WHAT COLOR SHOULD MY TOW TABS BE?

[BJCHEV396]

Just bought a used pair of NMW tow tabs for my 1970 Nova.What color would they have been new?Thanks.Bill.

[Fast67VelleN2O]

Orange.

[JRSully]

My NOS in the box NMW Nova tabs were/are yellow

[BJCHEV396]

Seeing the tabs on your Nova Sully made me want a set.Do you get a lot of comments about them?Bill.

[JRSully]

All the time Bill, kinda feel like taking them off somtimes, putting the set of SS wheels on and blinging the old beast up a bit, who knows. They are a conversation piece though

[John Brown]

I've seen dull silver ones.

[PxTx]

Jim, the blue and yellow contrast really makes those NMW tabs stand out, and I love the look on your car. It really is funny to hear some of the reactions you get at the car shows (speaking from all the comments I hear about them on the cars my family owns). I think hanging a tow bar on the front helps people to understand.

Jim, hope you don't mind me posting some of your pics.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/m22mike/DSC00261.jpg

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m255/jrsully/NMWTowtabs.jpg

From what I've been told from people who saw, handled, installed and built them when these cars were new it seems the very early ones were silver- I'm guessing late 1969.

http://www.motorgeek.com/phpBB2/gallery2/d/55671-2/cttabs.jpg

They then started to use yellow as you can see on Sully's car. The yellow was supposed to equally short lived. I beleive it was used probably not more than a year or so. Whitetop had mentioned that there was some issue with Lakewood asking them to change the color or something to that effect, but I've only heard this on the net.

As a side note, I've heard that Lakwood offered free-wheeling tow hubs, tow bars and such but I just have never seen them myself. I've also heard that Lakewood sold tow tabs. Can anyone validate this? Any old catalogs or pictures?

By 1971 NMW seemed to try and stick with an orange theme. These are tabs I have which are NOS.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/PxTx/chevelletabs2.jpg
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/NMWbar.jpg

I've seen a few shades of orange, and when I spoke to the fellow who owned NMW, he said they would buy orange paint in large volume. Sometimes the paint supplier would run out of their color and he would buy whatever was available. I'm sure he didn't want to leave the metal bare for very long.

Ths fellow bought NMW around 1974 I think he said, and didn't have much to offer about the company before then. I've debated when they started making chassis specific tow tabs with a few people. I beleive they were offering them from the beginning of 1969 at least. Can anyone validate this?

I guess the answer to your question kinda depends on when you think they were new? Usually there is a hint of color in the areas near where a washer was used on a bolt hole. Got any clue's there? I'm guessing you were the lucky fellow to win the set on ebay the other day, so maybe you don't have them in hand yet. Congratulations if you did win them!

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp198/SPIKEYZ0/ss851790.jpg

I personally would paint them any color you want. It doesn't seem unusual in all of these old pics of cars with tabs for guys to have painted them before they installed them.

Nova Jed thought the yelow looked the best too.

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj88/NovaJed/100_0418.jpg

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj88/NovaJed/100_0417.jpg

[PxTx]

http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt254/lafeagle/tn_done2.jpg

I'll probably paint mine black when I put them on my chevelle, or I was even thinking about having them chromed. I don't think you can go wrong whatever color you choose.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/towtabs.jpg

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/greentow.jpg

I also suspect that Joel ordered tabs for a 69 Camaro, not knowing that they don't work on the Endura bumper, and then modified them with a large angle iron bracket and cut down the large top plate since it no longer attached to the bumper. They fogged them black after those mods.

[Mr. Chevy]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BJCHEV396</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just bought a used pair of NMW tow tabs for my 1970 Nova.What color would they have been new?Thanks.Bill. </div></div>

Bill, did you just win those recently on e-bay?? I am looking for a pair of Nova tow tabs for 68-72 if anyone has a set they want to part with...

Rich

[C1SS396]

This is a untouched bar tabs(early 67/68 camaro) and hubs ...

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii128/c1ss396/IMAG0237.jpg

[PxTx]

Nice John. Do you know if they were all purchased together, and when?

Do you guys have an idea on what they cost back then?

I'm really trying to bump this thread to see what else is known on the NMW timeline. I'm sure they didn't srart offering ALL of the chassis specific tabs right away, but by 1973 it seems the offering was complete. What chassis specific tabs were among the first to be offered and when?

Anyone care to comment about my lakewood question above?

Pics for clicks

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/1originaltab.jpg

[BJCHEV396]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mr. Chevy</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BJCHEV396</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just bought a used pair of NMW tow tabs for my 1970 Nova.What color would they have been new?Thanks.Bill. </div></div>

Bill, did you just win those recently on e-bay?? I am looking for a pair of Nova tow tabs for 68-72 if anyone has a set they want to part with...

Rich </div></div>Yes I did Rich.The seller would not ship to Canada so MOSPORTGREEN66 bid on them for me and will send them up to me when he gets them.

[BJCHEV396]

I got them for $317.00.The Nova tabs seem to be a little rarer.And command a little more money.Bill.

