[transam1972]

unless you drive your Firebird around with the hood up...how would anyone know if your early Firebird was sporting later made fenders..its really a design change and numbers (more later fenders) made...the outer skins are the same...I still say its more a claim to fame thing..

[71formula455]

Originally Posted by transam1972

unless you drive your Firebird around with the hood up...how would anyone know if your early Firebird was sporting later made fenders..its really a design change and numbers (more later fenders) made...the outer skins are the same...I still say its more a claim to fame thing..

I see your point its all about the guy restoring the car. I say for the money a rust free correct year fender costs who wouldn't want the correct year part. Take a late model fender and pay a body guy money to weld on the correct front valance brackets (excluding upper inside brace) and fix some rust and your well beyond the cost of finding a correct rust free part.

Sure you can use a bunch of parts from various years and end up with a cool driver, you'll end up with a car like this. Wrong fenders are just the start for this peach. Again probably a decent driver for someone looking to have fun but I vote if your going to spend the money do it right. The sharks stomachs may explode on this one. "Show Winning" Plus check out that "NEW" carpet.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/291578030131...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by 71formula455

http://www.ebay.com/itm/291578030131...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I'd drive the hell outta that thing! Just not for 20k

[transam1972]

Originally Posted by 71formula455

I see your point its all about the guy restoring the car. I say for the money a rust free correct year fender costs who wouldn't want the correct year part. Take a late model fender and pay a body guy money to weld on the correct front valance brackets (excluding upper inside brace) and fix some rust and your well beyond the cost of finding a correct rust free part.

Sure you can use a bunch of parts from various years and end up with a cool driver, you'll end up with a car like this. Wrong fenders are just the start for this peach. Again probably a decent driver for someone looking to have fun but I vote if your going to spend the money do it right. The sharks stomachs may explode on this one. "Show Winning" Plus check out that "NEW" carpet.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/291578030131...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

....71 Formula let me ask you this..as this debate has been around since well before I logged onto this forum and I would like to hear your opinion...when it comes to Firebird sheetmetal there are only 1 major external differences from an early car to a late car..inner fender brackets (can only be seen with the hood up) and door handle size...then you get into things like an early hinge (although fit and function are the same) they are differant

[Gator67]

Originally Posted by transam1972

unless you drive your Firebird around with the hood up...how would anyone know if your early Firebird was sporting later made fenders..its really a design change and numbers (more later fenders) made...the outer skins are the same...I still say its more a claim to fame thing..

I see your point. But to me it's one of those things that really stick out when someone's advertising or showing a car and describes it as "meticulously restored", "survivor", "original sheet metal", etc. There's a really nice '70 Formula here in town with a later fender. I noticed it the first time I saw it at a show, but didn't give it a second thought. I certainly didn't think anything less of the car. It was only when the owner later told me that it was all original that I asked him about it. Funny thing is that he had no clue that the fender was different or from a later car, and stranger yet, he had no idea how the fender got on the car. He told me he was the original owner and the only thing he ever had done was a paint job…no body work!

[transam1972]

...71Formula455 I got bumped by Gator67...back to topic...then of course inner door shell changes...words printed on the glass of a side view mirror..yet for all practical purposes a 1970 to 1981 sport mirror looks the same...the lucky few who own the remaining early Firebirds have the advantage that from shall we say (lets start at 1976 as my first T/A was that year, station wagon motor and 455 decals on a non functional shaker)...and on to 1981 share the Firebird name and the parts produced later were based on our cars original design...look at 1970 to 73 production numbers and consider replacement parts are produced for the most part in the same (perhaps 2 years extended) time frame..then look at the later production numbers..quite absurd that 1972 built 1200 T/As and 1979 built over 100,000...and that's just one year?!...should I be denied the use of a n.o.s. door skin that was/is more readily available than the other ,fewer made door skins?...oh look, your door handle is small..look at how big my correct door handle is..fortunately we are talking door handles here..and then the inner fenders issue..really these so called Trans Am experts can only jump onto the 2 most well known hot spots ...so the fender was replaced, so the door skin was replaced...if GM sheet metal was used, even better if brand new whats the big deal?...1987 a 1971 Trans Am gets a fender smacked..a new later fender gets installed..and so whats the problem in 2015?...I do not get it..you mean now you need to find a new 1971 T/A fender to fix the car right?..good luck on that one and I hope your wallets fat

