Ricks Fitch Firebird...very rare Bird

[Belair62]

Bob, Here's the story & pictures. Thanks, Rick


First a little background on John Fitch. John is about 87yrs old. He built his first car in his college years, it was a tube chassis with a Desoto flathead. Then he was off to Europe for WWII as a P51 fighter pilot. After the war he
built his next cars, a modified Crosley Hotshot body powered by a Ford flathead, and then a rebodied Jag XK120.
He was the 1st SCCA national champion driver. Drove for Briggs Cunningham in the US and at LeMans.
In the early to mid-fifties was a driver for the Mercedes factory sports car team.

Ed Cole at GM hired him to run a factory Corvette race team at Sebring in 56 and or 57. After that he started John
Fitch & CO. in Falls Villiage CT, his big thing was making modified Corvairs called Sprints. They were availiable
throught certain Chevy dealers, similiar to Yenko's. He also tweaked other cars such as a 67 Olds, some VW's.

He later became involed in automotive safety barriers. You may have seem the yellow crash sand barrels along
roads in a triangle arrangement, that's one his inventions. Today he's still an innovator working on more crash
barriers, fuel catalyst,and liquid cooled brakes among other things. I've glossed over alot of thing here, he's quite
an interesting man.

Fitch knew John DeLorean who was running Pontiac in 1967 and DeLorean sent Fitch 1 400ci Firebird and 1 OHC
6 cylinder with a four barrel (Pontiac Sprint engine) to play around with as an engineering exercise. When he was
done with the 2 cars they where brought back to Pontiac for the evaluation and also to Lime Rock race track in CT.
The Fitch cars ran back to back tests with Pontiac engineering dept cars called PFST. At the end of the tests Fitch felt his car was better suited for everyday street driving while the Pontiac PFST wasn't real a street car, more of a
race car. I think after the test Pontiac gave Fitch the cars back and they kind of parted ways the way I've heard the story. Fitch said in a old Special Interest Auto interview "Herb (Adams Pontiac engineer in charge of the
PFST program) still liked his and I liked mine.". I think Fitch felt his cars worked fine for what he intended them to be,
more of a sport car then a race car. My understanding is Pontiac never backed the Fitch car program other than send
Fitch the first 2 cars, and Fitch busy with his other projects at the time, never really marketed them other than a few
magazine road tests. Fitch doesn't remember how many cars he made in the end, it seem to be around 6-8 cars, all 400ci engines except the 1 OHC Sprint.

My car is the OHC Sprint engine car. For factory options my car has rally gages, console, tilt, wood wheel, deluxe
interior, 4 speed, am/fm, hood tach, rally wheels, tinted glass, power disc brakes, and radial tires (actual option
on Firebirds in 67). For Fitch mods there's Koni Front shocks, Lucas Flame thrower driving light, mesh in front of
the light/grill, adjusted caster, rubber bumpers on the shaft of the front shocks (to change spring rate), re-valved
steering and brakes, headlight flasher switch, one time wiper switch, light monitoring panel, leather steering wheel
cover, Judson coil, dual exhaust, and the fins an the quater panels (they were to cooling the brakes and let air into
the interior but never developed). Also for the 6 cylinder car Fitch want to supercharge it, but never actually
developed it. A fitch opted car would sell for about $1000 more than the sticker price on a car.

The car was fairly solid when I bought it in the late 80's except for the trunk which was rotted bad because the fins
let alot of water leak in. The floors and doors were good.I had to replace the roof skin because someone put a moon
sun roof in at some point. The interior is all original except the rug and headliner. The car was missing the mesh covers and light monitoring panel, I recreated them from pictures and by talking to Fitch.

I found 2 broadcast sheet in the car both say "Tag Fitch & Co." and the Pontiac PHS billing card shows it was
paid for by the Engineering department of Pontiac.

