[77 Canamman]

Well, since it has been kinda slow here, and it hasn't been discussed in this forum in over a year and a half, who is truly interested in purchasing the air cleaner lid, and the sheetmetal pan/seals for the hood for your 1973-75 NACA hooded A body? The reason this topic has surfaced yet again is that one of the underhood sheetmetal pans was up for bid last week on E-Bay, and it sparked a discussion over on the A Body Site forum. I am commiting to one setup if the cost is kept under $700 for the four parts (the plastic lid, the two seals, and the pan). The remainder of the parts are available either used or new reproduction.

[Brian Baker]

Good luck...I've tried twice in the last 10 years and could get almost no interest in it...and that was with a projected price of $500. Reproducing the lid will prove the most difficult in keeping costs down.

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by Brian Baker

Good luck...I've tried twice in the last 10 years and could get almost no interest in it...and that was with a projected price of $500. Reproducing the lid will prove the most difficult in keeping costs down.

I know. It really is a shame. I am just throwing it out there again. It is probably a pipe dream. Amazingly enough, there has been enough interest in wheel opening moldings to have them tooled up, and they should be along sometime in the near future. They will be a deal at $250 if they are a good fitting, authentic reproduction.

[Brian Baker]

I guess there's more enthusiasts needing wheel opening moldings than there are those with NACA hoods that want to make them functional. Let me know if you need help on reproducing the lid in fiberglass, I can put you in touch with a few people that may be interested in doing it.

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by Brian Baker

I guess there's more enthusiasts needing wheel opening moldings than there are those with NACA hoods that want to make them functional. Let me know if you need help on reproducing the lid in fiberglass, I can put you in touch with a few people that may be interested in doing it.

I do not have access to any of the original parts to have a CAD made of them.

[trishieldchief]

That RA system is sooo cool !
If I owned a 73 GTO I would would pay to have it.
Good luck

[68gtoMN]

I know a guy with an original, functional setup not far from me. It's Wayne's.

[fiedlerh]

I know a guy with an original, functional setup not far from me. It's Wayne's.

Invite him to post here. Love to hear the story of his.

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by 68gtoMN

I know a guy with an original, functional setup not far from me. It's Wayne's.

Does Wayne own a black 1973 GTO?

[77 Canamman]

WOW, no interest yet again. Brian, you are correct, as usual.

[Brian Baker]

I'm not always correct...but I am about this system. I advertised on every 73-77 A-body website known and got few responses.

[The Boss]

Not enough of the cars out there?

If I had one of them, I'd want the setup too.

[73LeMans]

The resale value for these cars just inst there. You might say "why does it matter?" and Id contend that its the one true constant in the automotive world that drives people to invest in them. Not the die hard guys that love these cars like us - we invest because we love it - but Im talking the collectors, the auction houses and the investor. The majority of people don't like these cars....its been proven time and time again. sure Imrans car is awesome, and Mark Delanos GTO is badass, but how many times do you need to shows these cars nationally before someone starts to say they are worth something? With all the exposure in the last decade, Id have though you would have seen that by now. They certainly haven't taken off like all previous year GTOs. Why is that? Because collectors and investors cant turn a profit on them, that's why. Until those guys can consistently show returns on these cars, (like they have at that stupid BJ auction on almost all other Pontiacs) I don't think you'll see anyone spending the money for obtaining those pieces until they know they can inflate the value of their outlay 4 times over. There just isnt enough of us who want it just to have it. Show them it will increase in value, and you might have a buyer. Now are we really surprised there isnt any interest in the RA set up?

In addition to above, I also feel that because parts were so hard to come by for so long (even early internet didn't always have anything listed) I believe that molded the owners of these cars into something different than those guys that either had a quick car from the factory, or was something special from day one. (i.e any RA car, Judge, or T/A). We made do with what we could...and we've done it for so long, its become part of us. Besides, our cars were so far from factory when we got them, (and they were relatively slow from GM to begin with) was there ever any point to track down factory parts? Hell no! There were so many other options that could have been done cheaper, that were more effective. does RA make the car cooler? For sure, but will I invest $700-800 in all the parts to make it that way? Not me.

