Muscle Car Of The Week Video #3: 1970 1/2 Pontiac Trans Am Ram Air IV

www.v8speedsho...
Muscle Car Of The Week Video #3: 1970 1/2 Pontiac Trans Am Ram Air IV
1970 1/2 Pontiac Trans Am Ram Air IV: A Legend on Muscle Car of the Week!
This week, Muscle Car of the Week takes you to Trans Am heaven with a stunning 1970 1/2 Pontiac Trans Am Ram Air IV!
Combining iconic design and legendary performance, this Trans Am is a must-see for any muscle car enthusiast.
Here's what makes this car special:
Eye-catching Polar White paint with signature Trans Am stripe
Functional shaker hood scoop for a true Ram Air experience
Powerful Ram Air 4 400 cubic inch V8 engine pumping out 370 horsepower
Muncie M20 four-speed manual transmission for an engaging driving experience
12-bolt rear end with Safe-T-Track for optimal handling
Original two-tone blue interior in amazing condition
More than just a pretty face, this Trans Am is a force to be reckoned with:
Runs mid-14 second quarter miles in stock form
Capable of low 13s or high 12s with modifications
This isn't just a car, it's a piece of muscle car history!
This week's Muscle Car Of The Week from The Brothers Collection is a super-rare 1970 1/2 Pontiac Trans Am, complete with the Ram Air IV 400 cube V8 and Muncie 4-speed transmission!
1970 marked the second generation for GM's F body platform, and the company made substantial improvements to the car over the '67-'69 versions. The 1970 1/2 models were longer and more spacious inside, and generally drove more comfortably than the earlier cars. 1970 also marked the peak in performance Muscle Cars, and the 1970 1/2 Trans Am was one of the top performers. The Pontiac Trans Am came loaded with numerous performance add-ons, such as upgraded suspension, brakes, exhaust, and distinctive styling.
This particular Polar White Trans Am is among the most sought-after of all, as it features the 370 HP Ram Air IV V8 engine and a Muncie 4-speed transmission. The Ram Air IV engine was assembled with very tight tolerances from the factory, making it as close to a hand-built racing engine as you could buy from GM. The RAIV package started with a 4-bolt main block, forged crank and pistons, and a high performance oil pump, but the big difference was in the top half of the engine. The Ram Air IV heads boasted 67cc chambers, 2.11" swirl-polished intake valves and 1.77" exhaust valves, and large round exhaust ports. The .520" lift RAIV cam had a long 308 degree intake / 320 degree exhaust duration and pulled air through an aluminum dual-plane intake manifold. These parts sounded more like they were hand-picked by a race engine builder than a factory offering, but that's what makes the RAIV so special. They only made 88 of these cars, 59 were manuals and the other 29 came with automatics. It's one of the few cars where both transmissions were offered and the manual outsold the auto. Watch the video to learn more about this Pontiac Historical Society documented correct '70 1/2 and its unique details like the original 2-tone blue seat covers, 1-year only Rally II wheels, and distinctive styling elements.
/ 155673761263376
www.musclecaro...
Take a tour of the V8 Speed & Resto Shop!
Muscle Car Restoration Shop Tour at V8 Speed & Resto Shop
• Muscle Car Restoration...
V8 shirts, hats, and more:
v8speedshop.co...
www.v8speedsho...
#musclecar #pontiac #transam #ramair #musclecaroftheweek

[@stevecarmack6267]

I think the 1970 -1973 are the best looking of all the Trans Ams. This one is fantastic! Nothing today comes close.

[@mikeblankenship7930]

I agree.

[@604motorsports]

100% you are right.

[@richardmckinney8354]

Yes !!!!

[@PlymouthVT]

NOTHING!!!!

[@hendo337]

I think they look great though '79...'81 really even if the '80 and '81 were dogs, they looked cool, if you swapped in at least a zesty 400 they'd be completely re-deemed.

[@liquidleopard4495]

"The Ram Air IV has a legendary idle..." So, that's a good time to start it up and show us. :P

[@bobbyrobob]

Nice car. Does it run?

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

Ikr

[@braddietzmusic2429]

This guy does a really good job: Makes smart commentary that mostly gets it right, and is informative, but isn't pedantic or preachy or dogmatic about it. Seems to really love all the cars featured minus the annoying "Brandism" or favoritism for any particular car. Great hosting. Great video shots too, showing great details. He delivers consistency across the episodes too.

