Pontiaction and the RA V years

 

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this is an article on the RAV car in its later years. It was at a race at E town and the Rodder and super stock editor stopped and did a story on it.  This is the story that put an end to Ponatication racing!!!  the cat was let out of the bag about the RAV aluminum block being prepared by george delorean at Diamond automotive. GM was Pissed and when Stephens went to pick it up they said, RAV aluminum engine??? we dont have any engines for you and your not in racing anymore.

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Bill tells me of the day when the RAV aluminum engine showed up and one of the guys. Gil Bertrand I think, Carried it over to him on his shoulder.Bill still had the General Dynamics cam in the box for this car when we spoke(early 90’s) sitting in his tool box.  I called him the next day to ask If I could buy it to keep with the car.  He said That old thing I threw it away after you left.  Who would use that old thing. LOL


if you have any questions or have pictures or information on these cars please contact me

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The RAV car racing at INDY!

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I have some great pictures of the RAV engine that was in this car from back in the early days.  It had a developmental part number dual quad intak manifold.  It was also a 4 speed, fiberglass nose and a dana rear end mid section.
this car ran a best of 10.34 unfortunateloy the Hemi cars were running 9’s by then. the little 400 just couldnt compete heads up.

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Bill is a great guy who unfortunately never got the publicity the other pontiac racers recieved.  Oddly he was the only one to race a PRO stock RAV firebird.  All these cars were lightweights in thier own way as ordered through engineering with special features.  They were ordered with the help of Tom Nell. Ive always wanted to speak with him about these cars.Its sad that to this day there have been no good stories about them, everyone has heard the stories of royal, arnie and others countless times.  Youd think maybe Bill would be someone the pontiac editors would be clamoring to speak with about the glory days of pontiac racing!

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RAM AIR V Tunnel port and Developmental part number dual quad intake
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Stephens Pontiac Showroom 1970 X mas PARTY!