[abefromen]

My sales literature says no wheel opening trim available for '81 T/A's and Formys but my '81 may say otherwise.

My car has the optional chrome molding at the back of the hood, fender tops, door belt molding and even the lower edge of the T-tops but nothing on the wheel openings.

Today upon closer inspection I noticed holes for screws for wheel opening trim so it appears it may have had the trim and someone took it off at some point.

It's an original paint car with all it's original sheet metal.

Could this have been dealer installed? Or was it indeed available from factory, but rare?

Here are two pics of another '81 Formy with them. Did I just answer my own question with these pics?

[gtohurstjudge]

Only the Esprit model had wheel well molding trim. I've never seen a 79- 81 Formula
or Trans Am that had them back when they were new.

[FrankieT/A]

No T/A can have wheel opening moldings because of flares.

[TAKerry]

I would guess dealer or aftermarket. My cousin bought a brand new trans am in 1981 and had the mouldings installed around the door edge. I would suspect originally the dealer could have put them on, or an outside vendor. The local body shop had a 'trim' guy that would make his rounds once a week and do pinstriping, decals, wheel trim, etc. I dropped my 82 firebird off for a decal job. Looked factory but was not available on a base model firebird. I am sure somewhere down the line one of the people that eventually owned that car had the same thoughts.