80’s/90’s Stock and Super Stock pics

[oldskool]

"...And those newer Firebirds are nice, mid, to late 70’s models..."

Yeah, & there have been some very competitive '74 & '77/'78 model Birds, thru the years, & even into this century.

The first '74 that comes to my mind was driven by Bob Mulry. IIRC, Pontiac racer Bob Aceves had a hand in it. I've mentioned here that the car set the nat record, in 3 different classes. They had to change it into a T/A, for the heaviest class. It was also #1 qualifier at LOTS of races, out West, running more than a sec & a half under, at some races. Obviously, this kind of performance got some hp added. Same for the '77/'78 Birds.

The '74's could run a 400 4-barrel, 455 D-port, & the SD455. Those SD455 heads are now so valuable that VERY few guys will race 'em.

Right now, Ryan Warter, up in Wash state, runs the only competitive '75 Bird that I'm aware of. I know he's won at least one nat event, for sure.

Only '76 I'm aware of belongs to Kevin Love, in Canada. It was a class winner at Indy, back when Mike Morgan had it.

'77 seems to be the most popular year for 2nd gen Bird Stockers. I can think of lots of 'em. They were very competitive for quite a while. Most choose to run the Formula hood, so they won't have to deal with the T/A shaker scoop & the wheel flairs.

NHRA has kept bumping the hp up to the point where, the same '77 400 engine is more competitive in any '77 body, OTHER THAN a Bird. For example: Bob Michael has built & raced a '77 Lemans & currently has a '77 Catalina. That Cat is the only '77 Cat Stocker I've ever heard of.

There are still some guys running the 400 powered '77 Bird. But, IIRC, when asked, former record holder Dave Ribeiro, said that, with the current hp factors, the '77 Bird might be more competitive with a 350 Pontiac engine.

There are too many '77/'78 Bird Stockers to mention here, But a few I'll mention were raced by: Mark Yacavone, Bill Edgeworth, Dave Ribeiro, Rob Holmes, & the Biondo family. Others have also raced these cars.

[oldskool]

"...And those newer Firebirds are nice, mid, to late 70’s models..."

Can't leave this without mentioning some of the '74 & '77/'78 Birds that have run Super Stock.

For me, the first '74 that comes to mind is the original H-O Racing Specialties SD455 T/A. It was a record holder in '77 & is was probably one of the quickest reg SS class Pontiac powered cars ever, having run mid 9's, while the Cleggs owned it & J.B was driving.

Also have a pic of a black one, with H-O on the door.

Johnny Duncan run strong in a '74 SS Bird.

Wilbert Thornton also has a '74.

Mike Morgan now has one of the 2 quickest 350 Pontiac powered SS cars ever. It's a '77 Formy. He didn't build it, but has had it now for several years. Won class at Indy & has been RU several times, to fellow 350 Pontiac racer, Bill Rink. Sal Piacentini ran it before Mike got it.

One of the winningest SS Pontiacs is a '78 T/A. It was driven for years by Ken Shawver. Then Monte Howard drove for a while. Jack Good now owns it. Couldn't list all it's wins, but I know it won class at Indy multiple times. Also qualified near the top of the Q-list many times.

[oldskool]

" Yes Marty drives it..."


Marty McKinney is doin pretty good in bracket racing. There are pics of some of the McKinney Pontiacs on his FB page.

https://www.facebook.com/mckinneymarty88

[SS BRP]

Originally Posted by oldskool

" Yes Marty drives it..."


Marty McKinney is doin pretty good in bracket racing. There are pics of some of the McKinney Pontiacs on his FB page.

https://www.facebook.com/mckinneymarty88

Love those 1st gen Camaros too. Reminds me of Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins’ cars. Hes one of my inspirations for taking on my own project. Without him and Herb McCandless (you actually kind of looked like him back then by the way) I would probably not be building a drag car right now.

[tommy d]

Originally Posted by oldskool

"...Firebirds, I think 1996-2002. Ive always been a fan of those, I get excited just seeing one on the road. As long as its the 5.7L V8."

Yeah, those bodies look pretty good, especially the black ones with the scooped hood.

BUT, since I'm a self proclaimed "Pontiac Freek", I only get excited about one that is a Pontiac powered drag car.

Otherwise, to me, it's just another Chevy powered Pontiac body.

I think Phil Monteith's 4th gen Hatari Bird took Peter Biondo to at least 2 SS Championships. Won lots of big races.

" Mckinneys have that car back in their possession again."

Is this it in pic 4 ?

Leo Glasbrenner also ran a Pontiac powered 4th gen, for a few years.

I think John Peneta has been driving the red car in recent years. IIRC, it was a Johnny Duncan car. I think maybe Phil Monteith built the motor for it, as well as his Hatari Cars, since it has "Hatari" on the door. I think maybe Sam Biondo drove it some, among others. As always, I could be wrong on some of these details. If so, I'll stand corrected.

Yes Marty drives it. #4