[Plowman]

Taken about 1971 and shows some Home-made tabs. Those tabs were very simplistic compared to the NMW Nova tabs.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/68L79MGrove.jpg

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/64MalibuMgrove.jpg

This one just for fun since it was from the same day and Nova's rock!
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/WhiteNovaMGrove.jpg


I called the phone number on a set of NOS NMW tow tabs I had several years back and spoke to the guy who was said he was the owner of NMW, but sold the building. We spoke about the old tooling and parts. He said he had it in storage in the building, hadn't sold a tow tab in 20 years and when he had a chance to sell the building, he got rid of everything. He called some guys he knew to clear the building out. He thought everything went into a dumpster they brought there. If a bunch were sold to some guys who sold them on ebay, he wasn't part of that sale.

We also talked about color and is it was year specific, and he said color was what they had on hand.

Me and my friends used tow tabs, hubs and bars back then. I don't know anyone who didn't paint them flat black before they installed them. We also didn't always want it to be too obvious that our cars spent time at the track when there was some illegal, night street $racing$

[JoeG]

Wow......had to read this twice.......Thought it said What color should my toe nails be..........Hey if it gets you better reaction times at the lights ..Go for it..! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif

[MosportGreen66]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BJCHEV396</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yes I did Rich.The seller would not ship to Canada so MOSPORTGREEN66 bid on them for me and will send them up to me when he gets them. </div></div>

Happy to help Bill!

If anyone has a pair for a '69 Camaro, I'm in dire need!

Very cool thread guys... well done!

[BJCHEV396]

Really appreciate your help Dan.You're one of the good guys.

[brent396]

Does any one have a paint code for that burnt orange tabs or is it red oxide primer

[brent396]

[quote=Plowman]Taken about 1971 and shows some Home-made tabs. Those tabs were very simplistic compared to the NMW Nova tabs.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/68L79MGrove.jpg

Pic of that 68 mite have been a L79 looks like 327 on the fender cool pic

[PxTx]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BJCHEV396</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mr. Chevy</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BJCHEV396</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just bought a used pair of NMW tow tabs for my 1970 Nova.What color would they have been new?Thanks.Bill. </div></div>

Bill, did you just win those recently on e-bay?? I am looking for a pair of Nova tow tabs for 68-72 if anyone has a set they want to part with...

Rich </div></div>Yes I did Rich.The seller would not ship to Canada so MOSPORTGREEN66 bid on them for me and will send them up to me when he gets them. </div></div>

I would say the ones you got off ebay were originally yellow.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/317ebayNovaTB49notes.jpg

Still looking for anyone to comment one the Lakewood questions I posted, or even for someone to confirm the date of a Lakwood catalog with them in it, I would also like to see what dates people have for NMW catalogs. I'll post some later, but I do have a catalog with an earlier design of the TB30 for 1964-67 Chevelle. Interestingly enough, the TB30 was only lister for the Chevelle, then later there was a re-desing of the TB30 (the ones I posted earlier are the newer design) but they were then listed for both the Chevelle and the GTO. The instruction sheet I got with the revised TB30, still has the illustration which more closely represents the early TB30 design. I would love to try and figure out when the TB30 and other popular tabs actually began being produced.

[Salvatore]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JRSully</div><div class="ubbcode-body">All the time Bill, kinda feel like taking them off somtimes, putting the set of SS wheels on and blinging the old beast up a bit, who knows. They are a conversation piece though </div></div>To many of those old Blings out there like that already Sully. Your car is killer, leave it!

[BJCHEV396]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pxtx</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BJCHEV396</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mr. Chevy</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BJCHEV396</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just bought a used pair of NMW tow tabs for my 1970 Nova.What color would they have been new?Thanks.Bill. </div></div>

Bill, did you just win those recently on e-bay?? I am looking for a pair of Nova tow tabs for 68-72 if anyone has a set they want to part with...

Rich </div></div>Yes I did Rich.The seller would not ship to Canada so MOSPORTGREEN66 bid on them for me and will send them up to me when he gets them. </div></div>

I would say the ones you got off ebay were originally yellow.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/317ebayNovaTB49notes.jpg

Still looking for anyone to comment one the Lakewood questions I posted, or even for someone to confirm the date of a Lakwood catalog with them in it, I would also like to see what dates people have for NMW catalogs. I'll post some later, but I do have a catalog with an earlier design of the TB30 for 1964-67 Chevelle. Interestingly enough, the TB30 was only lister for the Chevelle, then later there was a re-desing of the TB30 (the ones I posted earlier are the newer design) but they were then listed for both the Chevelle and the GTO. The instruction sheet I got with the revised TB30, still has the illustration which more closely represents the early TB30 design. I would love to try and figure out when the TB30 and other popular tabs actually began being produced. </div></div>Thanks for the info Paul.I was leaning towards yellow.Just have to get the right shade.

[PxTx]

So your tow tabs were yellow on day 1 and black on day 2. What color is your car?

Thanks to the fellow who read this thread and sent this my way. Lakewood tow tabs, bars, etc.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/Lakewood2.jpg

[wheelhop]

Don't know if I'm chiming in too late or &quot;too little&quot; but I've got a set of nos NMW Ladder Bars and they were red-oxide primer.

