Can't find the Chevy of your dreams? Consider a Pontiac!

If your having trouble finding the Bow-Tie of your dreams at a reasonable price, it might behoove you to consider a Pontiac. Yes, I know GTOs command as much or more money than SS Chevelles, but all the other Pontiac models can be bought for way less than their Chevrolet counterparts. # 1. 1967-79 Firebird. 455HO and Super Duty Trans-Ams aside, you can get a better condition Firebird for way less than a same-year Camaro. At last year's Hot August nights auction a 1969 Camaro SS 396 sold for the princely sum of $32,000. At the same auction a 1968 400 Firebird in similar condition sold for $18,000. The other factor is the fact that you could only get a big-block in a Camaro until 1972, and they were sold in limited numbers. By contrast you could get a 400 in a Firebird Esprit, Formula or Trans-Am right up until 1979, and the 455 was available until 1976. If you can't find a good deal on a 400 Firebird, you aren't looking past the end of your nose. # 2. 1969-76 Gran Prix. Same deal-Rat-Motored Monte Carlos are rare and command a King's Ransom. 95% of Monte Carlos built from 1970-75 were 350 motivated. By contrast-Gran Prix's had 400 power standard all years, and quite a few 1970-76 "SJ" models had 455s. # 3. 1960-68 Full-size. While 99% of  Biscaynes, Bel Airs, and Impalas of this vintage have six-cylinder or 283 / 327 small-block motivation, ( 396, 409, and 427 models are priced in the stratosphere ) every Catalina, Bonneville or Gran Prix built in this era had at least 389 cubes under the hood, and depending on year, some had 400,421 or 428s. And the Pontiacs usually had upgraded interiors and factory air, and other cool options. # 4. 1970-77 Tempest / LeMans. With the exception of a few '71-72 "Heavy Chevy" models and '73-75 "Lagunas if you want a factory-built Rat-Motored Chevelle, you have to step up to a SS model. However you don't have to buy a GTO to get a big-block Pontiac "A" body. There are a lot of  LeMans "Sport" and "Luxury LeMans" models  out there with 400 or 455 cubes under the hood. Although the GTO was discontinued after 1974, you could still get a 400 in a 2 dr LeMans until 1977,and the 455 was optional until 1976. And don't forget the 50,000 plus "Grand Am" models sold from 1973-75. They all had 400 cubes standard, with 455 optional. # 5. 1971-77 Pontiac Ventura. The ones to look for are the 350 Pontiac powered models. With very little work-4bbl carb and intake, dual exhaust and axle ratio change-and they will give any small-block Nova a run for the money they'd never forget. The real trick is to swap in a 400 or 455. Since Pontiac V8's are externally identical from a 326 to a 455, this is a bolt in swap if the car originally had a 350. You could do that way cheaper than it would cost for even a basket-case 396 Nova.  Mastermind