The Ram Air IV was the epitome of Pontiac engine development insofar as an RPO for street use AND this would apply to the legendary SD455 which came out 3 years later. The Ram IV came with functional hood scoops and the ONLY RPO engine option with a unique cam with over 0.50 valve lift in addition to a 1.65 rocker ratio. This in addition to the famed GM 12 bolt rear and the final year for GM(PONTIAC) high compression engines. The Ram IV was also apparently available in the 70 Formula as well.
@@peterhogan9537 I ordered a new 1973 Trans Am and it had the hood scoop closed up. The little door was sealed shut but the mechanic at the dealership told me the solenoid was still under the hood so I ordered the previous year scoop and had it painted white to match. All I had to do was plug it in and I had the functional hood scoop.
This car is bruit-iful! Would love to see some larger pipes in the back but this car is immaculate. A piece of American car design history here, a real stunning looking ride. I bet the value of these goes sky high in the next 10 years.
I built these cars at GMAD Van Nuys. Not sure if we built RA IV or just RA III. We had the new Z 28 and SS 454 also. The RA IV may have been exclusive to Norristown? I had two of these. Jerry Titus got the very few RA V cars with the tunnel port engine. They were 303 and 400 CID for the Trans America racing circuit. The car got 16 MPG at 70 and 13 mpg at 100 mph.
I think mine did around 14 at 100, nice to see I'm not the only one who would fill the tank and then take her out on the highway for a lil cruise. Sold mine cause I knew it would kill me :)
My first new car purchase was a blue 1970 1/2 Formula equipped with the Ram Air 3 with functional ram air, 4-speed and 3:55 differential. If memory serves me correctly, the Ram Air 4 engine option was NOT listed in the sales brochure for that year and the salesman who finalized my order for the Ram Air 3, never mentioned the availability of the Ram Air 4 as an option. No idea what the extra cost for this option would have been in 1970. Nonetheless, wish I still had the Formula today!
I have seen one 70 Ram Air IV Trans Am for sale with a 228870L serial number. All others I have seen are 228870N for Norwood. So it appears they made at least one in Van Nuys.
I have been around cars like that my entire life and I have NEVER seen a mustang outperform pontiac muscle ! And they killed Pontiac ? Who in the hell in charge when you kill cars like this and re entroduce dodge dart.
when I grew up in our high school we had 2 brothers and they both had 69 TA's Chuck built his for drag racing and Jimmy's 69 TA was left bone stock , kind of amazing when you consider they only made 697 1969 Trans ams !
. If you buy an original Delco air filter for this car the application listed on the box is 1970 Trans America,,, no abbreviation. While this car is very pretty and mostly original, there is a glaring difference. All of the wheel air dams were screwed on on and had a beading at the joint. Same for the front and rear spoiler. I found that if you left the trunk unlatched, the spoiler closed it at about 95 MPH.
I had a '71 Trans Am clone, the real ones are too expensive. I sold it in September of '19 and picked up a C6, LS3 Corvette. I miss the Pontiac, but, my wife never liked it.
Pretty car. The very first '70 TA (blue white stripes) delivered to our local dealer was totaled by a beater opal wagon with failed brakes. Two weeks old and sitting right in front of the show-room. Worse thing one of the dealerships mechanics was driving the Opal on a test drive.
The "Air Four"? Kid, please learn about your subject matter before you narrate. I know it's your job, but please try to do it to the best of your ability. Your audience deserves that.
Just necause Pontiac decided to stop don't mean the prices of old time pontiac muscle cars should be high. For what you want for this i could buy the new burt reynolds pontiac TransAm and blow this 70 1/2 off in a ditch.
You don't have much appreciation of history do you. With collectables, it isn't always about who's the fastest. With this car, you'ld've had to have been there, to appreciate it. Obviously, you weren't.
beautiful car!!! wish they still made them exactly like this
The Ram Air IV was the epitome of Pontiac engine development insofar as an RPO for street use AND this would apply to the legendary SD455 which came out 3 years later. The Ram IV came with functional hood scoops and the ONLY RPO engine option with a unique cam with over 0.50 valve lift in addition to a 1.65 rocker ratio. This in addition to the famed GM 12 bolt rear and the final year for GM(PONTIAC) high compression engines. The Ram IV was also apparently available in the 70 Formula as well.
the hood scoop was functional on the ram air 3 as well.
@@peterhogan9537 I ordered a new 1973 Trans Am and it had the hood scoop closed up. The little door was sealed shut but the mechanic at the dealership told me the solenoid was still under the hood so I ordered the previous year scoop and had it painted white to match. All I had to do was plug it in and I had the functional hood scoop.
We had one of these when I was in high school - what a blast! Hearing that engine run brought back memories! Awesome!
Another perfect example from RK motors. Well done with your presentation. Thanks for posting.
This car is bruit-iful!
Would love to see some larger pipes in the back but this car is immaculate. A piece of American car design history here, a real stunning looking ride. I bet the value of these goes sky high in the next 10 years.
I'd take a 69 to 73 any day. 74 too. 75 and newer were gutless. This is a real beauty.
