This may be old news, but was curious about the car before the EPA got it.

EPA Superbird

That video clip reverses decades of understanding of why lead was, AT THAT TIME, removed from gas. And I don't buy it.

The issue at that time to remove lead, that been in gas for 60? years, was cats could not tolerate it.

Everybody knew then lead had a health risk, but seemed to grudgingly accept it.

It has been decades of no lead, that has proven, to me, it was also.a wise health decision.

So the EPA played a part in removing Lead, the Superbird did not, unless there is some evidence of cats for testing on this car, which makes little sense anyway.

As a mopar guy, and a history guy, aaaand an environmental profession guy I found this article and video pretty amazing. Apparently shortly after developing tetraethyl lead (TEL), the inventor had to take months off for lead poisoning treatment. I'd be curious to know more about the health risk vs catalytic converter (for a bit there I thought you were saying felines couldn't tolerate it LOL) concerns. I do know that the TEL industry had a major political lobbying and marketing power. If the car was really was part of the first efforts to test particulate emissions I could easily see that work showing WAY higher actual levels of lead than the TEL industry had told the government and aviation/auto industries would be coming out in exhaust.

I don't dispute much of your comment, TEL is nasty stuff, always has been, but we dealt with it for decades with few complaints. Some what related, there is unproven theory the drop in crime after the removal of auto leaded gas resulted in a drop in crime. The politicians often poo poo that idea because they want credit for thier getting tough on crime positive results. It is a proven fact lead in low levels negatively effects impulse control, an issue with a younger criminal element. I remember one of the TEL industry claims as to why TEL is not a hazard was, its a heavy metal being emitted and lands only of the side of the road. They didn't want to discuss leaching into ground water. Back to the Superbird, I suspect the speaker is likely trying to embellish the cars history for financial gain in a sale.

So the EPA Superbird was used to chase big passenger jets like 707's down the runway during takeoffs and this lead (pun) to the eventual removal of TEL or lead from gasoline? Then I read this and go


"That’s because fuel, known as avgas, uses the same tetraethyl lead addictive since banned in automobile gas, making it the No. 1 source of lead emissions in America. (The jet fuel used in big passenger planes does not contain lead.) Lead-free alternatives are available for most piston engine aircraft,..."

again