[@quentin3330]

Brad Dietz Ya Kevin does a great job as host. I love every episode.

[@shawnjerome8599]

Well aren't you mister I use big words to sound cool you're not a car guy you're just a lonely dude that doesn't have anything to do so you got to look cool by saying big words

[@peteandrepete528]

He is madly in love with the 70 GSX prototype in episode 284.I love em all too but I do have 1 or 2 I would own over the rest.These early 70 's T/A s were very nice looking cars.Some of the nicest looking.

[@peteandrepete528]

@@shawnjerome8599 Are 2 syllable words more you speed ?

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

@@peteandrepete528 Right? WhIch word was too big for that boob?

[@redhead5150]

This Tans Am s awesome!!!! John DeLoren was genius !!!

[@michaeladams9629]

Had a 1971 455 H.O. Pontiac Trans AM back in 1973. Balanced and blueprinted to 500 HP and 575 ft. lbs. of torque, 10.75 compression, and yes it was a beast. 12 inch wide centerline in the back and 10 in the front, BF Goofrich tires (don’t recall which type). Air shocks in back, heavy duty stiff shocks up front (Gabriel).

[@jeremythompson9895]

My favorite Pontiac ever......besides a 1962 421 Super Duty Catalina or maybe a 69 Ram Air IV GTO

[@robertdale419]

I like your choices

[@clemenza24]

I had a 73 white just like this one ,4sp with the sd 455 ,I ran 60 series all the way around and YES I have major regrets about selling that car...,.it was so much fun to drive !

[@clemenza24]

did you bother to look at my profile pictures,Exact same car minus the blue stripe,mine was a SD455 nicer and worth more money

[@quentin3330]

william joyce LMAO ... i know right? What a troll. Btw, could the 455's beat these 400 Ram Air IV's ? About the same ?

[@philipsoroka3911]

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

[@fieldinglover]

@Lee Spicer that wasn't a picture of Kendall Jenner you were fondling yourself to that was a picture of Bruce Jenner or whatever his name is now ! you fibber you !

[@hendo337]

'73 TAs remind me of Thunderbolt and Lightfoot

[@clemmahabir]

I owned a 69 firebird 350bb and a 80 Indy pace car edition. The 69 was my fav and my first car bought used in HS. For me the 1973 455 SD , Brewster green with a 4 speed is ultra rare. I was 17 when I had the 69 firebird and alot of memories, but I missed an opportunity to buy a 69 1/2 Trans Am around the same time I owned my first. I remember the guy that bought it as I saw it roll down the street on a trailer to somewhere. One of the nicest Pontiacs ever built, and it could handle for a stock car, and was fun to race on the street, only people that owned any muscle car of any era could understand! Too bad they stopped production and killed the Pontiac division. A car that stood out from the crowed and just unique and pure art in design and performance!!!

[@MegaMykus]

I may have subscribed too quickly; don't you AT LEAST start them up??? To me, hearing the exhaust note is absolutely necessary!!! Please???

[@V8TV]

We start and drive many of the cars, some even get smoky burnouts!

[@MegaMykus]

V8TV Well, I did just subscribe; I'll keep watching! P S I didn't unsubscribe!!

[@ag4713]

I was in love with these pontiacs when I was growing up. They were everywhere in the 70's

[@Buelligan88]

In the early -80s I had the opportunity to buy well taken care of, one owner 19701/2 TA for $2500. I still regret not buying that car.

[@microminiskirt]

Buelligan88 I REMEMBER IN 1979 YOU COULD BUY ONE OF THESE FOR $4,500

[@JohnsRSCamaro]

I had a '77 TA. He isn't lying about the handling. Very easy to drive and corners like a big Porsche. Yet almost soft like a luxury car.

[@polarbear353]

I also had a 77 black Trans Am, 6.6 litre.

[@danielmarks895]

The 1970 Ram Air 4 TA has always been one of my very favorite cars - top of the list for a car I would love to own. I remember the first time I saw one in 1970 when I was 16 years old. It blew my mind! Don't know if it was a ram air 4 but it was awesome. I love all the detailed info. you guys give. Some very special, unique things about that car. Thanks! PS- start it up next time, I would love to hear it!

[@jusfadez5920]

This is a amazing car!! One of my favorite all time muscle cars.

[@cometcal2]

My two favorite Pontiacs: 1965 GTO and 1970 Trans Am!

