Author Topic: 1978 taillight housings  (Read 2314 times)

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Offline Treys79

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1978 taillight housings
« on: December 29, 2014, 04:55:11 PM »
Can anyone tell me why some taillight housings are color matched to the cars color and others are black?

Offline b_hill_86

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Re: 1978 taillight housings
« Reply #1 on: December 29, 2014, 06:30:59 PM »
74-77 were color matched, 78 were black.
-Brian-

1977 Trans Am 400 4 speed hardtop

Offline RENOVATIONS

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Re: 1978 taillight housings
« Reply #2 on: December 29, 2014, 06:45:17 PM »
Brian is right..housings went to black mid-78.
Lots of changes in 78....
Jeff

Projects:
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1978 Trans Am
1970 Camaro
1970 'Cuda
1987 Fiero GT
1982 Trans Am
1986 Corvette

Offline highway star

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Re: 1978 taillight housings
« Reply #3 on: January 02, 2015, 09:28:31 PM »
Brian is right..housings went to black mid-78.
Lots of changes in 78....

Right, exactly what month is questionable or is it a Van Nuys vs Norwood deal. My Jan. built '78 TA has color matched tail lights (Van Nuys built).

Offline RENOVATIONS

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Re: 1978 taillight housings
« Reply #4 on: January 02, 2015, 11:33:21 PM »
Here is the service bulletin regarding the change:

Jeff

Projects:
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1978 Trans Am
1970 Camaro
1970 'Cuda
1987 Fiero GT
1982 Trans Am
1986 Corvette

Offline marx3

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Re: 1978 taillight housings
« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2015, 05:32:05 PM »
" except for black and white Formulas. On these two cars the taillamp panel will remain gold"

what? some Firebirds came with gold tail lamp, regardless of body color?
Ignition & Induction.

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Offline Wallington

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Re: 1978 taillight housings
« Reply #6 on: January 04, 2015, 09:11:11 PM »
Yes, two-tone black and gold or white and gold Formulas retained gold light frames as part of the colour option. Interestingly these still have the T93 (?) Option on the buildsheet for blacked out frames, but then overridden by the W50 option to keep them gold. My late March 78 build already had the black light change in place.

Offline marx3

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Re: 1978 taillight housings
« Reply #7 on: January 05, 2015, 05:23:33 AM »
So this goes for black and gold, and white and gold Formulas only? and only 77-early 78?
Ignition & Induction.

"What are we gonna do, kidnap the Pope or something ?"

Offline Wallington

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Re: 1978 taillight housings
« Reply #8 on: January 05, 2015, 05:48:16 AM »
Right through until 79 models, those particular cars kept gold. The 79 Formulas all had blacked out lamps like TA's. Yes, prior to change these Formulas were still gold instead of body colour. After the change standard Firebird and Esprit models retained body colour light frames.
« Last Edit: January 05, 2015, 06:10:19 AM by Aus78Formula »

Offline marx3

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Re: 1978 taillight housings
« Reply #9 on: January 05, 2015, 06:28:28 AM »
very interesting. Thanks alot :-)
Ignition & Induction.

"What are we gonna do, kidnap the Pope or something ?"