[PxTx]

Pics for reference and to compare color?

[brent396]

So red primer is the color?

[Plowman]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: brent396</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So red primer is the color? </div></div> No,could be 3 or 4 colors.

[Salvatore]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: brent396</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So red primer is the color? </div></div>Brent, I am almost sure they were red primer form the factory so the customer could rattle can them any color they wanted. Don't think they were meant to stay red primer. The &quot;correct&quot; yellow is the key IMO.

[Plowman]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: [email protected]</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: brent396</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So red primer is the color? </div></div>Brent, I am almost sure they were red primer form the factory so the customer could rattle can them any color they wanted. Don't think they were meant to stay red primer. The &quot;correct&quot; yellow is the key IMO. </div></div>Hi Sam. You saw and I got a set of NOS two tabs in the box from Watash Speed Shop in Lansdale and they were &quot;yellow&quot; Sam. You told me about them,do you remember Sam.

[Plowman]

Sam what do you think?

[Tommy]

My Nova Tow Tabs were originally Yellow and had been painted black over the years. The yellow is visible in places. I personally like the tow tabs painted black or the reddish orange which matches the tow bars. The silver and especially the Yellow bring too much attention to that one spot on the car. In my weird day 2 mindset I can see many more tow tabs being sprayed black to deter attention from the obvious. Mine are on my Nova in black with yellow scratches showing through and the large bolt thingy with pin that holds the bar/tab together are through the tabs.


Tommy <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[BJCHEV396]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pxtx</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So your tow tabs were yellow on day 1 and black on day 2. What color is your car? It's a 1970 L78.Astro blue with a black vinyl roof.

Thanks to the fellow who read this thread and sent this my way. Lakewood tow tabs, bars, etc.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/Lakewood2.jpg </div></div>

[BJCHEV396]

Anyone know the ''correct''color code yellow?

[Salvatore]

In a rattle car I found a spray paint called NOW made by Sherwin Williams. (#21206 Sunshine Yellow) I have done several sets of vintage Lakewood traction bars this color and its the closes I found with much scrutiny. True Value Hardware Stores. Have fun!

[Plowman]

Thank you Sam,I will have fun.

[whitetop1]

The guy who bought all the tabs from NMW was Don Raleigh (oilnspeed on eBay). He bought two large pallets full around 2003/2004/2005 ish. From what I remember Don got the tabs and someone else bought all the traction bar but I could be wrong. Maybe the bars were all gone when Don got there. I can't remember.
I bought maybe 15 sets from NMW back in the late 80's for $15 each and it took me forever to get rid of them. I was asking $40 and no one wanted them at all. This was pre Ebay and pre internet and I sold them through places like the Round Up free be ads etc. One set I gave to a friend who has them welded onto a 3 point home made lift cart behind his farm tractor. Like I said no one wanted them at the time. It was not until the mid 2000's that I finally sold all I had.

The Mopar ones sold the best. They have been into &quot;day 2&quot; since the 80's...and actually many just never left the 70's to begin with.

I believe the original colors were silver first, then yellow until Lakewood told them to stop and then the glossy burnt orange color at the end.

[PxTx]

Don't be a stranger Dave. From what I've seen, the silver tabs are the least common, then the yellow ones, and the orange ones seem to be the most. I also think the pretty well reflects production and sales.

Do you have a sense of when the chassis specific tabs were being offered, and what chassis were the first to be made? There sure were a lot of early Camaros being brought to the track. It wouldn't surprise me if there were the first chassis specific ones to have been made, but I would like to hear from others.

[Tommy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/IMG_20110403_154744.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/IMG_20110403_155003.jpg



Tommy <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[Salvatore]

Whitetop1, the Professor of Day-2 has returned! Welcome back Dave!

[Xplantdad]

Welcome back Dave!

[Plowman]

Welcome back Whitetop1

[Plowman]

Nice Tommy pictures.

[BJCHEV396]

I want to thank everyone for your input and info on the tow tabs.I'm torn between painting them yellow or black.I'll post pics after they are installed.Bill.

[Salvatore]

yellow or orange, you want them to stand out! Why else would you put them on your car? You are not going to flat tow anywhere are you? They are for looks?

[Born30YrsLate]

Get two pair...paint one each color...switch as you feel the mood!...

[PxTx]

I think we need to have Sully comment in on this one. Jim, what should Bill do, knowing what you know now?

There is a fine between doing Day 2 right and comming off like a poser. I'm saying that not so much about the tow tabs specifically, but more so about the whole presentation of the parts on the car.

[brent396]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tommy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/IMG_20110403_154744.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/IMG_20110403_155003.jpg

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif68 with the Gyros is on time tommy

Tommy <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif </div></div>

[Tommy]

I had silver ones (made from my black ones by Paul Tholey) on my blue 68. I sold the car recently but kept the Tow tabs for future use since the black ones can't be removed from the other car.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/grotto%20blue%2068/tk1.jpg

Tommy <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[MosportGreen66]

Dave, welcome back buddy! I just PM'ed on the other site too.

