Hidden in this garage is a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am that is loaded with positive points. It presents pretty well for its age, but one of its highlights is what you will find under the hood. The upgrades that the owner has performed should make it a smoother classic than your average Trans Am and should also have liberated a few extra horses. He has decided to part with this gem, so he has listed it for sale here on Barn Finds Classifieds. It is located in Powhatan, Virginia, and the owner has set the sale price at $21,000.
This Trans Am is finished in the shade called Sterling Silver, and it presents well for a survivor. The owner admits that it wears a few bumps and marks, but there’s nothing here that I would class as horrendous. The paint still shines nicely, and it appears to have escaped the patchiness and matte spots that can plague this color. The panels wear a few minor dings, and the worst of these appear to be on the leading edge of the front fenders, where they mate with the nose. However, these are repairable. The graphics and decals, including the iconic Screaming Chicken, look to be in good order. The car features spotless tinted glass, while the original snowflake alloy wheels are wrapped in a new set of the best BF Goodrich offers.
The big news with this Trans Am revolves around what is lurking under the hood. At first glance, it looks like standard Pontiac fare. There is a numbers-matching 400ci V8, a 3-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. When it was shiny and new, that beautiful V8 would’ve produced a healthy 200hp. This was sufficient to send the Trans Am through the ¼ mile in a neat 16 seconds. The owner treated the V8 to a rebuild in 2017, and this is where he waved the magic wand. Under the iconic scoop, there is no longer a carburetor. Instead, the owner has installed fuel injection. There’s no doubt that this will have liberated a few extra ponies, while it should also allow for a more accurate delivery of the air/fuel mixture to the engine. It means that flat spots should be a distant memory and that the car is smoother and more civilized right across the rev range. This extra effort hasn’t been in vain because the owner states that it runs and drives exceptionally well.
I’m sure that you’ve been waiting for some bad news, but the Black interior doesn’t provide any. This car is an original survivor, making the lack of wear or damage on the upholstered surfaces seem remarkable. This is a consistent theme across the interior because the carpet is in a similar state. The dash and pad present nicely, as does the console. The seller has recently fitted a high-quality Kenwood CD stereo, including Bluetooth, for those who like their technological touches. The original owner ordered the Pontiac with air conditioning, power windows, and a tilt wheel. The seller says that the A/C hasn’t been recharged, but addressing this is cheap and easy.
I have never hidden my affection for the 1st and 2nd Generation Pontiac Trans Ams. I’ve never been able to explain what attracts me, but I have always found them to be a more attractive vehicle than their Camaro cousins. The owner admits that this one isn’t perfect, but its price appears exceptionally competitive when you consider what is on offer. If circumstances were different, I would be happy to find this classic parked in my garage. Since that isn’t a possibility, that leaves the way open for you to achieve what I can’t.
Adding fuel injection after trashing the stock carburetor made a huge difference in the engine’s overall performance. Dump the air suction/injection system too, and the driveability is worlds better, especially in cars of this era.
I had the quadrajet rebuilt by a carb shop on a ’74 pont 400 with fact HEI for a couple hundred dollars & it runs much better than when i got it used with 43k miles on it. No hesitation – even when stone cold, & idles & runs as smooth as can be – at 205k miles.
Starts ez even after sitting 2 months.
I believe you can only buy aftmkt throttle body fuel injection for old pontiac v8’s & after GREAT expense & complexity, you will pick up only a few hp & mpg. Not worth it IMO, driving these & most classic cars so little these days.
Port fuel injection – now that’s a different story – not sure if avail for old GM BOP motors.
Opening the shaker that’s over the CARB does provide cooler air to it & better breathing & adds some hp & better sound.
The Trans Am’s cool, but what’s up with that pretty Nova SS?
The TA was the prom queen, the Nova was the fat sister no one asked….
Queen wrote a song in favor of “fat bottomed” beauties. I like both cars, but the Nova would be my favorite. I prefer cars no later than the early 70’s.
Funny comment. Which one is being sold?🤔
That’s a funny comment, considering which one of the two is being sold.
That is kind of mean to say. People in general deserve more respect than that.
I miss chrome.
It misses you.
If getting the AC working is cheap and easy, then why hasn’t the seller done it?
Because it is neither cheap nor easy. Picked up a dollar can of Freon lately? This isn’t 1979 anymore.. If you went to the trouble of fuel injecting the car, why wouldn’t you recharge the air at the same time. Makes me wonder about the seller’s honesty.
If he converted the engine to FI why did he not convert the AC to R-134a and re-charge the system. I agree, it doesn’t make sense not to fix the AC. SMH
Because it is neither cheap nor easy. Picked up a dollar can of Freon lately? This isn’t 1979 anymore.. If you went to the trouble of fuel injecting the car, why wouldn’t you recharge the air at the same time. Makes me wonder about the seller’s honesty.
Nice car, but ac charge cheap and easy? If so go ahead and do it. Has the seller priced a correct r134 conversion?
“The best Goodrich has to offer”?
Those Radial TAs are barely softer than a brick!
The car’s 200hp (before rebuild) would possibly be able to break them loose