[@theMister07]

Agreed but my 1970 grand prix ( model j ) was a beast as well...

[@jeremythompson9122]

@@theMister07 love the 69-70 Grand Prix SJ. I prefer the 69 just because I like the 428 a little better than the 455. The 71 -72 was a nice car too just not as powerful

[@theMister07]

@@jeremythompson9122 - I got the 400 in mine. I will say Pontiac had a good selection of engines back then. I can't wait to get er fully restored and enjoy the head turning.

[@hendo337]

​@@jeremythompson9122Don't forget the '70-'72 Hurst Grand Prix SSJs

[@gt4th]

I love your show! Please keep it up! Another comment about the engine sounds. If any car should be at least started it's this one. As you said "legendary" exhaust note. Was there mechanical issues with the car that it couldn't be started? Please bring it back if that's the case. A suggestion if I may, in car p.o.v. camera would be awesome. It would be so cool to see the little flapper on a shaker hood scoop pop open when you punch it for example. Thanks in advance if you do! Again keep up the good work!

[@AgentInnerCircle]

I remember driving one as a teenager ... this was the Baddest-Fastest BEAST I have ever driven - Pure Adrenaline!

[@peterhogan9537]

the ram air 3 also had a functional hood scoop.

[@ednorton1853]

The one you want is the 455 SD . That T/A 1970 1/2 was rated number 8 in the all time 10 best muscle cars ever.

[@quincee3376]

Heck ya! A 73 would be nice... but man are they expensive. Maybe i'll win the lottery one day.

[@ednorton1853]

@David miorgan You may want to go back and dig a little deeper. 1970 1st year for the 455 they had a very rare version that had all kinds of things very different from all other 455's. It was made for only 2 years and was not a smog motor. You youngsters need to learn to keep ears open - mouth shut. This 455 in 70 and 71 was rated at 370 hp in the Grand Prix with 500ft lbs. That one used the solid lifter Ram air 3 cam that had less duration than the ram air 4 cam, They used the Ram Air 4 cam in the Trans Am, Ram Air 3 in the Grand Prix, this one had a 4 bolt block, nodular iron crank , forged rods with 7/16 rod bolts, forged pistons, (cr 11.2 :1) and a set of heads that had 1/8 taller intake runners and round exhaust ports that were cast higher in the head. So again I say the one you want is the 455 T/A in 1970 But very rare. But I will agree Before 1970 was where all the real power was. If I had my choice I would take the 421 sd from late 61 or 62 Conservatively That motor probably made well over 500 hp and maybe as much as 575 ft lbs. I think the man to ask that Q would be Buttler. He would know actual numbers and not just what was advertised by GM. The lies and deceit were well under way even back then. I saw some numbers that were about as true as one could hope for in this day and The top 3 just blew me away. The 426 Hemi the street version. Not the race version we couldnt buy. With every nut and bold 100% correct when the motor was made at the factory. Along with the period correct gas at the time. The HEMI Made 720 hp @ 7200rpm That was number 1 Number 2 the 427 ford. The medium riser. They did not test the high riser because it was not available to the public. The 1967 427 Ford made 680 hp at 7400 and number 3 was the 1970 LS6 454 was 628hp.

[@jeremythompson9122]

@David miorgan Then obviously you have never heard of the 1973-74 455 Super Duty engine. A 455 SD had one of the best flowing cylinder heads ever designed and completely different internals than a regular 455 did. A 73-74 Trans Am 455 SD was capable of mid 13 second 1/4 mile times right off the showroom floor...even quicker than a 69-70 Trans Am Ram Air IV. If the 455 SD had come out before 1971 it would've had high compression and a more radical camshaft. The 455 SD mightve gone down as the baddest engine of the entire muscle car era if it was built a few years earlier and didn't have to meet all the emissions standards of 1973-74. Don't be fooled by its seemingly low factory horsepower rating. It could push a 3800 pound car to a 13.5 second 1/4 mile so it had to be making north of 400 horsepower. Pontiac just didnt want the insurance companies knowing that so they rated it at 310 net horsepower in 73 and 290 net hp in 74. EASILY the fastest car you could buy in America in 1973-74 and one of the fastest muscle cars ever made...period. Really the only Pontiac engine that surpasses the 455 SD is the 421 Super Duty... which was technically street legal but was basically a full blown race engine that didn't have very good street manners at all. The 455 SD is probably the best all around high performance engine ever built by Pontiac...Extremely powerful but also civilized enough for daily street use

