This 1981 Pontiac Trans Am is located in Tyler, Texas which is about 2 hours east of Dallas, Texas. The seller states that it is a rare Hurst Edition Trans Am. Unfortunately, there is not such thing as a Hurst Edition Trans Am. George Hurst founded Hurst Performance, Inc. and created special edition cars with the Hurst logo for the Oldsmobile 442, AMC Rambler, Pontiac Grand Prix and Chrysler 300 but not for the Trans Am. This car is listed here on Facebook Marketplace for an asking price of $22,500. The car is reported to have traveled 118,256 miles over its lifetime. The car was just listed for sale this week.
The car is equipped with a Hurst shifter which came on all 4 speed manual transmission Pontiac Trans Ams in 1981. The only engine available with the Borg Warner 4 speed manual transmission was the 305 cubic inch V8 engine that was built by Chevrolet. It was the same engine that was put in 4 speed Camaro Z28’s in 1981. The car was under-powered by the small anemic engine which may be why the original engine in this car was replaced with an early 1970’s 350 cubic inch V8 engine. The engine has an aluminum manifold and headers.
The interior looks stock for 1981 and includes the deluxe interior option, rear defrost, power windows and an aftermarket radio. The Trans Am is equipped with the famous WS6 Performance Handling Package which made its debut in 1978. The WS6 handling package was developed based on work performed by Herb Adams on a special Trans Am for the IROC series. In 1981, it included power 4 wheel disc brakes.
The Trans Am sits on its factory 15×8 turbo wheels and aftermarket BF Goodrich Radial TA tires. The seller states that the factory space save tire and factory jack are included with the sale. The Trans Am has decals but not the hood bird which could be deleted when special ordered from the factory. While the car is advertised as a one of none, it is a nice looking car and would be a fun driver.
Beautiful ’81 T/A. We owned (wife daily drove) a ’79 W72 Y84 T/A 6.6 400 4-speed. What a hoot to drive when I could pry the keys away from her. Later on I owned an ’81 Z/28 305 4-speed and concur with Bruce that it was indeed an anemic motor.
Mine was somewhat rare because it still retained the numbers matching drivetrain. Since in this country in 1981 you could only get the 350 motor with the auto. transmission (Canadians had the option of the 350 four-speed), the 305 motor in a factory 4-speed ’81 Camaro was usually transplanted in favor of a higher HP motor. You wonder how many owners thought to retain the original 305 motor.
I love this one. Jim Rockford beige. I would be constantly trying to perfect my J turns like the master. Maybe it is a good thing my wallet is so thin?
Don’t forget that we could still get the 350 in our Zed28s north of the border in 1981!
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He might believe it is a Hurst edition because of the aftermarket badge. A friend bought a used Toyota FJ Cruiser and said that it was the Bushwacker edition. I let her know that those flares came with the sticker.
A $20 plastic emblem doesn’t make this car anything special. Neither does the T-handle. Whoever chose this engine couldn’t have picked worse cylinder heads, these are early heads without accessory bolt holes so it will be nearly impossible to reinstall the AC compressor if so desired.
It may be a 4spd, but there are lots of questionable claims and modifications when it comes to this car.
For the asking price, I’d keep looking.
Steve R
Only Trans Ams considered Hurst Editions were the ’77 model with the horrible Hurst hatches the didn’t line up with the doors and leaked like Wiki.
Hood bird was actually an option. I recall as my brother ordered he Trans Am in ’78, The bird was an option that the dealer had to point as, as most people thought they were standard issue
All the Hurst emblem meant is was a 4-speed with Hurst shifter
That emblem is sold over the counter and by mail order from every performance retailer. It’s a neat trinket that doesn’t have any significant meaning, it’s just an interesting looking adhesive backed plastic emblem. Since Hurst makes a line of automatic shifters, it doesn’t guarantee the car has a manual transmission.
Steve R
You don’t say…
Wow. The rare Hurst edition ’81 Trans Am? So rare it’s 0 of 0.
Amazing how the word “rare” is thrown around in the collector car market and means absolutely nothing in most cases……and the Hurst emblem did not come on the T/A despite having a Hurst shifter; is an aftermarket piece, nothing more. The owner probably watched Mecum or Barrett-Jackson and then ASSUMED there was big bucks on 4 wheels in his possession.
I have a Hurst edition 1979 Pontiac Grand Am.
I guess I have a Hurst Edition” tool chest because it has that emblem… and it’s rare!