My theory (that I stated previously) was that the 348 option and 611 may have been combined during the year to be listed as "R/A".
Theories theories....
Theory #1 - Earlier in the year, dealers may have ordered 400 H.O.'s for customers, and they may have thought that ordering code 611 was not necessary. I would imagine some salespeople may have thought that ordering BOTH options would be double-dipping the customer. Earlier, I made a reference to the 67-68 cars, and how the Firebird and GTO always had the same performance engine options. Based on this history, if I were a salesperson NOT very familar with the subtle nuances of the performance engine options for 69, I too may have assumed that option 348 on the Firebird INCLUDED Ram Air, and believed that ordering the 611 code Ram Air Inlet was double-dipping.
Look at how confusing this entire thread has become, and imagine some salesperson trying to order a Firebird 400 for a customer, while sitting in a little office, with other customers wandering the showroom looking at Bonnevilles, Grand Prix's, Lemans 4-doors, station wagons, GTO's, convertibles, etc. Hindsight is 20/20, but look at all that has been said and speculated 39 years after this happened, when at the time, it was just another car for a customer.
Theory #2 - The 69 setup was a one-year only deal, and Pontiac (and everyone) knew the 70's were coming since back in 1968, and the new 70's would not use the 67-69 style hood. It's possible that with thousands of Ram Air pans sitting in inventory, coupled with the fact that Ram Air and RAIV Firebirds were not exactly setting sales records, and the extremely disappointing sales of the 69 Trans Am, may have caused Pontiac to simply include Ram Air on all 348 option cars in order to move the setups out of their inventory.
Theory #3 - Also remember that later in the year, Pontiac LOWERED prices and options for the 69 Firebirds because of the strike, delaying the 1970's several months. They included some items, previously listed as options, to be standard equipment. This may have been the time when code 348 included Ram Air, with very little (if any) change in price.
Now if someone has a late year invoice with 348 and 611, that blows theories #2 and #3.
