[Rocky Rotella]

What a beautiful car, F9driver!

I’ve heavily researched the ’76 Y82 cars for a couple of decades and continue doing so. According to the information I've hand-collated, cars with VINs in the 570000 range were produced between 04D and 05B.

It seems that virtually all Y82 cars were equipped with Hurst Hatches during the first several weeks of production. Based on the factory-to-dealer invoices from early cars (that which PHS supplies) that I’ve collected, the ship dates to selling dealers weren’t until August for most.

From what I've learned, at first Hurst added its Hatches to the Trans Ams post-Norwood-production and in their facility in Brighton, MI, so there was some delay as the car was shipped from Norwood to Detroit for the addition. Pontiac apparently had reliability concerns and a great number of the converted cars were held by Pontiac on the lot of its home plant under a reliability hold. Hence the significant delay between the production date and ship date of the early Y82 cars.

Hurst Hatches were placed on hold at some point during the model year because a great number (and as it played out, a majority) of Y82 cars were produced without hatches. As production continued into August 1976, some Y82 cars with Hurst Hatches were produced. I don’t know the rhyme or reason to that. I haven’t located a bulletin that outlines the cost changes for those with and those without hatches, but I’m certain one had to be issued. And I don’t know if Pontiac actually allowed its customers to select with or without Hurst Hatches when placing their Y82 order.

By the 1977 model year, Hurst operated a facility near the Norwood plant which reduced the lag between production and ship dates. Pontiac also knew that some customers didn’t want Hurst Hatches on their Special Edition Trans Am, and that led to the creation of the Y81 package that complemented the carryover Y82. It also gave Pontiac an invoicing out if Hurst had any additional production issues.

F9driver, if you'd be willing to supply me with your VIN offline, I'd love to add it and your PHS document to my database. Also, do you have any details on the original owner? Did she order or purchase out of dealer inventory?

66gplover, can you share the same?

[starlightblack]

This is my 07C built 455 hardtop SE. VIN beginning with 599.

[starlightblack]

While the trim tag says 07C - the PHS says the car was shipped July 14th. Is this something known to occur? Trim tag has never been off the car and its 455 is numbers matching, as is the VIN stamping at the heater box.

[TAKerry]

Originally Posted by starlightblack

While the trim tag says 07C - the PHS says the car was shipped July 14th. Is this something known to occur? Trim tag has never been off the car and its 455 is numbers matching, as is the VIN stamping at the heater box.

There was a thread about the dating on the doc's, If I remember it correctly the dates had a lot to do with when orders were developed, when billing would occur, and also codes as to whom was financing. These dates would make sense to me as the paper work is the 2nd week and your cars build is the 3rd week. It may have taken that long for the paperwork to go through.
Of course this is all speculation, maybe someone with greater knowledge can chime in.
My 77 is 3rd week of Sept, '76 build date but I do not have a build sheet to compare other dates to.

[unruhjonny]

Am I mistaken in recalling that HPP did an article on an early built car some years ago that still had it's gold lettered tires?

I believe that there was some other PMD literature which called this a 'LE' or Limited Edition - This bulletin is interesting, maybe the name was changed from Special Edition to Limited Edition based on the fact that this was the only way that Pontiac's 50th Anniversary was being commemorated in the Trans Am?

[68tpls400]

Can anyone tell me which is the correct lug nuts for a '76 SE? (gold snowflakes)

Are these correct?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/77-81-FIREB...cAAOSwK~RaDF0v

Or if you can post a picture or a link, that would help. Thanks!

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by 68tpls400

Can anyone tell me which is the correct lug nuts for a '76 SE? (gold snowflakes)

Are these correct?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/77-81-FIREB...cAAOSwK~RaDF0v

Or if you can post a picture or a link, that would help. Thanks!

the snowflake wheel (cast aluminum) debuted with the 1977 model year;
That link you gave is the snowflake lugnut.

The wheel that a 1976 LE/SE would have recieved is a polycast 'Honeycomb' wheel - it is essentially a rubber face on a steel wheel;
The Honeycomb wheels used the standard Rally II lugnut, which was a steel lug with an aluminum cap.

[68tpls400]

These?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/20x-Buick-O...MAAOSwr7tZgIAY

[unruhjonny]

those appear VERY close, but appear to be a true chromed lug nut.

the one's that the Honeycomb wheel used were shared with the Rally II's, and I believe most Chevy rally wheels.

These are the one's you want:

https://secure.amesperf.com/qilan/De...A&web_access=Y

[Rocky Rotella]

Originally Posted by starlightblack

While the trim tag says 07C - the PHS says the car was shipped July 14th. Is this something known to occur? Trim tag has never been off the car and its 455 is numbers matching, as is the VIN stamping at the heater box.

GM assigned production weeks a bit differently that one might assume.

While it would seem logical that 07A would represent July 1-7 and 07B represents July 8-14, GM actually assigned them by weeks in the month. During July 1976, The first fell on a Thurs, so 07A would represent July 1-3. 07B would then represent July 4-10, and 07C for July 11-17, and so on. I believe they considered a seven day week from Sun-to-Sat and not from Mon-to-Sun, but even if they did it would simply shift the dates by one day.

