Lordstown Ohio Plant

1969z280 · #1 09-17-2008, 12:50 AM

I just bought a 1969 Ram Air III 4-Speed Firebird and it was built at the Lordstown, Ohio Plant. I have had a number of Firebirds and still do. All of them are either Van Nuys or Norwood Cars. These two are my girls and are both Norwood.

[image]

[/image]

Were most of the Ohio built Firebirds from the Lordstown Plant? Or are they pretty rare birds?

Ed

**Mr. Chevy** · #2 09-17-2008, 12:54 AM

Wow, I did not know Pontiacs were built there.. Thought it was only Chevy Stuff. A friend of mine worked there back in the 70s and he was building the Vegas there... Thats interesting.. I'll have to ask him about that next time I see him... That place is now a Saturn Plant...

Rich

1969z280 · #3 09-17-2008, 01:04 AM

You're right they refitted the plant to build Vegas in the 70's. I found that out through a Google Search.

One of the interesting things that I found was in my Firebird Redbook they write, "The 1969 Firebirds were also built at an additional location: the Norwood, Ohio plant." I read this as though the majority were built at Lordstown and I have never seen one before.

FYI, The middle character in the VIN is "U" for Lordstown and the cowl tag shows "LOR" for Lordstown.

**Mr. Chevy** · #4 09-17-2008, 01:05 AM

Thats cool.. Sounds like it might be a "rare bird"

Rich

1969z280 · #5 09-17-2008, 01:11 AM

Rich:

According to the PHS, they built less than 1500 Ram Air III 4-Speed Firebirds and over 500 of those were Trans Ams. So, it's already pretty rare but, the Lordstown thing has me scratchin' my head.

Ed

**Mr. Chevy** · #6 09-17-2008, 01:14 AM

A friend of mine I work with is finishing the resto. on a 1970 GTO Ram Air IV car which I was told is also pretty rare.. He has owned the car since high school and a couple of years ago found the numbers block for the car in the Akron, Ohio area... Car is very cool.. I don't know too much about Pontiacs.. I'll tell him about your car.. He is a big Pontiac Buff..

Rich

1969z280 · #7 09-17-2008, 03:36 AM

Thanks Rich. I'd be curious what he knows about them. I've always wanted to own a Ram Air IV car but every one I go to see has already lost it's motor. Ed

**CC Rider** · #8 09-17-2008, 04:17 AM

Nice Birds!

1969z280 · #9 09-18-2008, 12:55 AM

Thanks. I also found out some more info on Lordstown on the PY site. Apparently, I must have owned a number of these cars as Pontiac did not move Firebird production to Norwood until April of 1968. I guess that I just didn't notice back in the day as I had a number of 67 and 68s. The only 68 that I have now in a Van Nuys car. Ed

six-corners · #10 09-19-2008, 10:01 AM

I had a 69 Firebird that was built at the Lordstown Plant. It was just a standard 350 model out of the factory. I specifically remember the LOR and being somewhat disapointed it was not built at the nearby Norwood plant.