The 70-73 Firebirds were rather scarce to begin with. The 73's also have a great many unique, one-year-only parts such as the urethane nose and the attaching 5-mph bumper brackets. The main reason that they are almost non-existant today is that no accurate 70-73 Firebird-specific body parts have ever been produced. Despite what most of the giant resto-warehouses would have you believe, Camaro body panels are not the same as Firebird panels - different body lines, and even 74-81 Firebird fenders, door skins, quarters, trunk drop-offs, etc., are not the same either.
Only a month or so ago was the 70-73 rear tail light panel finally reproduced. This was a major rust area on these cars due to a poor design that combined the rear valance with the tail light panel/rear trunk bulkhead, all welded to the car and non-removeable.
Another great example is the dash pad. On a Firebird the entire front of the interior is one single piece - the dash goes from one side of the car to the other and holds the instrument panel, the radio (with a hole that is usually hacked out for an aftermarket radio), the glove box, the steering wheel support, etc. The same resto warehouses have been advertising a reproduction dash pad assembly for five years straight without ever having delivered anything other than a prototype.
The flat top radiator support assembly on 70-72s is another unique item. You always see them swapped out for the indented 73-81 assemblies due to the battery box rust issue. No one makes this part either. You have to find a rust free one from an existing car.
It really is a self perpetuating problem - the aftermarket compainies say there is no market for these parts but the people who own them tell the companies, there is no market because you wont make the parts!
The most valuable Firebirds are the 70-73's and they are the most at risk due to the lack of body panels. The only way to restore a rusty 70-73 Trans Am is to sacrifice a non-rusty base model Firebird, Formula or other Trans Am.
If you are not familiar with the 7-year resto thread on my 72 T/A, feel free go here:
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...6&page=115
