T-Tops - Spot a FAKE 1977 - 1978 Trans Am Special Edition

[@jeffhuss5554]

I ordered a Y88 Special Edition Solar Gold Trans Am in 1978. It was exactly like the one in the video with a special bird decal. I ordered the gold T tops by Fisher . You’re exactly right about them being confusing because when it arrived at the dealer in Lincolnton NC, it had one silver top and one gold top. I traded it two years later for a new Honda in Hickory NC due to rising gas prices and 10mpg. Sure wish I had it back today.

[@joemasters2270]

I always liked the Fisher T tops better - they’re bigger.

[@googleusergp]

They also seal better (although they also can leak).

[@charlesboyer5712]

Our 78 Solar Gold had the fisher smoked t-top. Best looking compared to odd looking Hurst ones.

[@thomashodges7333]

I have a 78 Solar Gold with the WW7 hood decal and it was born in April 78 and shipped on 5-4-78 White Pontiac in Ky. It has the Hurst Hatches but no Y88 designation since those were made after July 78. Always hoped it to be a pre-Y88 but i cant located the build sheet to confirm anything and the PHS papers don't have any real info on the pre-Y88's. It came with the W72 400 / Auto and my family has owned it since 1982 still has most of its original paint except the hood. It was stripped and primed due to the heathers of the decal peeling up and we worried about rust. It has sit for over 30 years in dry storage and I'm now working on saving money to get it back on the road

[@googleusergp]

If the PHS doesn't have Y88 on it, then it's just a Gold Trans Am, and not a Y88.

[@maxthe222]

@@googleusergp exactly right

[@chriskaram1019]

Mine's real and made in March of '78.

[@frankartale1026]

Great Video, The Y88 cars all got " Gold Tinted" fischer t-tops and less than 1700 were 4spd cars. The Hurst tops were a mess. Installed at all different locations. I had a 77 with Hatch Tops from the original owner and when i removed the headliner it was a hacked up mess. 78 was a crazy year, all different variations. Some had Color Coded steering wheel & column , Some had Black Steering wheel and column. There were 2 different columns used. a 77 style and a 78. Even some Y88 cars had this color coded column issue and seat belts as well. Some were black belts and some were tan and all of the Y88 cars had tan interior.

[@wlc1980]

I enjoyed that! I have a 1977 SE Y81 I’m thinking about adding Hurst Tops to, am I crazy? I’m not sure how rare my Y81, W72, AC automatic car is.

[@googleusergp]

Leave it original, it's a rare duck.

[@JungleHunterPs3]

Very nice job.

[@snatchrush]

Hello thanks for posting this video. It was very helpful. I'm restoring a 78 Trans am. It has the full roof glass t tops . It also has the body by Fisher tag riveted to the body . I'm now more confused. Have you seen that before on a 78 ? It was originally platinum.

[@maxthe222]

Poorly worded question but I think I get what you are asking. Every single Firebird body was made by Fisher. Has nothing to do with the T-Tops, they all say that. If it is a full roof, it's likely an aftermarket CNC roof. Also, it shouldn't be riveted on. The tag should just be bolted on

[@darrellkidd5177]

The car shown at 4:52 is either a fake or a bad reproduction, as it has silver windshield and rear window trim. All SEs had black trim.

[@Kenscialoia]

great video thank you

[@modernarcheology2868]

Nicely done! Please post more on how to identify a 1978 TA SE.

[@googleusergp]

The sure fire way is a matching build sheet, window sticker or PHS report. The "Y" codes were typically not stamped on the cowl tag. Y84 was in some cases, but not Y82.

[@jedb7998]

I have a 1977 SE (documented through PHS and with the original build sheet) with Fisher T-Tops and chrome trim. I wonder if someone went to the trouble of changing out the tops later?

[@onebluess5336]

Yes it was done later.

[@googleusergp]

Unless "CC1" appears on either the PHS or the build sheet, it was done after it was produced at Norwood in 1977.

[@onebluess5336]

You said it has PHS saying it’s a SE. Does it say Y81 SE with no t-tops? And then someone added the Fisher tops later? All 1977 Y82 SE’s come with Hurst tops.

[@googleusergp]

Typically Y81 was SE without T-top and Y82 was SE with T-Top.

[@77chevy4x4]

I like the video. But history is different. Aftermarket t tops were designed first before Production had an option to them. American hatch corp. Texas t tops and cars and concepts had their own design. Outside. As aftermarket. Creating the largest possible glass roof in t top design. And fake . Well that would be hurst Burying outside mfgs for dominance. Of the name and marketing

[@shahidnazir3597]

David Kautzman

[@pokerspades2167]

👍

[@richverbrugge7630]

Don’t forget American T-tops

[@richverbrugge7630]

Jumped the gun!

[@chrisburley4227]

PHS Documentation will confirm if its a SE or not.. Not all Se Trans Ams had T Tops. I had a 78 which was a Y88 and PHS confirmed without T TOPS

[@maxthe222]

I'm just gonna say right now that no you don't. There wasn't one documented build. If you have PHS documentation demonstrating that you have a real y88 that was a hard top, please contact me with this information

[@sinistercharger]

@@maxthe222 I sold the Car a few years back but the PHS Docs definitely said it was a Y88 SE and the Roof didn't have T TOPS .It was painted black as a Bandit car but checks showed that it was originally Gold.I was very surprised too when I received the Docs back

[@maxthe222]

@@sinistercharger ok so the car was drastically modified before you owned it. This is not a credible story. If you ordered PHS and they emailed it to you, it would still be in your inbox. If this was the case, why has PHS said that there were no hardtop Y88s made?

[@sinistercharger]

@@maxthe222 I had the car 12 years ago.Im in the U.k and the docs were mailed to me.Why would I make up the story??? If you don't believe me then that's fine .I know what I had and what I received in documentation

[@maxthe222]

@@sinistercharger you've answered your own question. It's just a story, You have no evidence. There is significant evidence to say you are wrong. I will believe you when you dig out the PHS or provide me the VIN number of the car. If it did say Y88 special edition on the paperwork and it said the option cost around $1200, then the car was simply swapped over to a hard top at some point in its life. This is simply a story from some guy in the UK recalling three digits on a piece of paper from around 15 years ago.

[@michaelcarr2466]

I had a 1979 firebird formula with Fisher t-tops. These cars look cool but are pieces of shit.

[@maxthe222]

There are no documented hardtop special editions in 1978. If you have proof that says otherwise, please send me that evidence. The changeover period was in March 1978. There is no mention of what codes to look for on the body of the vehicle and how no single special edition between 1976 to 1978 had Y82 stamped on the data tag. Not a bad video but there is too much information missing

[@markcheetah4960]

One of the other commenters above says he has a 78 SE hardtop. Something about PHS documentation.

[@maxthe222]

@@markcheetah4960 I've seen that comment and I've now replied to it asking for documentation, but I don't think he's telling the truth. Maybe he thought it was a Y88 because it was gold. I will eat my words once I see the PHS otherwise it's just a guy making up a comment

[@Dudemieser]

There's only the fisher t tops and the aftermarket Hurst tops

[@maxthe222]

@@Dudemieser Hurst was still factory equipment. It was delivered to the dealer with the Hurst roof already installed, and it was charged through Pontiac.