-Rick




http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/Belair62/x%2010-28-04%20Ricks%20fitch%20Bird/fitchps.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/Belair62/x%2010-28-04%20Ricks%20fitch%20Bird/ds.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/Belair62/x%2010-28-04%20Ricks%20fitch%20Bird/fin.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/Belair62/x%2010-28-04%20Ricks%20fitch%20Bird/int.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/Belair62/x%2010-28-04%20Ricks%20fitch%20Bird/fitch.jpg

[68l30]

That is one COOL Bird! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif Very nice job on the resto! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/headbang.gif


Steve http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Belair62]

This is a very unusual car....very cool....never saw one before....Rick if you send me another pic of that sail panel i will try re-post...this Photbucket is starting to tick me off..

[Mr70]

NICE! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Xplantdad]

Hey Rick,

Really cool car! I never knew that something like this existed. I've learned a lot since joining this forum.

Thanks for sharing! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif


Bruce

[Chevy454]

That thing looks wild! Kinda has an AMX look to it with the fins...did those OHC-6 cars originally come with dual exhaust and the 4-barrel? How does it run?

[mmcporter]

Wonderful car and story. I've been interested in these Fitch 'Birds ever since "Cars and Parts" did a story on them 10 or 15 years ago. There cannot be many of these left as there weren't many to begin with. What a well-rounded car in the grand touring tradition.

Morris

[JoeG]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif Car--A real piece of Pontiac History---It must be a fun car to drive on the open road-------------

[Rick]

Thanks for the compliments on the car.The resto was done 12yrs ago and it's held up pretty good except the engine paint. It does look like a big AMX from the side, somedays I think it looks cool, anothers I wonder... but it's different for better or worse.

Pontiac offered the OHC in 2 versions, the base was 165hp 1 barrel carb engine, the other was the Sprint 4 barrel with 215hp. Pontiac never offered dual exhaust on either, Fitch added the dual exhaust.

The OHC Sprint (4 barrel) engine runs great with the 4 speed (They say autos are dogs),the 4 speed has a 3.11 first gear and the Sprint engine redlines at 6500rpm, so it suprises alot of people because it gets up & goes pretty good but it tops out were a high horse V8 keeps going.

A few of the Fitch cars have shown up from time to time, but they seem to disappear again. I talked to an original owner of one of the Fitch 400ci cars, she sold in the late 80's to someone in the mid-west haven't been able to find it. She also said she thought Fitch sold one to someone in Italy. There was another that was for sale at the Pomona CA swap meet about 7yrs ago, I here that it might be in the Long Beach area now. Also in the early 80's in Tampa or Daytona Fl, there was one for sale.

Fitch was trying to make a euro GT type car. He was even going to make a supercharger for the OHC package but never followed though on it. He actually liked the OHC engine car better because there was less weight up front which helped the handling over the 400ci cars. He felt the OHC with the supercharger would have been enough for 99% demand made on it.

[1967Z28]

Rick,

The car is awesome. <u>Thanks</u> for posting the story and pictures. Not a whole lot is known about John Fitch to the average car fan so that is a great mini-history lesson. Is there any chance of seeing a pic of the front showing the mesh over the headlights and maybe one from straight behind? If I ever run across that one from Pomona again, I will let you know.

-Jon

[TDW]

Rick...that is a real nice car. First one I have seen. I really like it.

[Rick]

Jon,
I have pictures of what your looking for, I need to figure out why my scanner doesn't want to work. Or after we get our 10"-18" of snow tomorrow http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif I'll try to take some digital pics.

There's a lot more interesting Fitch info out there, I have about 10 different magazine article's and both his bio's he's written. Lot's of good reading on the different cars he's done, auto safety projects and so on.

[Rick]

Finally got the scanner to work... so I scanned a few pictures.
Jon, here's a picture from behind.

[Rick]

Here's one of the front screen. The screen is hard to made out, I hard to remake that and it's thinner than the original so it washes out in pictures.

[Rick]

Here' one of John Fitch with the car at Lime Rock race track in 2000 or 2001.

