It would be interesting to know how many late 1970’s Trans Ams have hit the market since the passing of The Bandit, Burt Reynolds. If the number has increased it would be easy to speculate that some are looking to capitalize on a potential upswing in the value of these cars, especially lower mileage versions like this one found here on Craigslist.
Thankfully, the 6.6 designation on the shaker hood sits over the top of a 400 Pontiac and not the 403 Olds. The seller states that the engine is all original and that they got it running immediately after being pulled from storage. It sounds like everything is in running order, with the exception of needing brake work.
The interior has its flaws but generally looks to be in pretty good shape. A good cleanup and replacing the console/armrest cover would hopefully turn this into a driver quality interior. It appears as though the biggest downside to the project was most likely caused by spending at least some of its life in Ohio – rust. The seller states that quarters, floor pans, and door bottom are all victims of the elements, but that the frame is good.
Even with only 67,000 original miles, this Trans Am is going to be quite the project. Thankfully, it sounds like it’s in pretty decent mechanical shape. This might make this a good candidate for just a cosmetic restore before hitting the streets again. So, here’s the big question: Is the $5,800 asking price justified based on the car’s current condition?
Looks like it may have been subject to quite a bit of moisture exposure during a long storage. That passenger side rear quarter panel looks terrible, and under hood looks very rusty also, including an apparent rust hole on the cowl by the data plate.
Much more rust than would have been made with that many miles on the road, even in salt.
And we didn’t even get to the underside. I would definitely have to inspect this and see. When these things start rotting it really compromises the structure.
To add, people forget that these are unibody cars with a front subframe. So when you start getting rust, you really have to watch for rusted mounting points for the front subframe and of the rear suspension mounting points too. These cars are pretty simple generally but fixing rust in these areas can be extremely difficult, if not impossible.
Looking at the rust on the body and cowl, I’m not encouraged. Definitely not a car I’d buy sight unseen.
Wow, that’s rusty. Any car with a quarter panel that flaps in the breeze likely has major rust underneath. I think I need a tetanus shot.
High dollar parts car …plenty of these left without this much rust .
Lol.im with you CC that quarter looks pretty flappy!
Strictly in terms of good taste and styling, the seventies were one of the biggest disasters in all of American history, pants, hats, hairstyles, music, colors – gag, gag, gag, and gag. Not to mention the cars, and this atrocious thing is certainly no exception from its ridiculous “shaker hood” to all of its other silly, boy-racer add-ons. Can we please close the book on this awful decade and try to pretend it never existed?
No, that would be the 80’s.
The ’80s came in at a very close second but, at the time, we were so relieved to be out of the ’70s we would have accepted just about anything.
The functional shaker on the ’70-2 t/a is rounder, taller & very kewl. & the closed up one on ’73-6’s looks the same & can easily be opened up. That does affect performance & sound.
& you do not want to forget about the 70’s only ’73-74 sd-455, ’71 boss 351, etc.
I personally think the optional hood bird, tho, on ’73-81’s is too big & applaud the hood bird delete on the above car – not seen often.
The only hood bird i like is the rejected one …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BfmxW5MQpU
Nope. It may be “original” now, but it won’t be after a complete restoration. Unfortunately its not worth the money that would have to go into it. To bad for the flipper.
When a car needs this much rust repair, does it really matter if it has 67k miles or 267k miles?
What a shame, it has way to much rust and not what’s seen underneath!!! Unfortunately over priced parts car by a flipper trying to make a large coin. Mileage does make a difference with this car and condition, sorry.
Uhhhhh….the 70’s weren’t so bad. Let’s see: Trans Ams with Ram Air III’s and Ram Air IV’s in 1970, 455 HO’s in ’71 and ’72, and of course, the Super Duty Trans Ams of ’73 and ’74? :)
Definitely great performers of the era that are bringing top dollar in restorable conditions. The biggest problems come when Pontiac was forced to incorporate Oldsmobile engines and the dreaded small-block Chevy engines into once-legendary Firebirds.
I couldn’t agree more! Once Pontiac lost their independence, and had to use everything from the GM parts bins to make their cars, the party was over. The 455 HO’s are incredible cars!
I also find the seller hilarious. First he says he has to sell to make garage space, then says he’ll trade for other cars. And if you read his ad closely, he never once uses the word “rust”. The data tag pictured from the firewall with crumbling rust holes all around it says it all. This car is falling apart structurally, and he got over his head when he bought it.
Somewhere in Arizona there is a super solid stripped Firebird shell just waiting for an oportunity like this.
At the risk of sounding rude, the restoration cost of that “67k” car would be a no win, pay for the rust free car, I promise you will be glad you did, and again, if that’s 67k, that must have been a very leaky barn. I had to go to North Dakota to get a dry rust free one, well worth the travel, cost and some deserve to be saved, some are parts cars.
Too much rust in all the worst places……Not worth the time and hassle…..Too many of them around in way better condition bodywise……
Since when did Air conditioning become super rare on those cars…
Super rare on one of those cars would be no AC with the 301 engine and column shift…..(Available as a credit delete)…Not that one equiped like that would be desirable……Generally in the car world in most cases…. Rare means unpopular…..Unpopular means less valuable……
Yet just another in a long long line of quick flips , and I love the comments ” needs the usual quarters, line, ect” out here on the west coast where we take care of our cars, those parts only usually tneed replacement from damage, never rust!!
Rare colour though ?
Never saw a white one before.
Frame condition will be all important.
A 67 k car should not have this much rust.
If you could get it for 4 grand could you make money parting it out ?
I’m in the market for a 68 Dodge Charger. Looking at all these rusted out wrecks which are being advertised for ridiculous prices has pretty much put me off.
I’m at the point where I’d rather put my money into something a bit more modern with fuel injection etc and with better handling.
A lot of these cars on here are stuffed and are nothing more than parts cars.
Too many dreamers with deep pockets I think
Scott, you obviously never lived anywhere but the left coast. When you say we don’t take care of our cars here in the rust belt, you really show your ignorance (not an insult…none of us know everything). Trying to keep a car rust-free here is impossible. The only way to prevent it is to move to a different area. I would love to live in Arizona. Then I could ride my Harleys year ’round & drop the top on my Eldo convertible whenever I want too. But most of my friends and family are here in Milwaukee, I own real estate here for investments & it just isn’t in the cards for me to move somewhere warmer at this point. So my new Hyundai daily driver will be a rusty, crunchy turd before it is paid off lol. Life goes on. Does that mean I don’t maintain my car? No. I wash it frequently, even more so in the winter. I change the oil, etc as the manufacturer says to do so. Things rust in the rust belt. That is why it is called the rust belt lol.