Can't find the Big-block Chevy of your dreams? Try a Pontiac....

Yes, I know that GTO's command just as much of a King's Ransom as SS Chevelles, sometimes more. But with that exception-all through the lines the Pontiacs are a way better deal with better features for less money. Don't believe me? Consider these irrefutable facts. # 1 1960-68 Full-Size models. About 95% of the Biscaynes, Bel Airs, Impalas and Caprices of this vintage have 283 or 327 Small-Block motivation. 396, 409 and 427 versions are rare, and thus pricey. By contrast-every single Catalina,Ventura,Bonneville,and Gran Prix built during this period had at least 389 or 400 cubes under the hood, and a fair number had 421s and 428s. That alone makes them a better deal-but the Pontiacs are usually priced lower to boot. # 2. 1969-76 Gran Prix. The GP was downsized to the "A" body chassis for 1969, and it was an immediate hit. Chevrolet countered with the Monte Carlo in 1970-but a Gran Prix is a way better buy. Same reason. 99% of Monte Carlos built from 1970-75 have 350 small-blocks under the hood. 396 / 402 /454 versions are rare and thus pricey. Gran Prix's have 400 cubes standard all years, and a good number of '70-76 "SJ" models have 455s!  Any suspension or brake upgrades that fit a Chevelle fit these cars. GTO like performance, and Cadillac like luxury. Dynamite. # 3. 1967-79 Firebird / Formula / Trans-Am. The Firebird is to the Camaro what the Gran Prix is to the Monte Carlo-the better buy of the two. While the 396 was only available in the Camaro from 1967-72 and sold in very limited quantities-and with the exception of the Yenko and Motion and COPO cars-all rare and pricey-there were never 427 or 454 versions. By contrast-you could get a 400 in a Firebird,Esprit, Formula or Trans-Am right up until 1979. If you can't find a deal on a 400 Firebird-you aren't looking past the end of your nose. And from 1971-74 the 455 was available in the Formula, and in the Trans-Am until 1976. # 4. 1971-77 Pontiac Ventura. While most Novas of this vintage have six-cylinder or small-block motivation, the screamin' deal here is a Ventura with a 350 Pontiac V8. The reason-Pontiac V8s are externally identical from a 326 to a 455. That means a 400 or 455 is literally a bolt-in swap. And any suspension or brake upgrades that fit a Camaro or Firebird fit these cars-so you can build a drag racer or a corner-carver if you want. And a Ventura weighs about 600 lbs less than a same-year Firebird. When I wrecked my '77 Trans-Am I took the 400 and stuffed it into a '71 Ventura. It was quite the sleeper and smoked a lot of people who thought they were messing with a small-block Nova. I have nothing against Chevys-but the Pontiac cousins offer way more bang for usually less bucks. Mastermind