[71formula455]

Originally Posted by transam1972

...71Formula455 I got bumped by Gator67...back to topic...then of course inner door shell changes...words printed on the glass of a side view mirror..yet for all practical purposes a 1970 to 1981 sport mirror looks the same...the lucky few who own the remaining early Firebirds have the advantage that from shall we say (lets start at 1976 as my first T/A was that year, station wagon motor and 455 decals on a non functional shaker)...and on to 1981 share the Firebird name and the parts produced later were based on our cars original design...look at 1970 to 73 production numbers and consider replacement parts are produced for the most part in the same (perhaps 2 years extended) time frame..then look at the later production numbers..quite absurd that 1972 built 1200 T/As and 1979 built over 100,000...and that's just one year?!...should I be denied the use of a n.o.s. door skin that was/is more readily available than the other ,fewer made door skins?...oh look, your door handle is small..look at how big my correct door handle is..fortunately we are talking door handles here..and then the inner fenders issue..really these so called Trans Am experts can only jump onto the 2 most well known hot spots ...so the fender was replaced, so the door skin was replaced...if GM sheet metal was used, even better if brand new whats the big deal?...1987 a 1971 Trans Am gets a fender smacked..a new later fender gets installed..and so whats the problem in 2015?...I do not get it..you mean now you need to find a new 1971 T/A fender to fix the car right?..good luck on that one and I hope your wallets fat

Yeah, I was not saying you should or shouldn't use any certain parts on your car. Its your car do what you want. I was agreeing with Gator that when someone does a restoration its really nice when they go the extra mile to use original parts, like popping the hood at a show, I've grown to really appreciate that part of the hobby, more so Gator was talking about selling his original rust free fenders and a fair price. Certainly not everyone has the means or access to 100% correct parts. In the end the parts you use do make a difference in the value of the car, but I agree with it will not take away from the enjoyment of cruzing down the road.

[bird72]

I sold two no rust 70 / 72 fenders last year in a package deal with other stuff. One needed minor dent bondo rework. Both were ratty paint / primer state, but no rust. Let go at $100 ea which was a steal, but as said, shipping is gigantic loser. I think value is 200 ea ratty but good and 400 or more for nice condition even old painted. I never get those prices though!

[Ramairnacho]

I got 1 of these it's straight but has a little rust.nice to find 1 more drivers side. I believe it's dated 71. Are formula fenders dated could not find any marking on My green fender. I apologize if this is going off on a tangent from original thread I'm still learning and as of 2 years ago I didn't know anything about dating or 1 year only stuff. I built 3 from.rollers and mis matched parts that I could find at junk yard as a boy like dad taught me. I really like junk yard trips. My dad and I would drive around looking for the parts I wanted to add when I was 13. I wanted the rear spoiler to the 1970 formula and it took us 3 Saturdays to.find a ta. Im.blessed to have my dad's car still.

[cpu]

OPH, Bruce, Baron, Jonny, Nacho thanks for sharing that info.

At the swap meet I was holding the fender, inspecting, taking photos, and trying to keep my sunglasses from falling off. Multitasking was wasted because I missed the critical fender details and dropped my sunglasses.

Somehow I figured the 73+ raised section with 2 holes for brace wasn't there. My pic seems to show one of the two holes (hand covering area.. doh!)

I didnt take a photo of the front valance attaching bracket, but I don't recall seeing the bracket.

Oddly, I walked around and all day and this guy had the only Firebird fenders I saw. Driver's was $150 and pass was $50. I saw minor rust, no rust perforation, and no plastic filler. That seemed to be a good price considering the condition. Wanted to grab them due to low cost, even if not correct for my year, as spares.

In the end I couldn't recall the seller's location and left without them.

Nacho to me that green fender looks really nice.