1969 RAIV Bird converts

[yellowjudge]

HI Mike, Did the article listed color of the auto car? I know of a yellow one.

[StealthBird]

I'd have to check the article again when I get home tonight. I recall the photos looked like it was a dark colored car. There was a shot of the Firebird at highway speed, and it took up the classic 69 Firebird stance. Squatting in back. It may have had a trunk full of test equipment, I'm not sure.

[StealthBird]

The article was from a 1969 issue of "Supercars", and was reprinted in the "Firebird and Trans Am Portfolio 1967-1972". The color of the car is unfortunately NOT mentioned, but it does NOT appear to be white or yellow, judging by the black & white photos. The article states their test car had redlines.

Comments made by the testers were critical of the fact that Pontiac didn't offer a/c with the RAIV engine. Their test car had the TH400, 3.90 gears, P/S, PDB, etc. They loved the stacked in-dash gauges, but criticized the hood tach, saying it was hard to read in the rain (do you NEED to see your tach in the rain?) , and their hood tach was stolen off their car while they were in a restaurant in New York City. They also mentioned the throttle stop (held the Q-Jet to 3/4 throttle so it wouldn't outrun the Goat) held their test car back to the tune of 14.21 at 103 mph. Their car also had a mere 200 miles on the odometer, and they said the engine was still "tight". Gas mileage was 8 mpg city, 13 mpg highway.