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Marco,

Thanks for the interesting article.
Thunder AM is the predecessor to High Performance Pontiac. I've been a subscriber to HPP for many years and I can't remember EVER seeing an article (or even a picture) of a Sunbird (or Astre).

Roger,
If you're going to "ruin" your rare Sunbird by NOT doing a "factory original purist restoration", you could 'redeem yourself' by doing what the factory should have done, but didn't do - put a Pontiac V-8 in it. Heh-heh.


Jeff,
You dated a gal who owned a cool(and fast) Pontiac (an H-body, too!!!) and you DIDN'T marry her?

From the article:

" Identical Monza Spyders haven't a chance in a straight line and Pontiac's Radial Tuned Suspension has made this particular car a consistant champion in the SCCA Solo II auto-cross program."

We know that RTS is no different than other h-body suspension. But what would make the Pontiac any faster than a Spyder? Is there that much weight difference? Would there be records of the Solo-II wins?
I searched Yahoo! for Padgett Peterson and found his home pge here:
http://padgettp.com/
Not much there for us but maybe he could answer a few questions for us. The article said he worked for GM at some time.

Tom, California won't let me put one of those dirty Pontiac motors in my car.

I'm smelling more BS with this article that first read. I'm not exactly beleiveing the numbers thrown around, and the RTS system was no different than the Spyder equipment package, just another name for it) so I do not see how a Formula V8 could outperform a V8 Spyder, or a V8 Firenza or any H with the upgraded suspension.

It looks like the RTS Suspension on an Astre consisted of BR70X13WL (white Letter) Tires on the Rally II wheels, 1" front sway bar, and a undetermined width rear sway bar. So on a Sunbird, probebly nothing more than the upgraded handling package on a Monza Spider, 1 1/8" front bar, and 3/4" rear bar correct?
The only differences would be Weight (how much less does a Coupe weigh?), Gearing differences, and individual car prep, ( Tuning) And some identical cars are just faster then others due to build variences, and driver.
And as for the Girl I dated with the 79 Sunbird, all I can say is that SHE finished Collage & traded up!!!!! And the last time I met her she was Married with 2 kids and was driving a Mazda MPV!!!! but that was 15 or so years ago,
And her Sunbird was only Fast compared to my 18.8 second Firebird. She was a Cutie Back in the Day.

SunbirdMan wrote:Tom, California won't let me put one of those dirty Pontiac motors in my car.

Roger,
Just a little de-greaser and a pressure wash and it should clean up real well.
So, is a Pontiac Sunbird with a smog-contributing Pontiac V-8 powerplant called a 'dirty bird'?

Not to change the subject but do the T-tops on the silver TA look bigger than the T-tops on the black TA? Looks like alot more metal in between the tops on the black TA. Am I just seeing things?

I like the article because they were trying to play up on the friendly competition that should have been going on between the Formula's and spyders...driving up sales and upping production numbers.

I the only advantage I can think of with the sunbird is that the front clip might be a little lighter where it counts.

So maybe you'd have a slight 'straight line' advantage, but it would really just come down too , who is tuned up better (stock vs stock)

Most of these cars were still bone stock at the time of print.

That same slight weight differential coupled with a heavier rear spoiler (again weight in the right area) could have balanced the sunbird better for zipping through the cones..

but by how much?.....well thats the stuff that dreams are made of I guess.

I believe I tracked Pagett down and talked to him around 1999/ 2k.

He didnt have a whole lot to say and had sold the car years prior and didnt know its whereabouts.

There also was another article in the very 1st issue of thunder am.

The magazine was 'borrowed' from me without asking, and then never returned because it was 'mistakenly thrown away'

anywho, the article was about the very first v8 sunbird off the line.

It was a formula, with black lower trim .

the guy put ram air scoops on the hood.

And don't forget about the Trailer hitch, it would also add weight in the correct spot for handling!!!

I imagine he also added that tint for better balance.

They claimed he beat a DZ302 Camaro, right after applying it.

Just to resurrect this subject after 9 years. This car has resurfaced. It is very rough, not running, and the interior is roached.

I asked if the suspension was fixed and I was told that it was. Padgett parked the car in the late 90's due to the A-Arm mounting location being broke.

A few more pictures.

Damn, that looks rough now, certainly has not been cared for the past decade. Not overly bad though, just needs some serious work, but then again, what H-Body these days doesn't.

I'd love to save it but I think he wants too much. It would also cost me a bit to ship it from Florida to Ohio.

I offered him $3,000 (which I felt was more that it's worth in current condition) and he wouldn't move.

I think the rusting behind the windshiled worries me the most, what a bad area to get affected by it.