Trans Am! Since 1966, the Trans American Sedan Championship has brought the excitement of road racing to North America, rewarding skilled drivers and cars balancing power with handling and durability. Pontiac branded its racing-inspired Firebirds with the name “Trans Am,” and this 1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am in Lincoln, Nebraska boasted Pontiac’s largest displacement 455 motor. In addition to the Trans Am package, this Firebird left the factory with air conditioning, automatic transmission, and front and rear consoles. The non-operative pony car retains its original numbers-matching engine, and can be yours with the high bid here on eBay. At least 11 bidders have the market value racing above $18,500 so far.
Invasive surface rust suggests outdoor storage on a natural surface, a sure way to drive moisture into your sidelined classic. It’s always interesting to decipher what malady removed a car from service. Lack of crash damage suggests a mechanical malfunction spelled doom for this powerful Pontiac. The High Output 455 cid (7.5L) V8 made 335 HP and a tire-shredding 480 lb-ft of torque, according to brochures at lov2xlr8.
The engine-turned dash looks great, and most of the blue interior too! The seller claims this Trans Am served a General Motors Executive in Tennessee before being sold at a discount to the lucky employee of a Pontiac dealer in that area. Though lacking power locks and windows, the tilt steering wheel, air conditioning, front and rear consoles, and a host of exterior trim options made this one comfortable classy ride. The white and blue color combination sets it apart as well. Corner-carving road racers might opt for a high-strung small block and four-speed, but the 455’s bountiful torque should bring plenty of fun on demand.
Count on plenty of metal repair at the rear, as Mother Nature spared nothing when brutalizing this big-engine Pontiac. Slim bumpers would soon give way to the “diving board” units of the mid-’70s. Meaty tires hint at acceleration and cornering grip that this low-slung coupe has not enjoyed for some time.
The aft treasure chest reveals a shaker hood scoop and super-cool rear console. Softball-sized trunk holes suggest all horizontal sheet metal is toast. This Trans Am may have a long way to go before it joins flawless specimens fetching over six figures, but it won’t be a short time to get there. Would you power this project to perfection, or pick a different Trans Am?
I never knew they offered a rear console. Just a couple grab points and an ashtray, “Smoke up Johnny and hold on!”
The slots are for the seat belt clasps, very rare for sure.
Only restorers like Scott Tiemann or Mike Mancini can fix this properly. Probably worth the money, but soon you will be under water like the Titanic.
This is a very desirable car. But so much rust. Whoever buys it will either need to have deep pockets, or be able to do much of the work himself. All of the metal is available as reproduction. So not for the faint-hearted and not a quick restoration. The only thing better than this year would be a 70 Lucerne blue four-speed.
If a known restoration shop is selling a “project”, you can bet they’ve evaluated it and determined there’s either no, or very little, money to be made on it. Probably okay for a true enthusiast who isn’t looking for a pure investment, but as stated above, you’ll be underwater very quickly, especially if you can’t do much of the work yourself.