[68ragtop]

Has there ever been a graph or chart created of the production of a model year within the calendar year? Or is that data not out there? I am guessing that the first 6-8 months is when maybe 75% of the cars are built, or is it more than that? Do the car manufacturers have a busier time of the year with production, or is it pretty much non stop? Seems like you don't see as many cars built late in the year. Guessing its different today, but how was it in the late 70's?

[Skip Fix]

Originally Posted by johnta1

So your TA is not a SE TA?

Just a regular TA?

If the question is for me-no not an SE. It was my first new car purchase getting out of college(bank in town gave a 6 month deferred payment loan if you had a letter showing a job) and cut costs that I could. Just got an AM radio to add my own cassette but still have antenna and wiring harness, no Bird-didn't like them anyway and about a $100 option. Did get A/C and an auto as I was tired of being stuck in Texas traffic with a stick and no A/C like my previous cars. "Plain" interior not the custom. Still has the original interior and only about 76K miles on it! Granted the past 20 years most either an autocross course or 1/4 mile at a time.

[Rocky Rotella]

Originally Posted by 68ragtop

Has there ever been a graph or chart created of the production of a model year within the calendar year? Or is that data not out there? I am guessing that the first 6-8 months is when maybe 75% of the cars are built, or is it more than that? Do the car manufacturers have a busier time of the year with production, or is it pretty much non stop? Seems like you don't see as many cars built late in the year. Guessing its different today, but how was it in the late 70's?

I don't believe I have monthly production totals for the 1978 or 1979 model years, but I will look tonight.

What I do know is that in recent months (even after the book came out) I have come by a VIN some 3000 units higher than the Norwood car being reported on the internet as the last W72 produced. I also have found a relatively late Z-code VIN for a car built at Van Nuys.

What that tells us is that despite what we originally thought, it appears that W72 production continued much later into the 1979 model year than believed before. And because Pontiac shut off the order bank, it wasn't because they were out of engines at that point, it was that enough orders had been accepted to consume the stockpiled quantity of engines for what remained of the 1979 model year production schedule. From this we can have an understanding that the W72 engine was allocated throughout the year to maintain CAFE compliance.

[Skip Fix]

Rocky didn't most of the W72s have late '77 or early 78 casting numbers even for the '79 models?

[Rocky Rotella]

Skip, yes, that's correct.

The last 400 blocks were cast in November 1977.

The 6X4s were as late as April 1978, and possibly later.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 68ragtop

Has there ever been a graph or chart created of the production of a model year within the calendar year? Or is that data not out there? I am guessing that the first 6-8 months is when maybe 75% of the cars are built, or is it more than that? Do the car manufacturers have a busier time of the year with production, or is it pretty much non stop? Seems like you don't see as many cars built late in the year. Guessing its different today, but how was it in the late 70's?

It's pretty much non stop. There is a bit of a ramp up during new model launch, and a bit of a ramp down at the end of the model year, but other than that it is wide open throttle once you hit your stride.

This is, of course, dependent on the popularity of the model and assumes no work stoppage for market corrections, part shortages, union strikes, etc.

K

[Skip Fix]

I have an X7 motor I picked up (to have a motor like I ordered) and I'll check dates on it. I want to think the 6X-4 heads were not matching each other.

[68ragtop]

Skip, I know the block in my April built 1978 (X7) is late october 77, The intake & heads where within 2-3 weeks of each other In March? of 1978. I have the exact dates jotted down somewhere.....

[68ragtop]

The one thing that is still baffling to me is my W72 Y88 was built in April, but Not invoiced for several months. Somebody here thought maybe it was a GM executives car but I have never been able to figure it out. I know it was invoiced to Koons pontiac in VA.
I wish I could find somebody at that dealer that could look into it. I called years ago & I was blown off like vacuum cleaner salesman.... I Probably just didn't talk to the right person.

[Skip Fix]

So looked up the date codes on the X7 block J197, one head F077 the other A208 so not sure if a matched pair or one got swapped.