Due to a fear of rust, many enthusiasts seek out classics from favorable climates to park in their garages. That fact and its inherent desirability help explain why this 1973 Pontiac Trans Am has generated considerable interest since it hit the market. It is a prime restoration candidate, with only a couple of isolated rust spots. It retains its 455ci V8 under the hood, teamed with a four-speed manual transmission. Barn Finder Curvette has a finely-tuned classic radar, so I must say a big thank you for spotting the Trans Am listed here on eBay in Costa Mesa, California. The seller set their BIN at $49,750 with the option to make an offer.
Pontiac made a few cosmetic upgrades to the Second Generation Firebird range in 1973, including a revised nose, new colors, and the first appearance of the hood decal soon christened the “Screaming Chicken.” One new paint shade for 1973 was Buccaneer Red, the color chosen by this Trans Am’s first owner. The seller confirms that the vehicle retains its original paint and that close inspection will reveal cosmetic shortcomings. The Screaming Chicken has succumbed to UV exposure, and the paint is failing on a few surfaces. There is also a dent in the passenger-side door. However, this Blue-Plate survivor is almost completely rust-free. There is a small spot on the filler between the back window and the trunk lid, and a small area on the front hood lip. Beyond that, this beauty is rock-solid. Therefore, a cosmetic restoration should be relatively straightforward.
The first owner showed restraint when ordering this Trans Am. They ticked the boxes beside air conditioning and an AM radio, but didn’t select items like power windows or a console. The A/C is inoperative, which is the only identified functional fault. Cosmetically, it is begging for new seatcovers and a carpet set. However, the remaining Black vinyl looks acceptable for a driver-grade classic, and the dash and pad are excellent. Whipping the interior into shape should cost the buyer under $1,000
The beating heart of this beast is Pontiac’s glorious 455ci V8. The first owner teamed the motor with a four-speed M21 close-ratio manual transmission, power steering, and power front disc brakes. The V8 should produce 250hp and 370 ft/lbs of torque, with both figures an improvement over what buyers received from a Camaro Z28 or a Mustang Mach 1. The seller confirms that the Trans Am is a numbers-matching survivor. It is also a turnkey proposition that runs and drives well. Someone installed headers and a new aluminum radiator as the only known modifications. There is an exhaust leak and a couple of other minor faults. However, apart from the exhaust, which should be addressed for safety reasons, none are severe enough to warrant immediate attention.
Some classics slip under the radar when they hit the market, but this 1973 Pontiac Trans Am isn’t one of them. The Listing View and Watch List tallies of 259 and 87, respectively, confirm it has struck a chord with enthusiasts. That is understandable, because its lack of significant rust makes it a prime restoration candidate. The seller’s BIN isn’t cheap, and might be all that stands between the Pontiac and a new home. Of course, we have probably all seen situations where someone’s heart has ruled their head, spending more than they originally intended on the car of their dreams. Do you believe that will be the case this time?
I’m amazed this has been for sale for over a few weeks.
Too much $ for the condition. Un-realistic price….that’s why it’s sitting.
Agreed. Project at 50k? Don’t think so. The numbers are just getting ridiculous.
Ridiculous prices are nothing new, in the early-1980’s me and a couple of friends would meet at the 7-11 on Fridays to get the latest copy of local Auto Trader. One of the highlights was to laugh at the overpriced cars. The only difference between then and now is, good deals are less common and forums like this let people throughout the country/world see these ads.
Like some this has a passenger car 455, not a Super Duty, it’s desirable, but not as desirable as the seller thinks.
Steve R
Auto Hunter was the name of the magazine in our area that gave us the laughs. You could find some good deals in there among the gougers but like most magazines, it slowly got taken over by huge dealership ads that choked out all of the good deals.
I did sell a Camaro through it in ’85.
DS- It would be interesting to see your price data for this year, engine, trans combo.
Runs and drives, no east coast rust. Drive it as is don’t restore. I wouldn’t call that a project car per se. If you did restore it, you’d be upside down because it’s not an SD.
Fixing the obnoxious header leak before would have gone a long way in someone pulling the trigger.
Until now I would have bet anything a console came standard in the T/A.
Surprised they managed to find 252 buyers for the SD in ‘73, since $550 was a lot to swallow for only 40 more ponies.
How times have changed; this vehicle cost five grand new, which is $800 less than the sound system in my Porsche…
The sd-455 was actually more than 40 hp with a lot of HD internal parts.
If u got the optional automatic, COLUMN! shift was standard even with sd-455 if u didnt get the console.
Wild a column shift SD455 Joe. Agree with you on the motor. The Super Dutys had all the goodies on board. Legendary engines.
Column shift in an SD is no different than seeing one in a Superbird. Many were actually sold that way.
A column shift on an SD is no different than seeing one in a Superbird. Many of them were sold that way.
PRA4SNW, col shift very very rare in a 2nd gen t/a – no bench seat was avail, but was avail in a superbird.
Joe, thanks for pointing that out. I meant that many came in the Superbird, I am not familiar enough with the T/A.
It does make sense that it would be a rarity in a bucket seat T/A, although I do recall seeing (probably here at BF) a couple of plain ‘ol Firebirds / Camaros with column automatic.
There have been at least 3 column shift (1) 1970, (2) 1973 column shift Trans Ams featured on this site. As well as several early second generation Z28’s.
I read in an old copy of High Performance Pontiac that they surmised many were ordered by mistake. They thought someone unfamiliar with the ordering process didn’t realize an automatic transmission didn’t automatically come with a console, which had to be ordered separately. That makes sense, read the Marti reports for 428 CJ and SCJ as well as Boss 302 and see how many came with “conventional” (open), rear ends.
Steve R
I had a 73 also, Buccaneer Red (no chicken on the hood) with factory AC, 4 speed, honeycombs, console and the electrically heated rear window, with the wire grids bonded to the glass, not the common blower type and a AM/FM radio. Not the fastest, but enjoyable to drive.
Not a SD455 and I don’t see honeycombs. I think $30k max. Of course, if I purchased it, I’d get right on the interior and maybe sweeten up that 455. Perhaps modern exhaust and brakes. And sound. A OG restoration would put you in the hole.
Okay, the price is ridiculous. It needs a lot of work and $$$ just to make it a nice rest mod. And it’s just not worth it when the starting price is so high.
50k! Maybe after you invest 15-20k in restorations. No wonder it’s sitting.
Brad Foster, agreed. Seems that the guys that think every car that isn’t perfect needs a full restoration have little experience, even less money and don’t know much about vintage cars. There’s just something about an original old thing that’s never been apart or monkeyed with.
Like everyone has stated, if this was a SD, it’d have been sold. The SD was unlike the regular 455’s. It was a culmination of the greatest Pontiac had to offer and a step up from the 455HO, with extra webbing in the lifter valley and 4 bolt mains. I have been searching for a clean 1973 T/A in Brewster Green, with the SD that doesn’t require a 30 year mortgage.