[Rick]

Last... Here's a picture of my car with 2 other Fitch cars.
The car in the top half center picture is a 67 Fitch Corvair. THe Corvair has a Fitch fiberglass roof extension, a bunch of suspension and engine mods. THe other car on the left (&amp; behind in botton picture) is a 67 Fitch Phoenix, the only one made, he was taking orders when the Federal mandiate changes for 68 were passed and he didn't update the design due to cost, so it went away. It was supposed to be a run of 500 cars, it's based on a Corvair drivetrain and the body was made in Italy I believe. Looks almost like a 80% scale 68 Vette. Orders were taken through Abacrombie &amp; Fitch stores.

[Mr70]

Great information and pictures.

[1967Z28]

Thanks for all the pics and the stories, Rick. Very cool seeing Fitch with those cars at Lime Rock, basically in his back yard. The front end on the black car looks a little more like a scaled down Pantera than a Corvette.

-Jon

[JChlupsa]

Car Life April 1968 Article http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/HawaiianCamaro/FitchFirebirdArticlepage1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/HawaiianCamaro/FitchFirebirdArticlepage2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/HawaiianCamaro/FitchFirebirdArticlepage3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/HawaiianCamaro/FitchFirebirdArticlepage4.jpg

[1967Z28]

Thanks for posting that, Jeff. I have the article somewhere but just couldn't find it. Interesting that both cars are '67 models but the article is written well into the '68 model year.

-Jon

[Rick]

Thanks for posting the article. I have a few other magazine articles on the Fitch Firebirds and other cars that he did like the Olds, Corvair, and Phoenix. If anyones interested I can scan them and either email them to you or post them here.

-Rick

[1967Z28]

Rick,

I'm definitely interested. Either post 'em or email me directly.

Thanks,
-Jon

[Belair62]

Just saw this...post them...

[Rick]

Next chance I get I'll dig the stack of articles out and pick out what I think is the best ones and post them. Hopefully get a chance over the weekend.

[shifterkart26]

The Sprint package unfortunatly was ahead of it's time and only recently has it been recognized for it's innovative engineering.

[PxTx]

Saw a Sprint at the Roslyn PA car show this past summer. I was really surprised to see it. Only realized what it was after looking it up on the net that evening. I wish I could have found the owner that day to discuss.

[shifterkart26]

The Sprint performance package combined with the Firebird chassis produced a true Euro style sports car. With the high horsepower and torque without the V8 weight penalty, matched with the well balanced Firebird, it was a corner hugging road racer. Too bad the engine was discontinued in 69 because it would have been the muscle car motor of the 70's after the oil embargo killed the ground pounding V8's. My Sprint will get over 20mpg around town because the Qaudrajet has small primaries. But when the dinner plate sized secondaries pop open, it spankes the small blocks. The engine was designed from the start with future horsepower upgrades in mind. There is one guy that uses this engine in his race boat (it's nicknamed "the boat motor from hell") and it's been dynoed at 500hp and it runs all day long. Delorean and his team where too far ahead of their time!

"Great ideas, meet fierce opposition, from mediocre minds"
Albert Einstein

[dykstra]

Way cool!

[shifterkart26]

Any other OHC-6 owners out there?

[Liqu]

Hi, if this post is still current I am the one that has the V8 Fitchbird, I have had this car since 1988, I bought it from the designer that worked on the project, yes I used to drive it to the Pomona Swap Meet, and yes it's in Long Beach, CA, the car has been in storage for the last 15 years, I have a copy of the invoice that shows it was retained by Pontiac Motor Div.I talked to John Fitch in 1998 (approx)and have some history, I also have copies of hand written notes to Motor Tread Magazine from John Fitch, after Pontiac canceled the project, John was going to market a kit to sell to the public (never did), I was told there was 5 cars given to John Fitch to work on, however he only finished 2, 1 6 cyl, 1 V8, this may or may not be true, I have a magazine dated 1971 that shows my car, the lic plate in the photo is still on my car, the car I have is ROUGH, however just over a 100,000 miles, I may make it run again (not hard) and drive to some local shows, there was a man in Texas that wanted my car,(I never met him) he sent 2 different buyers over about 2 years to try to buy it, one was named Johnny Keefer and I don't remember the other, I kept telling them stupid numbers, I guess I ran them off (good) the reason for this post is once and a wile people talk to me about my car and tell me funny stories (not true), so I thought you guys would like to know.

