[Lloyd-TX]

How about a real deal, no BS, factory built, 1970 Ram Air IV GTO with FACTORY INSTALLED A/C.

Here in Houston, back in the day, owned by the Houston Area Pontiac Zone Service Manager.

Paul Dorton was there to help pick up the pieces after the RA IV engine scattered it's pretty little guts all over Bellaire Blvd.

More details to (hopefully) follow.

[RicksGTO]

looking forward to the details Lloyd!

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by RicksGTO

looking forward to the details Lloyd!

Yep.

Been working on trying to find out who the PMD Houston area Zone Service Rep was back then.

[Steve Hoog]

Memo car maybe?

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by Steve Hoog

Memo car maybe?

I'd almost bet on that, Steve.

Say, would you have ANY idea where to find the 1970-71-72 list of PMD Zone Service reps? Your assistance would be MOST appreciated!

[Steve Hoog]

WOW, I seriously doubt that information is available through GM. Not by the longest shot.

Other than GM, I doubt that information is available.

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by Steve Hoog

WOW, I seriously doubt that information is available through GM. Not by the longest shot.

Other than GM, I doubt that information is available.

Quite likely not available anywhere but in some old publications or bulletins soemone has just lying around.

The info is there, just gotta find it . . .

[Steve Hoog]

I would focus more on the car, that will be hard enough.

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by Lloyd-TX

Here in Houston, back in the day, owned by the Houston Area Pontiac Zone Service Manager.

Yep!

[Steve Hoog]

Plus there is a good chance any rep from back then who was probably in his 40's or more likely 50's is long gone by now. Either physically or mentally

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by Steve Hoog

Plus there is a good chance any rep from back then who was probably in his 40's or more likely 50's is long gone by now. Either physically or mentally

Yep.

We'd like at least the name to start with though. You never know . . .

[goatless]

PHS or it didn't happen.

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by goatless

PHS or it didn't happen.

I know Jeremy, I know.

Kinda reminds me of the "Y" code 1973 455SD T/A down under . . .

I'm trying to figure out how to approach JM with this deal . . . it will be expensive in any case, and I ain't got it to spend.

[Steve Hoog]

Lloyd

I don't know how Rep cars were handled back then; but I am going to guess it was very similar to the Two Lane car.

So it would be billed and credited to a local dealer and delivered to the Zone Office, or did they pick them up at the dealer? Now this I can call my Uncle on and find out.

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by Steve Hoog

Lloyd

I don't know how Rep cars were handled back then; but I am going to guess it was very similar to the Two Lane car.

So it would be billed and credited to a local dealer and delivered to the Zone Office, or did they pick them up at the dealer? Now this I can call my Uncle on and find out.

Anything you can do, any hints or tips at all will be helpful. Mucho appreciated, Steve.
By the way, how are you feeling today?

[Steve Hoog]

Backed up today, it's been a tough two months now but I'm still fighting

[Steve Hoog]

In our Area; Mike Link was the Rep around 70, he later went to work for Toyota. We do not know his current status or if he is still alive; he was ballpark of 40 at the time like I guessed.

Per my Uncle who was a Dealer at that time: all of Mike's cars were delivered to the Zone Office but Mike drove them to Milner Pontiac in Tulsa for Prep. My Uncle "thinks" like I do; that they were billed to "A" dealer and credited back on the same invoice, but he never did that at his dealership so he is not sure.

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by Steve Hoog

In our Area; Mike Link was the Rep around 70, he later went to work for Toyota. We do not know his current status or if he is still alive; he was ballpark of 40 at the time like I guessed.

Per my Uncle who was a Dealer at that time: all of Mike's cars were delivered to the Zone Office but Mike drove them to Milner Pontiac in Tulsa for Prep. My Uncle "thinks" like I do; that they were billed to "A" dealer and credited back on the same invoice, but he never did that at his dealership so he is not sure.

Thanks, Steve.

If you can uncover anything about the Houston Zone Service Manager back then, we'd love to hear about it.

Keep up the good fight, my friend!

[Steve Hoog]

If you can uncover anything about the Houston Zone Service Manager back then, we'd love to hear about it.

Lloyd, I have to leave a little work for you

[Lloyd-TX]

Here's the story, in bold text below. Sorry, but the names have been deleted "to protect the guilty". Unfortunately, still no docs yet . . .

The story of the 70 Ram Air IV GTO with factory A/C.

On a Sunday in September of 1970 my Dad needed me to help him at work. The annual Houston New Car show was starting the next week and the brand new 1971s were being transported to Frank Gillman Pontiac for Pre Delivery Inspection and detailing. 1971 was the introduction of the all new B Body and the new top of the line Grandville. This was also the introduction of the clamshell tailgate on the station wagons where the glass rolled into the roof and the gate down under the car. This was a big deal back then and there was a lot of excitement among the Pontiac Houston District Office personnel. We arrived at the dealership at 8 AM to meet the transport and the Pontiac guys started showing up shortly afterwards. We waited and waited. Much later that morning we finally got a call telling us the transport had broken down and wouldn’t be there until sometime after noon.

Well, being the 1970s and men being men, they started drinking about 10 AM. And I’m not talking beer, the Pontiac execs set up a bar in an office and were pounding the mixed drinks.

The transport finally showed up about 1 PM and we got the cars off and in the shop. By this time the Pontiac guys were definitely feeling no pain. They had a lot of fun with the station wagon tailgate and pretty quickly wore down the battery. They had a brief discussion of what they were going to do about the battery problem at the show then decided they need to go get some lunch.

Five of them piled into the District Service Manager’s 70 GTO Ram Air IV. His name was ________________, and like all of the District guys he could special order anything he wanted. As I recall it was Bermuda Blue with a white vinyl top and I think white interior. It was automatic, all power and factory A/C. Remember, this was a brass hat and they always came loaded.

Anyway, five of the Pontiac guys pile into this GTO with a man named ________ in the middle back seat. ____ was the manager in charge of vehicle distribution for the Houston District and was over 6 feet tall. Bob pulled out of the west driveway at Gillman east onto Bellaire Blvd. Trying to show off, Bob floored the accelerator. At the same time in the back seat, ____ was feeling cramped and decided to stretch out by putting his legs between the seat on top of the console. And in doing so he kicked the car into neutral. Bob, being under the influence, was slow to react and the engine quickly over revved and threw a rod, scattering metal chunks and a large quantity of oil all over Bellaire Blvd.

Several of us in the shop were called out to push the car off the street and clean up the mess. I remember finding a large chunk of the rod end cap and it was pretty twisted. We cleaned up the debris and the oil while the Pontiac guys got in one of the other cars and went to lunch.

About Wednesday or Thursday of that week a brand new complete Ram Air IV engine arrive at Gillman Pontiac in a crate, and this was long before crate engines were available. It was put in ____________ car, under warranty of course.

And this is why I either laugh or just shake my head when some so called expert says that back in the muscle car days the factory never did something, like A/C in a Ram Air IV. At the time, they did anything and everything. If you knew the right person, were connected well enough or just had enough money you could get anything you want.