Topic: 1978 Solar Gold for the wife

[Macdave]

The wife jokingly asked if She could have a T/A last year when I was working on mine. I thought she was serious and said sure. This led to the 1976 Firethorn is another post topic. She likes to look but started complaining it did not have power options and she would not like to drive a car without a cloth interior. She said she had been looking into them and thought she would really like a 1978 Gold T/A. Driving back from her parents 50th wedding anniversary, I spotted one setting in a tow lot about an hour out of town. We wrote down the phone number and called them that Monday. When we went to look at it, it had T-Tops, Cloth Interior, Power everything, and even cruise control. It is a mess, but could not be a better car for her if she had ordered it. So here we go. This is what it looked like in the tow yard.

[Macdave]

Since we got the car home, I have cleened it up (dirt makes even bad cars look worse). I pulled the interior and replaced the rear floor boards as the windows were open the many years it has been stored (this is the only rust I found anywhere except for surface stuff where someone tried very poor body work repairs). The engine needs rebuilt and the doors need skinned and new fenders etc., but this is all doable. For Christmas, I ordered her the PHS papers. It is a loaded car, as she wanted. Only missing six options (one of them being WS6). With all the luz options it has, we figure maybe they wanted to keep away from a stiff ride. Attached is the list of options. The car came from San Saba, Texas. If anyone knows of its beginnings out there, please send me a note. I will be working on getting in touch with Jesse Miles, the dealer owner, to ask if he may remember anything it being a small town and not an every day car.

[NWW-79 T/A]

Cool project. Gold cars are great.

[Gold79ta]

I agree100 % golds are the best.
I am on my 2nd gold both of them were gold 79's.

[Macdave]

Being someone had replaced the W72 engine at some point with a 1975 Fullsize car 400, I have been on the lookout for the X7. Picked one up tonight. SOmeone had taken out the 301 in a 81 Dk Maroon T/A and replaced it with an X7. The guy asked if I wanted to buy it for $500. Not the engine, the complete car. I said $400 and we met at $450. I happen to have a parts car (79 firebird comming in a couple months from now and it happens to have a good 301. Seems they will both find proper homes now. It looks as if I may have an 81 for sale about next summer or so. California built 301 car with Fisher tops and brown interior with as mentioned, Dk Marron exterior. Should get me something as it is also a 4wheel disk car. We keep chugging on.

As for the Gold cars, I also picked up one (a 78 403 with Fisher tops) for my nephew the other day. Has the original engine and rear but someone has changed out the transmission. Not real bad shape and aoly paid $500 for it so not too bad.

[Macdave]

Taking pic of all of them last night. Here is where the wifes is. Looks like we will still be working on it as the world is still here.