Thats the ticket right there Greg. I think your biggest challenge will be choosing the color and to be quite honest that red with Trans Am logo is looking pretty sweet.

That actually looks really good. I'd love to be there when someone tried to tell him it was wrong and he schooled them on the fact that he designed the thing in the first place lol

When a F-body is pro-toured or modified to this extent it won't make a difference... these are one of a kind rolling pieces or art that eclipse the original cars in so many ways that there is no comparison back to orginal.....

Albert,

I respect your vast experience in the T/A market.

Do you believe Greg's build is being done in a much different 'climate' for selling such a heavily invested in one-off Firebird, then when the rarest of the rare, a '69 Trans-Am Convertible, was 'cloned' and PT'd (on this forum and others), and sold for $85K at auction IIRC?

I think its going to come down to 3 things:

How badly 2+ people will want the car
The popularity of the build
Support and build up for the charity

I think it was Charley that said if you want to build a $100K car you'll have to put $300K into it.

i'll add...or have Stielow build it.

Remember this car isn't for bragging rights , recognition or the money. Its for a charity.

[QUOTE=garickman;485400]
The bright blue leather and suede interior looked like they were getting ready to make a porno movie in there.QUOTE]

Lol !!!

Well, I'm drooling over this car. I actually told my wife that I'm considering spending our home downpayment for it as I can always use a 0-down VA loan for that...but even that won't add up to 6 figures...regardless, I'm hoping the very best for you Greg.

Let the purist fuss over 20 shades of underhood black and what brand and ply count of toilet paper was used in the Norwood factory during the 3rd shift on November 23, 1970 so they can put the right number of lint pieces on their lug nuts. We're PT folk, cut it up and build it right!

Thanks for the pics of the DSE parts going in, looks great!

THIS!!!

I love the entire concept of this car and all of the reasons behind why you are doing it. If possible I would like to offer to pay for your dinner and make a donation to your Organization.

As for color - you need to search all of the recent auctions and look to see what these cars have actually sold for and what colors seems to bring the biggest draw. You also need to find an auction house that will wave the buyer & sellers fee's.

I am pretty sure this was the TA that sold at mecum for 170,000 ( please correct me if I am wrong ).

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_de...=SC0513-154176

I am looking at your build and your pretty much building a 150 to 200 thousand collar car. I am hoping that most of the parts are donated or given at a reduced cost if your goal is to get this car into the six figure mark. It kinda seems like a loss.

Okay so since I am long-winded sometime I will try to explain my next thought. Years ago my best friend started a fund raiser for Jane Bowel ( www.ridejanieride.org ) who had cancer. They raffled off a Chevelle that he had built and raised close to $100,000 the first year. Since them they have raised over $500,000 and all of the money has been given back to local family's with children that have cancer. I have been lucky enough to help the last 5 years and it is truly rewarding. This year was really hard because 4 weeks before the fundraiser one of the recipients passed away.

You may want to look at something slightly safer then an auction as it's hit or miss. A raffle is something you can guarantee. Sell 1,000 tickets for $100.00 each or 2,000 for $50.00 each

Wow Greg, not sure how I missed this one? I commend you for your efforts on this build and the dedication to your charity.

This will no doubt be a very cool car and very capable car for sure.

Two things that come to mind. And I know you did ask for my opinion so please take this with just what I seen over the years in our car hobby.

First is I couldn't agree more with Marty on this one. Do a raffle it is way safer and can protect your interest much better? Promote the car on every forum you can get on, now this is where I would get on the phone with Marty?? He has some experience at promoting a build on the internet?? Remember a little mini truck he built?? I had a customer that built a Chevelle for a charity (no where near the level of this build) but they did a raffle and I think they raised over 50k for the charity. It was for batter women to help them get back on their feet.

The second is and I may get flamed on here (:tiptoe: :underchair: :tiptoe:) just kidding guys. But you said you are trying to build a car not to your taste which is very hard todo when building a car. But you are also building the car to a smaller segment of our hobby? You are also building a car with more of a race car feel then a street car feel? Dry sump very cool, oil primer very cool, but very race car? Believe it or not not everyone likes the cars we build, and the street rod segment is still way bigger then ours. And I don't mean 30s, 40s and 50s street rod but our same cars? Maybe street machine would be a better word.

It's hard to put it all in to words on a forum but I think you can get an idea of what I'm trying to say?

