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Brian D'Amico · 01-13-2006, 07:11 AM

I saw this 78 T/A for sale and wanted to know if that Data Tag looks legit or not. I know that older Ponchos used rivits to hold on their tags, but did the later T/A's use this screws?? Looks fake if you ask me... Just curious? Other than that, I think it's a pretty sweet car though.

Thanks!

http://www.455transam.com/78y88/IMG_1806.JPG

Here's the rest of the car:
http://www.455transam.com/78y88/

firebirdcrazy1959 · 01-13-2006, 09:02 AM

i've had many,many birds and have never had a trim tag attached like that.but like always i may be wrong.

Steven S · 01-13-2006, 09:29 AM

On my 78 TA the tag is fastened with screws also, but not with the phillips head ones
just plain hex head sheet metal screws.

Dens71TA · 01-13-2006, 10:42 AM

Nothing out of the ordinary there. Fisher Body tags were attached with screws starting in 1973.

formula400 · 01-13-2006, 10:52 AM

thats dave halls car he is the owner of restoreamusclecar,he's a friend of mine.
the 78 is a real deal

68ragtop · 01-13-2006, 01:44 PM

I noticed it doesn't have the Y88 RPO on the tag, But I have heard rumors that a few of them got through without the code on the tag. Both of my 78's have the Y88 on the body tag, & they are screwed on the cowl.

68ragtop

formula400 · 01-13-2006, 03:41 PM

i just got off the phone with dave he said he has a build sheet for the car to prove it is a se,it was suppose to be with all the pics,he will be adding it soon
hope this clears anything up

68ragtop · 01-13-2006, 04:01 PM

It looks like a very nice car. Is it all numbers matching? Trans, engine, etc? Looks very correct. Only think that caught my eye was the possibly the wrong air cleaner,
& I wasn't sure if the A/C line set was correct for 78, I thought that was 79. I don't know for sure when that style was used.

Very sweet & nicely detailed car.

68ragtop

Dens71TA · 01-13-2006, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by formula400

thats dave halls car

Dave Hall!

Don't ever bring up that name if you're at a Pontiac gathering in southern Wisconsin!

formula400 · 01-13-2006, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dens71TA

Dave Hall!

Don't ever bring up that name if you're at a Pontiac gathering in southern Wisconsin!

why is that?

74TransAm · 01-13-2006, 09:17 PM

Those screws are the same as the ones on my 78 Trans Am that I have owned for 17 years. Also the same on my 74 Trans Am. Was also a post about the cowl tag screws on a 74 SD 455 T/A on ebay now in the 74-76 tech section. Looks Legit to me.

Dave is a sponsor of our transamcountry websight. I have never dealt with him, but would be interested in hearing the reasoning of the above comment as well.

Brian D'Amico · 01-13-2006, 09:48 PM

Thanks guys.. That is a VERY sweet looking car!

Dens71TA · 01-14-2006, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by formula400

why is that?

There are a few people that have had some bad dealings with him around here. Dave will make what should be a smooth transaction a living nightmare. He will whine up a storm just to save a buck. It basically boils down to whatever item you're selling is worthless when he's buying but when you're buying from him its the price of GOLD!

I dealt with him about four or five years ago when he was running some computer consulting type company and it was always something with Dave.

restoreamusclecar · 01-24-2006, 02:19 AM

Dear Dens71TA,

Sorry to hear that you have a problem with me! Not really sure what it may be, but I would really like to know what you are referring to?

I havent dealt much with anyone in Wisconsin, other than on a 78 TA that was all rusted out, and going to a few swap meets to buy some misc. parts. I have some friends in Wisconsin, but I didnt know of ANY ENIMIES.

Do you have a problem with me because I am in the business of keeping these cars alive and restoring them to the best condition we can. Trying to keep as many cars from getting crushed as I can, and keeping them around for our kids to be able to enjoy!

Yes, I am in business, and just like any other business we have to make money and make it worth our while to stay in business to do what we can. I have customers all over the country, and I make it a point to do the best I can in not only representing myself and any cars I might sell, restore, or consign. Unlike a particular vehicle that I purchased from a gentleman in Wisconsin that failed to represent the multitude of RUST that was in the car.

But hey, we all make mistakes. I took the 78 from WI that I really didnt want with all the body rust (It did run good) and traded it to a friend in town that still has it today, hoping to repair/restore it someday when he has the time and money.