~Mark

[Brian Baker]

Mark, showing enthusiasts that purchase these cars it would increase its value still wouldn't sell them on it. The sad fact is that, by and large, they're cheap f**ks...that's why they're buying these cars en masse because they can't afford the earlier GTO's.

[77 Canamman]

I can afford an earlier GTO, but I do not like the way they ride, or handle. And yes, Brian, your last comment is what I was referring to as why you are right.

[68gtoMN]

Originally Posted by 77 Canamman

Does Wayne own a black 1973 GTO?

Wayne does indeed. Wayne was also the original owner of the 69 judge that I eventually purchased, many times removed from him. I'll try to reach him and ask if he belongs and will post here. If nothing else, I can likely get a story from him.

[fiedlerh]

lots of things contribute to the lack of interest in the 73-77s.
Emissions laws killed performance (unless you knew what to do) and lots of owners complained to dealers about it, who could do nothing.
Not percieved as a muscle car even though you could get the same drivetrain as a T/A.
Vast majority were sold as grocery-getter non-performance models.
5 mph bumpers made them heavy (4000lbs+), big, and less stylish (except for Grand Ams of course.)
Rust issues, and more rust issues.
Lack of sheetmetal and trim pieces make them expensive to restore. We're not cheap, we're just saving up for $1200 quarter panels and $1200 wheel opening trim. Takes years to collect parts.
They often get bad-mouthed in the press by people who know little about them and then other writers repeat it. Although there have been a few positive articles lately as other older cars get more expensive.

A car's value is almost entirely dependent on demand. Look at the prices for common-as-dirt Chevies. It's all because of demand.

If demand goes up for 73-77s, it will be gradual, but it will make parts even more expensive until some pieces are reproduced.

Want to increase demand? Positive publicity is one way to do it. Helps to see more 73-77s in magazines.

[chicagoland]

I have always loved the Colonnade 'sporty' cars, and there were a few new '73 GTOs, 442's and Chevelle SS's in my GM loving neighborhood back in '73. But gas crisis, F body popularity, and the luxo mid sized cars pushed them aside. Only the 442 seemed to sell OK through 1977.

The die hard over 55 y/o car collectors only want 1960's vintage cars. Even 70-72 GTO's are not getting their attention. They wrote off new cars after 71, and some still think SAE Net HP ratings are equal to the gross #'s and claim huge loss of HP.

But good news is that Hemmings Muscle Machines magazine has featured mid 70's colonnades, even a 73 Cutlass Supreme with a 455/4 speed. So there is some growing interest.

[Ben M.]

Originally Posted by 73LeMans

The resale value for these cars just inst there.

This. I couldn't give mine away for $500 to a good home in the 18 months I tried to sell it, so now it sits in storage unused since I couldn't take it with me when I moved.

The demand and excitement for these cars flat out doesn't exist outside of a handful of people, and for some reason they are always excited about specifically finding a rusty one and spending $1500 on a fender or quarter for it. The air induction system is just another symptom, there aren't enough of these cars among enthusiasts with money to justify the cost.

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by Ben M.

This. I couldn't give mine away for $500 to a good home in the 18 months I tried to sell it, so now it sits in storage unused since I couldn't take it with me when I moved.

The demand and excitement for these cars flat out doesn't exist outside of a handful of people, and for some reason they are always excited about specifically finding a rusty one and spending $1500 on a fender or quarter for it. The air induction system is just another symptom, there aren't enough of these cars among enthusiasts with money to justify the cost.

Ben,

I really don't believe you tried very hard to sell your GA. I only saw it for sale here and on the A body site, and most people know stuff very rarely ever sells on this board. Like the earlier models, only the performance oriented models with low production numbers bring the good money. Grand Ams, unless they are the 4 speed cars, have never sold for a good buck, so your car should not be considered as a gauge for the entire Colonnade market. If I recall, your GA is a solid driver condition car in need of a cosmetic restoration. SEVERAL Can Ams have sold in or above the $20k range in the last 4 years. Nice numbers matching 4 speed GTO's have been bought and sold in the mid-high teens with regularity. There is a bigger following for them than you think.

With that said, most of the current owners of these cars either don't have a pot to piss in, or don't like to part with their money when it comes time to buy parts for them.