Cliff Murray

[Charley Lillard]

Welcome to the site. Got any pics you can post ?
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/Can-I-Have-It.gif

[Paul_S]

For people in the rust belt, the term &quot;the car is rough&quot; generally means something on a completely different scale than when it's said on the West coast. Hopefully in this case that holds true.

Paul

[scuncio]

Cool car. I remember seeing the V8 car at Pomona and thinking 'what the hell IS that??'

[DW31S]

If I'm not mistaken, the Olds that Fitch did was a 2-engined Toronado.

[Liqu]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/03/full-19880-40772-fitch_001.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/03/full-19880-40773-fitch_002.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/03/full-19880-40774-fitch_003.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/03/full-19880-40775-fitch_004.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/03/full-19880-40776-fitch_005.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/03/full-19880-40777-fitch_006.jpg
Here it is, sorry about the bad pictures, I had a finger print on the lens, it started with a battery and a shot of gas, carb needs rebuild, not much worse when I parked it about 1998 (I think)

[Liqu]

Better pictures http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/03/full-19880-40779-fitch_008.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/03/full-19880-40780-fitch_009.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/03/full-19880-40783-fitch_007.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/03/full-19880-40784-fitch_010.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/03/full-19880-40785-fitch_011.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/03/full-19880-40786-fitch_012.jpg

[Paul_S]

Oooh, she looks good! Like she's seen quite a bit of sun and use, especially the interior but appears very solid and straight. What a neat piece. Thanks for posting the pics.

Paul

[markus37]

When I worked at Yenko in the 60's I had a part time job in the Winter months on weekends at the Hilton Hotel downtown Pittsburgh as a valet parking attendant. Got to drive lots of interesting high dollar cars.One Saturday night was sent to the underground garage to retrieve a car for a guest..was nicely surprised to find that it was a Fitch Firebird..400 cubes, 4 speed.I knew all about the car.Took a couple laps around the garage to check it out and warm it up for the owner, of course.
Ma

[Charley Lillard]

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/Can-I-Have-It.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/Can-I-Have-It.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/Can-I-Have-It.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/Can-I-Have-It.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/Charley.gif

[olredalert]

----Appears to be an easy, but not inexpensive restoration. Would love to see it done......Bill S

[mockingbird812]

I like it. Get it cleaned up, put some new shoes on it and cruise it. Neat car!

[StealthBird]

Cliff, congrats! Very rare car!

They did make more than one V8. I have several publicity photos of one that has a/c and power brakes, an aftermarket steering wheel, and a couple huge toggle switches on the dash to run the wipers and flashers. It also had the trademark Fitchbird grille mesh, but did not have the auxiliary lights in the valance panel like yours does. I would imagine that the few Fitchbirds that were built were all customized depending on the customer's taste, or perhaps however John Fitch wanted to customize them.

Mike

[Tenney]

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[Liqu]

Hi, my car was retained by Pontiac (per PHS) for development and not sold till 1968 (per the guy I bought it from)

Cliff

[Craig_Maiorana]

I'd have to wonder if our company owner would be interested in helping with the restoration. If not I may be able to get you some kind of assistance discount and my hands if need be. It's an interesting piece and I think the needs to see it again.

