The theme of the May 2008 issue of HPP was Factory Freaks. The editorial posted here is published in that issue sans the “Dealer Installed Factory Freaks” section since we ran out of space in the magazine. As soon as the issue hit mailboxes and newsstands, we began receiving letters from readers who enjoyed it and who wanted to show us their factory freaks or offer more of the them to add to our growing list. As stated in the editorial, this list is far from complete--now you can help.
You can contribute to this blog by simply posting more factory freaks you know of that we don’t have and/or tell us about yours if you happen to own one. If you do own a factory freak, we welcome you to e-mail a few high res photos (at least 1 megabyte each) of the Pontiac including a front ¾ shot with nice background and a few photos of what makes it a freak if its not already obvious in the front ¾ shot. You can e-mail them to tomdemauro@alltel.net. along with a write-up explaining when, where and why you bought the Pontiac and please provide some basic info regarding the engine, trans, and rear. Also, tell us what its like to live with your factory freak—does it stop people in their tracks wherever you go? Please include a daytime phone number as well. If we get some good ones, we’ll publish them in an upcoming issue of HPP.
FULL THROTTLE
What’s a Factory Freak and How Can You Find One?
BY THOMAS A. DeMAURO
Factory freaks are for the exhibitionist in all of us. These Pontiacs, depending upon how noticeably odd they are, will garner attention from throngs of jaded show fans who are no longer impressed by rows and rows of Ram Air and/or SDs. Of course, like everyone’s definition of musclecar, a factory freak can be as broad or narrow a classification as you choose to apply to it. In the broadest sense, it’s a very rarely seen color, drivetrain or options combo. How rare? Only you can decide.
More often than not, however, the most desirable factory freaks are those that are most obvious.
Interior/exterior color combos that should not go together and body colors, which were never officially offered by Pontiac, usually get the most shock value per dollar spent. Next in popularity are option combos that should not have been or ones that just seem strange, such as a Ram Air IV GTO convertible ordered with wire wheel covers. Sure it’s not a stop-dead-in-your-tracks oddity, but this Goat will stand out if there is another Ram Air IV GTO convertible parked on either side of it sporting more common Rally IIs at a major event.
Factory freaks also reinforce the rule that there are no absolutes in this hobby. Just because Pontiac didn’t offer it that way, it doesn’t mean that it couldn’t ultimately be built that way—in some cases. The existence of factory freaks also instills life in the hobby because every time you convince yourself that you’ve seen it all, one of these oddities pops ups and rejuvenates your imagination.
I will provide a short list of factory freaks based purely on my own opinion of what constitutes one. Keep in mind this list is just a drop in the bucket compared to what is available, but at least it’s a start.
I’ll also offer some tips for finding a freak to call your own. The best part is, though, not all freaks are insanely expensive like Ram Air and SD cars have become. If you play your cards right, at a future event your Pontiac may upstage another that cost its owner five times as much. And you will have peace of mind knowing that you own a unique piece of Pontiac history.
FREAKS: FACT AND LEGEND
Since all Ram Air, SD, dealer tuner cars, and concept cars possess inherent value already, most are not included here. Some of the Pontiacs listed are known to exist, and others are said to exist based on production records, eyewitness accounts or legend.
