Pontiac was just getting started with the 4th year of the 2nd generation Trans Am in 1973. They expanded the color pallet and introduced the big hood bird in 1973. From 1970-1972, the Trans Am was only available with white with a blue stripe or blue with a white stripe paint schemes. In 1973, you could order a Trans Am in Cameo White, Brewster Green or Buccaneer Red. This car is located in Detroit, Michigan. It is reported to have 58,300 miles on the odometer. It is listed here on Craigslist for $58,000 or best reasonable offer. We appreciate Tony Primo for sending us this link.
The 1973 Trans Am had only two engine options. Both were Pontiac 455 cubic inch V8 engines. The base engine option was the Y Code 455 cubic inch V8 engine producing 250 horsepower and 370 lb ft of torque. The other option was the much rarer X Code Super Duty455 cubic inch V8 engine, producing 290 horsepower and 390 lb ft of torque. Having owned both, the difference is apparent. The Y Code is reliable and smooth running. The Super Duty engine, found in only 252 Trans Ams, is highly prized by collectors and noticeably more powerful.
This Trans Am has the custom deluxe black vinyl interior which came with “horsecollar” seats and upgraded door panels. What is unique about this car is that it is equipped with a column shift automatic transmission. If a buyer order a 1973 Trans Am with no console option and an automatic transmission, the shift lever was moved to the column. This is generally considered not very sporty and harder to shift while going through the gears.
The car looks great and is said to be originally owned in the western US. The Trans Am rides on 15×7 Pontiac Rally II wheels Cooper Cobra Tires. The car is said to have been featured in a magazine and has been kept 100% original. There were 4,802 Trans Ams built by Pontiac in 1973 out of a total production of 46,313 Firebirds. So would you change this car?
BJ does yours have the same powertrain and 2.41posi..
How does it drive ?
Sorry All, no idea how I posted the same comment on this car, as the last red Bird. 🍻 🥴 anyways I bet this one moves down the road very nicely, effortlessly.
I’d drive it as is
This is such a beautiful car, but the column shifter just kills it for me. I’m not judging, but I don’t understand the logic in ordering this car without a console.
But that column shifter sets it apart from all the “mundane” floor-shift T/A’s! What’s really unique is it’s a bucket seat cat car w/o a console.
Sorry, please omit the ‘cat’!….fat fingers strike again!
Seeing a column shifter in this car makes you wonder how many of the early second generation Z28’s and Trans Am’s came equipped that way because the original owner didn’t realize you only got a floor shifter if you ordered a console.
Steve R
Console was a $57 option on a Camaro in 1973, so probably pretty much the same on a Firebird. If you were earning minimum wage at the time, it would have cost you 20 hours of your paycheque. Looks odd not to have a console on a GM, but thousands of Mopars have been built this way.
My first Camaro 1971 SS with a 4spd, and no console. I prefer the look, but only with a 4spd or with a bench seat if it’s a midsized car muscle car. Sure, lots of Mopars muscle cars were column shift automatics, but the vast majority were built on midsized passenger car platforms not pony cars. Barracuda’s and Challenger R/T’s don’t look right with column shifts either. The Trans Am was a rather expensive option, $57 wasn’t insignificant, but spread out the life of a loan, it’s not a huge amount either. A friend recently bought a 74 Trans Am and ordered a copy of the window sticker from PHS, there were several options, such as an upgraded AM/FM radio that cost more that twice as much as the optional 455 and console combined.
Steve R
Yes, factory stereos were a big chunk of change back in the day.
Well,I would think thats a major selling point. I’d have no problem putting a console in it,and give the new seller that beautiful column shifter lol….no charge
While I have to admit that I’ve never seen any Firebird, let alone a Trans Am without a console and having a column shifter, my brother had a 1966 GTO convertible with a factory front bench seat and a 4 speed..
Would I change it? YES! I would be forced to add air conditioning.
‘Going through the gears’??? Paging Walter Mitty.
I once owned a 1971 Firebird with a Chevrolet straight 6 engine & a 3 speed on the column! Came from the factory….
In this day, I’d consider that cool!
Another that got away… my 73, Buccaneer red, 4 speed, unitized ignition (swapped for an HEI) Honeycombs, AC, console, AM/FM, heated rear window, and no screaming chicken. Pretty stout performer for a smog car. I’d like to have another 70-73 T/A
Did someone miss the console option or was this a budget build. The transmission was a no charge option so this could even have been a dealer ad car to have the cheapest one around. Either way there’s no harm as the turbo 400 will upshift at redline regardless of where it’s positioned. Buy it, drive it and enjoy having what all the others don’t.
This is an interesting car, but I don’t think the seller could have provided much worse pictures if he’d tried.
I’m old enough to remember these cars when they were new, in fact I bought a new Trans Am in 74. Though I don’t recall seeing any TA’s or Z/28’s with a column automatic, I did know a Firebird Formula 350 with one. Regular Camaro’s and Firebird’s without a console and column automatic shifters were quite common. The base transmission in all GM F bodies was a 3 speed with a floor mounted shifter, and there were a lot of them around without consoles too. A good friend had a 70 Camaro with the 250 L-6, 3 speed floor shift and no console.
My TA was pretty basic too with the only 5 options being white lettered tires, the screaming chicken hood decal, shiny drip gutters, tilt and AM/FM stereo. No air, no console and the standard interior, but it was a 4 speed.
Oddly, back in the day, i only ever saw one ’74 z28 with the optional huge z28 decal on the hood. But i saw plenty of birds with the screaming chicken on the hood.
There were some sd-455s & even ’69 ram air iv t/a’s built with column shift autos!