[JJKJ]

I've really enjoyed reading the shark threads lately. They're a great learning tool, and when you come across a car like I did today--they help you appreciate attention to detail even more. I'm no expert, but the 71 I saw today really impressed me. Many of the items discussed in the other shark threads seem to be in order on this car.

The transporter showed up today to take my 78 to its new owner. I was pretty suprised and happy to see the rear of a very nice 70-73 T/A in his trailer when he opened the door. As I just mentioned, after it came off, I was able to tell it is a 71. Fortunately for me, he had to take that car off (and a very cool Viper ACR) to put mine up front. I asked if it was ok to take some pics, and since I had my camera with me to document my T/A being loaded, I was able to take several pics. I took several pics for reference and a few fun shots with my 78 and the Viper. I wish I had taken some underbody shots but I didn't. It was as detailed as everything else and finished in black oxide.

What do you guys think?



























Although the T/A's had their share of onlookers, it wasn't until the Viper was unloaded that some people started to gather around the cars. Maybe Firebird appreciation is just a little more subtle.

[weranc55]

Very nice car. Looks like the car that was for sale at restore a muscle car.

[RAFormulas]

Still in the wrapper.

I'm not a 71 expert... but this car looks almost 100% correct from what is visible in the pictures. My hats off to the person/people who restored this one.

Lower lip on endura bumper not black... not sure when they quit doing this... 70 only?

[Dens71TA]

Originally Posted by RAFormulas

Lower lip on endura bumper not black... not sure when they quit doing this... 70 only?

'71 is the same way.

Things that stand out to me. Master cylinder should be black, hood hinges missing blue bolt torque inspection paint dabs, Pep Boys radiator cap, shaker looks like they matched the blue in the stripe instead of painting it Lucerne blue, bolts attaching inner fender at top are way too short, tower clamp on lower heater core hose is facing down, there are so many body shims on the passenger side fender top bolt that the firewall bolt hole had to be redrilled(bent subframe??), rear exhaust tips are at a funky angle. If the underside was black then this could be a Van Nuys car and should have the rubber A-arm water shields attached to the inner fender on the engine side.

[3tas4me]

Battery is current style, not repro. I have the same thing on my car though....

[Todd Mullin]

I like the hood hinges and springs, how do you think they refinshed them? Did you notice where the car was built? I'm just starting to restore a 71 just like this one, low options 4 speed car in blue. Its nice to see pictures like this to see what you get if you do it right.

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by Dens71TA

'71 is the same way.

Things that stand out to me. Master cylinder should be black, hood hinges missing blue bolt torque inspection paint dabs, Pep Boys radiator cap, shaker looks like they matched the blue in the stripe instead of painting it Lucerne blue, bolts attaching inner fender at top are way too short, tower clamp on lower heater core hose is facing down, there are so many body shims on the passenger side fender top bolt that the firewall bolt hole had to be redrilled(bent subframe??), rear exhaust tips are at a funky angle. If the underside was black then this could be a Van Nuys car and should have the rubber A-arm water shields attached to the inner fender on the engine side.

Good call on the P/S cowl bolt hole,there is something out of whack there!

It appears that both a-arm splash shields ARE in place.

No hood bumpers in either fender.

Rear parcel shelf appears to be the mesh style which is incorrect for a standard trim car.(unless it came with optional rear speaker)

Door armrests are of the custom trim (soft) variety.

Aftermarket headlights (s/b Powerbeams)

While we are on bolts,should the cowl to wiper transmission bolts be BRIGHT plated?

Also,bolts from inner fender to battery tray are too long and could possibly wear/punch a hole in the battery case. (that makes a REAL mess) I know,it happened to ME!

I hope the NEW owner of this car is a "good sport" if he's reading this.

[71GP76TA]

Originally Posted by weranc55

Very nice car. Looks like the car that was for sale at restore a muscle car.

This one??

http://www.restoreamusclecar.com/veh...ls?fdid=950162

[2manyT/A'S]

That IS a VERY NICE car!

Both T/A's look GREAT,but what's that silly looking green and black thing?

One item on the 71 sort of jumped out at me; on 71 standard trim,the inside door handle escutcheons /covers should be the full cover style & match the color of the door panels.(the only chrome visible should be the release lever)
The ones on the car would be correct for 72-74 standard trim.

