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Brewster · 08-04-2006, 11:03 AM

There goes that primer theory !
Still you never know, cause strange things did happen back then on production lines and special orders.

69cruizer · 08-04-2006, 01:03 PM

Sent the guy 3 e mails and no response. Gives ya a warm fuzzy about bidding.....

Thumpin455_GTO · 08-04-2006, 02:20 PM

Yeah Jim, I forgot about the spoilers and spats.. A Formy doesnt have them, so its easier to paint it something else.

Thanks for the info on where and when, Gretna is a nice little town.. Waverly still has the "fun" spot by I-80.. least it was there when I drove through in June..lol. If I can get the body fixed this winter, I might bring the 72 down next year for the show.

Any chance it might not be a TA? Could have had the hood and spats added at some point.

Jim Rotella · 08-04-2006, 05:27 PM

Thumpin455 GTO,

You could order a Formula with special paint from the option list in 1972, but the 2V87 in the VIN indicates that this car is a Trans Am.

Jim

indyta1989 · 08-05-2006, 01:27 AM

"The seller ended this listing early because the item is no longer available for sale".

Anyone know what happened? Perhaps someone worked out a deal outside of ebay? Or, something else is up?

Gary

69cruizer · 08-05-2006, 02:26 PM

This is an e mail I got from the guy. Interesting none the less.....

Rob

Hi,

Thanks for your interest in my TransAm; it is no longer for sale as I have decided to restore it myself.

For the record, the body trim plate has ? (space) ? in front of the letters PNT where the paint code is suppose to be; and black is the original paint.

?.. Pontiac made a black TransAm in 1972.

Thanks again,
Gabe

poncho-mike · 08-05-2006, 07:27 PM

I've brought this up before, but there is a black 73 SD455 somewhere in the mid-west. I talked to the guy who owned the car in the early 80s. I believe he said the car had two asterisks in the paint code.

I was told Pontiac wouldn't paint it black, but was willing to ship it to the dealer in primer and allow the dealer to paint it black.

Mike

Jim Rotella · 08-05-2006, 07:42 PM

I've heard of that particular car also. I seem to recall that it was shipped with red wheel flairs and front spoiler. It would be interesting to see the PHS on that car to find out how it was billed out on the invoice.

Jim

poncho-mike · 08-05-2006, 10:16 PM

Here's where the car was discussed before.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...black+73+SD455

Apparently it is real, and someone on the board knows the current owner. It would be interesting to get some photos just to satisfy our curiousity.

I also talked with a guy who claimed he ordered a 71 or 72 Formula with a 455HO 4-spd in orange. Upon receipt, he immediately bought T/A fenders, hood, and shaker and converted it to a T/A.

I saw a photo of it, and it looked like an orange T/A with factory T/A stripes.

Mike

Thumpin455_GTO · 08-06-2006, 12:45 AM

Jim, I'm on dial up so I cant always see whats on ebay. I looked at it once and then said something stupid.. forgive me, memory isnt a strong point as we get older..lol..

The cowl tag on the 72 Formula I have has two dashes in the paint code spot. if his looks similar to this in that spot, then it would have been a special order as well. One question about mine is was it factory applied or dealer applied since it wasnt a GM color available on the Firebird.

Question on value, how much does that affect the value of a certain car? Is a paint code, or lack thereof, enough to call it a one of one and ask a premium for it?

Wonder if it looks like this one does.

Baron Von Zeppelin · 08-06-2006, 12:20 PM

The PHS will usually have asterisks ** in paint code box. The trim tag will have the two dashes _ _ . That's how the few 1970 and later Pontiacs with special order paint have been that I have witnessed. BUT, they weren't TA's.

A special order paint on a 69-73 TA would drive the price upwards very significantly from a collectibility view. Since Formula could be had in a rainbow of color already - I don't think it would have near as big of impact regarding resale on a Formula.

This guy should have opened up more for his audience. We still have no actual proof - someone should send in for the PHS. Could be a very historical TA with an interesting story - if original owner could be found.

Maybe 7 of us could chip in 5 bucks each. Count me in. Checkbook in hand.

69cruizer · 08-08-2006, 12:00 PM

Guys, I think this is the real deal!! He sent me an e mail to check out his web site with pics of the cowl tag, PHS, etc.....

http://1972transam.com/1.html

Rob

keith k · 08-08-2006, 12:16 PM

Wow. That is very cool. Value of this car just went way, way up.

I wonder who had the pull to get that car built like that, as I assume the "average customer" couldn't do it. Build sheet says "Calif Test". Is that related to the paint, or something totally different (emissions, etc.) that would have been on all of the '72s?

indyta1989 · 08-08-2006, 12:34 PM

I agree, that is very cool. That car is very restorable and would be great to see restored back to the original black.

Baron Von Zeppelin · 08-08-2006, 01:38 PM

All I can get to load/view is the homepage with the 1975 photo and a short story. The photo album page was blank on my browser - low speed dial up server.

Can one of you guys post a copy of the documents ? If there is an extra charge for special paint - it was done at the factory. If it just has an unusual paint code on PHS - it was probably delivered in primer. That would be rule of thumb geared towards Joe Public. Then to, there is possibility this Car had an intended purpose from factory in Black. Like a promotional, special event or show car.

Whoever owns the Red 72 TA / SCCA Prez car would love to have had this Black one in their collection too.

A good friend in High School (early 80's) had a Black 70 base Bird with rear spoiler and those same style chrome rims (Cragar S/S's) and narrow front/wide rear. Was the toughest looking Car around. But it looked a LOT better than it ran - stock 350 2bbl/auto.

mmarx · 02:37 PM

BVZ, I can't save the images...hand written note on the bottom of the PHS cover sheet states: "Your Trans Am came from the factory with "Special Paint" (Code #1), Color unknown"

There isn't any special charges, or for that matter, any line item on the PHS for the paint. It just shows code 1 under the color at the top.
Also, car was invoiced to a CA dealer 2/3 weeks after build date (02D).

Hope it gets restored...

HTH,
Mike