I emailed Don and has nothing left... not a single tab.

Dan

[Tommy]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: brent396</div><div class="ubbcode-body">


68 with the Gyros is on time tommy

</div></div>


I dig my Gyros.. And for some reason I am hungry now Brent...


Tommy <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[brent396]

look at thease http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NMW-TOW-T...=item27b9fe52b6 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NMW-TOW-TABS-MOPAR-CUDA-440-HEMI-GASSER-RATROD-VINTAGE-/170624176822?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessorie s&amp;hash=item27b9fe52b6)

[Tommy]

When I sold the blue car I took it to the new owners house using the Tow tabs and Tow bar. This was after I pulled the engine and trans.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/IMG_20110303_124529.jpg

Tommy <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[Plowman]

Tow tabs and bar look good. Now more time for black car.

[brent396]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tommy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">When I sold the blue car I took it to the new owners house using the Tow tabs and Tow bar. This was after I pulled the engine and trans.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/IMG_20110303_124529.jpg
Tommy how did it tow
Tommy <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif </div></div>

[Tommy]

It pulled fine Brent. As with most flat towing situations the car never likes to follow sharp turns or turns initiated from a standstill and will have a tendency to drag the front tires at times till the whole rig straightens out. I used to flat tow a lot of VW's with the towbars and they pull the same way. I didn't have to take the Nova very far.


Tommy <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[PxTx]

This is a May 69 magazine ad, note the early tow hub design- much like I mentioned about the early TB30 design.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Fuel%20Pumps/NMWadd.jpg

Here is a March 1973 catalog of the later hub design.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/ss203-1.jpg

I'm really beginning to think there is no timeline that corresponds with color. It would help if I could figure out when the timeline began.

Now here is a 1974 Midwest publication offering NMW products where it seems they used some of the earlier art work for the ad.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/NMW1977.jpg

Here are both the later designs in both Silver AND Orange. It does look like ornage paint here, not primer but if you look at the thread, there does seem to be a variety of orange.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/nmwsilverhubs.jpg

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/nmwhubs.jpg

There is a trick to when you mount these onto your tow wheels to save a step at the track. Anyone have a picture of some wheels modified for these tow hubs? Not required to be used but when you see it, you'll get it.

[John Brown]

I used the NMW Tow Hubs on my 67 Caprice 275 hp 327 NHRA/IHRA stocker. Used a pair of 53 Chevy rims to solve the tire clearance problem. Towed it as far as Bristol Tennessee with no problems. I didn't need to buy a NMW Tow Bar, since I had a tow bar left over from my previous 57 Chevy stocker.

[Tommy]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pxtx</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This is a May 69 magazine ad, note the early tow hub design- much like I mentioned about the early TB30 design.</div></div>


I must have missed what you said about the TB30's. I have a pair, actually they are in the picture laying under the black Nova. What's the deal with them?

Tommy <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[PxTx]

Here are the early TB30 tabs, circa 1970.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/NMWTowtabsPg2.jpg

You can see the application then was 1964-67 Chevelle only.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/tn-49.jpg

Here is the later design, circa 1973.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/ss207.jpg

Now listed for both the Chevell AND GTO!

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/ss205.jpg

Here are a set of NOS TB30 tabs I bought which are the later design. Note on the drawing that they must have continued to use the instructions for the early TB30 tabs for the later ones.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/PxTx/chevelletabs2.jpg

These tabs here were made by another fellow, Dan R. and are exact duplicates to the later TB30 design. The orange he uses is a nice match to some of the original NOS items I have, such as the battery/weight box (which I'll try to get a picture up here later). As you can see from the one set of tow hubs above, it looks about right for a match.

I do not beleive the burnt orange ones I have is a primer to be painted over, as they are actually quite glossy. I think it is just as Plowman reported. NMW did use different paints, somewhat influenced by what was available to them at the time they needed more paint.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/ChevelleTabs.jpg

Does anyone have a picture of any early TB30's or maybe even lucky enough to own a pair?

[Tommy]

I understand now. Mine are the later ones. I would like to see your weight box, this is the one I have. Is yours like it ?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/day%202%20parts/IM003157.jpg

Tommy <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[PxTx]

I am not sure of the exact timeline, but it seems NMW started out in Hackensack, NJ, then by 1973 (for sure, but maybe earlier) they moved to Elmwood Park, NJ, and then sometime later they have listed Raritan, NJ.

I've only seen the barrery box on later literature, so my guess it is was later 1970's at best and maybe 1980's.

Below is a insert found in some NOS NMW drive shaft loop's me and my pop bought off ebay. Tommy, you can see the weight box there, but I'll grab a pic of the box over at Plowman's house.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/NMWsalespaper_1.jpg

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/NMWsalespaper_2.jpg

Here is a cell phone pic from a few years back. I bought some Cragar wheels from a fellow and saw he had an NMW cherry picker.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/IMAGE_050.jpg

Notice the address. I wonder which address was the one that the pallets of tow tabs and such were sold from? Raritan?

