[My2nd73Sprint]

I'm fairly sure there were 26,000-some made of the '73 hatchback.

I can check on the Apollo, Nova, & Omega. I forgot I have this big book collecting dust. I'll see if there's a breakdown.

I found one web site that that only listed this:
1973 Ventura 2dr Hatchback ~ 26,335
1974 Ventura 2dr Hatchback ~ 16,694
1974 Buick Apollo 2dr Hatchback ~ 11,644

(I'll check the numbers in the book sometime soon & see if there's a breakdown for the others & if these #'s are right)

Also listed on the web site was this: (but it wasn't specified if these numbers were already included in the 1974 figures above. It is a breakdown of '74 Goat Hatchbacks if anyone is interested).

1974 Pontiac GTO Hatchback 350 4V Manual ~ 687
1974 Pontiac GTO Hatchback 350 4V Auto ~ 1,036

[73sprint]

Thanks for performing this research.
It would be nice to know the numbers on the Nova and the Omega.
What book did you get this info. from. I'm trying to find out ,how may cars were produced in my colour and interior.
I know there is a online site (Pontiac Historical Services). I was thinking of giving them a try.
These numbers you submitted will help.
I'm not sure yet how the supplier will market the weather stripping. He wanted to know how many people I new needed this. I told him about all of the discussions going on through this site.
Hopefully they will get this produced quickly to help everyone out.

[My2nd73Sprint]

1973 & 1974 GM X-Body Hatchback Production Totals


'73 Ventura Hatchback ~ 26,335
'74 Ventura Hatchback ~ 16,694
TOTAL: 43,029

'73 Omega Hatchback ~ 21,433
'74 Omega Hatchback ~ 12,449
TOTAL: 33,882

'73 Apollo Hatchback ~ 9,868
'74 Apollo Hatchback ~ 11,644
TOTAL: 21,512

'73 Nova Hatchback ~ 91,012
'74 Nova Hatchback ~ 80,633
TOTAL: 171,645


Total '73 X-Body Hatchbacks ~ 148,648
Total '74 X-Body Hatchbacks ~ 121,420

Total '73 & '74 X-Body Hatchbacks ~ 270,068

source: Encyclopedia of American Cars

[73sprint]

Does anyone have the production numbers on how many
Sprint Hatchbacks were made for 73
How many trunk model Sprints for 73

[Romar73Ventura]

Just curious who will be producing the hatchback weatherstripping and when will it be available?The pool in my hatchback is getting deep.Thanks

[73sprint]

The company that is producing the seal is working on the tooling.
They should have the seal produced for March. The seal from ames or soft seal will work,but will not give you as good a seal as the original profile. As soon as they send me the first extruded piece. I will make everyone aware when it will be in the market.

[My2nd73Sprint]

Then, what's that stuff by Steele Rubber? I thought you said Steele Rubber rejected your sample? It's listed as: 73 Pontiac Ventura 2dr Hatchback Trunk Weatherstrip - Another quality part from STEELE RUBBER PRODUCTS Item number: 4591492342. Compare the three:

[73sprint]

Sure looks the same doesn't it.Solid weather stripping?You may want to check the length before you purchase it.You require 198" or 16.5 ft. This piece is only 15ft. It states it is for a 73 hatchback, possibly something this guy had in stock originally from steele rubber.
As quoted on this page futher down.I had a responce from Steele rubber stating they were not interested in producing the seal.

Send them an email and let me know what they say...
If they are making it,then great. You have just found your weatherstripping.
I will be waiting for the original profile that fits my car.!!!

This is the message I received back from SteeleRubber.
At this time we are not interested in this part. Thank you
for checking with us and maybe in the future we can help you.

Eddie Lail
New Product Mgr.
www.steelerubber.com and elail@steelerubber.com (personal email address)

Let me know how you make out.

