[frank.g]

Originally Posted by Jim Rotella

sd455hota,

Do you still have the original wheel flairs and front plastic valance? We've been trying to find out if these special paint Trans Ams came with painted or molded plastic parts. We've established that Larry Leist's black '73 SD Trans Am was delivered in primer with red molded wheel flairs, but since your car was actually painted code 24 adriatic blue from the factory, might they have painted the flairs to match.

Jim

This car showed up at the Trans Am Nationals many years ago, perhaps around 1990. Like you stated, it had red wheel flairs. The other red parts were the engine heat vents in the front fenders. At that time, the judges for the Nats did not know how to class the car. They concluded that it belonged in a non-stock class. The owner was not happy and left the show, leaving behind a hugh smokey burn out that we all know the SD's are easily capable of.

[165th]

Originally Posted by Jim Rotella View Post
sd455hota,

Do you still have the original wheel flairs and front plastic valance? We've been trying to find out if these special paint Trans Ams came with painted or molded plastic parts. We've established that Larry Leist's black '73 SD Trans Am was delivered in primer with red molded wheel flairs, but since your car was actually painted code 24 adriatic blue from the factory, might they have painted the flairs to match.

Jim

Originally Posted by frank.g

This car showed up at the Trans Am Nationals many years ago, perhaps around 1990. Like you stated, it had red wheel flairs. The other red parts were the engine heat vents in the front fenders. At that time, the judges for the Nats did not know how to class the car. They concluded that it belonged in a non-stock class. The owner was not happy and left the show, leaving behind a hugh smokey burn out that we all know the SD's are easily capable of.

I can provide some information on both of these questions/comments.

Jim Rotella, I don't think any of the plastic parts survived prior to the start of the restoration. The fender extractors and the drivers rear spoiler end survived in their original painted Adriatic Blue which helped in the color match.

frank.g that's an interesting story on the black Superduty. It's too bad the TA Nat's didn't allow the car in as stock. There is proof the Buccaneer Red parts were specifically ordered, probably to be red to match the Oxblood interior. The car was also specially ordered with the decals to be delivered loose, hence the ominous un-badged shaker.

I've seen a lot of 455's badged as SD-455 but I'd bet this is the only SD shaker out there that is un-badged!

This car lives in Texas these days

[Judge273]

Cool stuff Greg!

More on the 73 SD in primer:

http://www.hotrod.com/cars/featured/...#__federated=1

Mentions the TA Nats but not the outcome like franks says...

[The Boss]

Originally Posted by Judge273

Cool stuff Greg!

More on the 73 SD in primer:

http://www.hotrod.com/cars/featured/...#__federated=1

Mentions the TA Nats but not the outcome like franks says...

THAT'S a VERY cool story & car!

[Racer81x]

Originally Posted by frank.g

This car showed up at the Trans Am Nationals many years ago, perhaps around 1990. Like you stated, it had red wheel flairs. The other red parts were the engine heat vents in the front fenders. At that time, the judges for the Nats did not know how to class the car. They concluded that it belonged in a non-stock class. The owner was not happy and left the show, leaving behind a hugh smokey burn out that we all know the SD's are easily capable of.

He has never gone back to the TA Nats, and never will.

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by Racer81x

He has never gone back to the TA Nats, and never will.

Good for him! That's how I would have done it.

[frank.g]

Originally Posted by 72projectbird

Good for him! That's how I would have done it.

Except for the fact that some of the greatest Firebird enthusiasts that I know, I met at the Nats.

[Jim Rotella]

sd455hota,

Never even thought about the fact that base Birds, Esprits, and Formulas all were available in Adriatic Blue and that it wouldn't take a special valance for a T/A painted that color.

On the trim rings, all factory literature states that they were standard on Trans Ams in '72, but I suppose the owner could have told the dealer not to install them prior to delivery. The trim rings and center caps were usually shipped in the trunk and then installed by the dealer. I've seen pictures of an original low mileage '73 SD Trans Am without trim rings on untouched Rally II's and I assumed that's what that owner did.

Jim

[W72-Bandit]

I'm afraid I'm not much help. The car was in the north Houston area. The owner had rescued it from a field in central Tx. It had the typical Tx. rust but was complete. It was in mid-resto. at the time. The owner had some problems with the resto shop and had brought the car home. As I recall it was PHS documented. Whats the status of the car now?

[sd455hota]

Originally Posted by W72-Bandit

I'm afraid I'm not much help. The car was in the north Houston area. The owner had rescued it from a field in central Tx. It had the typical Tx. rust but was complete. It was in mid-resto. at the time. The owner had some problems with the resto shop and had brought the car home. As I recall it was PHS documented. Whats the status of the car now?

It's definatly the same car. The guy I got it from said it was in a field when he bought it.

