Are you a Camaro guy or a Trans Am lover?

I've seen one grafted to a Camaro it was neat

 

Found some old pics and started up the scanner. In the 1970,s Amsterdam Airport had a big new car dealer selling Tax-Free cars . Everthing from little Fiat X-19 to big Mercedes 600 and all the fast Italian cars. You could make your choice from their big catalog without having to pay Euro taxes. . Australia had a government tax-free scheme that if you stayed abroad with the car for 15 months you could import it free but only with proof of use by yourself and no re-entry into Australia in that time frame. So i ordered the Trans-Am with the heavy-duty 4-speed , white upholstery , brownish paint and NO BIRD on the hood. Feb '78 the car was ready for pickup at the Amsterdam Airport. So theres 24 year old me in a new 4-speed Trans-Am and it had just snowed.
First time i had driven in snow and it was 70KM to my temporary residence. My temporary residence was a genuine castle where a distant family member of my parents was the maintanance man and gardner. Anyhow, in those 15 months i had met my future wife and renewed the Trans-Am registration for Tax-Free cars in Switzerland. That was a full night drive to get to the capital of Bern.
Finally the Trans-Am went with the roll-on roll-off ship to Melbourne . Almost forgot to mention i had a second car in Europe ( used hot little Ford Escort ) to keep the Trans-Am miles to a minimum and to save all the fuel bills as proof of use for Aussie Customs. That all worked out. So i sold the Trans-Am to a guy in South Australia for real good money and headed back to my new bride in Europe. My info at the time ( June '79 ) from a local GM dealer was that i still had the only 4-speed Trans-Am in Australia.

 

My dad remembers in the hight of the muscle era salesman selling a couple early Z-28s to old widowed women.

The widows wanted a car that was small and liked the look of the Camaro because it looked sporty, not realizing they were basically buying a detuned race car for the street!

The came back often complaining the engines were loud, they road rough etc… and the engines were loaded right up because they only drive in town short distances, never got up to temperature and shut off.

 

Forgot to mention for Switzerland Tax-Free registration the dealer had to instal two extra indicator lights in the front fenders. Heres a pic of the hot little Ford Escort as well. btw, for the roll-on roll-off ship i was advised by the dealer to remove the fibreglass lower spoiler and put it in the trunk. So heres me in Australia fixing it in place again. You can also see the red/white Swiss indicator light . Also forgot to mention the Tax-Free registrations were not the same as usual European registrations so you could,nt really sell the car locally and make your big profit on the spot in Europe..

 

Nice color fun adventure
!

 

SS clone I had 327 powerglide. It was sitting since '97 and it had keystones classics on it. I got it for 5 grand drove it for 4 months and flipped for 15 to buy my '49 chevy cabover.

 

Speaking of these cars...a coworker just showed me pics yesterday of his 79 Formula that he ordered and bought new in 79. He is wanting to sell the car and seemed to be fishing for value since he knows I mess with this stuff. Looked like a very nice t-top car with new paint and interior if anyone is looking. I think he said it had about 80k miles on it. The only downside is that it is a 301, so not like it is a 400 4 speed car or anything...

 

To each his own but how could anyone keep the car they ordered new for 45 years then sell it?

The only way I could ever sell a car I built or one I bought new and owned for any length of time. I would have too much sentimental attachment, the only way I could did it would be to help out a family member during an emergency.

 

I have often thought taking a good 79 and putting on a 70 formula front clip would be a fun car. I don’t see myself doing it right now but that’s a bolt on deal.

 

Understood but I guess we did the same with the 78 TA 400 4-speed WS6 that my mom ordered new, me and my brother grew up in, I bought from my folks while in college and had for 10 years, sold to my younger brother and then ultimately sold out of the family. My folks didn’t want it and my brother and I are both into older stuff. So, we let it go…just a few years before the price went through the roof on those cars.

 

But, it was also sold to a guy I work with and we have first option to get it back if he ever decides to sell…

 

I had a butternut 70 formula (headrests, 1st Gen T/As and PMDs) and a blue 74 formula with funky flames on the snorkels. Loved both Ponchos. As I recall, they were both quite gutless.

 

How about some art?

A tribute piece I did for Restore a Muscle Car in Lincoln, NE.

 

Another commissioned by a good guy named Joe, near Des Moines...
a fairly rare 1974 Formula GT

 

At a local show last night.

 

Guess….

 

^^^74 T/A? My 74 Formula had that same color interior.

 

At Cars and Coffee in Lexington, KY this morning. Nice car.

 

Also at C&C in Lexington

 

I had one just like it. Called it "the red dragon"...even though it is orange. Pontiac used Hugger Orange and called that color Carnival Red. Same color mix.

 

This one needs white "hockey sticks and black/white houndstooth. I am a sucker for tuxedo 1st Gens

 

The white car had houndstooth, beautiful interior.

 

Never a fan of yellow or orange houndstooth, but the black/white or white/black...money shot. It just wreaks that cool 60's vibe. The "flower power" mopar vinyl tops? Meh.

 

What if I'm more of a firebird formula guy? Lol. Seriously though I've had a few of both in second and third generations. 79 trans am(was a $400 junker I ended up abandoning at Walmart in 2001), 79 z28 with a 383/4-speed, 80 berlinetta with a 400/4-speed I left on the side of the highway near lone jack Missouri after I threw a rod racing, 84 base Camaro, and an 89 tta.

 

Can Am????.....

 

I love the Mod-Top MoPars.

 

I saw this drawing today I thought it looked kind of neat. I don’t know what artist to give the credit.

 

In 1980 I was seven years old, so..........when I wasn't playing with Hot Wheels I was playing with Star Wars toys.

 

To keep it all relative, I should’ve said: what were you driving right out of high school?

I had gone to work in a furniture factory, and the first thing I did to demonstrate my success was to borrow money for that three year old Z28 Camaro. First of many upside down financial decisions, But man was I cool…..

 

79 TA