The buyer states that they are the second owner of this Buccaneer Red 1975 Pontiac Trans Am. The car is located in Diamond, Ohio and was originally located in Virginia. Listed here on eBay, 11 bids have driven the price of this car to $3,395. There are 5 days left in the auction. The Trans Am is pretty well optioned but it looks like it has sat for a long time. This was the first year for the wrap around rear window on the Pontiac Firebird.
The seller states that the car is equipped with its original engine and transmission. The engine compartment has a lot of surface rust but will need to be pulled and rebuilt. The base engine in 1975 was the L78 400 cubic inch V8 engine which produced 185 horsepower. About half way through the production year, Pontiac reintroduced the Y Code 455 cubic inch engine as the HO455 which delivered 200 horsepower engine and came with a 3:23 rear end.
Since catalytic converters were introduced in 1975, the Turbo 400 transmission was too big to fit under the car with the converter as part of the exhaust system. Accordingly, Pontiac began using the weaker but capable Turbo 350 automatic transmission. Besides the tears in the seats, the interior doesn’t look too bad on this car. The car is well equipped with power windows and cruise control.
Over 26,000 Trans Ams were built in 1975 with the 400 cubic inch V8 engine. Only 857 Trans Am came with the optional Y code 455 cubic inch V8. This car will need a lot of work but even the base engine Trans Am was the king of the hill back in 1975. The Challenger was gone, the Mustang boasted a 4 cylinder engine and the Camaro was a shadow of what it once was. I think this car might be limited to $6,000 tops because of its condition. Let me know what you see.
This car has potential. It also has a rear window defogger and power door locks. The bottom right area of the rear window looks suspect, as though the rust may be a lot move severe than just surface. It appears that the trim is not attached. The deck lid has also been replaced. No pictures underneath, so potential for more rust exists, PPI required. Wonder what prompted the removal of the “screaming chicken?” I think the $6k assessment may be accurate. GLWTA! :-)
It’s from VA so there is more rust that is hidden. The tree trash in the south does it’s damage if the vehicle is left in the open in just a few years. I would need to see more pictures to really assess the value. The bid of $3,850 is okay now but I would be scared of significant rust issues.
Looks like the chicken flew the coop a long time ago – and I don’t blame him.
I think the chicken was so embarrassed that it burned itself off the paint. Like the raided ark burning off the offensive symbol after it was crated up.
This was at one time a beautiful cruiser, now it is a used up fire chicken. Very sad!
Boy, that Benz in the background is sure a gem, lol!
Well what’s left is not so bad, it’s workable, cats be gone 400 trani or 4speed overdrive in, not a horrible car
Great Car !
I enjoy seeing your articles!
But a point of accuracy
The 1975 455 HO was not a a Y code
The original 857 cars had WX CODED blocks ! I have 42 thousand mile all original stellar blue one
The car listed if it was numbers matching
Would have a YS CODED block
Being an auto equipped car
I also have one of those
Love my 75s
Too bad that Joe Martin and his crew from “Iron Resurrection” didn’t know about this Trans Am. This would be the type of project they could sink their teeth into, given that they did a Firebird project a while back.
On the other hand, the people at Trans Am Depot/Worldwide could also sink their teeth into this project if they were so inclined.
Joe Martin for custom, the Trans Am people in Florida for originality, I’d like a stock appearing 77, with a Butler racing built 455, no monster, something that idles nice and has A/C maybe fuel injecton, 400 hp nice with a overdrive transmission and 17s Pontiac wheels, something the bandit would’ve been able to make some non brake rev tire smoke, absolutely positively no LS swap, sorry guys, love Joe Martin and his crew, they’re the best, but the LS thing in a Pontiac just ain’t for me