[Norwood]

Pete, I said all along BLACK KNOB

[eaglesan13]

Me too, my car has the black knob AND deluxe interior. As far as I'm concerned, the matter has been settled.

How are the repo black knobs coming?

[ddmrk]

Pete's Knobs are the BOMB

[fbirdinconcord]

That shift knob looks great. Are they available for purchase?

What color black is on the steering wheel? Mine has the typical silver look.

Is it a satin finish?

Thanks,
Richie

[cdoggy81]

DDMRK,
What color blue interior did you order & from who? There seems to be a few different shades of blue & I want to get the correct one for my 70 TA. Thanks

[Jeff R]

Awesome pics Ray. Great thread.

[Flowjoe]

Originally Posted by cnc

...and oh that appears to be a 69 Camaro no vent window in the door glass only 67-68 just like the F-birds.....

Most definitiely a '69...sqaure wheel openings, "eyebrow" coming off front wheel lip exending to door, louvres ("gills") on quarter panel in front of wheel well...'68 does not have a wing window either but has round well wells and no louvres.


Really cool shots of the '70 TA...I love the blue interior and especially like the "custom deleted bird"...not many people knew they could be ordered that way very stealth like

[oldbirds]

I really didn't expect this much interest in my old pictures. I wish I had taken some better ones, but didn't know 30+ years ago that I'd be interested in collecting/restoring early Firebirds. Thanks for all the feedback and interest.

As to the question on the steering wheel. The spokes are a satin black - fairly low gloss. I'm not sure if the original is paint or a metal treatment, but a satin black thinly applied comes out pretty close to the original in my opinion. Other people may have better information that I do.

Here's one more picture for what its worth - not much to be learned from it but then there was more in the first pictures than I thought. This one was taken in fall of 71 while out taking artsy shots of old houses and whatever(my bride from the spring is now pregnant).

If I find any more that seem to add some value I'll post them, but a cursory look through the thousands of old slides and negatives didn't turn up anything so far. I have sorted out a lot of 69/70/71 SCCA Trans Am and Can Am race pictures that are interesting, but I wish I had taken more pictures of the parking lots at those races - they are almost more interesting than the races now.

Ray

[Norwood]

The original 70 FAT wheels had black anodized spokes

[mtnbikeair]

Originally Posted by cnc

Very nice machine I love the look of the Chrome bezels, and oh that appears to be a 69 Camaro no vent window in the door glass only 67-68 just like the F-birds.....

68 Camaros didnt have the vent windows, only 67.

[2manyT/A'S]

I like that picture the BEST out of all of them.
It looks very REAL(because it is)
Slight road grime on the car,dirty white letter tires & undetailed chrome exhaust tips,gadget bag on the roof with your pregnant wife smoking cigarettes in the passenger seat.(I saw the ashtray open on the interior shot,I believe)

A slightly dirty car,actually being used as it was intended to be.

Sacreligeous today,but that's the way it was back then.

Also noticed the lube/oil sticker in the door jamb.

Does your offspring realize (or care) that they were riding around in a 70 1/2 T/A before they were born?

In your slide collection,did you find any shots of the Trans am Series,with Mustangs,Camaros & Firebirds ,etc. racing?

I'm sure there would be an interest for them HERE!

[keith k]

Originally Posted by oldbirds

Here's one more picture for what its worth - not much to be learned from it but then there was more in the first pictures than I thought.

Ray

Ray,
It's a nice reference for original factory tailpipe tip alignment/position

And definitely enjoyable, as 2Many noted, just for the fact that it shows a '70 T/A in the thick of being a real car with real people going about their normal lives...

[roundportponchos]

I checked all my 70 scoops, no holes in mine... I think the replacement scoops had the holes..

Originally Posted by Norwood

2Many, That is interesting. In pic 2 it is plain to see that the door is also punched for the GTO bracket. This I have never seen. HMMMMMM

[roundportponchos]

I have a nos round black knob(I'll post pic later),, & the red insert, which is in all factory pics with deluxe interior...

Originally Posted by PetesPonies

and with all the discussion we have had about the black knobs verses the wrapped leather like knob and red insert....I can't believe no one said anything about that comment that was posted.

[oldbirds]

2manyT/A's,

Glad you liked the pictures. To respond to your questions/comments:

I was the smoker - wouldn't want anyone thinking my wife smoked while pregnant.

The TA was my daily driver, so it went through everything. Believe it or not, especially in these wimpy days of front wheel drive and all season tires, the TA took us through a blizzard in Michigan in the winter of 70/71 that was so bad they closed I75 well south of Boyne (ski resort we were headed for). That was with rear wheel drive and those slippery bias ply tires - went through it with no problem until the state police forced us to get off the highway, altho I was definitely paying attention. My 69 Mustang Mach I (previous car) would not move on a level street if there was a 1/2 inch of snow - I assume it was way too light in the back end.

Oldest son came home from the hospital in the TA, and he's now an automotive engineer. Both sons do appreciate the old man's collector cars. Younger son is the graphics artist that did the graphic I use on messages - the TA with the gray head sticking out.

Ray

[2blue71TAs]

Just have to say thanks Ray.
As Keith mentioned it is indeed refreshing to see and hear
of your car being utilized and enjoyed as a real car.

I feel like digging out my bell bottoms and poppin' in a Cream 8-track.

Would you consider emailing me some of the higher res photos?

Happy to pay for them and your time.

Thanks again!

[68bird400HO]

I have another question on the shaker door. Is just the metal door black or is the whole frame around it black too. I thought it would be just the door but in the first picture of this thread, it sure looks like the frame around the door is black too. Is this how everyone is restoring their cars? Could it be different for the blue shakers vs the white shakers?

[keith k]

Originally Posted by 68bird400HO

I have another question on the shaker door. Is just the metal door black or is the whole frame around it black too. I thought it would be just the door but in the first picture of this thread, it sure looks like the frame around the door is black too. Is this how everyone is restoring their cars? Could it be different for the blue shakers vs the white shakers?

The "frame" appears black in Ray's picture to me, too. That's the way I restored mine, and I'd do it that way even if it wasn't correct -- looks much better.

[firebird1970]

Cool pics Ray and thats also cool because my 70 formula was shipped from the factory the same day as yours on 5-26.

[1qikta]

Originally Posted by oldbirds

Oldest son came home from the hospital in the TA, and he's now an automotive engineer. Both sons do appreciate the old man's collector cars. Younger son is the graphics artist that did the graphic I use on messages - the TA with the gray head sticking out.

Ray

Ray,

I hope your oldest appreciates what he came home in from the hospital. I really cant see it getting any better than that.

Your pics and stories have been fun to see and repeat... keeep digging. Love to see more pics at least.