#141  
Old 01-25-2020, 06:07 PM
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I'm just hoping one of you cats buys it, so we can see it in it's proper glory. And watch "The Process".

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  #142  
Old 01-25-2020, 06:31 PM
eaglesan13 eaglesan13 is offline
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My father-in-law owns a 1970 El Camino that he bought new. I met my wife (his daughter) in 1975, and the car has always had a vinyl top. About 20 years ago I was in his garage and he had the hood up, when I noticed the paint code on the data plate was 58 58. I told him his car was not built with a vinyl top. To this day, he still does not believe me, because according to him "I bought it right off the lot." The car also has aftermarket door edge guards on it. It was common back in the day for dealers to add options to make a little extra money.

On this Formula, maybe the dealer added the top before selling the car, or maybe the buyer saw a similar car with a vinyl top and liked it, so the dealer added it. Regardless, the data plate and PHS indicate the car was not built with a vinyl top. Way cool car either way.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Transamric View Post
Yes, the vinyl top app is a mystery to me. Why was it done? Maybe to hide wavy sheetmetal? That certainly could have a significant impact on how best to proceed with the project. Perhaps I missed a post, but do we know more about the vinyl top thing, like who installed it and how long ago?

  #143  
Old 01-25-2020, 07:03 PM
'ol Pinion head 'ol Pinion head is offline
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Aftermarket vinyl tops were a popular up sale @ dealerships & as an aftermarket addition in the early to mid '70's. Have hauled in well over a dozen '70-72 A-body's & GP's as partscars that had trim shop added vinyl tops. On that era of Pontiac A-body 2door, the edge molding was typically a one piece plastic semi-hoop, not the factory stainless strips & chromed potmetal corner pieces. Very easy to spot such an aftermarket top & the early chromed plastic edge molding would get a yellowish cast to it within a few years.

Very common to see rust damage to the roof & catwalk & occasionally on the pillars of cars of this era with aftermarket vinyl tops, as the typical spray on glue of the time interacted with the original lacquer paint, eventually creating trapped rust. Peel off the top, & one will see the damage.

As mentioned in my first post on this thread, brought up the aftermarket vinyl top subject with one of my long time metal/bodymen in respect to one of my own vehicles. Very well stored indoors for 35 of its last 49 years & under a carport throughout the 70's, this Pontiac has rust pocks in the B pillar area of the roof above the leaded seem of the passenger 1/4 panel. That area is a high stress area, structurally. Solution is I will be removing all the spotwelds & we will be properly replacing the roof skin, only way to do it right.

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Last edited by 'ol Pinion head; 01-25-2020 at 07:08 PM.
  #144  
Old 01-22-2024, 03:08 AM
Baron Von Zeppelin Baron Von Zeppelin is offline
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This car is for sale on eBay , by Restore a Musclecar in Nebreska
https://www.ebay.com/itm/33521932293...Bk9SR5Tt3ualYw

  #145  
Old 01-22-2024, 06:31 AM
"QUICK-SILVER" "QUICK-SILVER" is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin View Post
This car is for sale on eBay , by Restore a Musclecar in Nebreska
https://www.ebay.com/itm/33521932293...Bk9SR5Tt3ualYw
And still wearing the same tags from when it got bought and towed.

Clay

  #146  
Old 01-22-2024, 01:25 PM
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Wonder how much it cost to get it from Alaska to Nebraska?

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  #147  
Old 01-22-2024, 02:00 PM
Baron Von Zeppelin Baron Von Zeppelin is offline
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idunno

But predict the reserve on this auction will be at least double of any of the estimations given in this thread previously.

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Old 01-22-2024, 08:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin View Post
idunno

But predict the reserve on this auction will be at least double of any of the estimations given in this thread previously.
I'm guessing they are going to want 45-50k.

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  #149  
Old 01-22-2024, 11:54 PM
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Amazing how this car never got to its buyer and was absconded en route! ( If ya know, Ya Know)

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  #150  
Old 01-23-2024, 05:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Formulabruce View Post
Amazing how this car never got to its buyer and was absconded en route! ( If ya know, Ya Know)
Hate to hear something like this.

  #151  
Old 01-23-2024, 06:05 PM
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Say what!!??

  #152  
Old 01-24-2024, 03:13 PM
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They were asking $55k on their site and dropped to $49k before it landed on Ebay.

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  #153  
Old 01-24-2024, 03:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Formulabruce View Post
Amazing how this car never got to its buyer and was absconded en route! ( If ya know, Ya Know)
Hate to hear it as well, Bruce. Do Tell!

Would love to see this one restored and follow it on PY.

BJ

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  #154  
Old 01-24-2024, 05:42 PM
Baron Von Zeppelin Baron Von Zeppelin is offline
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I'd like to see it with Honeycombs and a rear spoiler
- sitting in my driveway .

  #155  
Old 01-30-2024, 01:08 AM
Baron Von Zeppelin Baron Von Zeppelin is offline
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43k with 16 hours to go. Reserve not met yet.

Did we ever talk about how the clip retainers for the vinyl top molding look like factory spot welded studlets ?

The quarters would have had to be repainted after a process like that.
Which would basically mean repainting the whole sides of the car versus matching a light blue metallic back when.

Or the whole vinyl top was done at the factory by mistake.
I think the curve look is an optical illusion.
The moldings shape and design would tell more about what's up.

  #156  
Old 01-30-2024, 01:13 PM
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If a dealership had its own body shop, it had a stud gun, and the studs. I have one and could install those and look factory. I have done many door tops for custom trim group and window shelf studs. All are same stud. This was probably done early on, and if touched up with poly lacquer then, it could have been buffed and you couldn't tell.
Reserve is probably 50, and it needs a 100k restoration IMHO. the underside may look solid , but its pitted.
I bet its flipped again.
Restore a muscle car could buy it from their sales division, write off that cost, then do a " close enough" job and milk more out if it.
It is Not done being squeezed.

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  #157  
Old 01-30-2024, 01:30 PM
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So much speculation over the top. Did anyone compare the hidden VIN to the VIN tag ? I dont think you can see the rivets in that year with the dash installed. I'm stirring the pot!

  #158  
Old 01-30-2024, 01:50 PM
Baron Von Zeppelin Baron Von Zeppelin is offline
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Have a stud gun and been doing paint & body almost 40 years.
The paint would blister around each spot weld.
An undetectable touch up on light blue metallic is where I draw the line on that particular theory.

All the after-thought vinyl top installs I have seen used screws to fasten the clips.
No muss No fuss No paint

In the 70's they also had "bend to fit" moldings for aftermarket tops too.
My former 70 GTO had the bend to fit moldings.
Goofy way to do it on the cheap.

Probably not worth investigating to the next owner.
Just dispose of the evidence and forget about the top altogether.

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Old 01-30-2024, 02:15 PM
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This was the picture I saw in this thread. Rivet looked added?

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Old 01-30-2024, 03:07 PM
Baron Von Zeppelin Baron Von Zeppelin is offline
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WoW never saw that picture !
Thanks Judge273

That's the evidence right there , aftermarket all the way.

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