Best B.O.P. stock and super stockers of all time

[oldskool]

That brings us up to the model year 1977. Have been lots of '77 Stock/SS Pontiacs. The '77 & '78 Birds are very similar. I've noticed that back in the early 2000's, there were quite a few Bird Stockers, listed as '78 models. In recent years, they're all listed as '77's. This is probably due to changes in NHRA hp factors for the '78 model. Anyhow, until the hp factor for the Firebird '77 180hp 400 was jacked up to over 280, the '77 Birds were real competitive. Nowadays, those '77 Birds are obviously not near as competitive as they were.

http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...4&MAKE=Pontiac

Going back & lookin thru the DRC files for the US Nats, reveals several real competitive '77 & '78 Birds. The 1st one I see was driven by Bob Michael in '98. He was #12 & won the M/SA class. Don Holmes was #29 on that list.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r1998#indextop

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r1998#indextop

2 of the quickest '77-'78 Bird Stockers were driven by Dave Edwards & Don Holmes. The Dave Edwards T/A may have been the same one Bob Michael ran in '98. Somebody may have posted that on the Pontiac Stocker thread. Anyhow, those 2 were near the top of the Q-list, several times. Also got several class wins. Here's an example. They qualified in the top 5, & both won their class at Indy, 2000. Notice also that there were 5 Pontiacs in the top 15, including 3 class winners. Hey, that means that Pontiac powered cars made up 1/3 of the top 15 ! Kyle Riley was also on the list, with a '77 Lemans.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2000#indextop

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2000#indextop

There were some competitive '77 Lemans Stockers, as well as a GP & a Catalina. Don Himes won the P/SA class in '03, in a '77 GP. Dave Edwards won J/SA. Scott Burton & Mike McGinley also won class that year.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2003#indextop

Some other Bird drivers I saw on the Indy Q-lists were: Dave Batta, Peter & Sal Biondo, Dave Ribeiro, & Paul Dilcher, just to name a few. I also noticed that Ryan Warter drove Bill Edgeworth's '77, in '08. Was #10 & won the K/SA class. I think that car was a nat record holder.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2008#indextop

Think I counted 12 Pontiac powered Stockers on the '04 Q-list.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2004#indextop

Mike Morgan has done good with the Sal Piacentini 350 powered '77 SS Bird, having won class & RU in class, to Bill Rink, a couple of times.

Possibly the winingest SS Bird was the '78 T/A, driven by Ken Shawver, Monte Howard, & Jack Good. Ken was #1 qualifier & SS/KA class winner @ Indy, in '05 !

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2005#indextop

[oldskool]

As mentioned, there have been some competitive '77 Lemans, GP, & Catalina models.

I mentioned the GP, driven by Don Himes, now driven by Lauren Kanuik. She's actually driving at the Dutch Classic, today, & picked up the O/SA class win.

https://www.nhra.com/results/2021/lu...-eliminator/c1

Bob Michael built & raced a Lemans & a Catalina. He sold the Lemans to Dave Ribeiro.

Kyle Riley drove a Lemans. I think it was one of those cars which has changed hands several times. Seems that the story has been told that Kyle's Lemans was damaged. Dean Ribeiro sold him a nice body, which he used to rebuild his Stocker. I think the Stephenson family had one, maybe the same car ? Jack Larson ended up with the Kyle Riley car. Then he sent it down to one of his kin, in Louisiana, who later passed away. Don't know who has the car now.

Will put together some pics of these cars, & any other info I find.

[DeuceCoupe]

I'm hunting for info on John Sargi's Pontiac (year unknown but 1967 or older) that won B/SA at the 1967 NHRA Winternationals.

I've guessed a 67 GTO RamAir1 but that's a total guess.

[oldskool]

Originally Posted by DeuceCoupe

I'm hunting for info on John Sargi's Pontiac (year unknown but 1967 or older) that won B/SA at the 1967 NHRA Winternationals.

I've guessed a 67 GTO RamAir1 but that's a total guess.

Sorry, never heard that name.

The '65 Tri-Power GTO's ran B/S. But, I doubt anybody ran a 2-speed auto Goat at the Winter Nats.

So, I'd guess a '67 GTO, OR a big 421SD car. Have seen those cars from A/SA down to D/SA.

But, the Limelighter '67 RA GTO is said to have run D/S, in '68. So, I don't know if one could have run B/SA in '67, or not.

[DeuceCoupe]

Originally Posted by oldskool

Sorry, never heard that name.

The '65 Tri-Power GTO's ran B/S. But, I doubt anybody ran a 2-speed auto Goat at the Winter Nats.

So, I'd guess a '67 GTO, OR a big 421SD car. Have seen those cars from A/SA down to D/SA.

But, the Limelighter '67 RA GTO is said to have run D/S, in '68. So, I don't know if one could have run B/SA in '67, or not.

Thanks.
I sorta used that same logic. The 66 GTO also fits class but I figured with no hi stall converters, nobody would run the powerglide.

The CURRENT NHRA class guide only allows the 421/405hp-SD in the Catalinas. Not even the Grand Prix, even though 16 total 421SD Grand Prix cars were made factory. Even the Grand Prix IF the 421SD was legal, still has W/P=9.47, too light. If I add 56 lb for a Hydramatic, then the Grand Prix fits at W/P=9.60, but I didnt think they came with the Hydramatic.

I've never heard of the 421SD being NHRA legal in heavier cars eg Bonneville etc, but if so, that would fit at W/P=9.76.

[oldskool]

",,,nobody would run the powerglide..."

You probably already know this. But, since you are lookin for some hard-to-find racing details, you may wanna keep it in mind for future posts.

The '64-'66 GTO's did NOT run a Powerglide.

It was a BOP 2-speed. I think Olds called it a "Jetaway", Buick called it a "Super Turbine 300", & I don't know that Pontiac even had a name for it. They could use a TH350/TH400 type converter. I think there were some switch-pitch converter models, also. I realize that some people call all GM 2-speeds Powerglides.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Turbine_300

Pontiac DID use a dual-pattern PG in, I think it was '70 & '71. I bought a Bird with one in it, from a U-Pull-It yard. Also saw one in a Lemans.

[oldskool]

OK, here's a partial answer to the question.

Some of the '67 GTO's did run B/SA.