“Will need full restoration” is not a phrase I typically seek when looking at collector car ads. This one, however, will be a head-turner when that restoration is complete. This 1977 Pontiac Trans Am was sent in by a Barn Finds reader who found it here on eBay in Milan, Tennessee. The reserve appears to have been met after 5 bids have pushed the current high bid to $6,600.
With little to no pony car competition, the GM F-bodies were flying high in the late 1970s. That 1977 model year was a big one production wise for the Firebird family as it saw a 40% increase in production from 1976, possibly spurred by the refreshed exterior. The tide would start to turn in 1980, but Pontiac built 155,736 F-body cars in 1977 – 68,745 of those were Trans Ams.
As I led with, the seller says this Trans Am “will need full restoration.” It, at the least, would benefit from it. That Special Edition package, especially against the Starlight Black paint, is a well-known look. The new slant nose and quad rectangular headlights, in my opinion, anyway, breathed some freshness into a design that was borderline tired. I’ll describe the exterior as “worn.” The seller offers a bit more detail: “Car has rust in trunk pan, floor pan, usual places on a T/A. Sub frame is good but rear frame has rust.”
This inside may be usable after a very deep cleaning, but I’d assume with the caliber of restoration this T/A will likely receive on the exterior, the interior will be done to match. I’ll give this example bonus points for being equipped with black vinyl interior. If you don’t like to reach across the console to improve ventilation, you’re in luck – this Trans Am left the factory with power windows…and t-tops!
Under the hood is a 6.6L 400 cubic-inch V8 backed by a console shifted automatic transmission. The drivetrain is numbers matching, but the seller says it is seized. Mechanically and cosmetically there’s plenty of restoration work to be done in that engine bay.
The seller clearly isn’t happy about selling this Trans Am and believe they’ll never find another. There are 6 other Starlight Black 1977 Special Edition Trans Ams listed on eBay alone at the time of writing, so they’re not terribly uncommon. Price for well-restored examples are high, so if you’ve been looking for one to restore yourself, maybe this is the one.
Hi, how much was this?
For starters, it has been refinished with incorrect decals many years ago, steering wheel is not correct, front arrow is not correct, etc. I’d be going over this one with a fine tooth comb to verify what it actually is. PHS indicates it is real, which is good and important.
Is this a ’79 style hood bird? Not a fan.
I thought all ’73-78’s got the same basic hood bird design.
Car is sittin mighty high – good i guess if u live in da boonies off a dirt road.
Good price for a new 1 w/o all those options – excluiding $50 for motor. Even automatic no xtra charge!
Try that today!
A true Y84 black special edition would have all exterior window frames blacked out, a gold engine tuned dash, a gold steering wheel and console. It would also have gold color headlight surrounds. Agreed, this car Also has the wrong decal package. I would want to see some documentation on this car if I were to purchase it.
SOLD for $6,800.