[@jeremythompson9122]

@David miorgan There's no such thing as a 1965 Pontiac 421 Super Duty engine. 63 was the last year of production. You could still get the 421 all the way thru 1966 but not the 421 SD. They stopped producing that engine when GM backed out of factory backed racing in 1963. You obviously don't know nearly as much about Pontiac's as you seem to think

[@jeremythompson9122]

@@ednorton1853 this guy is a clown. Lol yeah I bet he owns SEVERAL 421 SD Pontiac's, 426 Hemi Mopars, and 427 Fords. He says he has a 1965 Pontiac 421 Super Duty engine...which doesn't even exist. They stopped making those in 63

[@rickj1983]

My brother owned a 1970 TA all original. Wish I could have purchased it from him. Ram air IV with 4spd Hurst is the one to get. This is one car when you homp on it you can actually watch the gas gauge drop.

[@toddtamminga]

Always liked those endura grills.

[@quentin3330]

Come on Lottery numbers ..........

[@garymartin7842]

I owned a 1970 Formula 400 Ram Air w/automatic and the dreaded Honeycomb wheels, all stock and not very cool at the time in 1978.. Boy, I sure wish I had it back. Bought it for $1900. Cleaned and waxed the 98,000 mile car, drove it for 6 months and sold it for $2200.

[@pontiacgrandprix733]

Loved Pontiacs my entire life, remember being a kid st the auto show, New York colosseum, seeing the 70 Firebird Trans am and falling in love with it, I took home the Pontiac brochure and played car dealer, at 9 years old

[@markkukowski3710]

I also loved Pontiacs. I had many including 75, 76 & 77 Grand Prixs, 77, 78 Trans Ams & a 1981 turbo Formula. I am a mechanic so I cranked up the power on all of them but Pontiac engines had a lot hiding in them. Didn't take much more than opening the exhaust, cranking the timing & rejetting the carb! Even the turbo car woke up tremendously from some of the same! I miss Pontiac!

[@theMister07]

@@markkukowski3710 - that's some real truth about that hidden power... I can't wait to unleash the inner beast in my 1970 gp model J

[@caspar0777]

I'm also a pontiac maniac The Pontiac virus hit me when I got my first job, at the age of 18, in a GM dealer garage in 1979. The first time I saw a trans am there I felled in love. I owned since several firebirds and transams. I still have a 1978 transAm with a 400ci. Proud to drive it. Cheers from France

[@banditrw27]

Uhhhhhh......the Shaker Scoop was functional on both the Ram Air III and IV cars, my '70 had the RA III with solenoid to open the scoop along with Turbo 400 Auto and 12-Bolt SafT-Track 3.55 rear gear.

[@originalscottfree]

I had a cable on my formula that opened my scoops.

[@bluesman7475]

For the years the scoop was non functional, there were 3 rivets holding the plate in the back of the scoop. It took 3 minutes with a drill to drill them out and have the ram air working.

[@johnrosaleslll7778]

Back in 1989 my grandpa had a 1974 Pontiac formula a 400 I love that car me and him go riding and he'll have it going 150 miles per hour he'll floor it and still Cassius the passenger that car was awesome I wish I would have it to this day

[@scottmcgehee2933]

Some of the "Holy Grail" cars dont go outside like this one

[@marblox9300]

But if the older cars look better then why don't they just produce them again with updated drive train. Because then they would demand $95,000 for a car that used to cost $4,900. They don't want to embarrass themselves.

[@ckelley63]

Sorry but the combustion chamber size on those heads were the same as the RAIIIs which came in @ 72 cc which gave a 101/2 to one squeeze. The RA IV had a hotter cam and beautiful round port heads but the valve sizes were the same as the III motor. All in all in dosen't get any better than a 701/2 RA IV TA!!

[@crazyhorsepower5947]

ckelley63 The valves on a ram air four were longer than the ram air three .

[@ckelley63]

Not sure about that but I will research it, valve sizes were the same though!.

[@blankeny]

It may be badder than the 69 T/A but it's not worth as much... although nice car!!!

[@rosamacias572]

I will be brief on my coment and the reason why is because I can t put into words how perfect and fine looking this real muscle car is and will always be, just saying 😊

[@deanwilliams867]

It was a cast crank not a steel crank the only time Pontiac ever used a steel crank was in the 62 Super Duty 421 !!!

