[2manyT/A'S]

This one is pretty darn SQUEAKY!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...213966578&rd=1

Other than the radio,wheels/tires, it looks "unmolested'.

I'm guessing this one is a "poser" WS6 & W72. Wheels are obviously refinished replacements & the A/C compressor is doing a pretty good job of hiding the P/S valve cover. I don't see any foam on the fuel line.

It's also likely had a waterpump replacement (the factory ones never lasted much longer than the warranty)

I'm surprised it's only bid to 15K.

Sounds like he wants 25K,which I think is a GOOD DEAL,if car is ACTUALLY as nice as it appears to be.

[RandyW]

The bodyside moldings look wrong.

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by RandyW

The bodyside moldings look wrong.

I agree!
ANY bodyside moldings on 2nd gen Birds looks BAD/WRONG.
Those are likely a dealer install.

[OhMyGoat]

The numbers on the odometer appear to be uneven. That would be expected if it had just turned 20,000. Usually the numbers would even out in about 20 miles past the flip. I alway thought that uneven numbers was an indication of tampering.

[Y81all]

It's definitely NOT a W72. Has the L78 air cleaner base, no foam fuel line insulator. Nice looking car though.

[Skip Fix]

Body side molding looks EXACTLY like what my 78 came with from the factory.

[W72-Bandit]

If its not a W72 then it should not have the shaker callouts. That makes me wonder about the paint being original.

[RandyW]

Originally Posted by Skip Fix

Body side molding looks EXACTLY like what my 78 came with from the factory.

I hope your's were straighter than those!
My '79 had factory side moldings and they were finished better and were below the body crease not above it.

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by W72-Bandit

If its not a W72 then it should not have the shaker callouts. That makes me wonder about the paint being original.

Don't forget that 78 L78 (non-w72's) came with NAKED shakers & it was pretty common in the old days to add the T/A 6.6 decals to the shaker.

My first clue on this one was that the shaker decals look slightly out of position.(non factory installed?)

[blk78ta]

I own a couple '78 TA's now and both have body side molding from the factory. The moldings on the car in the ebay add appear original. Also, in '78 I bought a TA without the W72 (I was told the factory wasn't making anymore W72 with automatic when I ordered mine) option. The dealer said I could just buy the T/A 6.6 decals and add them myself, giving it the appearance of a W72. I'm guessing that is the case here too.

[2manyT/A'S]

Went back & had another good look at those moldings and I think that even though they MAY look like OEM moldings,they really DO look kind of FRESH.
They are are just a bit TOO NEW looking for being 30 years old.
That chrome vinyl edge tends to fade with age regardless of UV exposure.

I'll bet they were recently installed by the seller to hide some minor door dings/fender scrapes in the body line.

Would be nice if we could see the build sheet.
That would tell the story.

You might want to scroll down to the bottom of the auction pics & read the LAST (top) question & answer that was posted.

I near "bust a nut" laughing over that one.

The seller OBVIOUSLY has a sense of humor!

[autobahn]

Also it looks like the E brake rubber is not on properly(bottom right)

[blk78ta]

I will take another look at the body moldings on my TA's. Mine are very low mileage cars and I thought my moldings looked pretty good with no fading.

I know for a fact that my roof drip moldings faded on each of my TA's. Even though the cars have been stored, they are faded yellow.

I also noticed the E brake rubber pad corner not properly on and the answer to the question left from the bidder... That was worth a good laugh!

[stuta]

One thing for sure, you don't see those "hush" panels still under the dash anymore!

[68ragtop]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

I agree!
ANY bodyside moldings on 2nd gen Birds looks BAD/WRONG.
Those are likely a dealer install.

I don't mind the look of them, but prefer none at all. I went to pull off the original ones off my 79, only to find they where rivited on. The silver centers were oxidized, so I ended up putting on aftermarket moulding to hide the holes that were drilled in.

68RT

[2manyT/A'S]

I parted out a 73 Esprit a number of years ago & the body side moldings were installed with clips on studs (the same style studs that hold the window molding clips,rocker triim & belt reveal moldings on)

They were ALSO an aluminum extrusion with a push in vinyl rub strip.

I figure the MAJORITY of these bodyside moldings were DEALER & NOT factory installed.

My 78 came with metal,NOT plastic roofdrip moldings.
I've seen them either way.
I wonder what determined which ones went on a given car?

[JBanna]

Boy, you guys are tough!!