Also,the rad cap is not up to the caliber of the rest of the car.

Not much to eat here,I'm still HUNGRY!

[68bird400HO]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

One item on the 71 sort of jumped out at me; on 71 standard trim,the inside door handle escutcheons /covers should be the full cover style & match the color of the door panels.(the only chrome visible should be the release lever)
The ones on the car would be correct for 72-74 standard trim.

This was discussed in another thread, it may have been on the 455HO thread. I have interior pieces out of 3 71 firebirds (all van nuys cars) and all of them had the chrome interior door handle bezels. When this was discussed a month or two ago on the other thread, I posted several examples of 71 std interior cars with the chrome bezels but could only find two with the plastic handles (including Giles' car). I guess I am saying that I don't believe that it is a hard and fast rule that 71 std interior cars had the plastic color coded bezel.

Also, standard interior cars in 70 and 71 had the padded armrest just like the deluxe interior cars. I have heard that toward the latter part of the 71 model run (march or april), some birds came with the camaro hard plastic ones, probably because the padded ones were running thin. I have only heard this but have not investigated it. I don't know if standard vs deluxe had anything to do with which cars got what.

This is a really nice car and if it was the restore-a-musclecar car then it is a Van Nuys car and previously belonged to a board member here.

[JJKJ]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

That IS a VERY NICE car!

Both T/A's look GREAT,but what's that silly looking green and black thing?

I know, it almost looks like a caricature doesn't it? Impressive car though. I'm pretty sure that each back tire was wider than my 2 rear tires put together.

I think in all black would look pretty sinister.

[superdutybob]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

Both T/A's look GREAT,but what's that silly looking green and black thing?

It's a genuine a$$ kicker in every sense of the word! LOL

[BobC]

Norwood gave me a heads up that my old '71 TA made the PY shark list. When I was working on the car the goal was not to do a concourse restoration, just a nice stock driver. Thanks for the compliments though. Dave Hall at RAMC gets the credit for finishing the TA and getting it auction ready. I'd like to thank all of the PY gang that helped out with parts and tech support. The assistance was GREATLY appreciated!

Here's a follow up on some of the observations posted here. When my painter and restorer buddy Lee mocked up the front sheet metal prior to painting there was not a tall stack of shims under the RH front fender. We had it fitting with nice body gaps too. The car had not been wrecked and the subframe was checked at a frame shop. The Endura front bumper should of had the bottom lip painted black but that wasn't done prior to the sale. I have pictures of another original paint '71 Van Nuys Formula with a build date within one month of the TA and the lip is black. FWIW the PHS does not list the Honeycomb wheels, they were on the car when I purchased it. I attached a pic of the TA prior to restoration. The front end was pro-touring low when I bought it. The front springs still had blue paper tags. I assumed they were the original GM springs. RAMC wanted the ride height closer to stock which is why it's sitting higher. The '71 is a straight car, not just a nice paint job like many of the cars that come up for sale. I wonder what auction it's going too?

I still have a '71 GTO conv. to putter with and would like to have a red '73 TA or clone with a 5-speed and a pro-touring stance. Hopefully I could get that one done!

[7072PMD]

The ad in "cars on line" has it for $68,500......price reduced!

[Norwood]

This car was restored by a member here. I do no that he really put effort into making it as right as he could. He even had me fabricate new correct clamps for the leaf springs.

[weranc55]

Originally Posted by Norwood

This car was restored by a member here. I do no that he really put effort into making it as right as he could. He even had me fabricate new correct clamps for the leaf springs.

I wonder why restore a muscle car finished it? No cowl seal.

[Judge273]

Looks sweet! Craig's hood latch too? Looks like someone else finished it from restore??

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by weranc55

I wonder why restore a muscle car finished it? No cowl seal.

Cowl seal may have got hit by the rear of the pass side hood hinge plate when it hits the accident stopper. I bet the hood mount plate went above it after all those shims.

[BobC]

The '71 TA is going to the RM Auctions, Ft. Lauderdale, FL in the first week of March.

[weranc55]

Originally Posted by BobC

The '71 TA is going to the RM Auctions, Ft. Lauderdale, FL in the first week of March.

Very nice car and restoration. So who owns the car you or Dave?