[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by bossbirdta

i wonder who's tray were buying? when we order one form one of the repop parts suppliers..........

You have to ASK/specify.....

Our host now sells Legendary........just ordered a headliner (ribbed) for the 71....cost was about 35% more than comparable PUI......but color sample looked really good....

[unruhjonny]

there are two ways of seeing that stuff;
1) buy period sales literature: they normally show the "upgrades" from lesser models, and show at least some of hte options.
2) buy period 'details' book or 'options book';
I have found both GM/Pontiac printed versions, as well as some printed privately for sales staff - which ever version they show options available, and costs...

There is also a guy on ebay who sells (for way too much IMHO) original order sheets for our cars - but those have very little actual info on them;
They required the ordering dealer to fill in the options codes/costs that they would have from their details books.

The third option is to buy the 'Firebird Red book', there are some errors in it, but it does spell out most of the options available to these cars...

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

You have to ASK/specify.....

Our host now sells Legendary........just ordered a headliner (ribbed) for the 71....cost was about 35% more than comparable PUI......but color sample looked really good....

This is good to know...

I just looked in my (dowloaded to iphone) PDF of the lateast Firebird catalog;
I didn't see any referance to the supplier;
I would hope that if they decide to keep the lower end stuff, that they would clearly list the PUI from the Legendary stuff.

[bossbirdta]

here is a shot of the Original Window Sticker on the 71 i recently found....kind of gives an idea as to what was standard equipment vs. what was an option.....

[bird72]

Originally Posted by bossbirdta

here is a shot of the Original Window Sticker on the 71 i recently found....kind of gives an idea as to what was standard equipment vs. what was an option.....

Ya man, exactly! The interesting thing is the base Esprit came with all the shiney stuff and premium interior, and MANUAL BRAKES AND STEERING!

The other thing interesting is the base bird in 71 did not come with the nose bird emblem or the trunk bird emblem (from support data came with PHS), while the Esprit did.

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by bird72

...The other thing interesting is the base bird in 71 did not come with the nose bird emblem or the trunk bird emblem (from support data came with PHS), while the Esprit did.

You are correct on the bumper bird, but incorrect on the trunk bird;
The trunk bird was installed on ALL 1970-1981 Firebirds which did not leave the factory with a spoiler, the early cars are not an exception to this rule.

The bumper bird was 1970 & 1971 exclusive, and only used on the Esprit & Formulas;
So for those first two years the bumpers were for base & Trans Am. OR Esprit & Formula

The reproductions of both front and rear emblems do look nice enough, but from my limited experience the colour does not stay, and the lucite(?) hazes/fades exponentially quicker than the OEM/GM-SR parts.

[2manyT/A'S]

The first run of repro nose bird emblems faded horribly fast......even with NO uv exposure.....I believe that has been improved on considerably in the later OER items....

I think the first run of repro's were mostly rejected by OER due to qualty/fade issues and found their way out into the market through small time less reputable internet venders....

That's where I bought mine....it faded within 3 weeks and was replaced with another one that matched the 35 year old one in color loss within a month...

[bird72]

Here Tis



So. any way to know if this was a dealer lot or customer order car from this? Hard to imagine for me this not being a customer ordered car.

[tabob]

Just compared your PHS doc to the PHS doc of one of the best optioned 72 Trans Ams I am aware of. It has 19 extra cost options and the suggested retail was $5966.71

Of course the TA had a bunch of standard performance parts, the Esprit a bunch of standard appearance parts and there is a one year difference in cost increase.

The base price of that 72 TA (per the window sticker) was $4386 without the destination charge.

[bossbirdta]

that is one nicely optiond car. i presume the Cordova Top was in White?.. being its a V.N. built Bird,have you had any luck finding a build sheet??

[bird72]

Originally Posted by bossbirdta

that is one nicely optiond car. i presume the Cordova Top was in White?.. being its a V.N. built Bird,have you had any luck finding a build sheet??

yes it was white top. To bad I would have to add the rivet head deals and repaint or I would be tempted to add top back on, along with sourcing the top trim for bottom edge. (Sold a set years ago, darn).

Re the build sheet, where should I look?

[bossbirdta]

Originally Posted by bird72

Re the build sheet, where should I look?

V.N. cars are known to have one of them stuck on top of the gas tank. you might be luck and maybe see a cornor of it sticking out on the drivers side...

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by bird72

yes it was white top. To bad I would have to add the rivet head deals and repaint or I would be tempted to add top back on, along with sourcing the top trim for bottom edge. (Sold a set years ago, darn).

Re the build sheet, where should I look?

As I understand they were never officially put in or on the car, they were often stashed somewhere along the line by an assembly worker.

I have also understood that the following are common places for them to be stashed:

• on top of trunk
• in seat bottoms
• in seat backs
• behind rear armrests

I think I have heard of them being stashed under the carpet too...

[2manyT/A'S]

On a Van Nuys build.........especially one that lived in California.....you stand a REALLY GOOD chance of finding a semi-legible one on top of the gas tank...

[johnta1]

any way to know if this was a dealer lot or customer order car from this?

One can tell if it is a zone car or dealer ordered.

The Identification Number towards the bottom has some prefixes that tell it.

Yours is strange though.
First one I have seen with an '8' in the 3rd position.
Possibly a mistype?
(should be a 'B' probably)

It would have a 'Z' if zone ordered.
(not by dealer)

Yours is PL8278819 with the 3rd '8' not being noted before.

[1969 Ram Air]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

On a Van Nuys build.........especially one that lived in California.....you stand a REALLY GOOD chance of finding a semi-legible one on top of the gas tank...

How about Norwood built cars? Could it be on top of the tank?

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by 1969 Ram Air

How about Norwood built cars? Could it be on top of the tank?

Personally,I've never found one on top of the tank on an early Norwod build...

I'd say if it wasn't behind the back seat....you're not going to find it....

Early Norwood build sheets are VERY elusive....

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

Personally,I've never found one on top of the tank on an early Norwod build...

I'd say if it wasn't behind the back seat....you're not going to find it....

Early Norwood build sheets are VERY elusive....

Ditto!

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Originally Posted by bird72

Interesting to me was suggested retail price of $5159.93. Wasn't that in TA territory? What are some retail costs of you guys 71 TA's?

Base Retail Price on 71 TA was 4557.00
Seen many non-ac cars that stayed under 5 grand.

For grins ... 2 of the 71 Judge Convertibles i have invoices for -
were cheaper than your Espirit.

Your car has appreciated probably close to 300 % - if in excellent condition

The JVerts have went up about 5,000 - 6,000 %
That is a wild perspective.

Another perspective is Matt would not have sold you a JVert for the price you bought the Espirit ... so its just one way of looking at it.

Very very sharp color combo on your car.
The Vinyl Top clips do not have to have studs - can use stainless steel screws or nylon screws. I have a complete set of the moldings in excellent condition if you decided you wanted to pop a top back on it.

Your invoice prefix P = Dealer or Customer Order
Buildsheet would specify "xxx Customer Order xxx" if it were civilian ordered.
And it probably was.
Can't view photobucket pics to see it - but the 8 , that John mentions , is always an Alpha Digit. Probably is or should be a "B" . "B" would = Dealer had Private Bank Financing backing his payment to PMD.