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Wanted : 1970-73 TA Clone with T-tops and 4spd
Looking for a decent running driver - no projects.
I have seen the 70-73 clones with T-tops in the past on CL or Ebay... any leads appreciated. |
T-tops didn't become available until 1976. 70-74 roofs had a flat rear window, and 75-81 had a wrap-around rear window. It would take quite a bit of work to get a T-top roof into a 70-73.
70-73 front ends are swapped onto late 70s T/As pretty regularly, so that will be more common. |
Found this example...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2mcxBQamDs Is this really a '73? or did they just put a '73 front and rear on a later model? |
I know a guy who sliced a fisher T roof into a '73 back in the eighties. It worked out real good, good fit. It just looked weird cause the car was red and the hatches were black.
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The first T-tops came out in 1976, and they were smaller Hurst T-tops like the ones shown on the car in the video. They were notorious for leaking. A second design came out in 1978 if my memory is correct, and they were wider.
I suspect somebody grafted a different roof onto the car in the video. The only way to be sure is to get the VIN number. The T-Top was first offered on the 1976 50th Anniversary T/As. This website discusses this offering: http://www.2gta.com/1976ta.html "It was on this special T/A (50th Anniversary) that an option would be introduced that would literally open up an entire market - the T-Top. Originally slated to be fitted to all anniversary edition cars, only 643 were actually produced with the tops. The tops, manufactured for Pontiac by Hurst, were known as Hurst Hatches and were fitted after assembly. Of the 643 KwikSpecs 50th anniversary models with Hurst Hatches, 110 were built with the 455/4-speed combination, while 319 455's had the 50th package without the tops. The 400 cars featured 533 with t-tops, and 1628 without. " Mike |
1978 is correct for first year fisher design, which was an integral part of the roof section. The First gen of T- Top was sliced into an existing roof. It was a little short on engineering. They had several problems. Leakage is what everyone always talks about. But also, they very easy to get in to. Since their latches were on the ends, they used an overcenter type of latch. If you gave them a sharp hit on the ends they just unlatched and voila, your were in.
The third problem was they promoted rust where they attached. FWIW |
Here is a 74 with a 73 front end and Fisher T-tops... and a 4 sp
http://www.showdownauto.com/?vehicle...ntiac-trans-am |
they are out there. we did a 72 formula, and put 77 Hurst hatches on it. also saw a true 72 TA that was painted silver and had t-tops added. sold in Ohio back in the late 80's. sadly, one i have seen was 1 of 17(i think) 4 speed formula SD that the owner put t-tops on. it was in Thunder Am back in the 80's.
not many, and some here would shot someone for doing it to a true car, but if you can find a nice 70-73 clone, you can have a body shop put a top on it. |
eBay listing
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No, but given what you're looking for, it's got your name written all over it!
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:doh:
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:cry: Why!!
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Very low price for a nice 73...interesting to see how the T-tops devaluate the car...although i think this car represents a nice deal for someone who wants fresh air while driving and is not so interested in originality. Did YOU buy it?
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I remember a red 73 back in the eighties in Gainesville Florida. Not likely to be the same car probably.
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I did not purchase that eBay T/A. It is a Build A Bandit car and the VIN was questionable.
Still looking. |
Quote:
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there is a 74 4sp with T-tops on Ebay right now...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ponti...item338080cd3b |
73 Formula 455 / 4 speed w/ air
2 Attachment(s)
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still looking....
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