Pontiac offered the 2nd generation Trans Am from 1970-1981. For the three years of 1970 through 1972, the Trans Am was available in white with a blue stripe or blue with a white stripe. This 1971 Pontiac Trans Am is located in Golden Valley, Arizona. It is listed here on Facebook Marketplace for $45,000. Pontiac built 2,116 Trans Ams in 1971 which was very low production compared to the later 1970’s which production exceeded 117,000 Trans Ams in 1979. Do you think this is a reasonable price for a running 1971 Trans Am that needs paint and interior work? Many thanks to Patrick S. for locating this rare car.
This car says it is a running and driving authentic Trans Am. All 1971 and 1972 Pontiac Trans Ams were equipped with the HO455 engine. This engine was unique and was a round port head engine that produced a tremendous amount of torque. The last round port engine was the Super Duty 455 built by Pontiac in 1973 and 1974. The HO455 was rated at 335 gross horsepower and 480 ft-lb of torque. The engine as designated as the LS5 by Pontiac and was also available in the Pontiac GTO. The seller states that the engine and automatic transmission are numbers matching and freshly rebuilt.
The most common interior color for the 1971 Trans Am was blue. I own two 1971 Trans Ams and a Polar White 1970 Trans Am. The blue on the 1971 Trans Am is darker than the blue on my 1970 Trans Am. The second most common color of interest was black followed by white. From the factory, this car was optioned with the $239 stereo radio, custom seat belts, floor mats, air conditioning, custom interior, console, roof chrome trim, soft ray glass and convenient lighting package. The seller does have the PHS docs to prove that this is a real Trans Am and posted the build sheet, shown below.
The seller says the car can be driven as is but it could be restored or at least have the front spoiler replaced. The rear gears are 3.08:1 and the car comes with some of the air conditioning parts needed to put the factory A/C back on. I prefer the Vintage Air systems that take up less room, require no maintenance and blow like a new car. Do you think $45,000 is a good starting place for a car that needs paint, body work, etc.
Nice car, not something I’d pay 45k for, I’m sure there’s someone who has more money than sense out there.
Yep! Lots of “stupid money” out there.
Wow talk about delivering the torque. That’s what Pontiac motors are all about on the streets. 🚥 Thanks for the write up BJ.
Since this car can talk it is certainly worth $45k!!! 😁
Just a suggestion for the author, proofread.
As for the TA. If the engine has been rebuilt and the car runs, shifts and stops – drive it, sort out any wear and mechanical components that need addressed and enjoy the car. One can always re-trim the interior and repaint down the road. Not all of these cars need to be stripped of every last nut and bolt and over-restored into trailer queens that barely see the light of day, let alone a rip around town.
Absolutely correct. The idea that even decent drivers need to be restored is one of the reasons affordable cars are getting hard to find. Drivers often get driven for the fun of it, restored cars tend to sit in a garage only to come out for the occasional show.
Steve R
Looks like custom non factory upper door panels.
Was something chewing on that back seat? lol
The 45K is very optimistic considering what is known that is needed for this car. It is a very low production and desirable car. Known needs from what I can see:
Missing lower valance
Needs paint
Needs interior kit
Unknown if AC works or all parts there?
Transmission condition?
Automatic is a minus
Does all suspension rubber part need replacing?
Unknowns (mostly several more thousands)?
All the early GM455’s are fine examples of good engines. Had the pleasure of piloting several automatics. I’m sure this TA has some stories to tell. They would hang in there if you had the nerve to open it up. Hahah
With only 2,116 built for ’71…this puts it in the rare category and makes it worth restoring it back to show room condition. If I had $45K laying around…I would seriously consider it.
I agree with JoeNYWF64 and Johnny Major’s comments. It appears that based on the graphics on the car it has also been repainted (“restored”) at some point?? Was a 3.08 rear-end available in 1971? It has rust in the bottom of the door also. Missing the stereo is unfortunate. With an automatic and the needs it would be an expensive undertaking. All of the 69-73 TA’s are desirable due to limited production numbers and styling.
3.42 with 4 speed & 3.08 with automatic in ’71. The 4 speed could also be ordered with a 3:73! Same thing for ’72. In ’73 3.42 for both transes..
Many years ago in a land far, far away. (Illinois lol) I was working incredible hours at my job over an hour away. For a change in was driving home in the daylight. Coming up behind me was a Firebird with a non-factory front air dam. On the air dam were the letters MA SNART. The wording looked familiar, but I could figure out what company MA SNART was. After a couple of minutes I came out of my half awake stupor to realize that MA SNART is TRANS AM backwards in my mirror! I should not have been driving and I felt really stupid at the time and still do when I think about it.
I owned a 1972 Formula 400, factory ordered radio delete, heater delete, and a 455 . I went off to college, needed money… Miss that olde girl, not easiets to drive but once you got above 2500 RPM’s Oh My !
You didn’t order ‘radio delete’…I don’t understand why people persist in using that ridiculous description! You can’t delete an OPTION!……it’s not rocket science. If a radio was never in the car, ESPECIALLY if there’s a block-off plate in its place, it was never ordered when new….NOT deleted! Though ‘heater delete’ is a valid description, as it was a standard feature when the order was placed….& why do people state ‘needs restored’? How about “needs restoration”!
Same with “console delete” & “hood bird/eagle/chicken delete”.
I had no idea the HEATER could be left out on these f-bodies! – at the factory?! – or removed by the dealer?! Same for 1st gens?!
I would offer that some semantics of convenience are perhaps at play in regard to the radio delete, in that most cars came equipped with either a factory radio or a dealer installed radio. That and the fact that a factory block- off dress plate came with your option of not having a radio. If no one has another opinion I will assume everyone agrees.
Judging by the panel gaps in that front right fender / door alignment, mis matched front nose and missing lower valance, I’d say this thing had a substantial front end crash and was pieced back together at home. Lots of money considering the damage expedition that still needs to happen. Not saying it wouldn’t be a nice car when done but it could be a long way off from your entry fee.
On the surface of it, I do think that 45k is fair. Rare car, one of the most desirable TA engine setups, the car runs and drives and has had key mechanicals in the engine and transmission rebuilt. Not bad for a highly desirable car you can drive and enjoy while improving it.
Low production in 1971 because of the UAW strike.
That was for the ’72 year model – they had to trash a bunch of beautiful ’72s left unfinished on the assembly line when strike began, since when it was over, they could not rename them since they did not meet dumb ’73 bumper & emission standards.
T/A production ’69-’73 … 697, 3196, 2116, 1286, 4802 !!
I like how this car looks well equipped considering how few of today’s conveniences it has. It needs to be saved at very least.
I’m no Pontiac man, but if it is as solid as it looks, this car should be fixable for at least the value of it when finished.
might be worth the 45k investment but then it will need at least another 30k. may pull close to 100k done but today’s world it may be awhile.