1-of-1: 1974 Pontiac Trans Am

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Stating that any classic car is unique can be risky, but that is what the seller claims about this 1974 Pontiac Trans Am. However, it isn’t an idle claim because they hold verifying documentation. It presents beautifully, although the supplied photos are limited. With 21,000 genuine miles on the clock, it should offer its next owner years of motoring pleasure. The Trans Am is listed here on Craigslist in Manvel, Texas. The asking price is $55,000, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Pat L. for spotting this pretty pony.

If I’ve learned one thing writing for Barn Finds, it’s that some sellers should employ a third party to shoot the photos for their listings. The ones supplied for this Trans Am are ordinary and don’t do this classic justice. However, piecing them together paints a reasonably positive picture. The car wears Buccaneer Red paint that shines impressively. No flaws or defects are worthy of mention, and the panels are as straight as an arrow. The decals look crisp and clean, but they lead me to one question about this classic. The seller emphasizes the originality of this Pontiac and states its engine bay houses the 400ci V8. However, the scoop wears “SD-455” decals. They claim this is a dealer error, but I was unaware that applying such touches was part of a dealer’s pre-delivery role. If I were considering handing over my hard-earned cash, I’d want to confirm this. The trim is flawless, as is the glass. The Trans Am rolls on Rally II wheels wearing immaculate trim rings.

Opening this Trans Am’s door reveals its claim to fame and why the seller states it is a 1-of-1 vehicle. The trim combination of Red and Black is new to me, but the seller holds the Build and Order Sheet confirming this is how it rolled off the line. I admit I’ve never seen this before, so it will be interesting to gauge reader response. The condition is impressive for a vehicle of this vintage. There is no visible wear, the dash looks excellent, and I can’t spot any crumbling plastic. The original owner didn’t add weight with factory options, although it does feature an AM radio, an 8-track player, and a rear defogger. Aftermarket additions include a CB radio, a vintage radar detector, and an altimeter. That last item puzzles me, but maybe someone thought this Firebird could actually fly!

Lifting the hood reveals this Trans Am’s 400ci V8 that produces 225hp. That power feeds to a 3.42 Posi rear end via a four-speed M20 manual transmission. Emission and safety laws impacted vehicle performance by 1974, but this car would have covered the ¼ mile in 15.8 seconds. That doesn’t sound impressive by modern standards, but it’s worth noting that things deteriorated as the 1970s progressed. The Trans Am would shadow cars like the Camaro Z28 in 1974 but would eventually show them a clean set of heels in upcoming years. The seller states that this Trans Am has a genuine 20,150 miles showing on its odometer, but fail to mention verifying evidence. The overall condition makes it plausible, but it is a question worth asking about any classic within this price range. There is no information on how it runs or drives, meaning that the list of questions keeps getting longer.

In the current classic market, the most popular version of the 1974 Pontiac Trans Am features the SD-455 V8 under the hood. Naturally, those are also the cars that command the highest values. This Trans Am doesn’t feature that motor, although its odometer reading and unique interior trim place it in elite company. The price is at the top end of the market, but if the claims are verifiable and there is a logical explanation for the odd scoop decal, it is probably justified. I don’t think the seller will be overwhelmed with potential buyers, but I won’t be surprised if it finds a new home. Will you?

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Comments

  1. Jeff

    Unless I saw bullet-proof documentation that that interior came that way, I would never believe it. Black dash and carpet with red seats and door panels, maybe. But the other way around just doesn’t make any sense. Red console between black seats is stupid looking. A black back seat against a red package tray is even “stupider” looking.

    To support the one-of-one claim, he seller simply states “I have build sheet order sheet”. But no pictures of said paperwork. Just saying something does not make it so.

    Maybe I’m wrong, but show me proof!

    Like 12
    • Will Fox

      I prepped these when they were new. A couple observations:

      1. you are correct; these did not leave the factory with BLACK seats against an otherwise red interior. NEVER.
      2. Applying the shaker decal denoting the engine size was NEVER part of dealer prep–they left the factory with those in place!
      3. Paint is way too nice for being almost 50 years old. This car has been repainted at some point, and someone put the wrong decal on the shaker!

      Like 31
  2. Gary

    Interior is butt ugly, the reason it is one of one. Nreds to be solid red. And it looks restored to me

    Like 5
  3. CadmanlsMember

    No documentation and looks really off. Is it real, I don’t think so. But that’s just an opinion and I am free to have that. But hey there is an ___ for every seat!

    Like 3
  4. greg

    Was the latch for the trunk lid painted from the factory?

    Like 2
    • Purple sky

      Yes, my 1976 Trans Am all original 455 numbers car is that way. Guess it was cheaper to put it together before going to paint.

      Like 0
  5. gbvette62

    There’s a whole lot of BS going on with this car, and from the seller!

