Topic: A question?

['78 LadyBird]

I just got off the phone with a salvage yard in SC looking for windshield trim for the front and back.  Looking for better ones than what I have on it now.  Chrome is all pitted.

The guy told me that all Firebirds and Trans Am's came out of the factory with black trim?

All three Trans Ams that I owned had the chrome.  Never black.  He said that they all came black but the paint would chip away and that's why I see chrome.

Ummmm, can anyone tell me if that is true?

[T/A Kid]

I don't know if all T/A 's came with black trim but my 79 did and not long after while washing at a car wash it started peeling off, I'm sure someone will weight in with more info.

[dblhh]

I think the 77 and 78 (and maybe 76) SE had black trim, but all others those years were chrome.

[Gunner]

Have to wave the BS flag on that one. Mine is a 78 and has chrome trim. Still I think that black trim on your car would look PRETTY sharp.

Gunner

[jphillips3333]

BS on the junkyard guy as well.  They weren't ALL black.  Most were chrome in the earlier years and black began to appear in like the '76 model and up as Herrel points out.

[Rick]

Yes, prior to 76 black trim was unheard of.  After 76 it began to appear on certain trim levels.  Standard Firebirds had chrome trim until the end of the generation in 1981.

[80ws6ta]

If I remember correctly, 1970 -1978 cars, with the exception of SE's, all had chrome trim. The 1979 - 1981 T/As had blacked out trim, but only the Trans Ams. The other 1979 - 1981 Firebird models didn't have blacked out trim (Formulas may have, but it may have been an option). The blacked out trim in the later years was used to make the cars seem more aggressive. Also, I believe GM wanted to get away from the bright work, however, I may be wrong about that. Plus what Rick said (he got done typing before I did).

['78 LadyBird]

So, then my next question would be, what do you think black trim on "my" car would look like?

Black interior

Hmmmm, that is a tough one!  I really can't visual that one. 

OHHHHHH MY DEAR BROTHER??  WHERE ARE YOU?  COME UP WITH SOMETHING WITH YOUR TALENTED PICTURE TRANSFORMATION!  lol

[RRR76TA]

My 76 has chrome trim

[Nick623]

I think it would look good!!! Only the 76-78 SE's got black trim, the rest had anodized (not chrome) trim.

Heidi, I wish I knew you needed those trim, I had a near mint set (just needed polishing) but I gave it away to the guy who bought my Y88.

If money is an concern, I would just paint it black, it will look good, if money is not an concern and you want correct stuff, you could get it re-anodized which will be very pricey.

[Grand73Am]

So, then my next question would be, what do you think black trim on "my" car would look like?

Black interior

Hmmmm, that is a tough one!  I really can't visual that one.  

OHHHHHH MY DEAR BROTHER??  WHERE ARE YOU?  COME UP WITH SOMETHING WITH YOUR TALENTED PICTURE TRANSFORMATION!  lol

Just remember that all that trim was anodized aluminum, whether it was painted black or not. It's just that in 79-81, all the TA's and Formulas had them painted black. Before that, it was just SE's that had black ones. So, you could buy any of the trim for a 75-81 and use it. Since the trim is aluminum, it's not that hard to restore it. The anodizing can be stripped off, and the aluminum can be sanded smooth, and then buffed to a shine with a buffing wheel and some aluminum buffing compound. It would be ready to use then. You'd have to keep it polished with aluminum polish to maintain it. Or you could paint it black if you wanted, but it wouldn't be correct for your car. Any used trim may still need the same work as yours. Used trims show up on eBay all the time.
If you're curious about how the black would look, just look at any 79-81 that still has the black on it to get an idea of what it looks like. Here's a silver 79 for example:

[TAZ]

Heidi I've always preferred the black trim on all my 'Birds - especially the lighter colored ones regardless of whats 'correct'. Gives it a nice contrast and finish. But you do have to occasionally touch up the black. Just a personal preference.

[transam dave]

I will add my help if wanted.I say do the trim the way it is on the build sheet.