[PxTx]

Two more things to post

1. Another great NMW thread on Yenko.net (http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/day%25202%2520parts/69-72plymouthbarracuda.jpg&amp;imgrefurl=http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php%3Fubb%3Dshowflat%26Number%3D274402&amp; usg=__IiGFak8ai-Fs9q9FU8M5XCwNzOs=&amp;h=298&amp;w=400&amp;sz=24&amp;hl=en&amp;start=6 9&amp;zoom=0&amp;um=1&amp;itbs=1&amp;tbnid=RJquyuughzSHxM:&amp;tbnh=92 &amp;tbnw=124&amp;prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnmw%2Btow%2Btabs%26start%3D54%26um%3D 1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den% 26ndsp%3D18%26tbm%3Disch&amp;ei=i7abTenTKYiU0QGa18DlAg )

2. Where the heck is Dave &quot;Whitetop&quot;? We were lucky enough to have him comment on this thread and want to make sure he knows there is a welcoming fan base here that misses him <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[Plowman]

Hey Tommy, here's the weight box you asked about. Little different color orange than yours.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/DSCN2670.jpg

I've got 3 of the DS loops, one with black lettering and the others with orange. All are bare steel and the mounting holes down the middle.

The one tow bar pin I threw in there is an original and the other two are Stainless Steel thanks to Nova Jed!

[copo69]

I also hope Dave stays around and contributes to this forum.

[Tommy]

Me too !


Tommy <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[PxTx]

Here is an interesting one. Lakewood tow tabs were painted orange, similar to NMW. These two items were originally purchased in the early 1970's.

I wonder who copied who in the color department? Did NMW copy Lakewood with yellow, as Dave Miller alluded or did Lakwood copy NMW? Maybe they both did. I think Lakewood started using yellow as a signature color in 1970. I know earlier traction bars were black.

Original paint Lakewood Tow Tabs
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/LakewoodTabs.jpg

Original Paint Lakewood Tow Hubs
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/LakewoodHubs.jpg

Repost of the Lakwood Catalog
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/Lakewood2.jpg

[resto4u]

I think the color was a safety reason. Walking around the car and running your calf into one of these things might sting and leave a good bruise.

[Chevy454]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">2. Where the heck is Dave &quot;Whitetop&quot;? We were lucky enough to have him comment on this thread and want to make sure he knows there is a welcoming fan base here that misses him <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif </div></div>
Some folks have either forgotten (Dave included) or simply weren't around for the parting gift he left for us several years ago...but here's the last line of that post:

<span style="font-weight: bold">Thursday, Feb 23, 2006 @ 01:01 PM

&quot;Moderators. This will be me last post and I would prefer to be banned please of my own free will and choosing&quot;</span>

[PxTx]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: resto4u</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think the color was a safety reason. Walking around the car and running your calf into one of these things might sting and leave a good bruise. </div></div>

Jeeze, I've never done that with the hitch on my truck <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/cry.gif

[PxTx]

I'm sorry to read that. The recent post he made started off on the right foot. I'm guessing his voluntary ban will remain beyond his choosing. Hopefully there was some dialog before he re-joined or at the very least before he was shut down again.

I realize non of us are saints. I just feel the solution (if there can be one) may not come entirely from one side. Probably a hopeful, but ignorant statment as I did not follow the build-up to the 2006 final post.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: resto4u</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think the color was a safety reason. Walking around the car and running your calf into one of these things might sting and leave a good bruise. </div></div>

Sounds quite logical - learn something every day. Wonder why the traction / ladder bars were so bright? That had to be for 'getting noticed', <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

All this talk has me ready to unpack those NOS ladder bars I bought a couple of years ago - I couldn't find the thread where I bought them, so I don't even recall what type they are! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/eek.gif

[PxTx]

Found pics of these NOS Chevelle ones form a 2009 SYC post. Your are orange too, right Marlin?

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/5236/ladderbars1so3.jpg

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7851/ladderbars5oz6.jpg

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Mine are yellow - I believe, <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif I opened the box this morning, found the part number and the instructions. I know mine are not for a leaf spring car, but I planned to adapt them.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h68/aacorp/LadderBarspartnumber.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h68/aacorp/LadderBarsinstructionsheet.jpg

[BJCHEV396]

Anyone know where I can get pins for my newly bought tow tabs?Thanks.Bill.

[Salvatore]

A good hardware or and Industrial Supply store will have them.

[JRSully]

I left the tabs yellow because that is what they were originally NOS. They contrast pretty good, IMO, with 70 Fathom Blue. But again, somedays I want to yank them off, other days I'm fine with the look. I suppose if I start seeing them all over the place, on every car I look at, that might sway me. My $.02

[chevyandpontiac]

Hey Paul, When you solve these NMW mystery what are you going to work on next? Good job with the information you have gotten!

Dan R.

[PxTx]

Nice to see you drop by Dan! There is some more NMW stuff to talk about. We'll see how long this thread drags on for.

