[Held for Ransom]

I love the cake theme. Adriatic Blue icing over Lucerne Blue and Cameo White caking.

[165th]

Originally Posted by Held for Ransom

I love the cake theme. Adriatic Blue icing over Lucerne Blue and Cameo White caking.

Thanks HFR, we did have fun with bakery that made the cake and the crew there at MMR.

Just a clarification in case the cake goes in the shark tank, the Adriatic blue icing is over medium blue and ivory caking which represents the One of One blue/ivory interior the car was born with

[PB]

The progress looks great Greg! Nice touch with the cake too. Bet the crew liked it! I can't wait till my car gets on that side of the shop!

[4birds]

Wow! That color looks fantastic. Happy Birthday Adrian! Steve- you and your team do amazing work. Greg I'm sure you are very excited about now..... Its getting closer and closer. I'm droolin'....

[Held for Ransom]

Originally Posted by 165th

Just a clarification in case the cake goes in the shark tank, the Adriatic blue icing is over medium blue and ivory caking which represents the One of One blue/ivory interior the car was born with

Wow, I didn't realize there were two ways to look at it.
PS, loving the cars look.

[keith k]

Originally Posted by 165th

Just a clarification in case the cake goes in the shark tank, the Adriatic blue icing is over medium blue and ivory caking which represents the One of One blue/ivory interior the car was born with

The cake is great! (and so is the car, of course)

My wife actually had a cake made to a look like a Lucerne Blue T/A for our wedding many years ago. Maybe we should start a cake thread

[cuz68]

I enjoyed reading the story on this car, It looks great good luck at the show.

[The Boss]

Fantastic car!

[Judge273]

Greg, Did you ever post the build sheet?

[165th]

OK, it's been a while since there's been an update, and there is some fun news to report coming up... but before that, I've got to post some 'new' pictures of Adrian.

These pics are circa 1987. I have a funny feeling these are the 'hiding in plain sight' pictures of Adrian, half buried in the dirt at a car shop on the side of hwy US-69 two miles outside of Emory TX, that many PY members here remember seeing her, not knowing she was a One of One Adriatic Blue custom white/blue interior 4spd TA.

In fact, I think at least one member is going to throw up a little in his mouth... again... when he sees this photo, because she's probably sitting exactly as she was when he pulled a trailer to come by and purchase her, but when she wouldn't start, and he questioned the code 24 paint and the blue/white interior that wasn't normal for a TA.... he passed . Back then... who knew?

Thanks to Alan Pound at A&R Classics restorations in Emory TX for sharing these photos. I have to say, discovering the history and back story of Adrian has been equally, if not more fun and satisfying as the restoration itself.

[CAM400455]

WOW! Cool pics!

[transam1972]

very nice!!..when I got my car in 85 it was silver...and I never took a photo only videotape of all things..and all the tapes are corrupted..actually its just as well because I hated it silver...but I do wish I had one back in the day, oh well...165TH I was wondering if you still needed a set of mint plain steel valve covers for an H.O.?...I also have a set of repop upper rear sail trim panels if you like..please PM me your address and I will ship it out to you..it will do my soul good..just LMK..THANKS!!!

[165th]

Originally Posted by transam1972

very nice!!..when I got my car in 85 it was silver...and I never took a photo only videotape of all things..and all the tapes are corrupted..actually its just as well because I hated it silver...but I do wish I had one back in the day, oh well...165TH I was wondering if you still needed a set of mint plain steel valve covers for an H.O.?...I also have a set of repop upper rear sail trim panels if you like..please PM me your address and I will ship it out to you..it will do my soul good..just LMK..THANKS!!!

Hi Glenn, that's very nice of you to offer. Thank you, but the steel valve covers I needed were for my other TA, the Lucy blue White interior YE automatic column shift 'Sister' to Adrian, and I did source a nice set of valve covers for her a couple months ago.

[roundportponchos]

nice pics, wo3w, 87, seems like a lifetime ago... I was starting 2nd yr of college..... no bills, no responsibilities..... jst going to junk yards, hunting TA parts,,, for a 71 HO TA, I just got....

Originally Posted by 165th

OK, it's been a while since there's been an update, and there is some fun news to report coming up... but before that, I've got to post some 'new' pictures of Adrian.

These pics are circa 1987. I have a funny feeling these are the 'hiding in plain sight' pictures of Adrian, half buried in the dirt at a car shop on the side of hwy US-69 two miles outside of Emory TX, that many PY members here remember seeing her, not knowing she was a One of One Adriatic Blue custom white/blue interior 4spd TA.

In fact, I think at least one member is going to throw up a little in his mouth... again... when he sees this photo, because she's probably sitting exactly as she was when he pulled a trailer to come by and purchase her, but when she wouldn't start, and he questioned the code 24 paint and the blue/white interior that wasn't normal for a TA.... he passed . Back then... who knew?

Thanks to Alan Pound at A&R Classics restorations in Emory TX for sharing these photos. I have to say, discovering the history and back story of Adrian has been equally, if not more fun and satisfying as the restoration itself.