[PeteLeathersac]

Very cool Fitch car and welcome here Cliff!
A clean up and detail would go a long way but before touching it, wouldn't this be a great as is display find @ MCACN '16?
I really liked Markus' story too<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gifmaybe the same car?
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
~ Pete

[StealthBird]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: PeteLeathersac</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Very cool Fitch car and welcome here Cliff!
A clean up and detail would go a long way but before touching it, wouldn't this be a great as is display find @ MCACN '16?
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
~ Pete </div></div>

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[Craig_Maiorana]

When I did a google search for &quot;Fitch Firebird&quot; another one popped up linked the this site fully restored with an SOHC sprint motor. Could be a good reference point. It was posted by Belair62 back in 05

[Xplantdad]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Craig_Maiorana</div><div class="ubbcode-body">When I did a google search for &quot;Fitch Firebird&quot; another one popped up linked the this site fully restored with an SOHC sprint motor. Could be a good reference point. It was posted by Belair62 back in 05 </div></div>

Craig, look at the beginning of this thread <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[Craig_Maiorana]

Sorry .... I'm a knucklehead <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif

[Astock]

Every time I would see it at Pomona, I would think the same thing. Didn't know what it was. I guess it was around 2001, when I quit going...good cars where drying up.

[Liqu]

Hi, I used to drive it to Pomona to get a up front parking spot, that way if I bought something I would not have to carry it very far, I drove it there for about 10 years, one time when I was driving in a guy was running backwards filming my car and almost fell down and run over, that is when I stopped driving it, I felt someone was going to steal it, it just brought to much attention, I had a Continental Air Line Pilot that used to try to buy it more than once at that swapmeet, at that time I told him I would take $60,000.00 (I'm glad he didn't but he was close), I could never drive it anywhere without someone wanting to know about the ugly fins, then I was there for about 15 Min. telling them about the car, after a while I got tired of the drama, I'm going to sell it now. Who knows what it's worth, I guess I going to find out.

Cliff Murray

[Craig_Maiorana]

I think since you have stirred up some interest of the registry you should definitely keep these guys posted on the status of the sale. Someone here may want it and it would be great to see her come back to life.

[Xplantdad]

Craig-it's all good!

[1967Z28]

Super cool car, Cliff. Thanks for posting the pics. Just want to add that this is not the Fitch Firebird I saw at Pomona. The one I saw was on a trailer and was a project car. Definitely had the tell tale flying buttress fins and other cues. This was maybe within the last 10 years. I don't remember the color. It may have been red but I don't remember for sure.

[Charley Lillard]

I'm tryin to buy it but not much luck...

[Craig_Maiorana]

If you do manage to get it Charlie please let me know. I'd like to help out whether it be through an effort by Classic Ind. or just personally.

[Liqu]

Hi, there are some fakes, and I am not sure how to tell the difference, I think the value of my car is that it was retained by Pontiac. (per invoice)

Cliff

[Charley Lillard]

Would be fun to unveil at MCACN

[markinnaples]

Best of luck Charley.

[bashton]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Would be fun to unveil at MCACN </div></div>

Indeed it would... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif

Bashton

[Liqu]

Hi, more stuff to look at, look at the plate it's the one on my car.

Cliff http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/03/full-19880-41029-fitch_040.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/03/full-19880-41030-fitch_041.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/03/full-19880-41031-fitch_042.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/03/full-19880-41032-fitch_043.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/03/full-19880-41033-fitch_044.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/03/full-19880-41034-fitch_045.jpg

[Jonesy]

way cool!!

[dykstra]

Very cool!!

[Charley Lillard]

Were just a few hundred thousand apart on price. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

[Liqu]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/04/full-19880-41953-fitch_028.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/04/full-19880-41954-fitch_029.jpg

[Liqu]

Look at this
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2014/...ock/?refer=news (http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2014/05/14/john-fitchs-one-off-corvair-based-fitch-phoenix-to-cross-the-block/?refer=news)

[Rick]

Hi Cliff,

I own the yellow OHC 6 Fitch Firebird, would like to talk to you sometime about the cars. I believe your car and mine were the first two. I've heard some info about your car over the years. Thought I'd never see it surface.

