does anyone know if the Goodyear polyglass tires were availible on a 68 Firebird?....I have always thought that they were not until I see pictures of an unrestored 68 Ram Air convertible that was owned by Joe c. at one time...it claims to be all original??...I also know that it has G-70 14 tires on it that they do not reproduce...were these tires a special order? I see no where on the "special equiptment sheet" that says you can order them....I can post a picture of this car later. Anyone know? THANKS
here is the story on the car...I am on a laptop and do not know how to do a link....I did a google search for 1968 Ram Air Firebird and this article came up with pictures...If anyone can do the search and post the pics that would be great Thanks
Pontiac Power The Pontiac Spotlight: 1968 Firebird Ram Air I
The Pontiac Spotlight will feature a different Pontiac each month. If you have a Pontiac that you would like featured here please email me your details and a few pictures to share.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1968 L67 Ram Air 400 Firebird Convertible 1 of 12 built
Rare. Low Mileage. Original. We've all heard it before. Yeah, it's one of 20,000 and it only has 79,000 miles, (sometime its more like 179k) And that's factory bondo holding the rear quarters together too! But those words really are the only way to describe this Firebird. This Firebird is owned by Joe "L67" Cione. Joe owns one of the few Firebirds that recieved the RA I 400 engines in 1968. Even more remarkable than it rarity, is it originality. Combine the two and you have a truly great car.
As Joe puts it the car is "Completely UNRESTORED. 19,200 documented one-owner miles. This 100% numbers matching car still retains its factory original Solar Red paint, black top, deluxe black interior, chrome, Ram Air induction set-up, exhaust system, suspension, spark plug wires, radiator and heater hoses, emissions control system, air cleaner element and so on. Incredibly, this one-of-a-kind timewarp automobile is also 1 of only 12 L67 Ram Air Firebird convertibles built in 1968.
The original owner, Fire Chief William Luck of Reading Pennsylvania, took delivery of this beautiful red Firebird in March of 1968. To anyone who sees the car today, it becomes readily apparent that it was pampered from day one. Russell Luck, William's brother, says that William regularly drove the Firebird until 1972. After that, it was only taken out "on special occasions". 1975 turned out to be the last year this car was officially registered and inspected. Usually, when you find a 25 year old registration sticker on the windshield of a car that's a tell-tale sign that its been left to its own devises and more than likely has deteriorated to "basket-case status". Well, here's the great exception to that rule. Up until William's passing in 2001, this Ram Air was garaged and covered at all times, and every two weeks (spanning a 26 year period) it was started and run for15 to 20 minutes. How's that for a long-term commitment! Best of all (and a testament to Pontiac Engineering), nothing has ever needed replacement over its 34 year existence except for the following items: fluids; battery; spark plugs; oil filter; brakes (2001); transverse rear muffler (2001) and lower Ram Air foam seal (2002). That's it, nothing else. Pretty amazing background for a pretty amazing car. One thing is for sure, I certainly feel honored to be part of such a fantastic piece of Pontiac automotive history."
Joe not only owns this rare Ram Air, but he also owns a black hardtop as well, but that's a whole other story too. If you own a First Generation L67 Ram Air Firebird (i.e. RA I, II or IV) Joe "L67" Cione would love to hear from you. Also be sure to check out the Generation-1 Registry
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Click here for Previous Spotlights: 1979 Hurst Grand Am 1998 Trans Am WS6 2000 Grand Prix Pace Car 1969 Firebird HO Ram Air 1978 Firebird Sky Bird 1977 Trans Am 1980 Trans Am 1968 Firebird Ram Air I
Also here is the part of the article that is scepticle.nothing has ever needed replacement over its 34 year existence except for the following items: fluids; battery; spark plugs; oil filter; brakes (2001); transverse rear muffler (2001) and lower Ram Air foam seal (2002). That's it, nothing else....
I agree...Although I would think Joe C. would have looked the article over prior to publishing...I have had many of my cars featured and I always had the oportunity to look them over prior.
