Actually, the fist reference to "Ram Air" was for the '65 TriPower GTOs. A "Ram Air" pan was made available "over the counter". The only truly effective versions (according to "lore") are the "reverse" scoops like on T/A (shaker) and the '71-'72 GTO and Firebird "Formula" scoops, which stick out in front, into the "air flow". The rest simply offer "ambient air" for the carb, making it a bit more efficient at mixing the fuel for performance.
The "Ram AIr" engines were far more than a simple "open scoop". Different heads, cams, intakes, exchaust, carb (calibration), distributor curves, etc. By '69, a Ram AIr GTO was again, a "force to reckon with" in the muscle car arena. Ever notice when they "test" muscle cars, they ALWAYS use a 400 GTO against the 454 Chevelle, 455 Olds and Buick, 429 Ford, 440 Dodge (or even Hemi), etc.? They put a "boy" in a man's world, and he did okay, actually... Imagine had they produced a 428 Ram Air IV!!! Or even just PRODUCED Ram Air V...
I object to using the term "Ram Air head" for d-ports because, while they WERE used on the lower Ram Air engines, the same heads were also used on other "non-Ram Air" engines. The best/easiest way to avoid the "confusion" is to restrict the use of the term for the "special" stuff unique to Ram Air engines.
