73/74 woodgrain dash insert
 

I recently bought a bunch of stuff, more or less to help a guy clear out;
I didn't spend much time inspecting alot of what I bought;
With exception for possibly a single tail lamp, there was nothing I needed.

I just realized that one item I bought was a 1973/1974 (non-TA) dash insert;
It just clicked that this one has no provisions for an RTS emblem(!).

Can anyone tell me if these years are the same looking woodgrain pattern?

I have 1975 & 1976 dash inserts;
Those two are quite different, but the 1976 insert also appears to have darkened over time;
This one looks VERY much like my 1975 dash insert.

If anyone has images of 1973 & 1974 dash inserts side by side, I'd really appreciate the picture(s).

I am sitting here wondering if 1973-1975 were the same vinyl pattern/colour.

I may be interested in it. Does it have gauges and A/C? How about accessory trim?

The '74 has the RTS emblem on the Glove box door. So, 73 and 74 can look very similar.
Here is a Non AC 1975 Unit I took from a All original Formula 400, 4 speed, with gauges. check out the wood grain
https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...2&d=1619247585
Here is a '73 Bezel to compare.
https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...4&d=1619247904

at a glance, and if separated, the 1975 and this 73/74(?) insert appear to be the same;
I don't know how long ago this unknown year one was pulled, but the 1975 one was pulled in either 1997, or 1998 from an Esprit 350 car that went through some friends before one of my brothers bought it for parts.

I briefly had the 1975 dash insert in my car, with a repurposed rear defog switch used as a starter kill switch, but otherwise it has been kept out of the sun for decades now.

It appears as though the 1975 dash insert (the one with the bird w/silver on it) is not as reddish as the other one.

Although I don't really need this, I have for some time aspired to have examples of all the different woodgrain patterns;
This is (as shown) a for a rally gauge car w/o A/C;
I have the corresponding switch cover (it appears as though this was from a car with rear defog, and power door locks), but no heater control cover.

I think many people neglect to grab the heater control covers that were used on pre-1977 cars - which might explain why this one is missing.

Does anyone know when the power locks were last on the dash?

My 1976 does not have the wood grain HVAC cover. Maybe they went away before 1976. I think it is fairly original, I have only had it for 3 years now.

Odds are the heater controls were replaced at some point, and a previous owner/shop neglected to swap over the trim piece;
They heater controls had covers which matched the dash inserts from 1970 through to 1976.

Pretty sure the one I have is out of a late 72-early 73, I was going to use it for aftermarket gauges, but since it was in such good shape, decided not to mess with it. I did remove the top plate though, and started to polish the trim edge.

One thing I was not aware of is that some had the switch area not cut out.

Anyway, a pic for reference...

.

WOW!!

If I am seeing that correct, and my memory serves me correct, that is an oddball for sure!!

I don't recall having ever seeing a 1973+ dash insert without the accessory switch area cut out.

Based on the lights/wiper call out area that looks to be a 1973;
1970-1972 wood grain dashes with no accessory switches had that area depressed, but cast over;
EVERY single 73-81 dash insert I have seen had that area cut out - and the corresponding switch cover attached to the cigarette lighter bracket.

The one I just pulled out of my car was like that too, except I drill holes in that area for toggle switches. I had a toggle switch that killed all the rear lights, tail, brake, turn, and plate, for those times where I, um, was going 'stealth'! Heheh! Think I've posted a pic here before with the switches.

The one I had before that one, the woodgrain was more tan, than the brown-orangish one I posted, suspect that was a 71-72 insert.

I used to open the gauge holes up slightly and mount 2 1/16" gauges, and sell them as a unit. I just finished one for a friend for his '81. He wanted the turned insert (doing the decals is a PITA). He needs the switch plate, so didn't cut the no-plate opening one up. His had a different headlight/wiper back piece, and round cutouts for the turn indicators.

I gut the tach/speedo housings, spray the face with matte-black, and mount the speedo/tach. These are VDO Cockpit series.

.

Here are a couple of photos from a low-mile 1974 Firebird and low-mile 1979 Firebird that are solid.

The number of wood-grained instrument clusters GM had to inventory at the assembly plant had to be staggering. For a given model year, they included:

1) No A/C, no gauges, and no toggle-operated accessories.
2) No A/C, no gauges, with toggle-operated accessories.
3) With A/C, no gauges, and no toggle operated accessories.
4) With A/C, no gauges, with toggle operated accessories.
5) No A/C, with gauges, and no toggle operated accessories.
6) No A/C, with gauges, and with toggle operated accessories.
7) With A/C, with gauges, and no toggle operated accessories.
8) With A/C, with gauges, and with toggle operated accessories.

According to the 1973 and 1974 Firebird assembly manuals, those two model years shared the same instrument panel part numbers for the given application. As best I can tell Pontiac called the woodgrain texture "Flamed Chestnut."

It appears that 1975 uses the same woodgrain applique, but the part numbers changed, likely to accommodate the RTS badge above the steering column.

As much as the engine turned dash says 'Trans Am' I love the look of the woodgrain. I have been tempted to do one with a light maple similar to the the wood in the early Lexus models.

For the record, my 77 t/a (3rd week of sept) has the power door lock switch on the dash. It also has 76 power window switch, 76 door panels and 76 seat inserts.

I ran the woodgrain inserts exclusively for years, I didn't care what anyone thought, I preferred them. But the one I did for a friend, he wanted the turned insert, and the car I'm building now is a 73 brewster clone, which I am giving my son, and want it to be as close to what the factory delivered (with certain period-correct mods).

So understand the desire. If it were going to be for me, I would do the woodgrain.

.

thanks for your two posts Rocky!
Mentioning the ever changing wood grain was something I had hoped might see in your last book - but this will suffice for now.

I will repeat that I have never seen a 73+ dash without that area cut open.
The 1979 standard gauge insert I have, has the cover for that spot, as do the '75 & '76 inserts I have.