A Couple More Pics Of My Old Cars

[roadking77]

I was cleaning out my truck to prepare for sale, and found some pics in the console of all places of a couple of my cars I had in the past. I knew I had pics of my Benz and have been keeping an eye out for them for years and lo and behold they come up in the truck!  Also is a pic of my '82 Firebird taken in 1984 right after I was in a minor accident. I skidded on a wet road and rear ended a car at about 5mph.
2021-09-17_05-20-58 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
2021-09-17_05-20-48 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr2021-09-17_05-20-35 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

[76455sd]

Nice looking Benz.  I believe those are worth big bucks these days.  Ouch on the ‘82 back in 8484 at least they could get parts to fix it.  Likely be totaled if it happened now despite being a minor accident.  Trying to find good parts would be a beatch. Lol

[5th T/A]

That’s a good looking Benz, so is the 82 FB minus the nose job. Bet you wouldn’t mind having either of them back today.

[Jack]

That Benz is nice but what's up with the front bumper? not sure if it's just the pic or that bumper is oversized for the USA market.

[roadking77]

Yea, I would like to have the 'bird back just because, and Id like to have the MB back so I could sell it again and enjoy an early retirement!!

Jack, the bumpers arent too bad, I was trying to avoid the glare of the overhead light and the angle of the camera gives it kinda of a funny look.

I actually traded the firebird for the Mercedes. The guy wanted 7k for it and realistically the Firebird was probably worth not quite that much at the time. I had the mercedes for a couple of years then sold it at auction for 12k. So I suppose I may have made a bit of a profit. Those cars sell for 100k easily now.

[firebirdparts]

That MB would be quite a conversation piece at the cruise in.

[5th T/A]

I love old pictures and thought more people would be contributing to this thread. As my name "5th T/A" implies I have owned five T/A's in my life. Here are a few pictures that were posted last year but since have been lost. These are of my first a 73 Trans Am purchased new early in 1973. Unfortunately the camera used was a Kodak instamatic and the quality leaves something to be desired. These were taken in the parking lot of Fel-Pro gasket in Skokie, Illinois.


TA at Felpro 2 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr


TA at Felpro by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr



This last photo was taken at the same time. I lost the color print, printed it in black & white so it came out grainy. My friend in his 66 GTO, lining up against me.

TA at Felpro3 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

[Jack]

Two of my favorite cars and years together, nice thanks for sharing.

[pancho400cid]

Great pics guys....

Love That Mercedes!

Also, awesome burnout pics!  Extra credit for the Fel-Pro factory backdrop.

[tajoe]

OK then, old pics it is.
Speaking of 73s, here's my 1st 73 T/A, (bought in 76) that I had to sell when leaving the AF in 81. The car was loaded with every option, 'cept SD, and TH400. (I bought it cause of the Muncie). All the regulars, plus 8 track, drip rails, rear seat console, rear defroster, A/C (Yuk), power windows, door locks, hood chicken....and a few others I'm sure to be forgetting. I miss it. 
(apologize for the Polaroids)

[5th T/A]

Tajoe, thanks for posting, hopefully it will inspire others to do the same.

Your Polaroid looks way better than my instamatic pics. My 73 was pretty basic, came with hood bird, AC, console, tinted windows, AM/FM stereo and white stripe radial tires. I added power windows myself, purchasing all the pieces from Pontiac parts department. Wished I still had it.

[tajoe]

I like your pic with your 73, against the 66. Really cool effects, W/O even trying.

[Jack]

Joe, I'm somewhat confused, I thought you still had the 73? or did you get another after selling in 81?

[tajoe]

Joe, I'm somewhat confused, I thought you still had the 73? or did you get another after selling in 81?

Yes, Jack. the one you know I brought back from Allen Tex....back in 86. To fill in where my 1st one left off. Unfortunately, this one isn't anywhere near as nice as my1st one. I'll be posting more about it soon.

[5th T/A]

Not much happening on this thread. I like it so hopefully by me posting again others might want to post as well. Much of this was posted before but lost in the TAC system crash.

I purchased my 75 trans Am new, ordered it from the dealer and checked off almost all the available options. At the time I was working in a transmission shop. After about a year I decided to go back to school and got a degree in computer technology. I still owed a lot of money on my TA, only working part time I couldn't afford to keep it. I sold it to my younger sister. Between several bad accidents and rust from harsh Chicago winters it did not age well. By 1980 my sister needed a new car, I bought back my old 75 TA for $1000.00.

Here is the car as purchased in 1980.

75TA, 4, summer 1980 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

I had a friend of mine who owned a body shop replace both rear quarter panels and wheel houses. Before I was done I ended up replacing one door, one front fender, the hood, core support, both front inner fenders and the trunk lid. All parts except the door were purchased new from Pontiac. At the time I was good friends with parts manager at my local Pontiac dealer. He sold me parts at his cost.