Wanna take a guess how many people reached out to call the old NMW phone numbers? Speculation on my part, and I don't know the answer, but I would bet one dollar it's more than 1 person. When these old things can bring $300+ dollars it can be motivating to come out of retirement, or so I hear!

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/nmwpman.jpg

[PxTx]

Matt K just posted a set of NMW 68 Chevelle Tow Tabs for sale here: http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&amp;Number=448685#Post4486 85 Good luck with them Matt.

http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo175/fast67vellen2o/DSC08608.jpg

These are an early number part and are silver paint, which I've loosely identified to possibly have been more popular color in the earlier production tabs.

These are the TB11 tabs. The ones for a 69 Chevelle are TB53. Big difference in the numbers, which got me to thinking. As a baseline, I know the universal tow tabs were pictured in print in the 1969 ad found in this thread. The universal tow tabs were P/N UTB-12. Is there any chance tow tabs TB1 through TB11 were actually produced all around the same time (or earlier)?

I'm not really sure if they made a TB1 or TB2, but TB3 identified the tabs for 55-64 Corvette and TB9 is the next lowest number on the reference sheet posted earlier in this thread. The TB9 is for 67/68 Camaro, which was a very popular car to race- ergo a popular chassis to produce tabs for ealier on. Maybe the UTB12 used to be called TB1, but I doubt it.

[Tommy]

My TB53's are orange


Tommy <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[Fast67VelleN2O]

Here is a pretty good reference photo of some NMW stuff. 67-68 Camaro tabs (both sets are sold by the way) in both orange and yellow. A pair of universal tabs in orange. And a tow bar in orange (still have).

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthrea...6281#Post446281 (http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&amp;Main=44363&amp;Number=4462 81#Post446281)

[PxTx]

I am not arguing that they could have been any color. I am looking for opinions on which ones were the 1st to be produced, and when they started to offer them.

For example, did the tb9 start in 1968 or 1970 or ????

[Fast67VelleN2O]

What year did the company start selling towing equipment?

[MosportGreen66]

A kind thank you extended to Matt for the tip and sale of these puppies... Very excited for a pair of '69 NMW Camaro Tow Tabs on my Z28!

Thank you Matt!

Dan

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/mosportgreen66/DSC08606.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/mosportgreen66/DSC08607.jpg

[BJCHEV396]

Glad you snagged a set Dan.Are you going to keep 'em orange?

[MosportGreen66]

Thanks, Bill. Right back at you! What color are you going with?

I'm going to clean them and keep them orange. I like the patina look.

Dan

[Jim Ferron]

This color... http://www.classicperformance.com/ebay_pics/tabs.jpg

Mine WERE original paint, before I blasted 'em ...I sprayed some John Deere Yellow on one and the match was EXACT.

[Tommy]

I took a close look at my TB30's and they were silver under the black paint.



Tommy <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[PxTx]

Took the oppurtunity at the MCACN show to get a good look at the RG 69 Motion Camaro wiht the &quot;fabricated tow tabs&quot; and even spoke to Joel about them.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/DSCN3102.jpg

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/MCACN2011044.jpg

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/MCACN2011037.jpg

Just like many racing parts, the final fit and finish is up to the end user. Black is just as appropriate as any other color.

To help figure out when NMW began making chassis specific tabs, I present the following from the RG Camaro, I would be interested to hear some opinions.

The 1967/68 tabs part number TB9 look like this:
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/TB9.jpg

I seem to see some familiar elements in the RG car.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/DSCN3123.jpg

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/MCACN2011052.jpg

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/MCACN2011054m.jpg

They may have used, 69 Camaro tabs or 67/68 ones but neither will fit a Camaro with an Endura bumper.

[Salvatore]

I love that handy work in the old days. Bottom line......they worked!

[mockingbird812]

Good info. Consensus was the the tow bar was locally fabricated. It was VERY heavy as I repositioned it a couple of times.

[PxTx]

Sure, that thing wouldn't ship too well either like the popular NMW one. Joel thinks they bought the tow hubs and tabs from NMW at the same time. Then had to do the fab to get them to work. I should have asked about the bar, but I didn't. Prior to it being chromed, it was clear that it was locally made one-off.

[PxTx]

Here is another interesting one. Original owner (Lud) BM Camaro. Spoke to Lud about the car. It is very original, but the tow tabs were built and installed by Lud, less than 3 months after owning the car!

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/MCACN2011021.jpg

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/MCACN2011027.jpg

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/MCACN2011025.jpg

So often we hear storied of things being a certain way when new. Lud was pretty cool telling how the car was actually a lot faster than he 1st expected. Quickly learned that the street racing he thought he wanted to do proved to be too dangerous with a car like this. Tow tabs went on. Car went to the race track. Joel delived the performace and Lud delived as a driver. Simple recipe for a whinner!

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/MCACN2011020.jpg

[PxTx]

I thought this is interesting. Here is a TB3 which is numerically the lowest part number NMW lists. Basically they have the TB3 for 56-62 Corvette, then the next is TB9 for 1967/8 Camaro, then UTB12 for the Universal and back to TB13 for 68 GTO.

