Martinique Blue was a one-year-only color in 1978. This 1978 Pontiac Trans Am is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the data tag on the cowl indicates that it is a Code 24 Martinique Blue car. It was repainted about 25 years ago, and it looks to be a shade dark from the factory color. The Trans Am is listed here on eBay with two days remaining in the auction. The car has been bid to $11,600, which is pretty strong considering its condition.
In 1978, Pontiac provided various engine options for the Trans Am, contingent upon geographic location and specific ordering preferences. The standard offering was the L78 400 cubic inch V8 engine, coupled with an automatic transmission, delivering a power output of 180 horsepower. This Trans Am was originally from California and could only be ordered with the 403 cubic inch V8 engine, exclusively available with the GM Turbo Hydramatic 350 automatic transmission, yielding 185 horsepower. For enthusiasts seeking heightened performance capabilities who did not live in California, the preferred selection was the W72 400 cubic inch V8 engine. Enhanced with new dual exhausts, the engine was rated at an underrated 220 horsepower in 1978. The W72 engine could be paired with either an automatic transmission or a Borg Warner T-10 4-speed manual transmission.
The white interior is worn, cracked, and faded. The foam grip on the wheel looks like a rat used it for lunch, and the center emblem on the horn cap is missing. The dash also has a chunk removed. The car has the base interior but was optioned with power windows, air conditioning, and an automatic transmission. Check out the console. It looks like someone sat on it, but these can be purchased aftermarket and look like new.
The hood bird for the 1978 Trans Am was the last year of this design (1973-1978). In 1979, the bird was enlarged to cover more of the hood. This example is equipped with 15×7 aluminum snowflake wheels. If these wheels were 15×8 and came from the factory, it indicates that the car has the WS6 handling package. This car will be a project, although the sheet metal looks solid. It will need a mechanical restoration, paint, and a new interior. Once completed, it will be a lovely car.
Needs a little bit of everything and a lot of money.
The link to the eBay listing is missing. Thanks
Nothing desirable about this car except for power windows and A/C, the 403 is junk, it’s no t tops, it’s without the handling pkg, it’s ugly and if you did it rite it wouldn’t be original, 78 still had the better Pontiac 400,I’d hold out
Had a ‘78 Formula in this color. Light blue interior. It looked good but had a 305 V8 so it was lacking any giddy up.
I too had a 78Formula in this color. I special ordered it in this color with the white interior. I unfortunately ordered the 305/Auto because the insurance rates were so high on the engine/trans combo that I really wanted (400/4 speed). I also ordered it without the radio and AC. The car looked great but was a real “dog” in the power dept. My “test” drive at the dealership was a solar gold Trans AM with the 400/4 speed. A quick car at the time. Miss these times and special cars.
What was the actual Martinique Blue? Was it the same as Chevy’s Bright Blue Metallic from this time?