Over the years there have been some really cool factory options available for high performance cars. From the W27 aluminum center section Olds axle below, to the vacuum operated exhaust cutouts available for a short time on Pontiac GTOs, to factory installed blowers on Studebakers, Ford Thunderbirds, and other stuff, engineers have managed to sneak some neat stuff past the bean counters. The question today centers around which one of those options is the most legendary.
We originally wanted to ban engines from this discussion, but that is impossible because stuff like the R3 blown Studebaker engine below needs to be part of the discussion as this was factory installed goodness. Also, Pontiac’s mighty 455 Super Duty engine should be eligible because like the R3, it too was factory built and installed.
We’re done making suggestions and rules. Now it is your turn to answer the question and tell us about the coolest rare factory high-po option(s) ever!
BangShift Question Of The Day: What’s The Coolest Rare Factory High Performance Option?
Mopar slant six Hyper Pack
How about the hole in the trunk of early Pontiac Tempest lightweights to service the rear. Or the sprayers in the trunk of Camaros for “traction in the snow”.
’69 ZL1 engine?
The chambered exhaust system on the ’69 Camaro Z28. Look ma no mufflers! Also the rear disc brakes and cross ram set up too.
Buick Stage 2 Trunk Option, all the parts are in the trunk.
Rare 65 Chevelle 396-425hp
For the 1967 Mustang: Competition Handling Package ($388.53) – only available on the GT ($205.05) and primarily for the 289 HiPo ($433.55)
“Included with the Competition Handling Package (141 Mustangs total received the option) was a Heavy Duty 3 core radiator, high spring rate front coils and rear leaf springs, a 1.125″ heavy-duty front anti-rollbar, adjustable shock absorbers, quick ratio steering, 2.5 turns lock to lock, Equa-lock 3.25 rear end and performance tire and wheel package consisting of 15″ high speed rated tires and 15” wheels with Galaxie wheel covers. “
Early ’71 Mustang 429scj w\drag pack. 11.3 c.r. forged pistons solid lifters 780 Holly 4bolt mains 4.30 ratio 9″ Detroit locker 31 spline axles etc. Pretty loaded up package… just check the boxes.
1965 Z16 option for the Chevelle Malibu SS:
A one year only engine (L37 396/375 HP) and the only Chevrolet muscle car to use larger than 9.5″ drum brakes: 11″ sourced from the Impala
I know Motion Performance built all makes of cars (even Iso’s) but the Chevies they built in ’60’s -’70’s came with factory type warranties…..so does this count?
1970 442 – W30 Only – option code JL7: Delete Manual Front Disc Brakes
The 442 came standard with FDB. FDB weigh more than Drum Brakes. JL7 reduced weight for drag racing. The option was only available for about the first 30 days that the 1970’s were introduced (Sept. 1969)
Chrysler 300F Special Gran Turismo — the ultimate 300 letter car. This is the “short long rams” with the divider in the ram tubes only running 15″ instead of the full 30″ length. The 400HP Specials had red air cleaners rather than the gold of the 375HP versions. There are also sweeping cast iron factory headers and other aspects to these engines. Six F Specials were the fastest American production cars ever to run on Daytona’s sand.
Example: http://www.300f.com/8403141452.htm
My vote goes for the Stage 3 Buick Gran Sport package. It came in a crate from Buick but was dealer installed. Few people, even Buick fans, have ever heard of this package but it WAS available though pricey.
The dealer I worked for was about 5 miles from the front gate of the GMPG in Milford, MI and we got a lot of action from GM engineers who knew that certain stuff was available that most folks never heard of (we had a customer with a white ’61 Special 4 door with a 215 and a 4 speed). Anyhow, one of these guys ordered up the Stage 3 kit in 1970 and it was shipped to us. I can’t remember everything but I know there was a cam, headers, aluminum intake (Edelbrock IIRC), Holley carb (can’t remember the size), distributor, and maybe heads though I’m a bit fuzzy on that. The car was a 4 speed and a scattershield was recommended but I don’t think it was in the crate.
Anyhow, I’ve seen exactly 1 of these and it was the car in question. Our head mechanic did the installation and I assisted on a few parts of it. The boss was a pretty staid Buick dealer kind of guy and he absolutely could NOT understand why the heck anyone would do this to a car that was “already too fast”. I understood!
Dan
I think the turbo charged 6 cylinder aluminum air cooled Chevy Corvairs should be included. For the 1960’s that was pretty forward thinking from an American car company.
1970 Pontiac Vacuum Operated Exhaust. Basically it was a vacuum operated bypass in the muffler that when the dash knob was pulled, you got straight pipes. It was promoted in a famous Super Bowl TV ad that alarmed the GM brass who cancelled it immediately. Less than 200 GTO’s left the factory with it.
AMC Hurst SCRambler!
The Cadillac STS-V had a rear axle cooler as an option.http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-sts-v-optional-differential-cooler-cool-at-a-price/
Through the Ford performance catalogue, you could order any number of speed parts to bolt on to your FOMOCO car.
Probably one of the rarest (and today veeeeeeery expensive, if you can even find them) was the ” Cross Boss” Intake & Autolite inline 4V carb, they sold versions to go on both the Boss 302 & Boss 429 Engines.
I was fortunate enough to ride in a Boss 302 Mustang equipped with the Cross Boss Intake & Carb in a little town in Northern Alberta back in 1979, so thanks for the ride Terry B!!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/70-Ford-Boss-302-Mustang-Cross-Boss-NOS-Autolite-Inlne-carb-intake-69-rare-/262019087493?nma=true&si=FRZbKvKccLArMGMmNHua6V246%252Bo%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Man that’s too awesome! I’ve never even heard of these!
The Group 19 AMC parts, including the Edelbrock crossram, were pretty cool stuff.
1966 and 1967 Shelby GT 350 with the Paxton Supercharger option.
Right off the 1968 Mustang Brochure:
For sedan racing, available in late 1967 on special order only: 302 cubic in V8 – 306 hp: 4.00″ bore x 3.00 ” stroke: 11.0 to 1 comp. ratio, premium fuel: special high performance fuel induction system, solid valve lifters, oil cap’y including filter: 5 qts, dual exhausts. Available with 4 speed transmission and GT group only.
The VIN would have the engine code “G” . . . Ford’s ill fated Tunnel Port 302.
A set of Tri-Y exhaust manifolds off a max wedge car still has to be one of the coolest looking parts every made by a car company.
The Pontiac Aztec with the cooler built into the center console!!!!!!!! Road sodas!!!!!
Buy your Aztec today. Before they become 6-digit collector cars.