I would love to know which tab NMW made 1st and when. I've read some of the speculation on the net. Not sure I agree.

The final finish on the edges of the TB3 do seem to be slightly different, with rounded corners of bolt tabs and such. I wonder if later TB3 look any different? I know there are ealry and late design TB30's.

TB3 is my dad's and the sticker is an eBay repop.

[resto4u]

my nos 67 tabs are painted silver. Tow bar is also silver. I am going to paint mine orange or yellow. I don't want people at shows knocking their leg against them. Roger

[PxTx]

Do you know when your items were manufactured? I would love to see pictures of the silver tow bar before you paint it. Is it even assembled if it is NOS? What does the box look like? Thanks!

[day2killa]

So, I finished mocking up my set of toe tabs on the 69, the interior color of the car is red. My thought was painting the tabs red to kind of bring the inside of the car out, any thoughts?

[PxTx]

John, these looks great in RED on you car. Nice choice and matches the red gut nicely!

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h31/oldprobmx/DSC00750.jpg

[PxTx]

From 1972 looks like Lakewood was offering their bar.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/5457852152_bfd4618d98_z.jpg

[day2killa]

Thanks Paul for the compliments

[PxTx]

Just giving this another poke after seeing what Rich did with a set of tow tabs and some NMW decals. I think he may have just started a new trend on &quot;What Color Should My Tow Tabs Be?&quot;

[quote=Mr. Chevy]Installed some tow tabs on the Nova.....

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj37/RICHRUTT/Picture5717.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj37/RICHRUTT/Picture5718.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj37/RICHRUTT/Picture5719.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/493753/1

[beater68427]

Tow tabs in the day were made in a garage by a guy who did not have $235.00 for a trailer.. chrome tow bars perfect tabs powder coated did not exist.... In the day it was a necessity to get to the race.... today seems to be a bit more like a fasion statement... I say paint em pink with rhinestones..

[PxTx]

You're right man. Just like Bias ply tires, tunnel ram, and non-overdrive manual transmissions, vintage gauges and on and on.

I'm sure some guys may have been able to afford a trailer but chose to flat tow because they didn't have the space to store a trailer, or several other good reasons. Ones with patina are really in demand.

Thanks for the kind words on them being perfect <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

[Nukledragger]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: beater68427</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Tow tabs in the day were made in a garage by a guy who did not have $235.00 for a trailer.. chrome tow bars perfect tabs powder coated did not exist.... In the day it was a necessity to get to the race.... today seems to be a bit more like a fasion statement... I say paint em pink with rhinestones.. </div></div>

Dead on! I'm glad someone finally said this. Tow tabs in &quot;the day&quot; were not jewelry. No one was proud of them. They generally signified that you couldn't afford a trailer. If you had them, the were used. Therefore, they were beat up or generally home made.

JMHO
ND

[wheelhop]

So I guess from that logic, we all should put a couple dents in our restored cars, take the fresh paint out of the engine compartment, and put a few rips and tears in our re-upholstered seats.

[whitetop]

As to TB color I go with black. I always go with what was popular in the day to be correct. I always refer back to those NY based mags of the 70's.Street Racer, Street Power etc which seemed like very car of the day used tabs (they were all NY based cars) and 95% were painted black. The next most popular color was white and a handful in chrome for the show cars

Never saw any of them in any other color that I can remember but being these cars are modified the greatness of this is you can paint them any color you choose and nothing is wrong..

[Nukledragger]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wheelhop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So I guess from that logic, we all should put a couple dents in our restored cars, take the fresh paint out of the engine compartment, and put a few rips and tears in our re-upholstered seats. </div></div>
No sir. I was simply applying logic to tow tabs. Interiors and paint jobs are discussed in other threads.

[Plowman]

N.Y. based 70's street racers,only looked at who was Winning and Money.

[PxTx]

I thought this was pretty cool. I've questioned in the past when did NMW transition from the generic tow tabs to the chassis specific ones. Here is a September 1969 article which features NMW TB28 tow tabs for a 1966-1968 Mustang.

Anyone know or feel differently about items such as early Corvette TB3 and 1967/68 Camaro TB9 <span style="font-weight: bold">NOT</span> being manufactured before the TB28s? I would guess that publishing in 1969 usually meant you actually had the magazine layout done about 3 months prior to print. I am comfortable with the idea that chassis specific tabs were around by early 1969. Maybe some of those early Part Numbers were even out in 1968! They look pretty darn nice too!

One other thing, anyone have one of those cool &quot;Super Street Cars&quot; Magazine decals for sale?

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/hubarticle.jpg

[Fast67VelleN2O]

I have a pair of 67-68 tabs for my 1967 Mustang Fastback. I haven't installed them yet but will update when I do.