Not in anyway am I trying to say that this car wouldn't be very bad azz, but you will appeal to more poetical buyers or ticket buyers if it was maybe toned down some from the PT crowd and built more for the man stream hot rodders?? Just my thoughts and either way it will be very cool and if I wasn't all the way in the Midwest I would offer to do the body and paint for you on this in a second?? But guess that's what they make transport for right. Please don't take my comments as negative not trying to do that at all, just want you to get the most possible for your charity!!!

So do you have a real charity?? Or is this something you're doing out of your hip pocket?

I love the raffle idea. Consider a set amount of tickets vs continual sell of tickets until deadline. Just hope one person doesn't buy all the tickets before I can get my hands on one.

When you make a decision Greg, I'll def help put the word out and promote your endeavor.

If you do decide to go with a raffle, then maybe you could just primer the car and let the winner decide the color...it could ease your stress.

I hope its real, im not donating 1000's of hours of fabrication, design, solidworks seat time and CNC milling cause your a nice guy. :rules: :sarcasm_smiley:


Before I moved in 2010 I had my shop smack in the center of East Oakland for 12 years and I can appreiciate the hard work that the guys and gals in blue have to do. Like I said before Im personally not doing this for money, recognition or TV time. Its about the charity....and the cars.

I like that idea too. Let the new owner decide what colot that they want.

IF I'd have noticed the link in your signature line --- I could have clicked it and gone to the website to see your 501 c charity status.... DOH.

Nice Work Vince!

And Greg just let me know when you and the misses are on your way!!! :hairpullout: :D

x2!

Rick I have a car you can paint for free. Seeya next week! Oh, and you're using that top quality paint you sell, right? Cause if not...:lol:

Hey you :poke: I'm hungry! Where's my food??? :D :relax:

Just you wait. I've got an LA icon in store for you...:D

I pesonally think those stripes are too narrow. They should be at least as wide as the snorkels. I know your shooting for an original look but I think the GM designer was out to lunch when that call ws made.

Yeah very cool car otherwise.. Those stripes are no bueno.

I agree no go on the stripes. A little wider would look better.

im thinking white paint, full flat black hood with black accents on the sides like SW's GT3 RS.

http://fototime.com/756A0CCECAA80BE/xlarge.jpg

can you send me an email please? that nose would look good too. :stirthepot: I like this version, it opens up the front alot.

Hey would you guys get out of my head!! That's what I was thinking for my Pumpkin!! :catfight: :catfight: :peepwall: :mock:

no, i see silver in your future...distant future.

+1 on this idea! I wouldn't be able to muster the $$$ to buy the car at an auction but I could see myself ponying-up a couple hundred to buy raffle tickets!!!

I'm personally pleased to see this post... and only wish the explanation/reasoning could have been forthcoming earlier without "the drama".

:grouphug: ???

:D

Any new pics or progress updates?

Metallic Charcoal with Pearl white...
or
Deep Burgundy with Heavy Flek and Matte Black...

the body is getting stripped down and its almost ready to go to media blasting.

Greg is this an org paint car?? Can't wait to see how it looks under the paint.

About the gaps, my 73 has very nice gaps, better then any 1st gen I had? Seen they did a better job on the second go around of the F body's?

I can't say they did a better job on the F bodies. I use to build Trans Ams all day long and it seemed you could get a nice one in once in a while. But most of the time they didn't fit. You could take three doors and throw them on a car and they would all fit differently. Same with fenders. Hoods were usually pretty consistent. Sub frames were different as well.

I would like to pledge $500 worth of tickets if you end up going the raffle direction. If it goes to auction, I will donate to your charity. Nice work!

Greg, I never use media blasting any more, I either strip by hand or have the parts dipped. The shell I da sand and the bolt on parts I will have dipped to remove everything and have a nice place to start or junk left lol.

We are just doing the firewall, undercarrige, trunk and interior floor. There doesn't seem to be any rust on the body so i'll get to enjoy watching Greg DA that old paint off. Should be good to go. It looks like a respray but its hard to tell. No edges in the jams.

Doors will never be removed.

My media guy is the best in the business and knows how to clean metal. Never had an issue with Meyer's media in Oakland CA. Been using him since 87.

I was trying to get the body to the media blasters before I went on vacation but I had a few drop ins that had to get done.

The body is almost ready to go. I will cut out a few panels so he can get in all the nooks and crannies.

Greg,

The cam profile is interesting, and they are doing what you asked them to do. The combination of 12° duration split the 115° lobe center work together to build a broad powerband.

I don't recall running as high as 12° duration split before. 10° ... yes .... but not 12°. I think the engine will have throttle control like a rheostat ... which is good ... smooth & linear as opposed to "peaky."

Would you share with us how it runs after you get it all together?


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Looks cool. :cheers:

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