1970 Pontiac 2+2 submitted by 73SC - Ray White



This car was owned by our beloved Canadian Poncho friend and enthusiast Astro-Jet, Hillar Pinna. As we all know Hillar passed away unexpectedly on January 8, 2010. I thought I would submit his latest acquisition for feature car as a memorial tribute to him and his contributions to the Pontiac community.

This 1970 Pontiac 2+2 Hardtop was originally Shipped to Schulz Pontiac Buick in Prince George BC on April 15, 1970 after being built just 5 days earlier on April 10th at the Oshawa production facility. The GM Canada documentation lists 25 options on this car with the LF6 400 small block being the most intriguing to Canadian Pontiac enthusiasts. Running a close second to the big small block has to be the paint code options 47/45 Verdoro Green and Baja Gold with RPO D99 the special two tone paint moulding. This makes for a striking and unique car.



The Vintage Vehicle Services documentation show that only 1,329  2+2 hardtops were built for 1970 and there were less than 300 made with the LF6 400 small block. This car is also unique because it has the 400/400 combo, RPO M40 was also ordered, the Turbo Hydra-matic 400. As an interesting side note the 400 small block was sourced from Tonawanda, not St. Catharines like the 350 small block was. In 1970 the 400 was offered as a 2bbl with single exhaust and was factory rated at 265 HP but with a whopping 400 ft lb torque rating at just 2400 rpm it moved the big B body around smartly.   



In 2007 fellow Canadian Poncho and 2+2 enthusiast, Clint Scherger purchased the car from the original owner. Clint upgraded to a 70 300hp 350 7040202 carb, and 70  350 intake. Another change from original equipment was to install an AM/FM OEM mono radio in place of the original AM pushbutton. The car resided in Calgary with Clints two other 2+2 cars, a gold 350 hardtop and a 454 yellow convertible.

Back in the summer of 2009 Clint decided to post a photo of the green and gold car on our forum. When I saw the car I immediately recognized it from photos Hillar had once shown me but swore me to secrecy on. I PM'd Clint and told him how much I loved his car. To my surprise I learned the car could be for sale. Clint and I exchanged e-mails and he even provided me with an appraisal and GM Vintage Vehicle documentation.

My next step was to call my friend Hillar and tell him the car was available. Now this might need an explanation, yes I loved the car, yes I would buy it BUT Hillar was my friend and I knew he had seen the car and knowing his love for 70 B bodies I had planned all along to give him the first crack at the car but wanted to surprise him with all the details I could. You see, to me a friend is much more valuable than a car. Well I was right and it wasnt too long after that Hillar flew out to Clint's place in Calgary and they made a deal.

I have to tell you I could'nt wait to see the car. Hillar swore me to secrecy once again. He wanted to get the car to Toronto and sort it out the way he wanted before letting the cat out of the bag. I made arrangements for the car to go to Joes our local hot shoe and mechanic immediately upon delivery. That 2+2 sure caused a stir at JB Racing, no one could believe their eyes, a third owner original BC car looked as good on the hoist as it did on the ground!




On to the sorting it out how Hillar wanted. I picked him up at his house one morning and he proceeded to load the trunk of my Deville, a posi unit, twin 1970 Chevelle SS exhaust tips, Petronix points replacement kit, two magnaflow knock offs  he bought from Al Taylor, a tach and trio set of gauges and a stage two shift kit. He also had a list of work and a drawing of the exhaust system he wanted Joe to make. Hillar worked downtown so I was assigned the task of providing him with daily updates on progress. Joes shop is just a short walk from my office so it was both easy and a pleasure.



Hillar took pictures of the exhaust system while it was being built but alas he never posted the photos. Suffice to say it is a work of art. Joe hand built it. Starting at the rams horn manifolds he basically made a header of equal length on each side with flanged ends. From there it went back and a cross over H pipe was put in behind the transmission, 2 ½ pipes into the mufflers placed as far back as possible and the tail pipes exiting in the factory cutouts in the valance finished with the SS tips. I had to call Hillar and tell him that the valance had cutouts on each side; we hadnt noticed that until it was up on the hoist, lucky stroke of factory genius! This car sounds real good, just right for its look and feel.

Finally it was done and ready for a road test. Hillar was at work. Joe backed it out of the garage after a short warm up, stopped and adjusted the aim, dropped it in drive, matted it and all Glory broke loose, the posi dug in and it squatted to the right, but with the 4bbl, new ignition, shift kit and duals it must have been putting out at least 335 HP and the posi couldnt hold it, a bit of tire smoke and burning rubber, nothing like it!

Hillar got to drive this beauty three times before we put it away for the winter and I was lucky enough to be along for two of those rides. I wish he was here to tell the story but I have to feel hed approve of how I told it. Just for good measure I fired it up a few days ago and let it rumble, I got out and sat in the passenger seat and imagined my good friend smiling beside me behind the wheel.


-- Edited by 73SC on Saturday 30th of January 2010 10:19:46 PM