I am very limited in my knowledge about FGF's but out of curiosity. If these cars were originally 400 cars why is there no Arrowhead in the bumper? (MotorTrend ad on page 2)? Thought all 68' 400 models had them?? Sorry if its a stupid question, just thought it wouldnt make sense, that they would change a bumper for no reason.
Definitely NOT a silly question!
The 1968 GTO Royal Bobcat 428 I mentioned above was an example where Royal Pontiac transplanted in a 428 engine, pulling out the original 400.
With the Myrtle Motors Firebird, they most likely started with a 350 car and performed the 428 swap. In the process they added the hood, stripes, rear spoiler, and emblems.
The photo of the two Birds side-by-side shows the 1967 Myrtle Motors drag car, with the nose up attitude. Also notice that the drag car has scoops in front of the rear wheelwells.
Not all the transplant cars had to start out as Firebird 400's.
Royal Pontiac had a 1969 Firebird 350HO, red with a white tail panel and stripes, and lettered up for Royal Pontiac (and later, Leader Engineering). Royal modified this car for class racing, and it became the quickest 350 in the country. It was also featured in magazines articles, like the cover of PHR. It had a flat hood with dual hood tach nacelles (this was how the Firebird 350 HO was supposed to be built, but they nixed the double tach nacelles at the last minute).
After they were done running the 350HO, they transplanted in a Ram Air V, and did another test for a magazine. It now had the 400 hood, but none of the usual Firebird 400 trim.