[PxTx]

I picked up these TB-13 tabs recently. I recall seeing a set of tabs in blue, and with the 1969 Catalog featuring the blue color theme, I thought that may have been an original color for them. These TB-13 turned out to have been originally silver in color.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/20140306_072303_zps6hrcvqfz.jpg (http://s710.photobucket.com/user/Plowman7/media/Tow%20Tabs/20140306_072303_zps6hrcvqfz.jpg.html)

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/NMWblue15x375.jpg (http://s710.photobucket.com/user/Plowman7/media/Tow%20Tabs/NMWblue15x375.jpg.html)


These still have the BIS for Bethlehem Steel on the bolts! I think it is kinda neat they have hung around together all these years. FYI, the TB-13 are for 1968 GTO.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/20140306_072442_zps5qdbfj7y.jpg (http://s710.photobucket.com/user/Plowman7/media/Tow%20Tabs/20140306_072442_zps5qdbfj7y.jpg.html)

Here they are next to some TB-9 tabs for 67/68 Camaro. I think the silver color on these is original.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/20140306_072811_zpsuitelxcz.jpg (http://s710.photobucket.com/user/Plowman7/media/Tow%20Tabs/20140306_072811_zpsuitelxcz.jpg.html)

Interesting the rounded tab is so much smaller between the two.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/20140306_072839_zpsi7ghvfmc.jpg (http://s710.photobucket.com/user/Plowman7/media/Tow%20Tabs/20140306_072839_zpsi7ghvfmc.jpg.html)

So these TB-13 tabs were originally silver. They were painted blue with overspray and such on the bolts. Though there seems to have been a few colors NMW painted their tabs, I stand by my opinion that there is no wrong color for them. Many of the end user's painted them to suite the theme of their car.

To be honest, there is a part of me that likes the tabs and bar to match in color. If you have a bar that is nice enough &quot;as is&quot; I might just try and match that. Otherwise paint them all to match. You can't go wrong with anything you do to them.

[PxTx]

Dan asked in a recent &quot;for sale&quot; post about what these pins look like for reference. I've never run across the 1st generation pins, like in the article above, but here are the very popular BIS (Bethlehem Steel) pins for reference.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/20140312_214428_zpso0w634qn.jpg (http://s710.photobucket.com/user/Plowman7/media/Tow%20Tabs/20140312_214428_zpso0w634qn.jpg.html)

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/20140312_214451_zpskhagdhgf.jpg (http://s710.photobucket.com/user/Plowman7/media/Tow%20Tabs/20140312_214451_zpskhagdhgf.jpg.html)

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/20140312_214459_zpsyshqlsyz.jpg (http://s710.photobucket.com/user/Plowman7/media/Tow%20Tabs/20140312_214459_zpsyshqlsyz.jpg.html)

[PxTx]

WOW! I had emailed the seller but never heard back. I was curious if they were BIS logo pins or other. Really neat to see them still new!

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/Screenshot_2014-05-19-22-03-56_zpsvvciotdd.png (http://s710.photobucket.com/user/Plowman7/media/Tow%20Tabs/Screenshot_2014-05-19-22-03-56_zpsvvciotdd.png.html)




http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/_3-10_zpsxvizzsat.jpeg (http://s710.photobucket.com/user/Plowman7/media/Tow%20Tabs/_3-10_zpsxvizzsat.jpeg.html)

[Mr70]

Paul
That's JoeC selling those,who's a member here on sYc.
Extremely knowledgeable in YENKO dealership &amp; speed parts in general.
He was just on here this AM.
Contact info:
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/users/11/JoeC

[Mayhem]

$200 for pins and clips? WOW.
Or is there more to this ad? Surely tabs, or bar, or something?

[PxTx]

I recently saw a fellow selling these bars on ebay. I thought he did a good job with pics that shows the subtle differences between an NMW bar and a Lakewood. They both started with an Ideal brand tow latch.

Note how NMW used individual bolts to attache the Ideal latch.
alsi, the wide bar has a slightly different attaching design.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/_3-18_zpspijn7m8t.jpeg (http://s710.photobucket.com/user/Plowman7/media/Tow%20Tabs/_3-18_zpspijn7m8t.jpeg.html)

This Lakewood bar uses through bolts and spacers at the latch. I also dig the Lakewood logo decal. I love it when I find an NMW with a nice logo decal- though they are rare.
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/_3-12_zpsucsluqkf.jpeg (http://s710.photobucket.com/user/Plowman7/media/Tow%20Tabs/_3-12_zpsucsluqkf.jpeg.html)


Here are the Lakewood style pins included with the Lakewood bar.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/Tow%20Tabs/_3-27_zpsv0ukmoqg.jpeg (http://s710.photobucket.com/user/Plowman7/media/Tow%20Tabs/_3-27_zpsv0ukmoqg.jpeg.html)

[GotGrunt]

Resurrecting an old thread here but have some questions regarding a pair of TB30 tabs I personally pulled off an old race car that was parked a long time ago. They were painted black but I can see the original silver paint in some areas indicating they are an earlier design. I took a few pics comparing them to another pair of TB30 tabs I have which are NOS, originally red but someone painted them silver. The mounting flange dimensions are the same as well as the overall length of the tab, but the earlier ones are definitely much beefier. I’ve had a whole bunch of different TB30 tabs over the years, including a pair that had a curved mounting flange with a plug weld (included a photo of that pair as well) but none that were this thick.

Anyone else have a pair like this???