You probably saw it with the original 'blue/white interior'. Still don't know what to do about that. PHS and trim tag shows white int which came with black trim only in 72. But this car had blue trim (dash, carpet, console, etc) not black. I have all the original pieces that came out of it. Dash panel down into the cowl is painted blue. No doubt in my mind it was original. I have no way to prove it though. No documentation from PHS on this. I have a portion of the build sheet that actually has a handwritten note that says : "Int trim blue not black-white stays". Some of the boxes in the top half that cover int trim such as console, carpet, etc, have the code for the black piece crossed out and the code for the proper blue piece handwritten in. I know the skeptics will have a fit over that saying anyone could have done it. It's getting a frame off now. I'll probably go back with black interior trim to match PHS etc. I would hate to enter it in the POCI or TA nats and be placed in a modified class just because the interior trim color was supposedly not available.

Anyway, if you think of any other history on it let me know. Hope to have it at the POCI nats in OK next year. If your up that way stop and introduce yourself. Thanks

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by sd455hota

It's definatly the same car. The guy I got it from said it was in a field when he bought it.

You probably saw it with the original 'blue/white interior'. Still don't know what to do about that. PHS and trim tag shows white int which came with black trim only in 72. But this car had blue trim (dash, carpet, console, etc) not black. I have all the original pieces that came out of it. Dash panel down into the cowl is painted blue. No doubt in my mind it was original. I have no way to prove it though. No documentation from PHS on this. I have a portion of the build sheet that actually has a handwritten note that says : "Int trim blue not black-white stays". Some of the boxes in the top half that cover int trim such as console, carpet, etc, have the code for the black piece crossed out and the code for the proper blue piece handwritten in. I know the skeptics will have a fit over that saying anyone could have done it. It's getting a frame off now. I'll probably go back with black interior trim to match PHS etc. I would hate to enter it in the POCI or TA nats and be placed in a modified class just because the interior trim color was supposedly not available.

Anyway, if you think of any other history on it let me know. Hope to have it at the POCI nats in OK next year. If your up that way stop and introduce yourself. Thanks

Sounds like another Bill Mitchell kinda deal to me. Def a brass hat / exec / show car. Cool story and great history. You need to give Tom DeMauro a shout when it's done for an HPP feature article.

Hmmmm - I wonder - when was the car invoiced? I'll wager long after the cowl tag date!

[rtanner]

Originally Posted by sd455hota

It's definatly the same car. The guy I got it from said it was in a field when he bought it.

You probably saw it with the original 'blue/white interior'. Still don't know what to do about that. PHS and trim tag shows white int which came with black trim only in 72. But this car had blue trim (dash, carpet, console, etc) not black. I have all the original pieces that came out of it. Dash panel down into the cowl is painted blue. No doubt in my mind it was original. I have no way to prove it though. No documentation from PHS on this. I have a portion of the build sheet that actually has a handwritten note that says : "Int trim blue not black-white stays". Some of the boxes in the top half that cover int trim such as console, carpet, etc, have the code for the black piece crossed out and the code for the proper blue piece handwritten in. I know the skeptics will have a fit over that saying anyone could have done it. It's getting a frame off now. I'll probably go back with black interior trim to match PHS etc. I would hate to enter it in the POCI or TA nats and be placed in a modified class just because the interior trim color was supposedly not available.

Anyway, if you think of any other history on it let me know. Hope to have it at the POCI nats in OK next year. If your up that way stop and introduce yourself. Thanks

you put that car interior back blue and white mister!!!!

[165th]

Originally Posted by rtanner

you put that car interior back blue and white mister!!!!

Teasers....







This is a NOS dash pad. Steve has been working hard to get the '72 Blue dye just right. Now we just need to find someone brave enough to punch two holes in the pad for the deluxe equipped grab handle.

The carpet was a perfect match too from an original swatch.

[weranc55]

Looks great. Who's seat covers did you use? Btw thanks for the decals.

[TA455HO]

Originally Posted by 165th

Teasers....

Is that one of the strikers? </smile>
.

[W72-Bandit]

I'd be tempted to go with the blue/white interior. Especially with the handwriting on the build sheet. Certainly a rare car! I'll be at POCI next year, hope to see it!

[toomanybirds]

Quote:
I'll probably go back with black interior trim to match PHS etc. I would hate to enter it in the POCI or TA nats and be placed in a modified class just because the interior trim color was supposedly not available.


I would never make a decision based on what a club or judge might do or say. Just do what makes YOU happy, blue, black or whatever. Like a song writer once wrote: "You can't please everyone, so you've gotta please yourself."

I think the unique color combination and the documentation adds to the value of your car. I would appreciate it for what it is, not what someone thinks it should be. Just my opinion.

[tdavidl]

"You can't please everyone, so you've gotta please yourself."

ricky nelson, right ?

[keith k]

Sounds to me like you have enough evidence to support doing the interior in blue/white, which would be very cool. I would restore it that way if you're confident it's correct. After all, Adriatic blue wasn't supposed to be available on a T/A, either.

Definitely wouldn't change it because of the way it might be classed at the TA Nats or POCI. Fine organizations, but not worthy of your altering the car from the way it was originally built-

[2blue71TAs]

Go with the blue.
You've got the proof
plus it will make it so unique.

My two cents