[1stgenbird]

Originally Posted by x-bird2

So i take it the invoices are for the hood tach and rear spoiler? does it have the wheel spats with dealer invoices?

very curious because my sd had wheel spats on it when the previous owner (deceased) got it. from what i can tell, he got it from the original owner whom i have been unable to find a name for. I talked to the son of the owner of the dealership where it was sold, and he refused to let me ask his dad if he remembered anything about it. I figure out of all the Pontiacs that went through over the years, the lone SD sold there would be something the man might remember, even if he is/was in his early 80s now. Always wondered whether the first owner had the dealer add them when he saw how it looked with the shaker and spoiler and nothing else. Of course I sold the wheel spats ....

According to the info he provides, the factory installed the flares and spoiler, not the dealer.

[fbody_mike]

Ok....Which one of you guys was it? Who was driving a 77 or so Black TA down the 91 and 710 freeways (So-Cal) yesterday. I know it had to be one of you guys because it was a good looking TA, all stock except the rear spoiler had been removed . You could still see where the mounting holes were, but they had been patched with either filler silicone. And from the paint outline on the bird, it was obvious that the rear spoiler had recently been removed. So fess up, who was it?

[bird72]

There was a company in the 70's that made "whale tail" spoilers for TA's. I remember seeing a gold 78 special TA at a gas station in Arizona in the late 70's, with one of them big critters on it....

But I've NEVER seen a spoilerless TA?!?.....

[SD73]

I remember those whale tails. I hated them. The last thing I ever wanted is for a T/A to be imitating a Porsche.

[Will]

Something to consider: The Formula hood was originally slated to be the TA hood. If that plan had gone through, A '70 TA would have looked like the attached pic.

When my dad bought his '72 Formula he didn't want the Formula hood either, but the dealer couldn't order one without it and either didn't offer him the option of replacing it with a regular hood or he decided against the dealer-installed route for some reason. Dad wanted the 4-bbl 400 and bigger swaybars of the Formula but wasn't a fan of the hood scoops.

I won't be adding a spoiler to my '72, it's going to stay close in appearance to how it came from the factory. I'm removing the rub strips from the center of the doors/fenders and the chrome moldings from the wheelwells because I really feel they detract from the car's lines, but otherwise the body is remaining stock.

If I keep my '73, it's going to become a TA lookalike. Not because I think the TA is the be-all/end-all of Firebirds but because the TA hood gives me the best intake options for a high performance engine. Originally I wanted to do it up like the car in the attached pic except in black but you can't fit anything taller than a stock intake under the Formula hood.

[cliffhanger]

that blue car with the formy hood and ta spoiler is the look I want to go
however, i'm having serious questions on the ground clearance

have experienced that the bird in original stance without a lower valance spoiler already can come very close to the ground, probably because of it's 'long' overhang

not to steal the topic here, but can anybody tell me the comfort of driving with a t/a spoiler on standard stance, meaning, is every little speed bump killer or is it actually
more doable then it looks like?

[bird72]

Well, I have decided to go back to non spoiler on the F400...... for a few reasons.... it is a low option car with a column shift and no spoiler is more in "character" with the car. The other reasons are I do like the look without and it is the less common and something to be one out from the crowd. I also like the throwback to the original stripped down look.

Anyone has a NICE zero rust undrilled deck lid I would be interested. What should I ask for correct early spoiler if I sell?

[cliffhanger]

i've bought one 3 years ago for 120 euro's here in the NL's, i'd say you could easily ask about 200 USD by now.....perhaps even more, but i dont know

[keith k]

Originally Posted by cliffhanger

i've bought one 3 years ago for 120 euro's here in the NL's, i'd say you could easily ask about 200 USD by now.....perhaps even more, but i dont know

200 US Dimes for a spoiler? Yes... I'd say that's about right.

[giles]

Originally Posted by fbirdinconcord

If I had a 70 with proof of dealer installation it would be a no brainer, it should be there. But as much as I think the Formulas look more balanced from the side with the rear spoiler I could never drill a hole to install one. But, if I bought a car with one I certainly would enjoy it until resto time.

I have to disagree with the "dealer installed" comment. Dealers can install literally anything, but that gives it little legitimacy in my book (saw a new Cadillac STS the other day with a "dealer installed" convertible top - definitely not the look or buyer demographic that Cadillac intended)

But I am with Fbirdinconcord on the second part - wouldn't install a spoiler but would not remove one either - I think they look good either way.

[1973Formula]

Had to post this pic:


Maybe the extended rear wheel flares help, but I think that looks awesome without the spoiler.....

[bird72]

Cool shot, Titus car. You can see the spoiler holes. Track rule that race, no spolier? It obviously was removed.

I just recieved my no hole trunk lid I bought. Things are looking up!

[x-bird2]

curious what race that's from. first of the 1970 season? no fender extractors, no spoiler, no hood scoop from what i can tell and the front wheel openings look pretty crudely clearanced.

[1973Formula]

The label on the pic said Laguna Seca. Not sure which race or season, but that is probably the track.

Here is another pic labeled Laguna Seca that shows the front.


Pretty cool that it has the nose bird and stripe down the hood.

[unruhjonny]

yeah, I don't come here too often anymore...

I am glad you made the decision that you did, but I hadn't come here to really sway you...

that being said, here is a shot that your site never had;

(others are on my cardomain pages linked below)

BTW, the '74 is missing hte exhaust tips, but is a legit low owner '74-W66-L78-M40 CA car.

[65madgoat]

On the no spoiler Formula deck lid, when you install a spoiler what happens to the Firebird emblem and I assume holes there? Do they get covered up by the spoiler?

[unruhjonny]

nice franken-thread!

Yes, the spoiler will cover up the holes from the trunk bird.

If you are going this route, I suggest you goop something to close the holes off... just incase.

[formula kid]

Originally ordered my 74 Formula as an SD455 car with spoiler. Was Pissed that it would come with the Trans Am hood, wanted the Ram air option. I was told could not be done.

[importsmasher]

I was going to put a rear spoiler on my 73 Formula. I had a correct early spoiler for it. In the end, I decided against it. Now, I wouldn't have it any other way. The uncluttered lines are beautiful, and the no spoiler look goes well with the dog dishes. Just a no-nonsense look. I love it!

[nas t eh]

Originally Posted by formula kid

Originally ordered my 74 Formula as an SD455 car with spoiler. Was Pissed that it would come with the Trans Am hood, wanted the Ram air option. I was told could not be done.

I totally understand.

I was a little too young in 73/74 but If I was a little older and in the position to order a SD formula, I would have wanted the formula hood bad enough that I would have tried hard to arrange the dealer supply the ram air hood painted to match the car and either had them install it or would have done it myself if they would not do it. Day two I would have likely installed the front lower spoiler and wheel spoilers as well.

I’m not sure I would have been smart enough to keep the parts to return it to stock, but probably