Found a parked (weeds grown up type) SA. Body/Frame seem to be in a lot better shape then my FB so I'm thinking of maybe picking it up if the owner has the title and wants to sell.

Question is, this is a 78-1/2 SA door tag says it was made in 12/78, are there storage compartments in these cars because there sure wasn't in this one but there was some rather nicely formed metal attached in place of where they would be in a regular rex.

If there was suppose to be storage bins here and the guy says he'll sell (had to leave note on door, no one was home) I'll see if he'll let me take the metal off to check underneath for rust, ugggh.

 

Nope.. SA's didn't have any storage compartments... or at least I've never seen one stock that did....

--Danny

 

Sotrage compartments were one of the many changes introduced for the '81 model year. No SA has 'em.

 

they are easy enough to put in though. you will just have to cut slits in the bottom for the metal supports (you will see what i mean if you pull up the slab that is covering that area)

 

My 79 doesnt either.

 

Well, the owner hasn't called me yet so who knows if they want to get rid of it or just don't want to make the long distance call. It was down near Poplar Bluff, MO and I'm up here at Farmington, MO.

Good to know that it wasn't just sheet metal work to cover up rusted out compartments

 

hehehe. Y'all haven't poked around enough. There is storage space in the early cars. And it is where the storage bins were located in the later cars.

The entire sloped section behind the seats is hinged ... tilt both front seat backs forward, feel toward the bottom of the sloped panel (below where the storage bins are in the later cars) and locate a lip. Pull up on that, and the entire panel, from one end of the car to the other, will lift up to reveal a hidden storage area.

'least, that's how my 79 is (built 11/78).

 

Really?

Either that was added by a previous owner, or that's a rare feature that was eliminated on later models. My '80 definitely had the cover panel rigidly fasted with nothing more than good ol' screws and bolts.

 

Hmm, the '78-1/2 had good ol' fastening hardware too

 

My current '79 is DEFINATELY not hinged.... I think that was a DSPO mod....

Jeff

 

Very interesting guys. I always assumed that they all came that way ... I've never had occasion to check out another SA to know differently. Very interesting indeed.

When I get the car down here (had to take it back to Ohio for a different -- free-- tranny), I'll try to snap a pick or two and post them so y'all can see what I'm talking about.

Maybe it was an aftermarket deal or something ... now I'm going to have to start digging to figure this little quasi-mystery out ...