GTO + Motion = ?

[Steve_Hoog]

I found this old pic in an old magazine, I think I saw some one else in a different area post a 67 with Motion ties. Was this a common thing for them to pick up on a Pontiac?

[Steve_Hoog]

NOW this is a SUPER CHEVY

Article says low 9's, better not take granny to the store in this ole Nova. She would have a heartattack.

[Steve_Hoog]

Anyone know what that rear plate on the GTO means, starts off with GM...?

[JoeC]

what does the plate frame say?

[copo9566aa]

All SuperCars is welcome to Motion Performance Club /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Steve_Hoog]

The frame says "Royal" on the bottom, can't read the top. The plate is "GM0275" and "Great Lake State", there is more on the top but can't make it out. Probably manufacturing plates. There is also a Motion sticker one valve cover. I'm scanning the article now and should have most of it up on my web site later today, AWESOME magazine!!!! Nov 68 Hi-Performance, tons of Super Car stuff.

[copo9566aa]

Royal VS Royal /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Steve_Hoog]

You know it's only a Ramair II car, but I bet some one got their butt in trouble for letting a snapshot be taken with those plates on a car that was being tested at a drag strip.

[Steve_Hoog]

HOLLY COW, your Firebird has the GM plates too leaving the line.

Just remember the Pontiac was NOT involved with drag racing.

[442w30]

Take it this is your site?

http://www.empgmc.com/race.htm

[Steve_Hoog]

That is a page from my dealership site, yes.

[copo9566aa]

Royal VS Royal front /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif
You,re invited to a
Pontiac Performance Party!
Best time for the Firebird 400 12.75 @ 110.88
Best time for the big 2+2 13.37 @ 106.01

[Steve_Hoog]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

Any idea what was in the Bird?

[copo9566aa]

a 400 with Ram-Air Package and Bobcated ($225,00)
325 HP but NHRA /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif 360 HP A/S Class
Headers
Muncie C.R. (Hurst Shifter added standard on GTO but not in Firebird )
3.90
Cheater Slick /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif
13.37 @ 106.1 for the Bobcat GTO

[Steve_Hoog]

Ramair II? or just cold air induction?

[Vern B]

In that era Michigan plates began with two alphabetic characters followed by four numbers. It's probably just a coincidence that these plates began with GM. The manufacturer plates had an M in the middle of several numbers, similar to copo9566aa's post of the car with the dealer plate. The car in copo9566aa's post was probably driven to the track from Royal Pontiac with the dealer plate. I think Motown has had an M plate or two for sale in the past. We used to always be on the lookout for M plates when cruising the Drive-In's on Woodward Ave back in the 60's. Saw some neat cars back then if you kept your eyes open. The M plate cars always attracted attention. I still watch for them today, as I live in an area of Michigan that is used extensively for testing and filming commercials.

Vern Bauer

[copo9566aa]

No mention of Ram-Air II
The Ram-Air II in Firebird not started in May 68.??
The first Ram-Air II Firebird rolled off the assembly line on may 20 1968.

[Steve_Hoog]

Shewwww wee, you got me on that one. I know Gary has several of both, I'll see what he says.

[Steve_Hoog]

He says that's about right, most of the stuff was cast starting D228.

[copo9566aa]

About these GM plate
This is not a Michigan Dealer plate but a GM corporate licence plate.
GM used these plate for prototype test cars. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[copo9566aa]

About the 68 1/2 GTO Ram-Air IV prototype. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

While the Ram Air IV engine option
was a 1969 GTO release, Pontiac Engi-
neering and the Jim Wangers connected
Royal Pontiac Agency had pre-produc-
tion versions on the road from the day
the 1968 GTO went on sale. The car fea-
tured here (shown on the drag strip) was
one of the Pontiac Engineering proto-
types. It had been. shipped to New York
City for testing by Cars Magazine. Note
the GM corporate license plates. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif
But the pic is too dark /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[copo9566aa]

Royal and Motion /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[Steve_Hoog]

In the article I have, they make special mention this car had been around the world (so to speak) and several different engines it.

[Vern B]

I've never seen the factory use a plate like that. All the one's I've seen in the past and still see today for the prototype vehicles have an M in the middle. We still have
dealer plates like this one in use today. The other reason I think it is a dealer plate and not a factory plate is because it has the Royal frame around the plate, which leads me to believe the car already is a Royal inventory car. I've never seen a M (factory) plated car with any sort of dealer logo on it. Just my experiences with the factory cars I've seen over the years.

Vern Bauer

[copo9566aa]

Possibly many type of M plate for show or test or other reason.??
The 67 GTO GM XXXX /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif
The 67 Firebird GM XXXX /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif
The 68 GTO GM XXXX /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif
and this 69 Trans-Am probably the proto. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif
this is new for me too.

[copo9566aa]

Set of prototype Ram-Air IV used on the prototype car. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

(PS) cool Green VS Green Yenko Camaro shootoot in this review. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Steve_Hoog]

Interesting, these round ports have the dummy hole over the exhaust crossover like the late model Pontiacs heads.

Could those possibly be 73 SD heads? The pre dummy hole intakes won't work on this type head, I think the dummy hole appeared along with the EGR valve. Totally not sure here, set me straight.

Awesome pic of the 69TA...... What is up with the plates?

[Bobcat]

The connection, Royal Pontiac/ Motion Performance was through CARS MAGAZINE. Jim Wangers would supply the cars to Joe Oldham For articles to be published the magazine. Joe would then take the Pontiac's, GTO's Firbirds etc. to Joel Rosen at Motion to attend to the cars. After all the cars had been driven to NY from Detroit ad Joe felt they would need a tune up. The cars where generally returned to Royal broken. Specific tune up instuction accompanied the cars along with mounted slicks in the trunks. Other than the CARS MAGAZINE/ Joe Oldham connection, there really wasn't anything else.

[tjs44]

those are 455 heads,look at the missing header bolt

[copo9566aa]

This is a remake of the original "HP Cars" test
Possibly the author hack a little bit and ad this picture
to the article. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif
This is not new with MuscleCars SPS. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/headbang.gif

[copo9566aa]

Full page 2 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif
Judge by yourself..... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Steve_Hoog]

I just looked at a set of 73 SD's in a pic, they don't have the dummy hole and they have the fifth altenator bracket hole boss.

Another pic has the II's, they look just like your pic but they don't show the intake side. Without the fifth hole boss.

Assuming these pics are accurate of course.

[Steve_Hoog]

Live inspection shows the 72 7F6 to be the only round port with the dummy hole.

Can that correlate with the date of your article?

[copo9566aa]

Inside this review /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif Dec 86 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Steve_Hoog]

Cool....!!!

[copo9566aa]

Part 1 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[copo9566aa]

Part II Pontiac Engineering/Royal Bobcat 1968 1/2 GTO /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif
Car Craft magazine Dec 1967 tested similar GTO but a 1968.