[RAFormulas]

Ok, when I mention this at shows, people look at me like I'm on something. But here is the at least the 4th one I've seen this way. I have one this way still on one of my original paint cars (Van Nuys car) that I need to photograph. From what I have gathered, the early 1970 cars (if not all of them) had this black out treatment on the front valance. It appears that it was done with some sort of mask and sprayed on. They always have this rough (no tape line) appearance.

How many of you are doing this on your restorations?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1970-...spagenameZWDVW

[keith k]

On my last resto, I hadn't yet learned about that detail. But now having more recently owned 2 original paint '70 cars (both Norwood) that had this blackout, I will definitely duplicate it on the next one (which will probably be the RA Formula).

[Jim Rotella]

Not only have we have seen valances with that blacked out lower area before, we've also seen several original endura front bumpers with the bottom lip painted the same way. Can't really say why they were painted that way, but there are several factory pictures of '70-'72 Firebirds with the blacked out lower edges of their bumpers and valances. Maybe PMD was after a cleaner look by hiding the four black bolts that attach the lower grill brackets to the bumper.

[johnta1]

My 70's were blacked out like that, except the paint seemed to be in a straight line?

[eaglesan13]

Was it black first, then taped off and painted body color, or was it body color first, then taped off and painted black?

Was this only on Norwood cars?

[RAFormulas]

Originally Posted by Jim Rotella

we've also seen several original endura front bumpers with the bottom lip painted the same way.

I've noticed this also. I have never seen an original paint 70 without this feature. Yet I never see it reproduced on restorations. This is one of those things that gets lost when original cars aren't observed very closely before restoration.

[johnta1]

My gold car seemed to have the red primer like on the under body,being painted over with the black. The gold seemed to have been painted last.
But I repainted it a long time ago.

[RAFormulas]

Here is an original paint 70 RA Formula with both of the black out areas showing.

Look familiar Giles?

[giles]

Yes, I seem to recall seeing that somewhere.....
(Steve's picture is of my old Formula, for reference an 03C Van Nuys car)

The big question on this subject, for TA fans, is Did they do the valance black-out on Trans Ams? It would have been covered by the spoiler so why bother?

Does anyone have an original paint TA that can fill us in?

[68bird400HO]

There was a thread a few months back where member 70RAIII flew to Canada to document that 19k mile RAIV car. If I remember right, that car had the blacked out area as well.

[Jim Rotella]

Giles,

Good point! I've also wondered that same thing about the Trans Am's valances. I'll be looking for an original paint T/A to check that out. Another question is did they bother to black out the bottom of the front bumper if the car was to be built with a plastic valance? That blacked out area would be hidden by the plastic valance. I don't recall ever seeing a '73 Firebird with a replacement metal valance that had the lower portion of the bumper painted black. Maybe someone else can comment.

[RAFormulas]

Originally Posted by Jim Rotella

Giles,

Good point! I've also wondered that same thing about the Trans Am's valances. I'll be looking for an original paint T/A to check that out. Another question is did they bother to black out the bottom of the front bumper if the car was to be built with a plastic valance? That blacked out area would be hidden by the plastic valance. I don't recall ever seeing a '73 Firebird with a replacement metal valance that had the lower portion of the bumper painted black. Maybe someone else can comment.

I have only seen this on the '70 cars. Has anyone seen this on a '71-'73 before?

[71HOT/A]

My 71 TA had the blacked out edge on the endura nose, but the valance was all blue. Very early build Norwood car with a lot of left over 70 peices.

[RAFormulas]

Is it just me, or is this feature being ignored by the Firebird restoration community. I have yet to see this black out feature on a restored car. Someone show me or just tell me they know of one and I will shut up.

Maybe people just don't like the way this looks and choose to ignore it on repaints?

[Tazzz2]

Can't speak to the existing restorations,,, but I can tell you there will be a 1970 Formula in the shop now that will have this detail LOL......I think it looks good and I'm going to have my painter do it for my car...

[bird72]

Can of Budweiser, can of semi flat black, some tape, I would think this feature could be added in one beer or less.

[Tazzz2]

Originally Posted by bird72

Can of Budweiser, can of semi flat black, some tape, I would think this feature could be added in one beer or less.

True true LOL......

[J GLASGO]

My 70 TA ,original paint when i got it .Had the bottom lip painted black,but did not have the valance panel painted.I did reproduce it when i pained it.

[70RAlll]

Guys
All 1970 and 71 Trans ams have the lower metal valance painted this way. I believe the valance started out black. Then Pontiac attached the lower spoiler and painted the spoiler and upper valance the body color. The inside of the metal valance and the lower portion under the spoiler are to be black. I have documented this on at least a dozen original cars and will be covered in my book. Why is the resto community missing this?? Simple- A bunch of lazy idiots are doing our cars. It wasn't that hard for me to discover this, and I am sure many others here who have ,or had, original cars have seen this treatment.And the lower lip on the endura nose was black also-actually it was left unpainted and the material is sort of a black rubber on this lower lip.. I recall a "famed " magazine article recently on a RA IV resto by one of the "star" Pontiac restorers with a lower frontal full page photo of the finished car on the cover-really got me when both the lower metal valance and the lower lip of the endura nose were both painted blue.And this was the car that was "to be setting new levels in Trans Am restorations", yes..... a bunch of lazy idiots out there .Yes issues like this one are the very reason I started writing my resto book, real close to being finished I might add, maybe by teh TA nationals this year we will have some printed copies..

[johnta1]

I thought the original spoilers were molded in color?