My Classic Car: 1970 Pontiac GTO RAIV

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My 1970 Pontiac GTO story begins out in February 1987 on a visit from Miami to Chicago to choose up an SD455 Trans Am. I used to be driving with a fellow Floridian as he drove his mother and father’ Cadillac with an enclosed automobile trailer. The drive took 29 hours every means, so we took turns driving whereas the opposite slept or rested. Arriving in St. Charles, Illinois, we found the Trans Am was excellent in each means, however the vendor additionally had a basement stuffed with NOS Oldsmobile elements and some uncommon 1970 GTO elements — I picked up an NOS left hood scoop and a left taillight lens in preparation for a automobile I had but to personal.

I spent the following 10 years and $23,500 shopping for NOS elements together with fenders, quarter panels, each chrome piece, uncommon Ram Air IV engine elements, glass, inside elements, grilles, valances, you identify it. Remember, this was the 1980-90s, so elements have been nonetheless inexpensive relative to at the moment. 

Fast ahead to July 1997. I noticed an advert from a vendor in Wilmington, Delaware, asking $9,000 for a whole, working Pepper Green Ram Air IV GTO with a manufacturing facility four-speed, hood tach, rally gauges, AM/FM stereo, and 8-track. I spoke to Mark, the vendor at the moment, and acquired copies of authentic paperwork and photographs of the automobile. I actually wished a GTO Judge with the RAIV, so I made a decision at the moment to maintain trying. A couple of months later, after not being profitable, I referred to as Mark once more and, to my shock, he nonetheless owned the GTO. Mark didn’t really feel I used to be severe once I referred to as him again, however I satisfied him I wished the automobile. Another pal of mine was off the weekend of October 30, so after convincing him to drive with me to Delaware (and a $400 bonus to whet his whistle), we left for a 17-hour journey.

We exited at Marsh Road round 4 p.m. on Halloween Day. The GTO was parked in Mark’s driveway trying like a T-Rex sitting among the many new plastic automobiles of the period. One take a look at drive is all it took — the GTO drove superbly. I accomplished the deal, which included an NOS rear trunk lid and left NOS fender. I advised Mark he might maintain and promote the air cleaner for one more $1,000 as a result of I had an NOS one in Miami already detailed. Final value for the GTO was $8,500. We dropped off our Hertz rental on the Philadelphia airport, then I adopted my pal within the GTO. The fender and trunk lid have been within the again seat.

That night time, we drove the GTO to Richmond, Virginia. After consuming dinner, we checked into the lodge and went to our room. I advised my pal I’d wake him at 5 a.m. to begin the drive again to Florida. He requested me, “Where are you going?” I advised him I’d be outdoors sleeping within the GTO — I wasn’t leaving this automobile outdoors alone! A safety guard woke me at 3 a.m. and requested me what I used to be doing within the GTO. I advised him my story, which he didn’t imagine at first, however once I confirmed him my lodge reservation, he understood and allowed me to stick with my prized possession. 

The drive again to Miami took one other 24 hours nonstop because of the GTO having 3.90 gears and small 14-inch radial tires. Once we arrived, I parked my GTO and locked it up behind my fence in a lined carport. A couple of days later, I acquired a name from Mark asking if I wished to promote the GTO again to him. At first, I assumed he was joking, however he advised me he had one other purchaser supply him $20,000 for the GTO, so we might each flip a fast revenue. I advised him, “Sorry!” and solely spoke to him another time a few yr later as soon as the restoration started. He didn’t wish to hear in regards to the automobile anymore. 

The actual hero of this uncommon GTO was the third proprietor, Phil Lavelle, who owned the automobile from 1979 to 1996. Many instances, Phil was requested to promote the GTO for good cash however refused. He even claimed some potential consumers supplied much less cash and wished to half out the GTO. Around 1996, Phil was planning to begin a household and bought the GTO to Mark. When I acquired the GTO a yr later, I acquired an e-mail requesting data from a younger man who grew up in Delaware and requested me many questions on the GTO he had seen parked at a gasoline station.  Was this the identical automobile?  It had no Ram Air IV decals on the hood, not hinting this was a uncommon automobile, however Phil merely by no means reinstalled the decals after a repaint. Plus, Phil advised me just a few years later the GTO had a dealer-installed vacuum operated exhaust system. I used to be shocked once I acquired a few of these elements from Phil.

The GTO’s restoration started in 1998 and was accomplished in 2004. I modified the colour to Atoll Blue, which appears to be like unbelievable after 22 years and nonetheless receives great compliments, although for the longer term, I’m leaning within the path of repainting it the proper Pepper Green — definitely it will likely be numerous work, which is why I haven’t accomplished so. For the engine, it’s been blueprinted. The block was decked 1/100 and I put in a cast crankshaft with H-beam connecting rods and Ross Racing pistons. Pretty a lot every little thing else is normal Pontiac RAIV fare with 1.65 curler rockers. 

And that younger man who emailed me requesting details about the GTO? Diego, the identical man who has helped me put collectively this text. Diego has written two books about muscle automobiles, each superbly crafted and price proudly owning. Diego is an amazing asset to our interest [blushing –Ed.] and grew up as a younger man realizing about my GTO earlier than I ever noticed it. On a tragic word, each Phil and Mark have handed on. I do know Phil was proud realizing I had restored this GTO and stored it.  Each time I sit in it, I consider him. 

— Roger Wydler, Miami

Postscript: Yeah, I used to see this automobile at a gasoline station on Faulk and Wilson Roads on a regular basis. Nowhere was there any indication that it was a Ram Air IV GTO. So, once I noticed Roger’s publish on a Pontiac discussion board nearly 30 years in the past, I knew it was the identical automobile as a result of I had been conversant in all of the GTOs within the space.

Around 15 years in the past, I used to be at an occasion at Maple Grove Raceway and noticed a gold 1970 GTO with Delaware plates. I began chatting up the proprietor. “You buy this from an old lady on Shipley Road?” Same automobile however — foolish me! — I used to be speaking to a man I knew (Mike Hostler a pal of a pal, and a man whose older brother Jim had a ’69 I used to see round city) however hadn’t seen in perhaps 15-20 years. I advised him the story in regards to the inexperienced GTO and requested if he knew it was a Ram Air IV. He answered, “Oh, yeah, everyone knew about it!” I’ll chalk up my ignorance because of me being too younger on the time.

— Diego