[Mr_GTO]

Can anyone tell me what options I have based on this picture? It is a 1981 TA w/301 & AC. I pick it up next weekend.

[mzbk2l]

Like what? There weren't a whole lot of choices in those years, were there? Looks like non-tilt column with a/c, rear defrost, and original gauges.

Did they always have the cutout in the carpet for the dimmer switch? I thought it had switched to the column by 1981, along with the wiper controls.

Dashpad looks nice.

[Mr_GTO]

Anything. I know nothing about these cars. I pick it up next week and I haven't sent away for the PHS yet. Thanks.

[mzbk2l]

Should be fun - what are your plans for it? T-tops? WS-6? How's the exterior?

[Mr_GTO]

Originally Posted by mzbk2l

Should be fun - what are your plans for it? T-tops? WS-6? How's the exterior?

No T-Tops, it was a Florida car apparently. It has drums in back so probably not a WS6...it needs restoration but is fairly solid body wise. upside is it is a original car...downside is it's a 301. I might drop a 400 or 455 in it. I was keeping the 455 for my GTO but maybe I'll go with a big cube LSX engine for that.

[ve3wireless]

Well, from what I can see --- and based upon the option list as I "knew" it back in 1978 --- your car has the following options:

-Air conditioning;

-Rear window electric defrost (that's the small switch immediately to the left of the glove box door), and,

-Colour co-ordinated interior (i.e. red leather steering wheel, as opposed to "standard" black).

I think by 1978 manual transmissions had changed from being "standard" items, to "optional" (at about $450.00!), so your automatic there would have been no extra charge.

"Standard" seats were vinyl, "optional" seats ("deluxe interior") were crushed velour. I can't tell from the photo,but that radio looks to be an after-market item. In '78, there HAD to be a DOZEN options in this regard --- everything from "delete radio", to AM only with analog dial, to AM/ FM / Cassette / CB with DIGITAL read-out!

That's about it, as near as I can tell...

Good luck with the car, and with the restoration!

Eddy

[2manyT/A'S]

Automatic trans. was mandatory with 301 that year
No "chicken bar on dash indicates standard interior.
ALL 79-81 T/A's had color coded steering. columns/wheels
No power window switch in console,rear drums? (NO WS6) & hard top.

I'd say you've got a T/A "stripper".

Heated back glass & A/C are the only options I would bet on.

It likely DID come with some sort of radio/tapedeck. (Build sheet OR PHS will confirm that)

Have FUN!

[dyingbreed]

No pulse wipers either...

db

[mzbk2l]

Didn't '81s have the wiper switch on the turn signal stalk? Or was that only the dimmer switch and cruise? I had a '77 that was extremely basic; plain interior and no options, then I went to an '81 that was nearly identical appearance-wise, but loaded to the gills with options. It seems like there were a lot more switches on the wiper stalk in '81 than there had been in '77.

[2manyT/A'S]

79-81 birds had the headlight dimmer on the signal switch lever.
The cruise engage button was always there as well,but in 81 they added an on/off/resume switch for the cruise on the signal lever,as well.
Wiper switch was ALWAYS on the dash on 2nd gen birds.

[mzbk2l]

Thanks for the refresher... after I posted that, I got to thinking that they probably wouldn't have wanted to redesign the dash faceplate just to relocate the wiper switch.

That was the only '81 I owned, and I just couldn't remember how different it was from the earlier ones.