[padgett]

After pestering Pontiac A Lot in '78 they finally allowed me to order a 78 Sunbird with V8, 4 speed, & posi (NA with C60). Also Formula steering wheel and snowflakes (4x100, 13x6).

Looking at Smoke Signals it appears Dmitri got one with a lot more bling slightly earlier.

But then mine had one purpose only: to dominate SCCA F/S solo II which it did. Also either broke or cracked everything possible including shoving the clutch assembly through the firewall. In the end I swapped for a set of 8" Snowflakes.

See here.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Any V8 is going to make a Sunbird go quick. Which V8? The 400...!?

["QUICK-SILVER"]

Same name same car?

https://topclassiccarsforsale.com/po...peed-posi.html

Clay

[einstein]

Originally Posted by Half-Inch Stud

Any V8 is going to make a Sunbird go quick. Which V8? The 400...!?

305-8V as I recall. Aluminum from around my birth year.

[OZZIEVILLE 67 2 door]

Great story, thanks for posting.
Downunder Holden had a Sunbird,4 cylinder, mostly a failure, torana and monaro had v8.
John L

Sent from my SM-A426B using Tapatalk

[keith k]

Originally Posted by "QUICK-SILVER"

Same name same car?

https://topclassiccarsforsale.com/po...peed-posi.html

Clay

Wow - buy it back, Padgett!

That's a pretty neat car. Definitely a rarity.

[jerry455]

I remember there were very few V8 Sunbirds around. The other H Body, that I thought looked better, was the 1977 V8 Chevrolet Monza Spyder. I had a yellow 1977 high school in 1979 and 1980. I almost bought one a couple of years ago but was already building my next Pontiac 455+. The 305 V8 available in the H Bodies was a 140 hp 305 2 barrel. California had a 125 hp 350 available in 1975 and 1976.

[padgett]

Yes, that was mine. Wonder if anyone fixed all of the cracks in the "chassis". Still looks pretty good. Curious what he wants for it. One error: 78 was 145 hp, 79 was 135 hp. Both limited mainly by the factory 2bbl. (2GC not M2ME). Wheel is factory formula wheel and snowflakes are factory 13x6.

[ssj71]

Originally Posted by padgett

Yes, that was mine. Wonder if anyone fixed all of the cracks in the "chassis". Still looks pretty good. Curious what he wants for it. One error: 78 was 145 hp, 79 was 135 hp. Both limited mainly by the factory 2bbl. (2GC not M2ME). Wheel is factory formula wheel and snowflakes are factory 13x6.

Owner's name is Chad (from that listing), as I know him. A no-nonsense guy, but honest, and he and I have always gotten along well...

[padgett]

Be interesting but have too many cars now and way to deep into Allante center stacks right now (with all of the talk about the PininFarina design and the air bridge they never mention the source for the unobtanium and non-repairable center stack with all the buttons and displays.

[242177P]

Originally Posted by padgett

... mine had one purpose only: to dominate SCCA F/S solo II which it did.

I thought your writing style was familiar. You'll have to tell everyone about that five pylon box you designed. You know, the 'chicane'

[padgett]

You mean the "Peterson Box". Origin was simple: we needed to slow down a straight and only had five pylons so set four in a square and put one in the middle. Idea was you had to go through the box without hitting any pylon.

Was amazing how many complained it was too narrow and hit brakes/swerved through.

Just to shut them up I put an Econoline van at full chat straight through without lifting.

Later some made two obstacles from one by routing through once, then again at 90 degrees.

Am astounded that was near 50 years ago & were autocrosses every weekend in the midwest.

[Blowd]

Well if you autocrossed this evil "thang" you have my respect. I owned a v-8 (262) Monza notchback for a couple years. I can appreciate the "plant the front bumper and pivot" driving style, but mine was prone to buck the rear on the torque arm suspension putting me in awkward predicaments on more than one occasion. (C-70 rear tires) I slid into a guys driveway backwards at he end of a curve once, I could only shrug and putter away thankful for squeezing in beside the parked cars. Another ended up less fortunately for the sheetmetal and led to my decision to part with the car.
I will say I never moved the motor to change spark plugs, mebbe jus dumb kid luck.. Anyway thanks for the stories and reminding me of a car I hadn't thought about in some time.