RAM AIR III Automatic with Air

Every now and again. a car becomes available to the collector car community. whose caliber. condition. originality. and story is sure to create a stir. This is one of those cars. For those of you who have followed my auctions in the past. purchased cars from me. and/or are familiar with the quality and the significance of the cars that I have had the privilege of owning. this has been a favorite and my personal driver for the last nine years.  I truly did pull this car out of a barn in 2005.

Up for auction is a very original 1970 Pontiac GTO Ram Air III convertible. No. it is not a Judge per the build sheet. but has displayed Judge Livery since the mid 70's and after thoroughlyexamining the car; one might draw the conclusion that this particular car might have been “cloned” at the dealer when new.

To understand just how rare this car is. please review 1970 GTO production numbers at www. gtoheaven. com. Of the 40. 00+GTOs that were manufactured in 1970. only a scant 114 were convertibles built with the RAIII 366hp motor and an automatic transmission. Only 31 of these RAIII automatic equipped convertibles were built with air conditioning.  Marry this production information to the list of factory documented RPOs that went into building this car. you start to realize that this car could be one of the fabled “one of one” cars that we car collectors salivate for… and to top it all off. an original Red/Red car.

As documented by the factory build sheet. this GTO came equipped with the following:

4BBL R/A (RAIII motor) Yes. the original. born with motor. with all original components

Safe-T-Track

Radio P/B

Mirror-Remote

Cruise-Control

Clock-Elect

Power Steering

Tilt Steering Wheel

Power Driver's Seat

SPG SHKS-R/H

Power Door Locks

Turbo Hydromatic Auto Transmission

G78X14 WW FG

Tape-Stereo

Wheels-Rally 2

Tach-Hood Mount

Console

Power Disk Brakes

Glass-S/R-AL

Deck Lid Remote

Air Conditioning

Battery HD

This is one of the most heavily optioned GTOs that I have ever seen. And to be clear. other than a repaint years ago. this car is all original sans the following:

Driver's seat has had a panel replaced

Red center caps instead of black (I have the black ones but not on the car)

Lock buttons

Hood pins

Wing

Stripes

Front Spoiler

15” wheels (They just look better)

Aftermarket Stereo

Top

Water pump and timing chain.  I saved original pump

I have a tape deck and mounting hardware; not original to car

IP was replaced with rally cluster. I have documentation of mileage when it was done. Ironically. both clusters had similar mileage showing so 93K is close to original mileage. I have put on close to 15K miles since I have owned the car.  I have the original cluster.

If you examine the mounting of the wing and the installation of the hood pins. it is clear that it was professionally done and most likely done at the dealer when the car was new.  The car also has door edge guards installed that appear to have been on the car since new.

The car photographs extremely well but it is a driver. There are nicks in the paint. The endura bumper has imperfections and stress cracks. The red interior has dark shading in spots and a small tear in the weave on the driver's seat.

All that being said. the car is an awesome driver. great cruise night show car and is very reliable.  The car can be enjoyed as is for years to come. Conversely. if this car was restored. it would be a solid six figure car at any auction.  Period.  The quandary of the car guy… restore or preserve… I have decided to let the next owner make that decision.

The car has little to no rust as it has been stored most of its life. There has been some slight work done behind the rear wheels as shown in the pictures and there is some bubbling on the hood. This car retains ALL original sheet metal and all sheet metal is good.  There is some filler in the trunk lid.  If one decides to restore the car. no sheet metal needs to be replaced other than perhaps the deck lid.  That decision would have to be made once the car is stripped.

This car is seriously for sale but will only be sold if the reserve is met. I am a car guy. it's not my first rodeo. so please do not email me with your opinions on price. It is my car and I know what it is worth to me. That being said. the reserve is fair and there will be “meat left on the bone”. should you decide to restore it and auction the car.

I am also more than happy to answer emails or speak to you on the phone or show the car. but please. don't waste my time and I won't waste yours. If you are a true car guy. love Pontiacs. and have some money. this is an awesome car.

Also published at eBay.com

Want to buy this car?