78 or 79 W72 would run with anything other than a RAIV or SD-455.
My dream ride!!! Had a 70 1/2 back in high school RA lll 4 speed man was that car a hoot to drive, used to put it all over small block chevy's
back when automakers had pride
I built these cars at GMAD Van Nuys. Not sure if we built RA IV or just RA III. We had the new Z 28 and SS 454 also. The RA IV may have been exclusive to Norristown? I had two of these. Jerry Titus got the very few RA V cars with the tunnel port engine. They were 303 and 400 CID for the Trans America racing circuit. The car got 16 MPG at 70 and 13 mpg at 100 mph.
I think mine did around 14 at 100, nice to see I'm not the only one who would fill the tank and then take her out on the highway for a lil cruise. Sold mine cause I knew it would kill me :)
My first new car purchase was a blue 1970 1/2 Formula equipped with the Ram Air 3 with functional ram air, 4-speed and 3:55 differential. If memory serves me correctly, the Ram Air 4 engine option was NOT listed in the sales brochure for that year and the salesman who finalized my order for the Ram Air 3, never mentioned the availability of the Ram Air 4 as an option. No idea what the extra cost for this option would have been in 1970. Nonetheless, wish I still had the Formula today!
Ram air 4 was not available on the Formula .
your right it was not listed in the brochure and I can;t understand that.
I have seen one 70 Ram Air IV Trans Am for sale with a 228870L serial number. All others I have seen are 228870N for Norwood. So it appears they made at least one in Van Nuys.
Ear and Eye Candy...My Dream Car!
Wondering what the ball park was that it sold for back in 2010 or 2011? $150,000? More?
Magnificent!!!
Nice! Need to bring my 72 455 HO 4 speed up to snuff!
Then you should have listened more closely. He said that there was only 59 Ram IV 400 with a 4 speed !
That sound effin awesome
I have been around cars like that my entire life and I have NEVER seen a mustang outperform pontiac muscle ! And they killed Pontiac ? Who in the hell in charge when you kill cars like this and re entroduce dodge dart.
DREAM CAR. omg.
Must be a "Niels(o/e)n" thing:)
Beauty! I think i still prefer the 69 Trans Am but no argument with people who prefer the 70 1/2 .
when I grew up in our high school we had 2 brothers and they both had 69 TA's Chuck built his for drag racing and Jimmy's 69 TA was left bone stock , kind of amazing when you consider they only made 697 1969 Trans ams !
Id daily this car, could care less what its worth. This is a bad boy!
. If you buy an original Delco air filter for this car the application listed on the box is 1970 Trans America,,, no abbreviation.
While this car is very pretty and mostly original, there is a glaring difference. All of the wheel air dams were screwed on on and had a beading at the joint. Same for the front and rear spoiler. I found that if you left the trunk unlatched, the spoiler closed it at about 95 MPH.
I had a '71 Trans Am clone, the real ones are too expensive. I sold it in September of '19 and picked up a C6, LS3 Corvette. I miss the Pontiac, but, my wife never liked it.
I am building a 71 TA clone out of a Esprit 350 auto with a/c car and I have a 1970 formula 400, never going to sell mine !
Just curious. Where do you have the 59 number from? From what I know, there was only 29 WH T/A's build where 6 of them had the WW code GTO blocks.
Some sources list the 1970 Trans Am Ram air 4 Engine with 370 Horse power, but more sources say 345 Horse power. I am wondering which one is correct.
The Ram Air 3 was rated 335 h.p. in the Firebird and this is a very different engine which was underrated at 345. It puts out much more than that.
370 is correct. Remember you had several options. A 400 base motor (345 hp?), the Ram Air III (366) and the Ram Air IV at 370.
345
Pretty car. The very first '70 TA (blue white stripes) delivered to our local dealer was totaled by a beater opal wagon with failed brakes. Two weeks old and sitting right in front of the show-room. Worse thing one of the dealerships mechanics was driving the Opal on a test drive.
Dream car! maby when I hit tha lotto.. lol
One can only wonder why anybody liked the puney pony Fords.
My dad has 1 sexy car
The "Air Four"? Kid, please learn about your subject matter before you narrate. I know it's your job, but please try to do it to the best of your ability. Your audience deserves that.
He definitely didn't grow up with these cars like some of us did.
Just necause Pontiac decided to stop don't mean the prices of old time pontiac muscle cars should be high. For what you want for this i could buy the new burt reynolds pontiac TransAm and blow this 70 1/2 off in a ditch.
You don't have much appreciation of history do you. With collectables, it isn't always about who's the fastest. With this car, you'ld've had to have been there, to appreciate it. Obviously, you weren't.
You are a mope
@@joequillun7790 Well said. You either love old iron or you dont.
these car for all there hipe didn"t have much more hp than stock 350 firebird.
Bullshit...Do some research before you flap your jib. FYI, the power rating on these was deliberately underrated!
Big difference dude.
Really know your cars don't ya? what are you 9 years old
LOL, what a POSER!!!!
Ignorant statement. Youve never ridden in a big block with over 500 lbs of torque have you?
hp numbers dont mean anything.