[@JohnW1711stock]

I'm in high speed pursuit of a white Trans Am! Don't you hear good? LOL!!

[@CobraChipper]

Wow that car is gorgeous ! One of my favorite cars of all time.

[@bongodave13]

When I was a kid, someone in my neighborhood had one like that, same color. I thought it was the coolest car ever.

[@79tazman]

That is a sexy car the 70 T/A Ram Air 4 and the 70 Split Bumper Camero Z28 are 2 bad ass cars

[@TheJagjr4450]

Friend of mine just sold a 70 RAIV 4 spd T/A survivor... not a blue interior car... but a BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL PAINT ORIGINAL INTERIOR survivor. NOT CHEAP well into 6 figures...

[@whiteoak60]

Just saw a 70 RA- 4 CAR "VERY RUSTY " TRAILER HITCH BOUGHT at municipal auction for $600.00 White / blue

[@Sergio-ih6lk]

Wow American muscle car art just saying

[@CoastalAutoReactionCAR]

Any videos of that wagon? Let’s hear the story of that one! Cheers and thank you for all the excellent uploads on both channels!

[@agent-ie3dr]

BUT ISN'T IT TRUE THAT THE LAST FACTORY 2002 TRANS-AM WITH ANY ENGINE/TRANSMISSION COMBO FROM THE FACTORY WOULD DUST AND OUTPERFORM ANY OF THESE FACTORY 1970 1/2 TRANS AMS IN EVERY PERFORMANCE CATEGORY TO ALSO INCLUDE COMFORT? BACK IN 1979 YOU COULD BUY A USED 70 1/2 TRANS AM FOR $4,500 IF YOU COULD FIND ONE AS THEY ONLY MADE 3,196 OF THEM. YOU COULD ALSO ADD 1971-1973 WITH 455 HO, 455 AND THE RARE 455 SD TO INCREASE YOUR ODDS OF GETTING THIS F-BODY TYPE STYLE BUT EVEN BACK THEN ALL OF THESE TRANS AMS COMBINED TOGETHER 1970 1/2 WITH 400 RAM AIR TO 1973 455 AND 455 SD WERE ALL HARD TO FIND CARS. IN 1979 YOU COULD BUY A BRAND NEW TRANS AM FOR ABOUT $10,000 IF YOU PICKED OUT YOUR OPTIONS CAREFULLY.

[@adriangarza8849]

Uncle had a 1973 SD 455 and its was awesome 👍 great car

[@BucketWheat]

I HAD ONE JUST LIKE THIS...except mine had the Rare Leather buckskin interior... most were blue or black vinyl interior. It was a GREAT CAR because it also handled pretty well, since it was produced for "Trans Am Racing" ...and I ran wider than stock Mickey Thompson tires...

[@noecker97]

My All-Time Favorite PONTIAC, All-Time Favorite Muscle/Pony Car, and the Year I Was Born!!!

[@MegaKnightrider3000]

/watch?v=TMeEVFQp_2E American muscle taking over london burnouts revving sounds nuts

[@chadevans7603]

Why didn’t you drive this one? I wanted to hear that cam.

[@missasippychaos1964]

Kevin is a great host ... very well spoken ,articulate and a very knowledgeable man ... he should have his own show ... oh ya he does ! Thank you sir

[@bigdiesil75]

My aunt had a 65 Pontiac tempest one owner 12000 miles beautiful car

[@banditrw27]

And the Ram Air IV in the Trans Am was only rated at 345HP and 370HP in the GTO. The Trans Am RA IV had a retaining tab on the carb which prevented the secondaries from opening fully to limit the HP so as not to outdo the GTO. Everyone soon figured out though that you could break off that tab and get the 370HP same as the GTO.

[@MYTOYMAKERZ]

Very good point indeed. There was also a piece of linkage that if bent just a bit or replaced from the GTO's carb would also allow its secondaries to open completely. Thank You

[@banditrw27]

No problem... :-)

[@crazyhorsepower5947]

J Watkins They were underrated.

[@quentin3330]

J Watkins thx...what was the difference between a 69 Trans Am and the 70 and 1/2? I mean besides body and interior....i'm talking performance.......