I sand blasted the entire floor pan an primed.

75TA, 5, rear under body by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

75TA, 7,  rear under body primed by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

I pretty much pulled the car completely apart except for removing the dash. The bolts that attach the subframe were so badly rusted they were only about 3/8' in diameter.

75TA, 9, subframe and motor out by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

I added four wheel disk brakes, purchasing a rear differential from a 1980 TA Indy Pace car some one set on fire. I got the complete differential with disk brakes, like new. I also purchased the WS6 steering gearbox from the same car.

75TA, 11,  new inner fenders and core support by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

I painted it myself using acrylic lacquer. My buddy who owned a body shop helped me install a new winshield.

75TA, 14, buffed by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

Here is the car pretty much complete. This photo has the original hood, it was kind of warped. I purchased a new hood, painted it and put the bird decal on. You could even though the car was six years old you could still purchase the decals from Pontiac.

75TA, 15, almost finished by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

Here it is complete, unfortunately this picture is faded.

75TA, 17, finished by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

75TA, 16,  finished, back0001 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

The entire project took a little over a year. Once complete it was like driving a new car. Everything was tight and rattle free.

Photo_2022-04-07_150756 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

[tajoe]

Good thread to bring back to life. I see you've got RA manifolds on your car. What motor is in it now?

[NOT A TA]

Old pics? Ya I can play this game!

My 66 Mustang to the right, left one was the neighbor who lived across the street, clown van was my brothers, and Monza was my dads.

[5th T/A]

TAJoe,

Sadly I sold the car in 1983, I wish I still owned it. Back in 1980/1981 when I began rebuilding it still had the original low compression 400, rated at I think 180 HP. During the restoration I added Ram Air III heads, Ram Air exhaust manifolds with a complete factory dual exhaust system for a 1970 TA. I also installed a Pontiac 068 cam, changed the axel ratio from a 2:56 to a 3.08, also installed a shift kit. When finished the performance was pretty decent, but I never took it to the strip for any times.

My current ride is pictured in my avatar, a 1980 TA. I purchased it two years ago with 6600 original miles, great condition and always stored indoors. It came with the 150 HP 301. I purchased and installed a Butler Performance 461 in that car. It is the same color combination as my 1975 was.

[tajoe]

What did you do with the 301?

[5th T/A]

I still have the 301 sitting on an engine stand in my garage.

[tajoe]

Saving the "original" engine, for potential future resale?

[5th T/A]

I haven’t really thought much about it. I could always say I have the original engine for someone wanting to put the car back to stock. But I don’t see myself selling this car ever and who would want to remove a 490 HP 461 and install a 150 HP 301? The engine runs great and has only 6600 original miles on it. Maybe someone with a late second Gen Firebird with a worn out 301 might be interested.

[FormTA]

If you were close, I would be interested in the engine for my Formula. But I hear you, I pulled the 301 out of my TA and went LS. No going back, ever. My TA 301 was really, really tired. I beat on I all through high school, even more when I put a stick in it. That's why it's no good for my Formula.  Maybe an LS is in the future for it too.

Beautiful car BTW!

[nUcLeArEnVoY]

5th T/A, interesting to see that despite all that rust on the sheet metal, it looks like the underside and frame rails were still pretty intact on that '75! Turned out beautiful when it was done.

I'm only 34 years old, but coincidentally my first car was also a Trans Am, though it was a mess. I was on this forum at the time when I bought it in 2008. Was a '78 SE clone but without t-tops (my preference).


After I sold that Trans Am, I bought a 2011 Camaro SS new. Had it for 9 years, and it looked sweet by the time I was done modifying it. You could eat off the undercarriage.

[5th T/A]

Nuclearenvoy,

Great pictures of your 78 SE and 2011 SS, very good-looking cars.

So, do you still own the 79 TA W72/WS6? A friend of mine bought one new, I always thought the black and solver went together well.

[nUcLeArEnVoY]

Nuclearenvoy,

Great pictures of your 78 SE and 2011 SS, very good-looking cars.

So, do you still own the 79 TA W72/WS6? A friend of mine bought one new, I always thought the black and solver went together well.

Yep! I've had it since May of 2020 when their prices were low due to COVID-19. I'm glad I got it before the big 2021 spike.

Took it out for a 2 hour drive just last night to let an application of seafoam circulate around the crankcase to prepare for an oil change in a couple days.

Big difference from the 1978 I had... amazing difference it makes when you actually go to LOOK and INSPECT a car before you buy, 

[5th T/A]

I purchased my 1980 in February of 2020. For what I thought was a fair price considering condition of the car. I am blown away by current pricing and glad I bought when I did. I was shopping for almost two years. I agree you have to really scrutinize these cars when you look at them.