Most Rare Pontiac in existence?

[vintageozarks]

I just posted a note somewhere else on this forum and decided it might be good to start my own topic concerning: What is the most rare Pontiac ever made? My wife writes history articles on rare cars (she's done Preston Tucker (her hero), the 1934 Frazer Nash, and other it is far from rare, the Model T. She's started on the Hudson but isn't too excited about anything on it yet. So if someone knows about a rare Pontiac, I'll have something to talk about at the supper table. Thanks

[Larry]

I posted this in response elsewhere, so will reply here also.

Starting with the early years you would have to consider the 1932 V-8 cars, then perhaps the 1937 and '38 convertible sedans. Then there would be things that made not-so-rare cars rare because of options, like a 1954 Pontiac with factory air conditioning. Consider also the sedan deliveries especially after 1954 (?) when they were only made in Canada.

For later years there are of course the 1957 fuel injected Boneville convertibles, followed by 1958 Bonneville convertibles.

There are a number of rarer "newer" Pontiacs like 1969 Trans Ams (especialy the convertible), Can Ams, 4-speed '73 Grans Ams, some Judge convertibles, and certainly most all H.O. and RamAir cars are pretty rare.

Of speciality interest would be any show cars and prototypes too.

This could be fun "Searching for Rare Pontiacs". If you want some production numbers, just ask and I'll check out what I can for you.

Let's hear from everyone elso too!

[vintageozarks]

Thanks, Larry. I was surprised to learn a/c and fuel injection were even in a car manufacturer's imagination, much less a reality in a car in those years. By the way, this is Susan (Mrs. VintageOzarks). I am fired up over the wonderful info you provided on the early rare Pontiacs and will spend this morning building an article upon the info you provided. Larry (my Larry) or I will post more later. Hope we hear from someone else on this as well.

[Stu Norman]

The 1962 and 1963 Super Duty cars are very rare.

1969 Trans Am Convertibles, only 8 made. (Incidently, the 8th was recently found in Mexico, it was just treated to a very high dollar restoration at a Dallas shop).

http://forums.performanceyears.com/forums/showthread.php?t=523140

[super]

The 1963 Super Duty cars are extremely rare. How about Bill Blair's mule car, a 1963 421 Super Duty Tempest (not a Lemans). Ray Nichels and Mickey Thompson campaigned the Tempest. Only two of these were produced.

'63 Swiss Cheese cars.

1968 1/2 Ram Air II GTO

1969 Ram Air IV Trans-Ams

1969 Trans-Am convertibles

Even though it has a little higher production number, how about a 1971 GT-37 400 or 455 car? They are still extremely rare.

[Stu Norman]

My dream would be to find and own the 1 of 1 1963 Super Duty Grand Prix.

[super]

I believe they produced three 1963 421 Super Duty Grand Prixs. These cars are beautiful. Throw in the 421 and you have the ultimate package.
RARE!!

[Stu Norman]

Yes, there were three. One was built with the 421 4bbl Nascar engine. It went to Larry Swiatek. He drag raced it in A/S.

As for a book on a rare car, I would love to see one about the factory 1963 Lemans Tempest 421SD coupes that competed at Daytona and blew away the Ferarris and Corvettes. According to McCarthy 6 were made.

As for a 421 in a 1963 Grand Prix......... ...I plead the 5th.

[super]

It is great to see any of these factory Pontiac racecars. Kinda like being a kid in a candy store. I was given the oppurtunity to walk through and photograph Randy Williams collection. It was one of the best experiences in my life. A real honor!

Talk about some rare cars. The only one not at Jean and Randy's place was the Swiss Cheese car they owned. It was being displayed by good friend Scott Tiemann.

Super Duty cars are rarities and have a big part in my liking of Pontiacs. It helps too that my dad raced these cars for an independent in Bourbon, MO.

They had an ultra rare aluminum frame they were going to place under a '63 Catalina and race, but concentrated on the Tempest because of its weight advantage. The Tempest had an aluminum frontend. The Heck boys out of Ohio purchased the aluminum frame years ago.

SUPER DUTY!

[Stu Norman]

I've heard of aluminum body parts and bumpers, but never heard of aluminum frames, just the swiss cheese frames.




Where are these cars documented?

[super]

They actually did produce one aluminum frame for these cars. Selden Ruwwe, a long time Pontiac collector and racer had it years ago. There was a High Performance Pontiac magazine that had the frame photographed in it a few years back. I will have to locate it and try and get the date of the publication. Selden sold the frame to the Heck brothers from Ohio.

Unique piece of Pontiac history! My father was around tons of unique rare factory parts. They were extremely successful bracket racing with these parts too.

[super]

A photo of the frame is located in the 2004 May edition of High Performance Pontiac. It has a picture of the Royal '63 Catalina on the front cover. There is an archive article on P.J. and Vance Heck owning the original Royal Swiss Cheese car. It also mentions the alumimum frame in the article several times.

It came from Selden Ruwwe. You will have to check out the online article titled "A Pontiac Legend." I wrote an article about the racing partnership between Selden and my father. I could of wrote a book about their lifetime experiences.

Selden is extremely knowledgable about the early Super Duty cars. A fella would be suprised at all the things produced. At one time, well-known Pontiac collector and restorer Randy Williams traced down every Super Duty part Selden owned throughout the years. He pretty much purchased everything Selden owned at one time or another. The aluminum frame is probably one of the only pieces that slipped through his fingers.

RARE would best describe all the SD cars. I love seeing these things on display. It is even better when you see one bashing gears on the track!

[Nomadac]

[img]

The Banshee was an Experimental Firebird back in the early 70's with a 455 SD engine and Turbo 400 transmission. It was displayed in several Car Shows.[/img]

[Larry]

Ah, the old Banshee switcharoo!

Check the photo below. The "original" Banshee is shown at the top right. It was from 1966 and was also dubbed the XP-833 Roadster. I have photos of it with an OHC-6 and a V-8.

Below the Banshee is the 1972 Firebird Pegasus. Check it out against the Banshee posted above. That Banshee (reuse of the 1966 name), I would bet, was a rework of the '72 Pegasus.

Any ideas?

[Nomadac]