[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by Brewster

Isnt is the Chicago Auto Show car that was turn into a 74 front and rear ends along with other mods. Been for sale on and off and really never got allot of interest. Not sure where it ended up but it wasnt long ago it was available once again.
Much better looking in the picture above compared to how it looks now. Just my opinion though liking the euro front end and all.

this was born a 73 SD, was the one you refer to made into a 74?

[RicksGTO]

that is the one that was converted to a '74 and I believe again into a '75 if I remember right. Seems like the metallic in that black got larger each time and eventually made it to bass boat glitter size before they were done with it.

[Held for Ransom]

http://www.1973-76transamconcept.com/history.html

I believe in '09, it was for sale.

[Jim Rotella]

There seems to be some confusion about this black and gold car and the introduction of the hood bird. We saw that very car at the Pontiac Nationals in Spearfish, SD a few years ago and it was in its final 1976 updated condition. It had started out as a "production line" 1973 Trans Am with a '73 VIN. I believe it was originally planned as a red car. Like the article states, it was converted to a '74 model and finally, it was converted into a '76 T/A.

But the decision to moved foward with the Screaming Chicken decal was settled long before the '73 models were produced. John Schinella got approval for the hood decal from James McDonald prior to production of the '73 model year. There were two different '73 Trans Am press cars complete with hood birds at the long lead press day in June of 1972. The articles mentioned that the hood decal was optional. Pictures of those two cars can be found in several automotive new-car editions in October '72.

It's a known fact that William Mitchell disliked the bird decal, but it was approved anyway as an option. The Black and Gold '73 T/A was John Schnella's idea and he wanted Mitchell's approval and hoped to eventually produce a Special Edition car in Mitchell's favorite John Player paint scheme. But remember, this Black and Gold car was a production car and not a prototype. The decision to approve the bird had to have been made long before this car and other production Trans Ams rolled of the regular assembly line.

I'm sure there is more to this story, but until someone on the inside fills us in, we may never know exactly how it all went down.

[Formulabruce]

The original Gold and black '73 IS One bad Ass looking car!! Love to see a clone!
Jim Rotella Above is right on the hood bird as evidenced by the earlier GM design 1972 SD Trans Am seen here, in fact its Mitchell's car!

[Jim Rotella]

Great point Bruce! I forgot all about that GM Design car.......Bill Mitchell's personal car with a screaming chicken on its hood in 1972! Looks like Mitchell must have changed his mind about the bird much earlier than when the '73 Black and Gold car was shown to him.

[Father&Son73T/A]

Originally Posted by Brewster

Isnt is the Chicago Auto Show car that was turn into a 74 front and rear ends along with other mods. Been for sale on and off and really never got allot of interest. Not sure where it ended up but it wasnt long ago it was available once again.
Much better looking in the picture above compared to how it looks now. Just my opinion though liking the euro front end and all.

That's it,would have been worth MUCH more if left as a 73............

[Father&Son73T/A]

Originally Posted by Formulabruce

The original Gold and black '73 IS One bad Ass looking car!! Love to see a clone!
Jim Rotella Above is right on the hood bird as evidenced by the earlier GM design 1972 SD Trans Am seen here, in fact its Mitchell's car!

NOw this car I'd mortgage the house for if not getting divorced for.............

[Norwood]

Nice Plastic Valance.....

[Brewster]

Craig, both 73 SD cars are sporting their original plastic valances.

[Tellyshavilli]

Originally Posted by Formulabruce

The original Gold and black '73 IS One bad Ass looking car!! Love to see a clone!
Jim Rotella Above is right on the hood bird as evidenced by the earlier GM design 1972 SD Trans Am seen here, in fact its Mitchell's car!

thats a
$7 SD , stickers only

[RicksGTO]

another post on the black and gold T/A:
http://www.firebirdgallery.com/74lot1.htm
.

[Formulabruce]

IF I had or get the money I am going to have the 73 version built(cloned, whatever!)
So guys, are the Egg crates GOLD to you? and the sides of the grilles still silver argent?
this car actually has REAL "RGL" tires , yes "raised GOLD Letters"


It is Bad ass, one of the best looking SD's I have ever seen , aside from some green ones LOL

[Jim Rotella]

I agree with Father & Son, I think the car looked best in its original '73 form. Too bad there aren't more quality pictures of the '73 car in order to see more of its finer details. If you look closely at the '73 picture in the link, you'll notice that the rear bumper and tail light bezels were painted black. Due to the steel rear bumper, the rear pinstripe treatment was quite different from the later S.E. models. It even featured gold striping along the bottom of the quarter panels along with gold exhaust extentions. I'll bet that car turned a lot of heads when Mitchell & company drove it around the city streets.

[Brewster]

Love the gold head light bezels and front grills. It even looks like the turn signal retainers are gold along with the window trim moldings. Notice the door jams are gold and those stayed that way thought out the changes of the cars life.
Love that 73 look much better myself too!

[Zyman]

The black and (over) gilded gold(ed) up 1973 version looks putrid to me, kind of like a sick clown car.

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by Zyman

The black and (over) gilded gold(ed) up 1973 version looks putrid to me, kind of like a sick clown car.

the original one had much less, or smaller gold flakes than the final, or so I am told..in the paint.

[FrankieT/A]

Looks like someone "pimped it".

[cnc]

Ok what ya think of this

[The Boss]

Originally Posted by cnc

Ok what ya think of this

Dig it!