19681/2 Firebird Ram Air II Coupe, Extremely Rare, the First Ram Air II Firebird

1968 1/2 Pontiac Firebird 400 Ram Air II Coupe
The 1968 1/2 Ram Air II is a late production high performance option that was offered by Pontiac in mid-year of 1968 replacing the original L67 Ram Air option. It was developed to meet the demand for maximum performance and to give Pontiac a competitive entry in drag racing competition. It was the first to use re-designed cylinder heads with large round exhaust ports and many other performance enhancements. The Ram Air II Firebird is one of the rarest Pontiac muscle cars. In total there were 110 Ram Air II Firebirds built in 1968, of which 98 were equipped with a 4-speed manual and 12 with automatic transmission.
This 1968 Ram Air II Firebird is exceptionally rare, it is one of only 12 with the TH400 automatic transmission and according to Pontiac Historic Service, it is the first Ram Air II Firebird produced. The one and only on May 20, 1968, the first day of Ram Air II production.
A true piece of Pontiac motorsport history, it was ordered by Weidner Pontiac, a performance dealership in Mansfield, Ohio for their drag racing program. The Firebird was campaigned in the NHRA B/Stock Automatic class by Pete Weidner Jr, who provided its race history and vintage photographs. It was competitive at points meets and the NHRA U.S. Nationals in 1968.
Restored over a 23 month period, it is as factory equipped with the L67 400/340 HP Ram Air II engine, M40 Turbo Hydra-matic transmission, 3.90 Safe-T-Track limited-slip rear axle, hood-mounted tachometer, Rally gauges, Soft Ray-tinted glass, variable-ratio power steering and Firestone F70-14 red-line tires. Sporting its black standard bench-seat interior with column-shift and no radio, it was special ordered with these weight saving measures for drag racing.
The Firebird's Ram Air II engine was rebuilt to factory specifications and features correct factory original engine components including a service replacement XT-code 400 cubic-inch 4-bolt-main cylinder block, Armasteel crankshaft, forged aluminum pistons, high-output camshaft with hydraulic lifters and heavy-duty pushrods, rare Ram Air II round port cylinder heads with lightweight swirl-polished valves and high-rate valve springs, Ram Air II specific Quadrajet 4-BBL carburetor and ignition distributor, free-flowing "long branch" cast-iron exhaust manifolds and a functional Ram Air induction system with open hood scoops.
A meticulous frame-off rotisserie restoration was performed by world-class Pontiac restoration specialist Scott Tiemann's Supercar Specialties in Portland, Michigan. Re-finished with PPG Deltron 2-stage (base/clear coat) paint in original color Cameo Ivory and impeccably restored using mint original, NOS and the best available reproduction items including new date-coded glass and a concours quality exhaust system from Garner Exhaust.
Flawless and correct in every detail, it is the cover car featured in the April 2015 issue of "Muscle Machines" magazine and was part of the 50th Anniversary F-Body Invitational display at the 2017 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals (MCACN) car show. Showing 16,790 original miles and driven fewer than 50 miles since its restoration was completed in January 2014, it remains in pristine condition, as new and fresh as when delivered. It's all backed by PHS documentation, an impressive example of this extremely rare Pontiac muscle car.
Additional information at: http://midwestfirebirds.org/?p=5757
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