[73sprint]

I had sent you a copy of the responce i received from Steele rubber. It was listed incorrecctly. This is why they pulled the sale!!! They still responded that they will not be making the seal.The manufacturing company that is reproducing the seal is making the exact profife you and I require. I sent the profile and it will be exact. I do not know the price as of yet,but I garentee it will be exact.It has taken me a lot of leg work to get this far with the weather stripping.My car comes home from the builder next week. I had then throw in a new seal for the hatch just to protect the paint. The seal we used is for a 41-47 Pontiac. Once the proper seal arrives I will dispose of the vintage seal.

Once the new Seal is produced I will be sure everyone will know.

[Romar73Ventura]

I tried to purchase the weatherstripping off of E-Bay.Iwas told after i ordered that it would not fit a hatchback.I hope that your contacts will make the weatherstripping we're all looking for. Thanks for all your leg work. Larry

[RDPowell]

Replacement GM Weatherstrip current part number is 20490800 - $44.42 from gmpartsdirect.com. The cross section matches the picture in the Fisher Body Manual as close as I can detect.

The last printing (1983) of "Pontiac Models Through 1975 Chassis and Parts Catalog, publication 20 & 20A" listed the then current hatchback seal number as 3061316. A different number is listed for 1973.

[73sprint]

Just to let all x body hatch back owners know. I just received my sample of hatchback weatherstrip from metro seal. I have been working with the engineer,to reproduce the exact hatchback seal.They sent me the sample for evaluation on my car.My car arrives home monday.Once I try the seal on the hatch I need to send back an evaluation on the seal.They have made the seal identical to the original seal.Then the seal goes into prodcution. I

[73sprint]

If you have the original seal in your car,please have a look at these two photos.Please let me know which way the seal should lay in the channel.
Is photo #1 correct or photo #2
Thanks

[Romar73Ventura]

Photo #2 is correct. Hope they decide to market it. Keep us posted. Thanks Larry

[My2nd73Sprint]

Hatchback Weatherstrip

I found a NOS, new in the box, never installed, mint 1973 hatchback weather strip. Have a little excess left over, and will try & scan & post a pic here of what a cross-section of one looks like before they get squashed by the tailgate.

Also, the stock westherstrip has reinforcements within the weatherstripping seal in the area of the hatchback lid counterbalance arms in order to prevent premature wear & tear in that area as the arms brush up against the weatherstrip. New repros might not have such a feature.

[My2nd73Sprint]

"I found a NOS, new in the box, never installed, mint 1973 hatchback weather strip. Have a little excess left over, and will try & scan & post a pic here of what a cross-section of one looks like before they get squashed by the tailgate.

Also, the stock westherstrip has reinforcements within the weatherstripping seal in the area of the hatchback lid counterbalance arms in order to prevent premature wear & tear in that area as the arms brush up against the weatherstrip. New repros might not have such a feature."

~ posted by me, 07-30-2006 11:53 PM

======================================

Seems like I'm the only one posting on this thread anymore.

Those reinforcements on the NOS hatch seal may not be to protect against rubbing up against the support arms. Possibly they may be there because the area that they are located in dips down a little further and the reinforcements help to keep the wxstrip "higher" in that area to ensure a good seal. Hard to say. I hope whoever has used the new reproduction weatherstrips will let us know how theirs have performed against water if theirs don't have a reinforcement there. Please let us know.

Here's the pic I promised of a cross-section of an actual never installed NOS 1973 hatchback weatherstrip right out of the box. This is for future Non-Nova owners who, like I once did, wonder what the correct hatchback weatherstrip looks like for a 1973 (ONLY a 1973) hatchback X-body.

[73sprint]

Try ebay under nova search.Metro seal is now reproducing the original hatch seal.It fit on my car with now problem and I had the metro seal send a seal to a guy in BC canada for his 74 gto. It fits perfect as well.

[My2nd73Sprint]

No, I already installed a NOS 1973 hatch seal. I was just posting a scan of a cross section that I sliced from the left over material.