For people who hate making decisions, the 1971 Pontiac Trans Am must’ve been a revelation. The company offered it with a single-engine, and potential buyers had to choose whether they wanted to undertake shifting duties themselves or whether the transmission should do all of the work. This 1971 Trans Am is a tidy survivor that seems to need nothing. It runs and drives and is begging for a new owner to take it home. Located in Port Saint Lucie, Florida, you will find this Pontiac listed for sale here on eBay. Light bidding has seen the price crawl to $52,000, but this is short of the reserve. The owner offers a BIN of $58,500, and you have to wonder whether one of the ninety-six people watching the auction might be tempted to hit the button before the auction ends.

For buyers looking for a turn-key survivor, this Trans Am has to be a hot ticket. It rolled off the line finished in Cameo White, and the owner says that there has been no prior accident damage. The paint holds a good shine for its age, with no blemishes or problems. The panels are laser straight, and the gaps are about as tight and consistent as you are ever likely to find on a Pontiac from this era. The big news surrounds rust, or more accurately, the lack of it. The exterior looks clean, with nothing visible in the lower extremities or around the back window. It isn’t lulling you into a false sense of security because the seller assures us that the vehicle’s underside is equally impressive. The trim is in good order, as is the glass. The owner refers to the wheels as Snowflake, but a quick glance reveals them to be the original Rally items. He has recently fitted these with a new set of tires from the good people at BF Goodrich.

Lifting the hood brings us to the business end of the deal with this Pontiac. The engine bay is occupied by the numbers-matching 455ci “HO” V8. This brute should be churning out an impressive 335hp. All of that power has to find its way to the bitumen, and it does so via the rear wheels and a four-speed manual transmission. That makes it the most desirable combination offered by Pontiac in that model year, and the inclusion of power steering and power brakes should make it easy to handle. Point this beast at the ¼ mile, and the journey will be a memory in 14.3 seconds. The Trans Am may be considered a pony car, but those figures cement its muscle car credentials. The engine bay presents well for its age, and it doesn’t flatter to deceive. The owner says it runs and drives well, making it a confirmed turn-key proposition for its next owner.

The originality of this Trans Am continues when we open the doors and survey the interior. It seems that this is another aspect of the car that has never been restored. Apart from a CD player, it is also unmolested. The interior is trimmed in Sandlewood vinyl, and its condition is remarkable for its color and age. The seats show no marks or stains, and physical flaws seem limited to some slight stretching on the driver’s seat. The remaining upholstered surfaces are in good order, as are the dash and pad. The carpet is marked around where the driver’s right foot would sit, but I find that forgivable in a car of this age. The original owner ordered this Pontiac with air conditioning, and it appears that this is in working order.

When I look at fantastic cars like this 1971 Trans Am, it is hard to believe that a company capable of producing automobiles of this caliber could disappear due to financial rationalizing. However, that was the fate of Pontiac, and I doubt that General Motors would consider reviving the brand in the foreseeable future. This vehicle looks like a clean and original survivor that is ready to be driven and enjoyed by a new owner. The BIN price means that this isn’t a car that someone will buy with pocket change, representing a significant investment. However, that BIN is also in the ballpark for a clean and original vehicle, which is what this appears to be. That’s why I wouldn’t be surprised to see someone hit the button well before the auction is due to close. Are you tempted to be that person?