When did '71 models start down the assembly line @ Norwood Plant
 

I was reading my copy of The Definitive Firebird & Trans Am Guide: 1970 1/2 - 1981 by Rocky Rotella. If I read right, he states that the majority of the RA IV birds went through during August 1970.

It had to be early August. My '71 was built 1st week September just before the U.A. strike.

Went through, like assembled in early August?
Have examined invoice copies of RAIV T/A's that were shipped in late July. Perhaps, Rocky has invoices on quite a few that shipped early August (?) I need buy his book, read what he's stating.

earliast '71 Norwood info in my database is:

08B....22387N100195.....(Base Bird noted for body build date)

Well I’ve owned more than 10 and have examined more than 25 and they were all built in July

Mr. "ol Pinion head & Mr. Tellyshavilli. Thank you for your learned responses. I truly appreciate them. I have to apologize to both of you and the other reading membership here for not giving you all the information. I left out part of Rocky's findings are based on Pete McCarthy's book Pontiac Musclecar Performance which also included the Van Nuys plant. Pete listed all 88 of the 1970 RA IV Firebird VIN numbers in his book. Norwood produced 64 LS1 Firebirds and Van Nuys produced the remaining 24 LS1 Firebirds. Sorry for assuming they were all built @ Norwood.

This information I am discussing with you is from Rocky's book on page 48, bottom left paragraph. It's a great book and I'm glad he wrote it.

Thanks again to both of you for your comments. You made me go back and learn it right.

Eddie

More Clarification! Again, I feel I have misspoken.

I just finished reading all the information in Pete's book "Pontiac Musclecar Performance" concerning all 88 of the 1970 RA IV Firebirds.

Turns out that in Pete's information he did not list the build date. He did list the shipping date from Norwood & Van Nuys as: Plant - VIN - Ship - Color & Transmission Type (if known)

Rocky used the words produced by July & August, which is probably accurate. I assumed that meant build date. Pete listed it as Ship Date.

Big difference between Build Date & Shipping Date.

I digress.

The majority of the RA IV TA's were 'shipped' in July with a few in August.

9 Norwood TA's were shipped in September.

:)

I agree John. You are correct sir...they do have to be built, before they can ship.

Per Pete's book, some of them did not ship until as late as Feb. 1971. Tells me they just sat there at the factory until they sold. I guess somebody ordered one and backed out on the deal, or there were issues with finishing one and it was pulled from the line until it could be completed.

Basically, I just read Rocky's statement so fast I ran off thinking he said built, instead of produced in July & August. My bad.

Have mentioned before, two of the late Feb 71 ship '70 RAIV T/A's were Factory Engineering cars, sold by PMD, as used cars, along w the first 455 HO T-37 Coupe which was also billed out to the Pont Fact Engr.

Wow, 'ol Pinion head, you're a walking encyclopedia of Pontiac. Thank you. Seems I need to read every old post on this forum.

1970 RAIV TAs shipping in feb 1971
 

And both of those February built RAIV 70 TAs were sold in western New York one was white and one was blue I purchased the white one in 1987 in Syracuse and then sold it a couple years later to a guy in North Carolina where it is now in a collection . The blue one I found in 1977 in a Kmart parking lot in Amherst ny , and tracked the owner down to Niagara Falls New York that car has been restored and is now overseas . I actually know the original owner of the blue RAIV TA .