It's a compelling argument. But an unpopular one. And it will not be well accepted among the 348+611 owners. Let alone the 400R/A without 611 owners. I doubt you will ever convince an owner with an 400R/A invoice or a R/A Inlet invoice that their cars are not R/A. Regardless, the values are the same either way.
Same either way? Not really...
A 348 1969 400 HO with original ram air pans and scoops ($2000-3000) will sell for more than a 348 coded 400 HO without.
What is compelling is that the car, whichever way you slice it IS NOT a RA III car based on everything I have stated on the L67 production designator code.
One can claim, based on the "billing" that it is a R/A car, but in reality, it is not.
Remember what was said about internal motor differences between the 67 RA, 68 RAI, 69 HO and the 69 Firebird "RAIII"? There is no performance or internal engine difference between the 68 HO, 69 HO and 69 HO or "RAIII" with 611.
The people who claim to have "R/A III's" are the losers and unhappy with this because they were DUPED into buying a 1969 Firebird HO (which was claimed to be a "RAIII") for $45k. When they could have bought a 1969 HO for $20k and the pans and scoops for an additional $2-3k and have had EXACTLY THE SAME CAR ecxept for the billing history.
A 1969 Firebird HO with 611 ram air pans is no different performance wise than a 68 HO, 69 HO or a 69 Trans AM RAIII (equally equipped w/same trans and rear gear)
I would bet anything of value that I own that if you ran (equally geared same trans) a 68 HO, a 69 HO, a 69 HO w/ram air package and a 69 Trans Am RAIII that the Trans AM would come in last and the first three, after 5 passes, mean value, would be exactly identical +/- a few percent.
Si Vis Pacem Parabellum
1967 Starlight black PMD Engineering 400 Auto 1968 Alpine Blue 400 4 speed 1968 Verdoro Green 400 HO 4 speed 2013 1LE 2SS/RS Inferno Orange Camaro.