    The 400, M-20 trans and 3:42 rear were not HD (heavy duty), they were just standard Pontiac parts. He refers to the BFG TA Radials on it as “even original replacement tires”, except the TA’s didn’t exist in 74. The TA’s OEM tires were usually a GM spec Uniroyal. And as other’s said, the shaker label was factory installed, not dealer. Someone thought it would be cool to call it an SD. The world was full of 390 badged 289 Mustangs, 307 Camaros with 396 emblems, regular LeMans with GTO badges back then.

    I also doubt his original paint claim. The “Screaming Chicken” was yellow/orange/black on 74 Buccaneer Red TA’s, not silver/red/black (silver/red/black is a 75-78 decal). The black bumpers & bumperettes were sure repainted, they were originally a satin black.

    Pontiac offered an assortment of interior colors on the 74 Firebird, including red with black seats. Except I think it should have an all red interior with just the seats in black, not the door panels. You could also get red seats in a black interior, and all red, all green, all black and all blue interiors with white seats. Solid red, saddle, green, black and blue interiors were also available. Either way, if you’re going to claim the car is a rare example, then you should pay the $95 dollars for the Pontiac Historic Services (PHS) documentation.

    I bought an Admiralty Blue, 400, 4 speed Trans Am new in 74. It was a great car and with just a few typical tune up tricks (recurved distributor, blueprinted Q-Jet, remove the shaker’s block of plate, etc), it ran 14.9 in the quarter mile.

    Like 17
    • Jeff

      This site confirms what you are saying –

      http://www.transamworld.com/interior-color-codes-70-74-bird.htm

      Says black seats in an otherwise red interior was an option (why oh why), but the door panels would be red.

      Like 1
    • Joe Padavano

      BF Goodrich released the first Radial TA tires in 1970 and raced them in SCCA on the Firebird race car.

      Like 0
    • douglas hunt

      yep, I never went that far but I did install an aftermarket distributor spring kit in my 76 Grand Prix 400 4bbl, and that alone woke it up over oem,
      I had planned on factory dual exhaust from an earlier Grand Prix, as I worked at Nationwise Auto parts and was going to order it all brand new but unfortunately a 16 year old kid knocked it out from under my girlfriend while illegally “borrowing” his grandfathers car…….it was a sweet sweet car too

      Like 0
  6. Stan StanMember

    1% chance od sneaking anything past the BF group.

    Like 15
    • Stan StanMember

      *Of damnit not od 😒

      Like 0
  7. Shuttle Guy Shuttle GuyMember

    Never try and fool anyone here on Barn Finds. To knowledgeable people here.

    Like 1
  8. David Willis

    In the Craigslist photo of the passenger-side engine, it is quite evident the head is a D-port style… The center two exhaust outlets casting is narrow. The Super Duty has round exhaust outlets and is much wider.

    Like 0
  9. bull

    Seller’s words:

    $55k
    No scammers
    No test pilots
    No Looky-loos
    SERIOUS ONLY

    AND NO PICTURE OF YOUR DOCUMENTATION IN YOU AD EITHER!

    Like 7
  10. Fran

    Cool car. But they are very overrated. Not overall good cars but if you had disco playing in it you were king!

    Like 1
    • Purple sky

      My brother, a 55 year auto tech veteran since 1967, worked at the local Pontiac dealer and said the 455 SD’s were always coming in with warranty engine problems. Could be owners beating on them or since they were bought as the daily driver back then, the engine couldn’t take to daily use?

      Like 0
  11. DA

    I’m calling Monkey Business on this one. SERIOUS monkey business. You make a claim, you back it up with documentation. Even most of the rusted out English cars have their heritage papers, after all.

    Like 1
  12. Gary Gary

    Goofball seller must think that respraying the valve covers will help verify the suggested low mileage claim. In image #9 the vent pipe to air cleaner appears to have a flash of over spray on it, besides appearing to be fresher in color than the intake manifold. As I’m writing this I went back and took a second look at all the images, and it appears, to me, that the seller must have had left over paint from the valve covers and decided to paint the base for the bumper jack the same color – see image #12. Or, is this another “dealer” error, or possibly an even rarer factory mismatch color scheme?

    Like 0
  13. douglas hunt

    I luv this year front end….with that being said I would just as soon build me a “tribute” 74 with a real 455/4speed, the red exterior can stay , but no red dash for me, especially at this price point…I guess I am just a cheap skate

    Like 1
  14. Lathebiosas

    Right, the “dealer” mistakenly put an SD455 decal on. Owner put it on to drive by onlookers who point at it and say “Wow, an SD car!”.

    Like 0
  15. poseurMember

    still smells new after 50 years because of off-gassing new carpet kit.
    the bumperettes give it away at first glance and it goes downhill from there with wrong hood decal, wrong shaker call-out, wrong interior combo.

    insulting that someone has the gall to represent this as original.
    what a travesty

    Like 2
  16. douglas hunt

    don’t know if it’s allowed or not or how to point Barn Finds to it as I can’t post links, but there is a REAL NICE 71 T/A 455 4speed with all the pics including underneath and a pic of the window sticker etc on
    Field and Barn Finds-Classic Cars/Trucks For Sale or Trade page on fb
    it is truly a work of art

    Like 0

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