[@Ladco77]

All of these videos are sketchy on facts. They get some good info, but miss a lot of details, like the different ratings in the Trans Am vs. the GTO. They're great entertainment, but not good for research.

[@sergiojacquez2277]

Wow, nothing else to say.

[@terrybangley2281]

Scoop was functional on all 70 thru 72 trans am. And 1970 was the only year Pontiac didn’t put the engine call out on the scoop , so that was added on by whoever restored the car

[@candidandy52]

Reminds me of my '70 Judge! Bring me back to the good car days.

[@1Bandit455]

Awesome T/A - be great to see video's for the 73-74 SD-455 T/A's :)

[@zwild1160]

It's up to 15 now probably some friggin momma's boys who wouldn't know cool if it smacked em in da face. I have pretty much always been a GM guy but I can appreciate cool muscle cars from other manufacturers. But I guess I am prejudice. My first car was a 77 Trans Am 400 poncho with auto and 2:41 safe-t-track rear. I built it into a real screamer with a 68 H.O. GTO 400, 3:73 10 bolt and a turbo hydro 350 B&M shift kit and ATI 3500 rpm stall converter. I ran hooker headers and true duals. My second T/A also a 77 was a Y82 Black & Gold special edition with the Hurst hatch roof, L78 400 Pontiac the 6.6 litre not the T/A 6.6 and a 3:23 safe-t- track. I l still love the F body T/A's and it must have rubbed off cause my oldest son has a 97 T/A. I love my two Corvettes especially my 91 ZR1 but hell I would love to have either of my first two T/A's back.

[@davidh1249]

Dave Davis,I bet that 77 would leave out like a rabbit through the woods with his ass on fire with 3.73 gears and a 3500 rpm stall converter!!!

[@robertp.wainman4094]

Always remember being in York UK when the Queen was visiting, just before the city centre roads were closed to the public, the last car to get through was a 1970 Trans Am......the incredible exhaust burble as it crawled past the assembled crowd drew a round of applause almost as loud! I've loved that model ever since!

[@bradleylovej]

That's an awesome story

[@wadeguidry6675]

Love that interior!

[@peteandrepete528]

Did you guys see that gold T/A station wagon lol. Nice.

[@northerniltree]

Cam lift duration is critical to performance, but if you don't also have excellent brakes and handling, it's a lost cause. Driving a 1970 stock Ford Mach 1 as opposed to the same year Trans Am will demonstrate the better handling and braking of the Pontiac.

[@poppenspieler]

Swooning about it idling is not nearly enough...

[@hendo337]

Why in Sam Hill didn't he start the the thing and drive it a little? Maybe even wack the Qjet open a little? What rip off.

[@gibsondrummer]

They have most of the 69 trans am convertibles in that collection

[@bkehlin]

Did you know the formula hood was originally supposed to be the 70 TA hood, continuing the style of the 69? Thanks to homologation nonsense for SCCA racing, the trans am needed the scoop in the middle for the air filter clearance, thus the reverse shaker was born (copying a bit from the Cuda).

[@orange70383]

These cars really looked several years ahead of their time with all the sexy curves.

[@hrv4908]

+orange70383 And they still look good today.

[@reacp9114]

don't road race this car. Oil pan design is garbage. As me how I know. I'm currently modifying a stock pan for 1" more depth and some trap doors

[@PlymouthVT]

I lived in jersey in the 70's. Nunzi was the Pontiac Muscle guy in NYC in those days.

[@G8GTJav]

How can this guy go on about the "legendary idle" and then never give a sound clip? Ditch the annoying music and just play the idle in the background.

[@hotwheel6663]

Didn't they also offer this engine in the 1970 Formula? I like the dual scoops on the Formula better.

[@banditrw27]

+Johnny Yum Yes

[@skeeterone4523]

You mean Yum no. Whether Pontiac offered it or not, there were Zero Ram Air IVs installed in 70 Formulas. Formulas were also a far plainer looking car and less functional - no air extractors, wheel and front spoilers etc and without stripes. Smaller sway bars so they didn't handle as well.... no instrument turned dash... the TA is also more rare and worth more $$$.

[@blackericdenice]

Getting this car to run 1 second quicker in the quarter. Took more than just headers and free flowing exhaust. Young people hear this bs and they believe him.

