Pontiac Power

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

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