kill stories

Confession time first, yes, I'm a reformed Pontiac owner.

Had a '68 Ram air 400/4sp Firechicken and yes, it was a formidable car. The previous owner had a 12.1 second time slip and he was always in a rivalry with the owner of a local 383 GTX 4 spd. The chicken was always a couple tenth's faster than the GTX. As the original owners got into that family thing and sold their cars, I ended up with the Firebird and a friend bought the GTX. Of course, we were young with more BS than brains, so we would trash talk the other car every chance we would get, promising we would line them up one night and settle this. Anyone who has ever owned a Pontiac knows that while they can make great power, the bottom end simply will not hold up. Spinning a bearing was a regular occurance and that kept my chicken laying eggs in the garage. After about a year or two of this, I decided to buy a new Firebird. I ordered a '77 Formula 400/4 spd car just in time for the Smokey and the Bandit movies. Rev limiter kept the engine below 5600 rpm, so this one might live. The '68 was running a 4.88 gear and it was entertaining to see the gas guage dip to 0, then return 1/4 tank less than where you started everytime you mashed the throttle, but the new fowl was reasonably economical with low 3.xx gearing. Anyways, this got the owner of the GTX absolutely ROFLOL. I was pronounced the biggest pussy on the planet and he was now the undisputed king. So, naturally, (and kids, it was the 70's, don't try this at home!), we lined them up one night and I beat him. Not badly, maybe a car length, but a win nonetheless. Of course GTX owner was stunned. This was not possible, so we lined up again and I beat him again. No more trash talk from him! Of course, now I'm feeling pretty good about myself, so I line up against this beat up 340 Duster. I got humiliated. I had pulled the engine from the '68 Firebird when I sold it, so I promptly traded the Poncho engine for a '68 Cuda notch with a destroyed 318. Bought a 70 Fury with a 360 for the drivetrain and transplanted it into the Cuda. Engine was worn out, car was worn out, but it was possibly the best car I ever owned.

I've still got a healthy respect for the Poncho and I must admit, I'd be proud to have that GTX in my garage today, but that is how I became an A body Mopar fan.