Canada can seem like a magical place to us Yanks—the vast open spaces, the polite, law-abiding citizenry, the handsome young prime minister, Tim Horton’s for some reason—but most magical of all is what happens when you translate a Canadian classic car ad into American. Take this ’81 Pontiac Trans Am SE, offered here on Kijiji (Kijiji! Oh, Canada!) out of Welland, Ontario and shared with us by reader Scot R. 97,000 kilometers? That’s only about 60,000 American miles. $24,999? You mean $19,011.74 in real, American dollars. See? Magic!
The black-and-gold Trans Am Special Edition was introduced for Pontiac’s 50th anniversary in 1976 and was famously used to make movie magic in 1977’s Smokey and the Bandit. The 1976 and ’77 Special Editions used RPO code Y82; from 1978-81, the code changed to Y84, the primary difference being a switch from Hurst-installed T-tops to larger, Fisher Body-installed ones. This is one of 932 Y84 Trans Ams built in 1981 with the optional, Chevrolet-sourced 305 V8, which was the only way to get a T/A with a manual transmission that year.
Kudos to this seller for backing up their “barn find” claims with both before and after photos of the car in as-found and cleaned up condition. Those honest Canadians! It’s not clear how long the car was sitting, but it is said to have “fired up quick” and driven briefly to verify that the brakes are usable as well. Little information is provided about rust or other damage to the body or underside, but it’s certainly complete, including all of the deterioration-prone plastic bits, and nothing alarming stands out—although a black car can hide its secrets well. Photographing it while still wet is also a clever way to make the paint look better than it really is—so much for honesty. Another illusion shattered.
My faith is restored somewhat by this reassuringly clean interior, though. Fabrics of this era are not notoriously durable, so the good condition of these seats suggest that the mileage claim is accurate, and likely that this car has been indoors for a good while—all good signs. So we appear to have a desirably equipped, low-mile, overall solid and complete Trans Am SE project on our hands; what do you think of the $24,999 (Canadian!) asking price? Is this seller living up to their country’s honest, down-to-earth reputation, or looking to make out like a northern bandit?
A beast in appearance without the brawn to back it up. There is no doubt it’s rare, but that 305 is probably pushing about 165 HP if it’s the same engine specifications as in my ’81 Z/28 four-speed. I guess the selling Dealer figures it will sell quick enough there’s no need to take advantage of the lift in the background to take underneath pics or have the air cleaner in place for the hood scoop to look normal in appearance with the hood down.
Outrageously priced.
Was this Sparkles car bought from money singing lets go to the mall?
Okay seriously it’s a nice car with lil power but that was what happened in those years …
From back when new high performance cars were purely a visual experience. Not that it’s worthless, just don’t expect much from the right pedal.
Kind of high priced, although the chevy 305 opens up all kinds of mods. Hum, like a stroked 383 or 421.
U.S. dollars ?
Canadian loonies ?
I don’t think so Tim !
Pesos ? Okay maybe.
I admit the price is high but the interior is clean and its a 4-speed!
All of the parts are available from the aftermarket to convert any second generation F-body into a 4,5 or 6 speed. I wouldn’t waste my time with this car. A lot of better examples are out there for less money.
Picked this ’78 W72 4-Speed up for about $8k less at Barrett-Jackson.
OMW Nathan! I live where those darn rude irresponsible driver’s come in and out of Canada! They are the rudest people on the face of the earth! I don’t know where you live or where you have experienced those Canucks politeness, but with the examples that comes through here not so! Now to the car, it looks like one of the more solid TA’S that I have seen in a while! I am am talking about in just found condition! Some TA fan should snap this up in a hurry!
Probably worse than a Michigan car on the bottom. You have to assume that with no pictures. But, even if it were an Arizona car, the price is still way too much.