So to your question, your 07C build date would correspond with a July 14 ship date.

[MikeNoun]

Originally Posted by unruhjonny

Am I mistaken in recalling that HPP did an article on an early built car some years ago that still had it's gold lettered tires?

I believe that there was some other PMD literature which called this a 'LE' or Limited Edition - This bulletin is interesting, maybe the name was changed from Special Edition to Limited Edition based on the fact that this was the only way that Pontiac's 50th Anniversary was being commemorated in the Trans Am?

Original window stickers show Special Edition, invoices show Special Edition, bulletins show Special Edition, so I'm not sure where Limited Edition, LE, or 50th Anniversary came up, but many people seem to believe that's what they were called. The only other reference I've found stating something different was in the Pontiac production logs where they described them as "Golden Anniversary Cars".

I believe the 1976 Trans Am Special Edition that had gold lettered tires (in HPP years ago) was John Schinella's 1973 Trans Am, updated to 1976 specs, used for auto shows.

The gold lettered tires weren't produced. There was a Sales Information Bulletin issued in late March 1976 specifically stating that gold lettered tires would not be available.

See what I learned by reading Rocky's book?

Mike

[unruhjonny]

ha-ha!!

I have read his book, but apparently I've forgotten that stuff... silly me, being a little too focused on '70 model year cars!

lol

[Rocky Rotella]

You can't believe what I learned by writing it!

And I'm sure there's plenty more we'll learn down the road.

[MikeNoun]

This one just sold at Mecum for an incredible $110,000. Does this seem a tad high? I checked the history of this car, and it's been through Mecum at least 5 times.

Sold in 2017 for $50,000
High Bid in 2017 to $52,500, no sale
High Bid in 2017 to $70,000, no sale
High Bid in 2018 to $60,000, no sale
Sold in 2019 for $110,000





Built to commemorate Pontiac's 50th Anniversary
1 OF 319 Y82 non T-Top coupes produced
PHS documents
One family owned until 2014
Matching numbers WX suffix 455 HO V-8 engine
Last production year for the 455 HO engine
Rochester four barrel carburetor
Factory original Hurst 4-speed transmission
Air conditioning
Rear window louvers
Power windows and locks
8 track tape player
New fresh paint with Gold stripes and Bird
Original interior
Original wheel trim rings
Original trunk matting
Original mini spare wheel
Original gas tank
New BF Goodrich tires
Original invoice and financial paperwork
Owners manual
Reproduction window sticker
The 50th Anniversary emblem was installed upside down from the factory
Sold new at Kole Pontiac GMC in Oak Lawn, IL

[Rocky Rotella]

I've been following the prices of these cars and while they're generally all over the board, the 455 cars with Hurst Hatches are definitely the most valuable. I don't see them even close to the 6-figure territory. Past auction results tends to agree with that theory.

[MikeNoun]

Makes one wonder if the passing of Burt Reynolds has created a spike in values of these cars. Just doesn't make sense that the exact same car sold for $50K in 2017, then three times they couldn't flip it for $50K-$70K, then suddenly it sells for $110K.

Mike

[66gplvr]

Hi Rocky. I will check on the vin and trim tag the next time I go and play with the car. In the meantime, the woman I bought the car from had actually ordered a 1976 Black Firebird with a 350, automatic trans, and A/C. Pontiac kept dragging their heels in building it, so she traveled to the dealership to talk to her salesman. As he was on the phone with the factory (?), they were unloading this particular TA off the trailer right in front of where she was sitting at the salesman's desk. When he got off the phone and told her it was going to be a few more weeks till delivery, she asked him about the TA they just unloaded. He went to it, wrote down the vin and went back inside. He came back and said it wasn't ordered for anyone, so it was available. She bought it on the spot and cancelled her original order. She told me that it had the gold lettered radials, but they developed a vibration and all were replaced. I can only go by what she told me, because it had Uniroyal Polysteel Radial white letters on it when I bought it from her 20 years ago. Anyway, she loved the car and took pretty good care of it and never modified it. Thanks for the interest. Jeff

[starlightblack]

Originally Posted by Rocky Rotella

GM assigned production weeks a bit differently that one might assume.

While it would seem logical that 07A would represent July 1-7 and 07B represents July 8-14, GM actually assigned them by weeks in the month. During July 1976, The first fell on a Thurs, so 07A would represent July 1-3. 07B would then represent July 4-10, and 07C for July 11-17, and so on. I believe they considered a seven day week from Sun-to-Sat and not from Mon-to-Sun, but even if they did it would simply shift the dates by one day.

So to your question, your 07C build date would correspond with a July 14 ship date.

Thanks Rocky

[Aus78Formula]

Not the sure the "1 of" decal on windscreen adds any value, bit concentrated on one aspect. When you start looking at other models that are otherwise identical they have much lesser numbers, just not SE.

[TAKerry]

Didn't say he couldn't 'flip it' for those prices, just said no sale. Reserve probably wasn't met. That is a very nice car, Perfect late gen T/A's are on the rise, and I think it may have something to do with Burt. I also think that with the price of the early cars escalating and GTO's getting priced beyond the average that nice Trans Ams are next in line for collectors. Its going to be low mile, special cars though (super duty's, spec. eds.) that will command high prices.