Author’s Note 4/27/2021: Two of us at Barn Finds ended up with this assignment simultaneously, so this post is not an error – just a slightly different take on a very special car. JO

OK, full confession, I’m not a fan of second-gen Firebirds/Trans Am’s and am really not enthusiastic about sticking a GM LS series motor in everything that comes down the pike. No offense meant to second-gen F body owners, I owned one for a few years and its notable short-comings were very disappointing. And as for the LS engine, yes, it’s a fantastic piece of kit, but so were the Chevrolet and Pontiac (and Oldsmobile and Buick for that matter) engines that preceded it. Nevertheless, when I saw this LS-equipped, 1980 Pontiac Trans Am it struck a chord and I’ll tell you why in a bit. This Poncho is located in Athens, Alabama and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of  $33,100, reserve not yet met. There is a BIN price option of $48,000.

About six weeks ago, I was hanging around at a friend’s repair shop and he was doing a water pump replacement on a ’77 Trans Am, one in full Smokey regalia. It was equipped with a throttle body injected, 6.2 LS under the hood, driving through a GM 4L65-E automatic transmission and hooked up, outback, to a Chevrolet 12-bolt differential. That car is a stunner, and so is it under the hood. My friend’s assistant mechanic got called away, so I stepped in to help a bit. My knowledge of wrenching on an LS is limited so I looked at this opportunity as a learning exercise. The pump was not an easy swap, there were pully issues to contend with and the billet, aftermarket serpentine belt system was a real hassle, particularly taking it apart, and then putting it correctly back together, a necessary task to R&R the water pump. It turned out OK and I got a real appreciation for the LS swap, I understand its capabilities and why hot-rodders lean that way these days – the whole LS family is impressive. Would I have rather seen a Pontiac 400 under the hood? You betcha but I developed a newfound appreciation for all things LS.

The seller lists the LS managing the road work responsibilities in this Trans Am as being of the 5.3-liter variety – they’re all the rage because there are so many available and their ubiquitousness holds down the cost; they can build good power too. The seller doesn’t elaborate too much on this Trans Am’s mechanicals other than to indicate that the engine has been modified with an improved cam, stainless headers, and a Tremec 6060, six-speed manual transmission hooking up with a 3.42 final drive. The seller claims outstanding ride quality and a 21 MPG cruising capability with a goal “to build a clean, neat, comfortable, drivable, and reliable daily driver car that can be driven on family vacations, car events, to work, or just a night out on the town“. Other features include rear discs having been installed to bring this bird to a halt in a hurry and a modern Vintage A/C system to enhance the comfort factor. Sounds like mission accomplished on the goal front!

The exterior is still wearing its original shade of recently applied Cameo White, the only shade ever worn by this Pontiac. Even the underside was properly finished as this Trans Am underwent a full rotisserie restoration.  As a nod to its 1980 roots, Snowflake alloy wheels have been included but they are a more modern 17″ variant. The exterior presentation of this car is just perfect! One might state that the driver’s door and front fender don’t align absolutely perfectly, but then that’s how I recall F-bodies turning out 40 years ago. As is often the case, T-Tops are included.

The interior mirrors the exterior in terms of its fit, finish, and originality. The shifter’s not correct but then the transmission isn’t either, it’s much better than what the General saw fit to install in ’80. And I’m pretty certain that the console cup holder has been added. The seating surfaces don’t appear the way that I recall an ’80 Trans Am’s cloth upholstery pattern, but I could be wrong on that matter. Most Trans Am interiors that I remember were vinyl clad, but I know there was a cloth version too. Whatever the case, the interior of this Trans Am needs nothing!

A resto-mod? I don’t think so, the LS engine and Tremec transmission do not a resto-mod make, IMHO. But here’s a little perspective with this engine idling video and engine idling from the rear video. This is more a 1980 Pontiac Trans Am that has been upgraded a bit and brought into the 21st century. Sure, the seller or previous owner could have retained, for the sake of originality, the born-with 301 CI engine, but they were tepid performers and not much in the hop-up department. This Trans Am is the best of both worlds, old-school existentialism and new-school driving attitude. I really like it, how about you?