There is at least 2 other 400 cars, one disappeared in the late 80's, the other was said to be sold new to someone in Italy. Private message me if you'd like to talk. When I talked to Fitch he said about 5-6 car were made, all 400's except the one OHC 6.

Rick

[Rick]

Mike (stealthbird) I'd be interested in seeing your pictures if you'd like to share. My car has the flasher and wiper toggle switches, mesh and light monitoring panel.

Rick

[Liqu]

Hi Rick, I have known about your car for a long time, at one time (late 80s) I took my car over to Pontiac Enthusiast Magazine, they were in the city of Orange, CA at the time, the editor spent time looking at my car and also gave me a magazine with your car in it. I also talked to John Fitch about the same time. The first cars were owned by Pontiac (no emblems on the sail panels) the next cars were bought by John Fitch modified and sold (with emblems on the sail panels), I have a lot of history on my car (which may or may not be true), John did tell me that there were less than a hand full of cars built, give me a call.


Thanks
Cliff

PS [email protected]
or 562 988 7611 (work)

[StealthBird]

Rick, sorry for the delay, I just saw your post asking for photos. Here you go! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

Mike

[earntaz]

What is the knob just below the ignition switch? Looks like another one on the LH side next to the headlight switch. TAZ

[Craig_Maiorana]

it says flasher TAZ

[Charley Lillard]

One on other side says &quot;wiper&quot;

[Mr70]

Is that a shifter boot,or a litter bag?..Can it be any taller?

[earntaz]

I thought they looked like a push-pull knob.

[Rick]

Thanks for posting the pictures Mike, those are great, never saw them!

Those pictures look to be taken at the Trinity Episcopal Church across the street from Lime Rock Park Raceway in CT. In the rear looking forward picture Lime Rock is in the background. Fitch lived about 1 mile or so from there.

The switches on either side of the gauge pod are Lucas &quot;One Time&quot; touch switches, meaning all you have to do is tap then to work. The &quot;Flasher&quot; switch (below the ignition)flashes the high beam lights, which Fitch replaced with Lucas &quot;Flame Throwers&quot;. The switch on the left makes the wipers make one pass when touched. Interesting to note, in the photo Mike posted the wiper switch is mounted up higher then in my car (see my interior picture on page 1 on of this post). I have a feeling Fitch did my car first and figured out that almost every time you get in the car your knee hits it(mine does) and the wipers make a pass!

The labels on the shifter plate to the right of the shifter must refer to the mods Fitch made to the automatic transmission (he modified the auto trans on the Olds Toronado he did too).

The piece under the ashtray to the left is the Light Monitoring Panel. That box was missing in my car. You could see my attempt to reproduce it in the interior picture on page 1 of this post. The panel looks for a change in voltage to figure a bulb went out. The wiring for this was very crude. You can see part of it in the engine shot Mike posted (lower right corner cylinder below the cross brace).

Thanks again for Sharing!

[earntaz]

Thanks -- they did appear to be &quot;add-on&quot; switches of some sort ... TAZ

[Liqu]

Hi, this is a GREAT forum, I posted info and pictures of my car (Fitchbird) and have received HUGE interest
and some offers (sight unseen), many people willing to help me with history, who would know that a 1 to 5 off (best guess) car would cause so much talk and E Mails, I guess John Fitch was known to more than I ever thought, and thanks to all the guys at Lime Rock Park who have taken the time to E Mail me.


Thanks a lot

Cliff Murray

[Rick]

Here are couple pictures of the only remaining Olds Toronado (2 built). Interior shows the altered shift level and Light monitoring panel. The seats have holes in them and fans under them to cool people. Fitch added a folding sun roof too.
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/04/full-189-42100-fitch.olds.t.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/04/full-189-42101-fitch.olds.1.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/04/full-189-42102-mvc_990s.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/04/full-189-42103-mvc_996s.jpg

[Liqu]

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