All Pontiacs
• Any with a special non-stock color that was factory applied. Look for a blank area next to
“PAINT” (PNT) or a number 1-4, an ampersand “&,” asterisks “*,” dashes “—-,” “SPEC,” or even “PRIMER” on the cowl tag
• Any with an exterior/interior color combo not recommended by the division
• Any with documented factory-installed options that were only available in the
previous model year
• Any export spec model with proper paperwork
• Any heater- and sound deadener-delete model
• Any police car
• Any ambulance
• Any hearse
• Any taxi
Birds
• ’68’-69: Firebird with leather interior
• ’69 *** Dark blue Cordova top
• 69 *** R/A-IV with wire wheel covers
• ’69 *** Green interior
• ’69 *** Gold interior
• ’69 *** Red interior
• ’701/2 *** Green interior
• ’701/2 *** Lucerne Blue with Sandalwood Custom interior
• ’701/2 *** Polar White with Saddle interior
• ’701/2 *** Polar White with red interior, used for a Pontiac press photo
• ’72 *** Adriatic blue
• ’72 *** Red
• ’73 *** SD-455 with column shift
• ’77 Trans Am: Goldenrod Yellow with Red interior (our cover car)
• ’81 Formula: V-6
• ’92 Firehawk convertible
• ’95 Formula BFG Comp T/A prototype, blue with white and red
• Third-Gen 1LE Formulas
Goats
• Any bench seat car
• ’65 factory lightweight
• ’65 Hurst giveaway car
• ’66-’67 Thom McAn cars
• ’66: with column shift and a console with a shifter-delete plate
• ’67 Verdoro Green special-order
• ’68: any with RPO 674 chrome bumper
• ’69 Ram Air IV convertible with wire wheel covers
• ’69: Ram Air IV convertible, code 72 Carousel Red, not a Judge
• ’70: factory-equipped with RPO 611 Vacuum Operated Exhaust
• ’71 Judge convertible: any
• ’71 Judge convertible: Special paint green (resembles ’69 Chevy Rally Green)
• ’71 Judge: RPO 604 Cameo White paint with flat black airfoil
• ’72: any post coupe
• ’72 with WW4 performance option
• ’72 with WW5 performance option
Grand Prix and Grand Ams
• ’62 GP 421SD with A/C
• Any ’70-’72 GP SSJ
• ’69 or ’70 (not sure) Silver GP SSJ
• ’72 Green GP SSJ
• ’73 GA Wagon
• ’73 GA 4-door four-speed
DEALER-INSTALLED FREAKS
These aren’t factory freaks, of course, but dealer freaks can be fun too. Keep in mind, however, that dealer-installed options are more difficult to verify so proper paperwork is imperative.
• ’66-’67 GTO offset stripe over driver-side hood and decklid
• Any Ram Air V equipped Pontiac
• ’72 GTO or LeMans with a Ducktail spoiler
• ’73 GTO or Grand Am with Ram Air
• Approx ’71-Approx ’78 Ventura/GTO with Camper option
HOW TO GET YOURS
The very definition of a factory freak makes it more difficult to find than your average Poncho, but it doesn’t mean you should completely overlook the conventional sales channels like local classifieds, online classifieds and auctions, and club newsletter classifieds. Just keep in mind that they will appear few and far between.
Serious collectors are normally very attracted to factory freaks because they tend to get jaded more quickly regarding rare Pontiacs than the rest of us since they have the money and connections to find, buy, and own more of them than most of us do. If you are serious about finding a factory freak, especially a valuable one, then getting to know some serious collectors through clubs or attending the same events and speaking to them directly will put you on the fast track.
Speaking of events, many factory freaks—like our cover car—can be found sitting right there on the show field in plain sight, so don’t overlook the obvious. When you find one, be sure to verify what makes it unique wasn’t simply built to appear that way by a previous owner. Many times color combos are changed and options are added during a resto. Complete and accurate paperwork is paramount with a factory freak.
Talk to many car owners at the shows and let them know what you are looking for. Word-of-mouth can travel like lightning through a group of like-minded hobbyists. Especially look for owners of Pontiacs that are true factory freaks and even cars that were built by their owners into one. The latter may not have the real thing but may know where the real thing is or who has others.
If the allure of owning an oddity is what drives you then you can probably find an affordable one that will still give you years of pleasure, like our ’77 T/A cover car. However, if you have to have the rarest of the rare and still have it be a factory freak, then you’re gonna need to crack that wallet open wide because you’ll be paying for a rare car that also has the freak factor added in. Happy hunting.