I believe only Firestone were used in 1968, and only blackwall, whitewall, or Wide Oval redwall. The 69 Trans Am was optional with Goodyear Polyglas F70-14, otherwise Firestone Wide Ovals in whitewall or redwall.
We find this all the time with magazine articles. The author always makes mistakes. There have been many owners misquoted and liberties taken to make a story more exciting. They don't ask you to edit their final copy. They just print it..... Joe C has been a stickler for detail and is very quick to point out when there are things not quite right..... He wouldn't have let that fly if he had a choice.
Well I have to dissagree with you as I have ALWAYS had the right to view articles in magazines and books prior to print......
Originally Posted By Fbody69
We find this all the time with magazine articles. The author always makes mistakes. There have been many owners misquoted and liberties taken to make a story more exciting. They don't ask you to edit their final copy. They just print it..... Joe C has been a stickler for detail and is very quick to point out when there are things not quite right..... He wouldn't have let that fly if he had a choice.
We find this all the time with magazine articles. The author always makes mistakes. There have been many owners misquoted and liberties taken to make a story more exciting. They don't ask you to edit their final copy. They just print it..... Joe C has been a stickler for detail and is very quick to point out when there are things not quite right..... He wouldn't have let that fly if he had a choice.
We had a few turn up just lately that it was obvious that the writer was taking liberties. He would write things that the owner would never say. Just like in this article.
My guesses and maybes were about that specific car and the changes it went through. How could they be available if there wasn't any way to order them? Common sense.
well I happen to know that the very same tires came on 1970 'Cudas as a special order by the dealership and had to be hand written in on the order form...So common sence is not the reallity here....facts are.
well I happen to know that the very same tires came on 1970 'Cudas as a special order by the dealership and had to be hand written in on the order form...So common sence is not the reallity here....facts are.
To me, you are saying dealership installed. Common sense will tell you that it would be easier for a dealership to perform the swap then the factory. Tires are a cheap and easy way for a dealership to 'seal the deal'. Picture the truck loads of tires at the factory waiting to be installed. They all got the same ones within the factory order form. The factory isn't going to put a special set of tires on. That was the dealership's job.
special order by the dealership and had to be hand written in on the order form.......How does this say Dealer installed to you? the order form went to the manufacturer.
special order by the dealership and had to be hand written in on the order form.......How does this say Dealer installed to you? the order form went to the manufacturer.
Because that fell into the dealership's responsibilities.
Jim, since you continue to edit your posts to make you look smarter then you are..And you use maybes and guesses..PLEASE answer to my post with facts only. where is Vikki, I am sure she can help OR Joe C.
Jim, since you continue to edit your posts to make you look smarter then you are..And you use maybes and guesses..PLEASE answer to my post with facts only. where is Vikki, I am sure she can help OR Joe C.
That's a completed pinheaded thing to say. I always do some editing in the first few seconds after I post. It's really too bad if you don't like it..... The spelling and grammar will change but the facts stay the same.
I`d think that nobody mentions tires as replaced because of "tire life"...I`d think a tire from 68 or so would be dangerous, no matter how little wear it has...so the tires could have been replaced ( or rather SHOULD have been replaced) already in 1978 or so....
and "replacing tires" is not like replacing other parts....imho
Jim, since you continue to edit your posts to make you look smarter then you are..And you use maybes and guesses..PLEASE answer to my post with facts only. where is Vikki, I am sure she can help OR Joe C.
That's a completed pinheaded thing to say. I always do some editing in the first few seconds after I post. It's really too bad if you don't like it..... The spelling and grammar will change but the facts stay the same.
I do the same, I post , then read it , find some things I misspelled or wrote incorrectly, go back and edit....
too many maybe's. Guesses or could haves....Just looking for facts....I am sure that anyone that was that pure about that car would have changed them to the original tires if indeed they did not come on that car...Again, just want facts.
I always do some editing in the first few seconds after I post. It's really too bad if you don't like it..... 
