Pontiacs

[oldskool]

I've already mentioned that after the GTO's came out, there were very few big Pontiacs used for class racing.

I posted pics of several late '60's big cars. I forgot to post one that was raced by Jack Matyas. I think it was a '65 model. It ran G/SA. So, as heavy as it was, I'm assuming it had the Tri-Power 421 engine.

Next, I'll take a closer look at the big 4-door Pontiac, known as the "Tijuana Taxi". The best ID I can come up with for it is a '73 Catalina 4-door Sedan. In one pic it was running V/SA. From the Class Racer Info site, it appears as tho it would have had to be running a 2-barrel engine, probably a 350. Not sure of that, at all. Ratings change. So, it may have been a 400 cube Pontiac engine, with a 2-barrel carb.

In another pic, it was running T/SA. So, I assume that either it was running a different engine combo, OR, NHRA gave the engine it was running a big hp hit, after it set a new nat record. Can't say for sure what engine it was running, for either class. Anybody know ?

Pretty sure it was a record holder. Haven't located any exact record numbers. If anybody has 'em, please post.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by oldskool

I've already mentioned that after the GTO's came out, there were very few big Pontiacs used for class racing.

I posted pics of several late '60's big cars. I forgot to post one that was raced by Jack Matyas. I think it was a '65 model. It ran G/SA. So, as heavy as it was, I'm assuming it had the Tri-Power 421 engine.

Next, I'll take a closer look at the big 4-door Pontiac, known as the "Tijuana Taxi". The best ID I can come up with for it is a '73 Catalina 4-door Sedan. In one pic it was running V/SA. From the Class Racer Info site, it appears as tho it would have had to be running a 2-barrel engine, probably a 350. Not sure of that, at all. Ratings change. So, it may have been a 400 cube Pontiac engine, with a 2-barrel carb.

In another pic, it was running T/SA. So, I assume that either it was running a different engine combo, OR, NHRA gave the engine it was running a big hp hit, after it set a new nat record. Can't say for sure what engine it was running, for either class. Anybody know ?

Pretty sure it was a record holder. Haven't located any exact record numbers. If anybody has 'em, please post.

Jack's 'vert was a 389 /338, I believe.

After a certain period in the 70's ,NHRA took the V8's out of V, W...Notice the For Sale sign ,when running T...Again, the Pontiac torque worked well in the "pure stock" Stock early 70's... Carb's too small on the 350s to be a player, with all the phony crap allowed today.

[oldskool]

Another Pontiac body style that hasn't been used much for class racing is the '69-'77 Grand Prix.

I've only run across a pic of one '69 GP. It's not good enuff quality to post.

Although most say the SD455 engine was not available in anything but Firebirds, NHRA allows the '73 SD455 to be run in some '73 Lemans, GTO, Grand Am, & Grand Prix models. Pic #4 below shows the mag cover back when the '73 SD455 GTO was named "Car of the Year". But, they jumped the gun(tripped the red light). Pontiac decided to NOT offer the SD455 in the GTO. Therefore, that mag cover is famous, especially in Pontiac circles.

http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...px?ENGINE=2080

I'll post a pic of a GP that was featured in the H-O Racing Specialties monthly publication "The High Output". It belonged to long time Pontiac racer John Clegg. They ran it with the SD455, at least one race.

There have been some '77 GP's raced. One that has been racing for a long time is still being raced in div 1, by Lauren Kanuik. It still runs safely under it's index. IIRC, it's the same car that was raced by Lindy Lindholm & Don Himes.

The '73-'77 A-bodies are also models that have not been raced a whole lot. But, several of these have done really well. Don Elgin is still racing his, out in the Northwest. Don Turk sold his a couple of years back. But it's still active & the new owner has won races with it. Tommy Brown still races a '74 Lemans out in div 7. Dave Ribeiro has the '77 that Bob Michael built.

And speakin of rare Stockers, how about Bob Michael's '77 Catalina ?

Carroll Warling still races his '74 Lemans, Super Stocker. He held the nat record with it for a while. I think that was in SS/MA, IIRC. He has run it with a Lemans nose & a Grand Am nose. He ran a 400, back then. He's now running in GT, with an iron head 428. Sat he ran a .930 under, 10.94, which was good enuff for the #2 qualifying position. DRC listed his Lemans as a '68. But Norman said that was wrong. It was his '74.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2021#indextop

Many of ya'll will recognize some of the names associated with these cars I'm gonna post pics of.