[@jeremythompson9122]

A full second is quite a bit. Maybe headers, slicks, a less restrictive exhaust, and a more aggressive ignition curve would get it into the high 12's. Maybe

[@tyroneaustin1396]

YES, MY NAME IS TYRONE A-----, THE SAME T/A AS THE TRANS AM, AND THAT 70 1/2 TRANS AM 4 SPEED WAS MY FIRST NEW CAR AND IT WOULD MEAN SO MUCH TO ME TO HAVE ONE AGAIN, SO PLEASE TELL ME THAT THIS ONE, IS STILL AVAILABLE !!!

[@noeramos6991]

I had a 73 Candy apple red trans am with 455 on it with nice chrome rims sure do regret selling car back in the 80s.had real nice times in it back then .

[@peterhogan9537]

you mean buckineer red.

[@roryvonbrutt7302]

Absolutely beautiful wow

[@richardbutler4218]

In the Firebird's the RA IV was rated @ 345 HP in the GTO it was 370.

[@billyfoster3223]

Great car!🔧🏎️ Nice video!🤟😁

[@MarineReconinDe]

So, which configuration of the Trans Am has the best performance? Ram air IV? SD-455?

[@jeremythompson9122]

Actually the SD 455 ran quicker 1/4 mile times out the box but I believe the SD 455 Trans Am's had radial tires instead of bias ply tires...which made a huge difference in traction. My favorite T/A's ever are a 70 1/2 Ram Air IV or a 74 SD 455(the last true muscle car ever made) Love the 69 T/A too but I prefer the second gen T/A styling...particularly 1970-78. Never liked the nose of the 79-81 plus the 80-81 Trans Am 301 Turbo is the worst T/A ever built performance wise. The 79 with the 400-4 speed was the last T/A that was a good performer until the 89 Turbo Trans Am came out...which had the Buick 3.8 litre turbo from the Grand National/GNX. I really wish GM never axed Pontiac and Oldsmobile

[@sergiojacquez2277]

SD 455 If you ever get a chance to own one you'll see but Ram air is great also.

[@johntempest267]

Compression ratio for the RA4 10.5 to 1 , the SD455 7.8 to 1. RA4 rated 370hp SD455 300hp. RA4 solid lifter monster cam. SD455 hydraulic wimpy cam. IOW, not even close.

[@edcain3676]

Yep,W/ Less Restrictive Exh.& Headers,the RAM Air lV Should Beat the 73 SD 455.Not Sure the Suspension of 70 Is As Good as SD.

[@johntempest267]

@@edcain3676 The shaker hood scoop was functional on the RA IV and was blocked off on the 455SD. So both intake and exhaust were more better......er, bestest.

[@MrDjh66]

One day I will get my buccaneer red 73 transam

[@richardkaltenbach3961]

MY 1973 BASE 350 2 bbl. Firebird Was STOLEN!😳

[@jgsheehan8810]

Beautiful car. I think that’s my favourite Firebird look.

[@ashqelon7267]

This is the one to get of the 2nd generation.

[@quentin3330]

Were these faster than the 73 455 SD ?

[@whiteoak60]

Yes

[@joesimone223]

Ram Air ll uses the 744 camshaft. Ram Air lV the 041. They are not the same.

[@ezrabrooks12]

GOOD VIDEO!!!! I Owned a 73 back in the day.It was Blue with white interior,basically the same car.I wish that I still had it and all the Other Muscle Cars that I've owned!!!!!

[@buzztp5119]

Never will be able to own one but I do have the model car I built and painted 40 years ago.

[@jked7463]

Always loved genII Firebirds. And that one had the introduction of the screaming chicken that would get overblown in the future. Such humble beginnings. Thanks for presenting it.

[@johngialanellajr8650]

I remember I was getting a ride to work with my co-worker around 1980 and we were stopped at a light and a Trans Am pulled up besides us. The rumble was so great my co-workers car was vibrating. Maybe it was a Ram Air IV. Very nice Trans Am. I owned a 1970 SS 396 (402 CID 375 HP) L-78 which was really 425 HP. It had headers and dual exhaust Holley carb, and optional 4:10 12 bolt posi rear. With the headres it was probably 475 HP. I know with the Muncie M-21 it had I would beat this Tran Am. But this car is so nice.