If you have a problem, please let me know what it is about. I am not out to make enimies. Life is too short for that, we are not in High School anymore. The Pontiac community itself is very small, and it is only us that will help keep these cars alive and help restore them to keep them around for the future.

I hope you can get over what ever your problem is.
Take care.
Dave

restoreamusclecar · 01-24-2006, 02:33 AM

This is another post to let the group know that the Trim tag & screws are correct on this car. If anyone would take the time to research something before jumping to conclusions, you would see that there are a lot of 78 TAs, even 77 TAs that used the same style of screws, and the Y88 designation was only there if the guy working at the GM plant that day, remember to stamp it in the tag.

PHS docs are included with this car. As it was a california car we bought last summer from the last owner of 15 years. It still had the original paint and decals on the car.

All the stripping, and emblems for a true Y88 TA. I have all the pics and info to prove and show anything anyone would want to see.

This car came out absolutely beautiful. We decided to keep it gold and restore it back to as close to factory as possible, even though it didnt have the original 400 motor in it. It actually has a 72 GTO 400 motor, which was stated in the first paragraph of the auction.

When we finished this car last summer, I got a call from one of the Pontiac National Judges out of GA. He is a lawyer that actually has this exact car with 9k for original miles on it. He was so impressed with how correct we were able to get the variations of gold in all the different areas of the car. He said that our car next to his would make his car look like it need to be restored. The amount of flaws that are apparent in any TA from the factory are incredible. They built cars to sell, not to show!

Thanks
Dave

firebirdcrazy1959 · 01-24-2006, 08:57 AM

i looked at my 79,80 and 81 birds.all the tags are like that with screws.the older birds[70,73]that i had have rivits.i never noticed

formula400 · 01-24-2006, 05:14 PM

very well handled dave!!
tom

Tinindian6702 · 01-24-2006, 05:37 PM

unfortunately they were screws. mine disappeared after a recent trip to the body shop for some paint work!

1Bad78zam · 01-25-2006, 12:12 AM

I just recently finished with my 78. Prior to the restoration, the cowl tag was riveted on. At present it is screwed on. I have seen them both ways.

3tas4me · 01-26-2006, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by restoreamusclecar

Dear Dens71TA,

Sorry to hear that you have a problem with me! Not really sure what it may be, but I would really like to know what you are referring to?

I havent dealt much with anyone in Wisconsin, other than on a 78 TA that was all rusted out, and going to a few swap meets to buy some misc. parts. I have some friends in Wisconsin, but I didnt know of ANY ENIMIES.

Do you have a problem with me because I am in the business of keeping these cars alive and restoring them to the best condition we can. Trying to keep as many cars from getting crushed as I can, and keeping them around for our kids to be able to enjoy!

Yes, I am in business, and just like any other business we have to make money and make it worth our while to stay in business to do what we can. I have customers all over the country, and I make it a point to do the best I can in not only representing myself and any cars I might sell, restore, or consign. Unlike a particular vehicle that I purchased from a gentleman in Wisconsin that failed to represent the multitude of RUST that was in the car.

But hey, we all make mistakes. I took the 78 from WI that I really didnt want with all the body rust (It did run good) and traded it to a friend in town that still has it today, hoping to repair/restore it someday when he has the time and money.

If you have a problem, please let me know what it is about. I am not out to make enimies. Life is too short for that, we are not in High School anymore. The Pontiac community itself is very small, and it is only us that will help keep these cars alive and help restore them to keep them around for the future.

I hope you can get over what ever your problem is.
Take care.
Dave

You are absolutely correct in saying that life is too short to make enemies....however, I am familiar with the transaction you are referring to and the person that sold you the '78 is a friend of mine. I also know that he has sold a lot of cars and parts and goes out of his way to make sure he describes it properly. He is all to aware that there are many people who misrepresent what they sell and he is not one of them. I find it interesting that in your dealing with him, you agreed to a price with him and then when you showed up to pick up the car, suddenly it wasn't worth what you agreed upon. The real kicker is that only hours after buying this car which you described as "that I really didn't want" you took it to the swap meet at Jefferson, put it in the car corral and priced it somewhere around DOUBLE what you just paid for it. I know this because I was at Jefferson and saw the car there with the price and your name on it! I have no problem with someone making a living with what you do, but to beat up a fellow hobbyist over the price just to put a few more dollars in your pocket borders a bit on the unethical side if you ask me.

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