. He actually claimed several year models, with his early '70's Bird. Not sure exactly what year it was, from the factory. For racing purposes, it was pretty easy to change from '70 thru '73 model body, by making just a few minor changes. Don't have a pic of his Bird when he was claiming to have a '71, but there are records of it @ Indy, on DRC.

Here are pics of just 4 A-bodies & 5 Birds.