[@johngialanellajr8650]

Very nice Trans Am. I owned a 1978 Trans Am that I put headers on and opened up the hood scoop, put in shift kit and 255- 60- 15 Good year Eagle tires. It was not too bad, but years later I bought a rare 1970 SS 396 L-78 Camaro (numbers matching) with headers and muncie 4 speed M 21 trans and Optional 4:10 12 bolt rear. He is incorrect saying the 1970 Trans Am is the only F body that had 12 bolt rear. My L-78 would beat this Ram air 4. But it still is a Beautiful car.

[@bobbyrobob]

Why not start it up? Hmmm?

[@V8TV]

This was one of the first cars we shot at The Brothers Collection, and we didn't really know how much "latitude" we had with the cars. Turns out, the owners of the collection really liked it when we fire 'em up and do burnouts, so after the first few cars, they gave us the blessing to go have fun with them. That's the reason for no running footage of some of our earlier videos. Thanks for asking!

[@canusakommando9692]

WTF? Let's hear it and do some burn outs! It would help sell it. I remember the Trans Ams from when I was a kid. My buddy had a 455 HO or SD ? It's 40 years ago I'm getting old. It would go like Jack the Bear and do 150 mph. It was awesome !!! I always had fast Chevys but we all knew don't screw with a Trans Am 455 4 spd car they rocked even into the 1970's smog era when everything else got slower they did not!

[@MrBlackbutang]

Absolutely feckin Awesome

[@marcialreyes4779]

My dad. Brought. Me. Here. With him. Learned to love pontiacs. He had a. A Boniville. 73. Then I bought a. 78. Transom. But. My. Favorite. Years. Are 70 to 73. Transoms bullnose

[@rockstertx]

My favorite muscle car of all time... I remember the first time I saw one... I think I was maybe 12. It just blew me away... Dad had been buying Pontiacs for a while... we had 66 Catalina he bought new...I remember going to pick that up and getting it delivered at night at Frank Brown Pontiac in Lubbock, Tx. Later he traded that in for a 72 Safari wagon... that was not so great. My brother got a 70 GTO as his first car... he never understood how lucky he was... 400 w/4spd... it was bronze gold/brown. Good Times!

[@runningwylde1]

There is no such thing as a 2 tone 70 Trans Am interior. The available options were a standard interior (no comfort weave) or a deluxe interior (with comfort weave on the seats and door panels, and a grab handle on the dash) in the available colors. The comfort weave fades over the decades, even on cars that spend very little time in the sun. The interior in this car is a Deluxe Bright Blue interior, and being original, the comfort weave has faded with age. It did not look two tone when it was new. All 1970 to 1972 TAs had functional hood scoops. Pontiac closed it up starting for the 1973 model year.

[@danbaumann8273]

This is in my top 5 but I think this may be my #1 pick of all muscle/pony cars, and there's some heavy competition. 73 SD 455 T/A being right there with it. Razor close.

[@robbiesmith6417]

Trans am way better can than the Camaro must be why their value is twice now a day

[@chrisgoffe5048]

..there is 3 of these in New Zealand ..exactly the same !!

[@Swanlord05]

I'd take that engine block and mod it into a 1000hp beast

[@Sir.VicsMasher]

3:57 320 degrees of exhaust duration is just about open the entire time. Is that a typo because I don't see how 308/320 would work well?

[@davidkeeton6716]

Not a typo at all. Think about it the cam turns at 1/2 the speed of the crankshaft. 2 turns of the crankshaft for 1 turn of the cam. I had a cam in a big block Chevy that was the spec of the one used in Chaparral and McLaren cars. It had 360/366 duration and. 620/.622 lift. Power range from 5000-8000. It was unreal on the street. 68 Camaro 396 12:1 4 speed 513 gears. 40 mph 4 gear, don't touch the clutch, driving along, nail the gas and the car just gets up on top of the tires. Better have it pointed where you want to go.

[@Thunda65]

Beautiful car, but Ive got to agree with some of the other posters- weve got to hear them running!!! I know they are rare and valuable, but its a cryin shame if they dont get fired up and / or driven from time to time.....

[@brandbryce]

I am curious about the interior space in the footwell specifically in this generation f-body vs. the previous, 1969 version this car

[@earlmaura670]

Bought one of these 20 years for $1100. kept it a few months sold it for $1600. The car was a real " lunker" but was a lot of fun.

[@captaindaddy8645]

is that the same car as Clint's car in dazed and confused?

[@dubaiwalker5833]

Great Video ... thank you 🍒

[@ckelley63]

Crank and rods were not forged in this motor nor were the pistons