It is often said that you only get what you pay for, and this is undoubtedly true when assessing the relative worth of any classic as a project candidate. Buying something cheap can be tempting, but the new owner must then decide how much they are willing to invest in the repairs and parts required to achieve their desired standard for the finished product. That is the question hanging over this 1978 Pontiac Trans Am. It looks pretty tired, but there are positive attributes that make it worth a closer look. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Mitchell G. for spotting the Pontiac listed here on eBay in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The seller set their No Reserve auction to open at $500, but has received no bids at the time of writing.
The history of this Trans Am is unclear, with no indication of how long it has occupied its current location. Its tired Cameo White paint is the first issue for the new owner to address, and the overall deterioration will probably motivate them to strip the panels to bare metal and massage the steel as part of their build. I would typically worry about a car that has been left exposed to the elements, especially since this Trans Am lacks the protection of a back window and its T-Top panels. However, the seller states that there is no significant penetrating rust. They claim that the floors and rails are sound, but there is enough surface corrosion to justify a nut-and-bolt approach to prevent future problems. The seller believes they may have a back window that they could include, but they are unsure. We’ve covered the glass and top, but the shopping list will also include light lenses, a grille, and other trim pieces. As we will see, that list will grow as we delve deeper.
The first owner teamed the White exterior with an interior trimmed in Red vinyl. Exposure to the elements has done the interior no favors, and a retrim is required to recapture the former glory. However, apart from the missing door trims, the radio/cassette player, and the aftermarket gauges, it is complete and unmolested. I wouldn’t trust items like the electrical system or gauges, because any moisture will have undoubtedly done damage. There are negatives, but there are also some positive attributes to consider. The first owner placed some focus on comfort, equipping this Trans Am with air conditioning, power windows, a tilt wheel, and cruise control.
The first thing that I noticed about this Trans Am’s engine bay is that the A/C compressor is missing. That might not be a deal-breaker in itself, but it represents another expense for potential buyers to consider. Looking beyond that shortcoming, it does appear complete. Decoding the VIN confirms that this 400ci V8 would have sent 220hp to the road via a three-speed automatic transmission, with power assistance for the steering and brakes lightening the driver’s load. The V8 would have provided excellent performance by the standards of the day, and the seller confirms that it turns freely. It may have been years since it fired a shot in anger, meaning that a thorough inspection is required before the winning bidder attempts to coax the engine back to life. If doing so reveals that it is healthy, that would be one less expense for the buyer to face.
It will be fascinating to gauge your response to this 1978 Pontiac Trans Am, and to discover whether we have any readers who might consider giving it a new home. It hasn’t received any bids, although the listing statistics suggest that could change at any moment. The lack of significant rust is a positive point, as is the complete drivetrain. However, the shopping list of required parts will be long, and their cost may be enough to turn some enthusiasts off. Monitoring this auction might be worthwhile, even if you aren’t considering becoming the new owner. I say that because it will be interesting to see if anyone takes the plunge, and what they might be prepared to pay for that privilege.
Dirt Cheap? More like Dirty Deeds.
Cheap for a reason. He as a second Trans Am with a starting bid of $500 too.
The seller looks to be more interested in getting rid of this than making the most money, that’s becoming harder to find nowadays.
Steve R
The duct tape holding the windshield on is probably the only thing functioning on the car. What we have here really is just a parts source. I wouldn’t even begin to restore this. Owners of a like year and model would be wise to drop a few dollars on this for the parts mentioned.
Just walk away.
I,d like to have it. I have a 76–77- and a 78. I could make a nice runner with this car. Strip it and start from their. I,ll watch this.
A good candidate for a race car.
What kind of race car? If you are talking drag racing, it’s not. Turn key mid to low-10 second turn key bracket cars aren’t hard to find in the $10,000-$12,000 range, less for a grudge night or T&T bomber. You can’t build one for close to that amount.
Steve R
Seems like someone started a bunch of body work on the car. The rear windows always seem to rust out when sitting. Speaking of which, how long has it been sitting topless… Floors and trunk míght be gone now. Can’t argue with the realistic price… Looks like a fun’ pain in the arse project for someone.
Fairly/Honestly priced parts car
There are at least 500+ bucks worth of good parts on this,someone restoring a better TA could make out nice here..the 4 wheels alone worth the price.
There is always a need for parts. This should fill that need. Now if it was a Macho T/A that would change everything.
On a positive note the underside looks decent from the few pics he had. The silver Trans Am that he is selling has some rust on every panel and the hood looks very delicate.