73-74 supply and demand

I have owned a 73 hatchback since 1999 and have been trying to restore it since 2000, now this project should have only taken a few years but things happen and priorities change. I still own the car but it has been sitting completely torn down for 8 long years. I been searching for parts for my car for years and have been hoping that companies in the restoration business would start producing parts for 73-74 and later models and for hatchbacks. To get to my point, I have contacted a few suppliers for body parts (hatchback deck lid) and only have received answers like: we are at the mercy of the vendors just like you. It's all in their hands to decide what parts will be produced, it's all supply and demand. I understand that they are but what is it going to take to change this? I'm demanding so start supplying. I would like get your opinion on this and if you agree and/or are dealing with the same problem then let's start demanding and maybe they will start supplying.

I have owned a 74 hatchback since 1993 and never found much, i do agree they need to make parts , but the big bumper cars just dont get the love they deserve, the good part is they made the most of these cars so if you dig real deep youll find what you need. i predict in the next 5 years these cars will be the next 69 camaro but until then restore what you can and replace as you find, enjoy that car while you can.

i predict in the next 5 years these cars will be the next 69 camaro

Now that's funny!!!

I don't see much for any car after 1972.
Fewer hatchbacks made than trunk models, less demand for 73-74 cars, more complicated to make a hatch than a trunk. All add up to the fact that it
will be a low (or NO) priority item.
Demanding won't hurt but they still have to make a profit.
Alot of trips to swap meets and trips south looking for parts may be an option.

I'm sure it's been done, but someone needs to make a 68-72 car with a hatchback. This means hacking up two good cars...

I live in the rust belt, where the interiors stay intact but the cars disintigrate.

The last 2 hatch cars I've bought had good hatches and good trunk floors.
Anything else could be gotten off a trunk version 73-4 that I needed.
One car was from Wisconsin- the other from New York City. How the Hatches escaped rust I have no idea.

As far as them being the next 69 Camaro, I don't know about that.
My first new car was a 74 Hatch- and thats probably why I'm stuck on em.

I'm sure it's been done, but someone needs to make a 68-72 car with a hatchback. This means hacking up two good cars...

Not a bad idea, I always liked the hatch but don't like the 73-74 body.

Never been a big fan of the hatchback models, my 73 is a coupe and the only thing i really wish was reproduced is all the interior stuff and the glass. As far as big bumpers go i dont mind them, i did when i first got the car but they grew on me much like the grill did.

Not a bad idea, I always liked the hatch but don't like the 73-74 body.

As far as i know unless im missing something or misunderstanding you but the 73'-74' nova body style is exactly the same as 68-72, that's why it's still considered a 3rd generation nova despite the cosmetic changes to the front end, window vents, tail lights panel, ect...right??

Never been a big fan of the hatchback models, my 73 is a coupe and the only thing i really wish was reproduced is all the interior stuff and the glass. As far as big bumpers go i dont mind them, i did when i first got the car but they grew on me much like the grill did.



As far as i know unless im missing something or misunderstanding you but the 73'-74' nova body style is exactly the same as 68-72, that's why it's still considered a 3rd generation nova despite the cosmetic changes to the front end, window vents, tail lights panel, ect...right??

Also the 1/4 glass, 1/4 panel, roof, hood, bumpers.
The platform is the same.
They changed it enough to make it look like a new car to help sales.
To me it is enough that it looks bulkier and not as nice as the 68-72.
Not a bad look, just not as appealing to me.

The big bumpers and the fillers that are used where the headlight bezels used to be, really took the more aggressive forward styling away from the Nova. It's not much but IMO was enough in the wrong direction to hurt demand or the cars appeal.

Greetings,

Well I have noticed more and more parts being available for the 73-74s, but I have to admit not all parts will be available. It wasn't until a couple of years ago that you could even get weatherstripping for a hatchback! I'm fortunate that my hatch is in good shape, but I have still be unable to find mint hatchback interior pieces. They are either too far away and the seller won't ship them or they are junk. So, I stick with my junk ones as it's better than nothing. So will all the parts be available? Nope, but it's better now than it was just a few years ago.

Jason

Wern't the 73-74 models made with the bigger bumpers because the G-men made a law for 5 mile per hour bumpers? I seen somewhere a hatchback on the internet around here,I'll keep my eyes open here in central cali and will post it if I do. I did see one on ebay a few weeks ago too.

My idea of starting this is to get more owners of these cars to contact these part suppliers and ask for parts, whatever you need, and by doing this maybe they will see the possibility of profit and make them. My question is: if they don't make, it how do they know they will not profit from it? My answer to this: because no one will demand it to let them know. What I suggest is if we let them know maybe they will start. I have a hard head and I can't just accept the: well we don't make because....,when I see people asking for it.

The big bumpers and the fillers that are used where the headlight bezels used to be, really took the more aggressive forward styling away from the Nova. It's not much but IMO was enough in the wrong direction to hurt demand or the cars appeal.

I don't think it hurt the demand of the car back in the day. The styling was taking away for safety :yes:.

GM sold over 700,000 Novas in 73 and 74 :eek::eek::eek:

With that amount sold I think that parts are still around. Yes some harder to find than others.


The 74 model used a bunch of safety still used today. Bumper shocks and retactable shoulder seat belts. They also had an electronic system that you had to buckel you seat belt to start the car. I believe they recalled that system and disabled it for some reason. So there was a reason for the bigger bumpers. I am not sure why they change the back of the car from the earlier ones 68-72. Maybe it was because they were making the hatchback and they needed the extra room for that option.

What happened to all the Spirit of America cars? They made over 14,000 and you don't see a whole lot of them.

try this place: http://www.gmsportssalvage.com/ I used to go there when I lived in Ca. they probably have a good hatch for you. They are in San Jose so no rusty junk like most of the country.

Scott

Wern't the 73-74 models made with the bigger bumpers because the G-men made a law for 5 mile per hour bumpers? I seen somewhere a hatchback on the internet around here,I'll keep my eyes open here in central cali and will post it if I do. I did see one on ebay a few weeks ago too.

73 still had the solid bumper brackets.
I think the 5mph bumpers were required in 74, so the styling
likely was not due to the bumper law.

I ran into the 73-74 parts delema when I tried to replace the driver-side quarter panel. I was not a big fan of the quarter patch (evidence in the trunk)! There are lots of Nova shells in the west (arizona, utah). I almost had one shipped to me to strip the old quarter off the donor.

As far as a hatch is concerned, look in the muscle car magazines (car craft, popular hot rodding) for ads of wrecking yards out west. Yeah, interior parts will not be easy to find.

If someone wishes to start a user list, perhaps this would prompt some parts dealers to begin mfg interior items for our rides!

Lou

If someones looking for 73 parts there's one In a junk yard near me. Its front end has been stripped but the hatch rear bumper and left hand 1/4 are all savable.

It has SOME interior pieces left in it but idk how much is there

I know this because i stole the 73 buckets out of it for my nova http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a194/zeroxcool23/71%20nova/DSC00880.jpg

if some one is really DESPERATELY looking for a hatch I can give you the name and address of the junk yard and they will ship you w.e you need. Just pm me on it.


I also know of a more complete 73/74 roller nova that used to be a ex race car. Ill take pictures of it next time I meet my parts guy. hes in a different town so i never really stop by

this dude has 5 novas (2 68s 1 70 1 72 and a 73/74) and all but one are for sale but hes alittle iffy on who he wants to let see his stash. I only ran into him because He followed me home one day and asked me if i wanted some nova parts :cool:

he used to have a complete running 6 cylinder nova with low miles the orig paint job and perfect interior...he sold it though :(