[SD455DJ]

BVZ, I sold the SD TA back in 2013, something I shouldn't have done. Here's a pic of it in 1990 after I bought it. I swapped on the JW 15x7 Rally II's for the original Honeycombs with bald tires.

Dennis

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Dennis , since it's long gone now , what did you have to pay to become the owner in 1990 ?
I'm guessing 30-35 , maybe.

That's close to same time I bought mine in 89
Super nice Automatic AC cars were trading for 20-25

Sold mine 2009 , on here.

[Held for Ransom]

Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin

PHS does that.
The registry is a tracking device , per se'.

So when a guy claims in 2025 a car is an all original survivor with 18k miles , the 1991 data point gives a perspective to reflect on.
I think the reported data points were a good idea.
And he has 149 clocked of the 252 .

Just like if in 20 years someone tries to claim my former car is a one owner survivor with low mileage, people can reference my data point in 2006 and see that it was already on its second owner with 80k miles.

Keep up the good work John

PHS does not show the no charge upgrades on the Trans Am. It would have been nice to see a slot for KNOWN former owners (a count, not names), instead of in the notes. Current owner could be on file only seen by admin. And, if it's still around or met some demise. But, it's not for me to say as I don't run the registry.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Number of known owners could be a thing .
Mine is still with 3rd owner if he wants to go that route.

My only real suggestion would be to put the notes slot last , and make it a bigger box to be more encouraging.
Maybe name it "noteworthy additional details"
Something along that line.

I like the notes that some have provided on some of the cars.
Amazed that he has so many of them.
Great piece of work

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

John if you have any desire to web host the WW5 roll call into a Registry you have my complete graces.
Take it and run with it if you want another project.
It's pretty much run it's course on PY

You might get more new entries.
Your site gets traffic from every facet of Pontiac fans.

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin

Dennis , since it's long gone now , what did you have to pay to become the owner in 1990 ?
I'm guessing 30-35 , maybe.

That's close to same time I bought mine in 89
Super nice Automatic AC cars were trading for 20-25

Sold mine 2009 , on here.

12.5 in 1989

Dennis

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

JawDrop ! @ 12.5

Mine was 5.5 , but that wasn't a normal activity really at all.
Had a standing offer of 18.5 the following week.

In latter part of 1999 offered it to a few guys for 25k
Nobody wanted to spend because of Y2K hysteria in certain circles.

[SD455DJ]

I thought I overpaid, but I knew what the car was, so didn't dicker. The then owner needed quick cash for finishing a house he was building. I later bought NOS SD455 heads (bare) from him for $600. I still have those. It had 45k miles and only 49k when I sold it after owing it for 24 years. I never did anything to it other than maintenance. Drove it to the TA Nats a few times and that racked up the most miles.

Dennis

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

No that was way under market.
About 90 or 91 a friend paid around 12 for a solid project red 4spd.
It was drivable but needed a full cosmetic and mechanical resto.
He did a frame off on it right away.
When it was done he was turning down offers of 50.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Couple pictures from topic car.
I have to do some comparison sampling and try to find some ultra early built 74 SD EUN samples.
I'm thinking this might be an early 74 block ,,,, or a recreation.

[Held for Ransom]

Todd, question.
When did the hardboard headliner get intoduced? Why does it look like he has the headliner/bows installed? Didn't want to ask on the auction.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

I'm not up on that factoid on the headliner .
But pretty sure I have seen it discussed on here before.
My 73 Norwood SD was 05C build week , and was hardboard headliner.
This car is 06B , and I agree it looks like bow-style.

Towards the 18,000 miles topic , interior-wise ,
The metal dash has been resprayed - forward of dashpad.
VIN plate has high film thickness , and some fisheyes in the paint around that area.

The plastic headliner trim on pass side w/s pillar and roof line both show chip/flaking with black underneath.
Both lower door panels have the same tell-tell in the recess pockets that clearance the seatbelts.
Those trims should have all been white molded plastic.
They have been replaced with better black pieces and dyed white.
I wouldn't expect that on a low miler that would have had to been kept out of elements.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

I see a lot of evidence the car has been apart and restored.
Already mentioned some things.

Door to hinge bolts show some excessive wrench chipping.

The paint in the rain gutter by the trunklid hinge area is all too nice and appears too have been recoated.
Trunk mat is not an original.
Front spoiler and valance have been sprayed , along with all flares and their welting.
Those all would have been molded color , except maybe not the chin spoiler.

Rear leaf springs and and all front / rear suspension pieces have been resprayed.

Axle casting date is June 12 on 06B body.
That is a mighty tight date ,,, seems too tight.

All in all , the older resto in Registry notes are seeming accurate.
Axle date might fall into swap zone , and 3.42 is indicated on Registry versus original 3.08

Nothing wrong with a nice car being restored .

[Held for Ransom]

I'm fine with the rear date. You probably can't see the PHS well, but even though the body was made 06B, the ship date was 06-26-73. The rear on my Formula 07C body car is G173 cast, 201 (July 20th) assembled and shipped 07-25-73.
I will say that the body tag screws on mine have phillips as well as hex head. One of the reasons I haven't been commenting on this car. To myself, I wanted to argue rebody vs. restore...

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

I couldn't pull a date from the invoice.
Just mentioned it was the superior document , in post on auction about axle and invoice.

Have seen Phillips and non-phillips on some examples.
But Phillips seems to be the leader in 73

[Held for Ransom]

And Todd, compare this EUN vs. the current auction one...
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...c-firebird-20/
Front of the EUN needs scraping.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Just another normal example of 73 SD EUN
I really don't like the 5 digit EUN on the auction car. At all.


If I were buying this car , there would have to be a contract provision to see the background of EUN and VIN on block wiped to bare cast iron with lacquer thinner. JMO

[Held for Ransom]

Looks like Steve S. (member sd455hota) has owned the car, twice. Maybe reach out to him and ask the hard questions. I'm still arguing with myself...

How hard is it to get date codes off the wheels when you've pulled them to take pictures of the calipers and components?

[Held for Ransom]

Tood, this thread should ease your thoughts on the engine...
https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...hlight=1112205

[eaglesan13]

Upper ball joints on the BaT car should have rivets but these have bolts, indicating they have been changed.