[JOHNNYGOAT]

I bought these fenders for my 70 formula. They were sold to me as 70-73 stock fenders. Can someone tell me what year they are from by looking at these pictures. I'm wondering why one is wider then the other in this area.

[Mr. G]

Not by looking at those pictures. If you could lay them out where we can actually see what they look like then maybe. I do know that there are dates on the firebird fenders located on the upper inside edge along where the side of the hood would be when closed. That is how to tell exactly what year they are.

[JOHNNYGOAT]

Here's some more pictures but the area I'm talking about I circle. Why does this area look wider and holes seem to be in a different area.

[JOHNNYGOAT]

More pictures

[JOHNNYGOAT]

And what would these holes be for they are only on the one fender.

[Stan65]

Johnnygoat,

If the front area you asked about is a different shape fender to fender, it is bent. In the picture below the circled area in yellow, the fender brace is raised. This was a 1973 change so your fenders if they both have this raised area are off of a 73. They will fit 70 to 73 but only correct for 73.

This is if the front valance brackets are original to the fenders. If they’ve been added on then hard to tell what year originally they were.

[johnta1]

I think they are probably 73 possibly 74 fenders?
Still need better pics of the fender top. Is the mounting area for hood hinges have threaded holes or just a hole?


Were they supposed to be original or aftermarket?

[Held for Ransom]

Look for stampings and report findings...

[JOHNNYGOAT]

Both fenders have a hump where the braces would go
Hood hinge holes are just square holes. New pictures seem to say one is a 72 and a 73 if I am correct. Still can't figure out what those other 2 holes are for on the 72

[Held for Ransom]

I'm not seeing the square holes for either hood hinge side. Holes in the side of the PS fender are not used for anything I know of. And with the strike late in '72 model year build, it may have been used on a '73. Other is a late for '73 (July 23 '73) and may have been used on an early '74.

[Norwood]

The humps for the supports to the core support and the valance brackets point to 73 fenders. The hood hinge nuts say factory installed not parts dept replacements. I don’t believe anyone has been able to ID what those two holes are for. IMHO

[JOHNNYGOAT]

Sorry guys square holes are mounting spots. And as Norwood says hood hinge holes are nuts on back side. If they are both 73 fenders why is the end profile where bumper attaches different see first and second post.

[Held for Ransom]

I know I must type in circles, but I think I stated the '73 dated one was a little late and was probably used on a '74. Picture of a '74 brace.

[Mr. G]

Just looked at my '73 Formula which also has a '72 dated fender on the passenger side and a '73 dated fender on driver's side. The two holes in the passenger side fender are for an A/C component and there are also two holes in the inner fender just below the ones in the fender which are associated with the same A/C component. Looks to be a canister of some sort but not sure exactly what it is but someone on here with an A/C car probably can enlighten us,

[JOHNNYGOAT]

Sorry Ransom that makes sense one is a 73 and other a 74. Thanks

[Held for Ransom]

Originally Posted by Mr. G

Just looked at my '73 Formula which also has a '72 dated fender on the passenger side and a '73 dated fender on driver's side. The two holes in the passenger side fender are for an A/C component and there are also two holes in the inner fender just below the ones in the fender which are associated with the same A/C component. Looks to be a canister of some sort but not sure exactly what it is but someone on here with an A/C car probably can enlighten us,

I believe the muffler bolts to the inner fenderwell, not the fender.

[unruhjonny]

it would be great if someone here had the ability to post each different (front lip) fender configuration.

IIRC starting for MY-1974, the holes on the upper/forward edge changed for attaching to that years' front end;
The 70-73 front bumper didn'tt directly attach to the tops of the fenders, but the 1974+ ones did.
The bracket for the lower valance was just a part of the equation - but I don't believe that the lower valance bracket is sufficient to ID by it's self... especially since they can be swapped.

I believe it goes something like this:
first type: 1970-1973
second type: 1974-1975
third: 1976 (one year?; I believe the header panel attached the same, but the lower bumper cover also bolted along the fender lip, which was new for that year)
fourth: 1977-1978 (maybe it used the same configuration as 1976??)
fifth: 1979-1981 (but maybe the same as 1977/1978)