[unruhjonny]

a metal tail panel in apparently good condition...

It's sure a neat piece, but I wonder how much someone is really willing to pay for it.

eBay link

[Held for Ransom]

I sure did.

[unruhjonny]

I don't think I've ever seen one that nice.

My cousin had one on a parts car many years ago, but didn't think it was worth pulling off to hold on to....

[Norwood]

Very cool part.

[65madgoat]

What was the reason Pontiac then went to plastic?

I think I heard like the first 500 of the 1970 cars built had this panel. Anyone know for sure?


Some may have seen that burnt Firebird in the LA fires that was shown having a metal panel last month.

[unruhjonny]

it was an early production part;
I don’t know if any of the numbers have any substantiation - likely someone made them up.

There are several “early” parts that were pre-production only, or pre-production and early built car parts.

My hunch is that the pot metal pieces were sourced before a contract was made for the resin(?; aka fiberglass) parts were recieved.

[grd777]

Originally Posted by unruhjonny

a metal tail panel in apparently good condition...

It's sure a neat piece, but I wonder how much someone is really willing to pay for it.

eBay link

could it be made out of pot metal

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by grd777

could it be made out of pot metal

that is precisely what the early parts were made of.

[Shiny]

That is a large casting, so probably a significant tooling investment.

Makes me think the change had something to do with manufacturing challenges (cost).. casting defects, bad yields, high finishing costs, or maybe they got broken during assembly, or ????

Doesn't make sense to me they would tool a large casting just to fill in while they finished development an SMC? part... why not just use prototype SMC?

Regardless, cool to see the part and learn about the quick switch. Would love to hear the reasons.

[unruhjonny]

I have no doubt that the cost of the pot metal part was a variable.

But I'm just spit-balling...

I have never read that anyone share anything of substance which would indicate why there was so much early production ect parts that differ from the regular production parts;
EG: early 1970 model year shifter knobs - they ALL differ from the regular production parts;
early 1970 automatic (console shift) = simulated wood knob
production 1970 automatic (console shift) = simulated leather knob
early 1970 manual = simulated leather with red insert
production 1970 manual = oversized black ball

Is it possible that PMD did a broad review of supplier/contracts when J. McDonald replaced J. DeLorean as general manager - the "1970+" cars were the first totally new vehicle built under his leadership, and i have read that he was very keen to save money (I believe this was cited as to why the still born RAV project ended up the way it did - and that he was also behind nearly killing the SD455).

Forget the parts that changed because the final designs were not quite nailed down - just early production parts vs the common production parts;
If the intent was always to make the resin panel, why did anyone tool up and supply PMD with the pot metal parts!?

[Ramairnacho]

what is considered early production? I read that the California plant was only plant to use this part and no Ohio car got one. Not sure if is correct. I have dark saddle interior and shifter auto knob is wood simulated and thought it was part of interior package.

[694.1]

Used part with bondo. No comprende...

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by Ramairnacho

… I read that the California plant was only plant to use this part ...

That sir, is utter garbage.

[Formulabruce]

1. There is an 12c car near me with a metal panel. It's a Norwood car.
2. " pot metal" is Zinc Infused Aluminum. In the 60's and early 70's they had problems getting pot metal molding to produce a product that did Not Need work. Plenty of early formula wheel collars are loaded with bubbles and blems. Cost to make, and repair for paint was way higher than fiberglass on the rear panel.. on the collars. They used textured paint.
Bean counters were all over this car long before it came out. ALL Trans Am's were to be the ONLY Bird to get an Endura nose due to cost. Metal noses were built and test fit. Delorean told them to get costs down . Only way to do that was to make more, so All birds got the Endura Nose.
Lots of early production stuff got the bean counter Axe. Some had already been produced, and got the Axe.. ( 400 trunk emblem) .
This tail panel will probably live it's life on a wall somewhere, otherwise it looks like the rest when painted, and a magnet won't prove a thing..
Value? For a early car, probably 1,000. For a wall, probably 1500..

[JSuchma]

Rarity does not make an item valuable. It's the demand that drives the price! Economics 101.

[unruhjonny]

see that's the difference in perspective;
To me, that's a $50 part, that I would strip down clean up and hang on a wall - and for this guy, wall decorations don't generally exceed $50 in cost.

[JSuchma]

Originally Posted by unruhjonny

see that's the difference in perspective;
To me, that's a $50 part, that I would strip down clean up and hang on a wall - and for this guy, wall decorations don't generally exceed $50 in cost.

Correct.... once painted, you have no idea if it is metal or plastic. As stated by FB, a magnet won't even verify that it is metal. Now, if it were made of steel instead of pot metal, that would increase the value. At least you could prove that it was steel with a magnet.
It's a neat conversation piece.

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by JSuchma

... It's a neat conversation piece.

At best, I agree with this.

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by unruhjonny

see that's the difference in perspective;
To me, that's a $50 part, that I would strip down clean up and hang on a wall - and for this guy, wall decorations don't generally exceed $50 in cost.

Then there is your Dash Bezel collection.... just sayin' with inflation wall hangars have gone up!!$$

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by Formulabruce

Then there is your Dash Bezel collection.... just sayin' with inflation wall hangars have gone up!!$$

you might be the only one who remembers that!
[unless some one stumbles across the post(s?)]

I stick to my original assertion for buy in of wall hangers...

Have I mentioned that I like to collect things?

Speaking of $50-max buy in "wall art";
Last year I grabbed a set of Chev. 327 valve covers - then realized my mistake when looking at buying decals for them;
That same year I also bought a set of very early Chev. small block script/staggered bolt pattern valve covers;
A couple years before that it was a set of center bolt "Corvette" valve covers;
This year it was a set of original paint (with original engine assembly plant sticker 'big block' valve covers);
I am devising a new way of hanging them all up along with a set of mid 1970's painted Pontiac valve covers, and a set of late 70's 'W72' valve covers...

When I get my car back together and on the road, I should have some neat stuff for the garage walls!