Left Handed Skyhook? - Orig Owner Story and Option

[69LM1]

OK,

Just bought another 70Z. Forest Green, green interior. The car got here (the last owner drove it from Atlanta to me here in New Orleans!) and for a change, actually looked better than in the photos. 66k miles, gobs and gobs of paperwork to back it up, and literally, not a scratch on her. Everything works, down to the clock and the cigarette lighter. Only negative thing is the heads/solid lifters were changed out at some point, everything else is stock but the headers. Original block/water pump/alt/distrib. Original TH400.

So, in the paperwork I see phone numbers from some of the previous owners. Guy I bought it from was the third owner and had it for 2 years. I start calling the previous owner once removed. He has a mechanics shop in Ithica, NY. Nice guy, says he bought the car from a friend, who bought the car new at the chevy dealership where he(first owner) worked as a mechanic.

I ask about why the solid lifters and heads were changed. He stated that the original owner got married and the wife complained about how "loud" the Z was, so he removed them. He bought the car when the orig owner and his wife divorced. BUT, he knows the guy that bought the heads from the original owner. That guy also has a repair shop in Ithica, NY. So he gives me that guys number with a promise to send him some pics. He owned the car for many years.

I call that shop, and the guy says the heads are long gone, BUT, just so happens, that the ORIGINAL OWNER IS AT THE SHOP! Man, what are the odds? So, the original owner and I start to chat. He also wants some pics. He confirms the heads/lifters/cam change. He starts reminising(sp) on how the forest green looked different in the paint chip then in person, and how he almost refused the car when he saw the color.

Now, for the LH Skyhook question:

He tells me that the car has a 70 only special option. Can't remember the name, but states that if you put the tranny in low1 for a drag race, floor it, the TH400 will "automatically" shift to low2 when the tach redlines. However, you still need to shift it to low3 at "Oh, around 90 or so". Claims the only thing that could beat him back in the day was a local 70 Cuda.
I have not heard of this and was wondering if he was pulling my leg. You know, the "Go get me a left handed skyhook" kind of thing. I promised to send him some pics, and he promised to look for the original set of keys that he thinks he still has.

So, here I am wondering if I had the B@ll's to try this on a 60k original car. What the heck? Right? If you can't have fun, what's the point.

I take her out on a deserted road about an hour ago, and from a stop, in L1, punch it. Sure enough, at 6300, she shifts to L2 on her own!

So, am I in the dark? What was this called, and was it standard on the 70 Z's, or an RPO option? Either way, it's Coooooolllll!

Rich