[transam1972]

165TH..I was checking out your photos...that 8 track set up is quite interesting..obviously because of the quite rare column shift,,,in a way its very cool with all the carpet and without a console..yet an 8 track was ordered!!!..I just noticed that...definitely an interesting option choice..makes you wonder if the original owner planned it or the salesman not fully aware of the options and explaining them to the customer?...165TH what is your opinion please?..do you think this was totally planned?the fact that PONTIAC had the special 8 track mounting brackets shows you something..but I believe that by 1973 things were in place so that in the TRANS AM this could never happen..thoughts!?

[The Boss]

I love the hiding in plain sight comment! Did I miss it here someplace? Who passed on the 1 of 1 car?

[165th]

Originally Posted by The Boss

I love the hiding in plain sight comment! Did I miss it here someplace? Who passed on the 1 of 1 car?

Originally posted on this thread in post 63 and worth refreshing here with these new 1987 pictures. Thank's go to Alan Pound of A&R Classic Restorations in Emory TX for providing these pics.

Originally Posted by Jim Robertson

What a crazy sequence of events (coincidences) the last 24 hours have been related to this very unique car.

I was speaking with Greg yesterday about his projects here in Abilene and he revealed he had purchased "Adrian." He was telling me the story and mentioned the paint code 24 and that the car was invoiced to Friendly Pontiac GMC in Temple Tx. I remembered a blue 72 TA i had come across while traveling on vacation many years ago. Then my wheels started turning and I thought the name Friendly Pontiac was vaguely familiar. Then i began to recall the car i had found was invoiced to Friendly Pontiac. So I told the story to Greg and he was convinced it was the same car. Thinking no way did I come across a one of one TA so many years ago, I hauled a** home and dug up my copy of the invoice I received from Pontiac Customer Assistance Center...and yes it was the same car.

At this point I threw up a little bit in my mouth... :-)

Who would have thought back in 1986 that the very first 72 Trans Am I was in a position to buy was so unique. I was traveling to Holly Lake in East Texas to do some fishing and as we were passing through the little town of Emory Tx I noticed what looked like a 70-72 TA sitting in a fenced yard at a body shop. We did not stop on the way but on the way back through (on a Sunday) we stopped and I had a closer look through the fence. Most of TA parts I could see (hood, rear spoiler, rear flares, and frt fenders) were there except the shaker. The stripe was on it and so it looked legit so I took the name of the body shop and we proceeded back to Abilene. I contacted body shop soon after and owner was helpful but was trying to buy it himself so he did not immediately give over the owner's name. After a few weeks of bugging him I had the VIN and owner's name. I contacted Pontiac through their Customer Assistance Center 800 number and a Mr. CA Curry sent me a copy of the invoice attached to an undated form letter.

At that point in time the PHS we know of now did not exist and all you received was a copy of car's invoice if they had it...for free I might add. Now that was customer service.

Of course i had no idea about the car's rarity or what the SCO code meant so it went unnoticed really until my conversation with Greg yesterday. Being a blue 72 4 speed with air was my dream machine so i wanted it. Long story but many back and forths with owner (nearly daily I might add) I was on my way to get my first early TA. A friend and i arrive to find no one there so we waited for what seemed like two hours and finally a young man early 20s hot rods up in a nearly new convertible Mustang GT. For the first time I was able to see up close the true condition and parts inventory. His description was lacking on many fronts...At this point the car was about 14 years old and immediately i see rust around both front and rear windows. I thought to myself was this car from the coast or from the rust belt? My heart was sinking a bit from the rust and now the shaker is missing along with air cleaner and carb...Dang!!! Luckily those were laying in the trunk; carb was rusted but probably savable. Then we noticed a dent here and there and the front seats were laying beside the car. Since I was looking for more of a driver I focused on the engine and what may be damaged there. The only thing between the elements and the inside of the intake manifold was a piece of weather deteriorated duct tape. So I thought about why were the spark plugs laying around and questioned how bad was the engine rusted/seized. Yes the numbers matching pieces were there, thankfully at the time I knew to look for those things. So we try to start it and battery is dead...so we jump it and starter would make a noise but not turn engine over. By then i was dying...my dream machine was not looking too good. Bumped, bruised, rusted and locked up...All I could see was dollar signs to repair/fix the many issues. So after much pondering that afternoon I decided it was too far gone for me and I came back home.

That was one that got away...

Now through Greg's and Steve's efforts hopefully I will somehow be reconnected to my long lost dream machine.

Sorry for the long post but I felt compelled to share this on a fine Father's Day afternoon.

Still kinda taste a little throw up in my mouth...

Jim

[72projectbird]

That must of been quite the sight back in the day. Roaming the streets wearing Adriatic blue with chrome Cragars complete with large white letter tires!

Way cool pictures!

[apound]

I'm also kicking myself for not buying this car. I had the chance in 1987 to buy it for $5800.00 but thought that was too much money. (where is a time machine when you need one)? I had known about this car since at least 1974 so I knew it was a real Trans Am. Doubt there were many clones during that era. I knew it was rare being a 72 but what I didn't know was that it was a one of one car. I went to school with W.C. so I knew the car well. What always struck me as odd was the front of the car sat too high and I don't remember it ever having a front spoiler. The front end body repairs had to have been done when the car was almost new.
Really happy to see the car is being restored to a high level. Maybe now it will get to enjoy the good life after all the abuse it took when it was new.

[tabob]

Wow! Great pictures. They are in my Adrian file.

Alan, welcome to the forum!