Well, Tony Primo found another unique car for sale and this one is a modified 1975 Pontiac Trans Am. This particular car is apparently being sold by the family who purchased it in 1978 and stored it 1986. The car has 65,866 miles on the odometer and is a time capsule of mid 1970’s modifications including tufted headliner, Hurricane wheels, CB radio, extra toggle switches and a triple scooped hood! The hood is Firebird Formula hood that a shaker scoop was cut into. This style hood was made famous in the CHiPs TV series that ran from 1977 to 1983. This Trans Am is listed for sale here on Craigslist and has been up for about a week. The seller is asking $12.000 and the car is located in Baytown, Texas just south of Houston.
The burgundy interior left the factory with the optional deluxe interior which included improved seating and door panels. From 1973 to 1977, this include the “horsecollar” seats. Other modifications stand out including the tufted headliner and engine turned panel under the dash with multiple toggle switches. The car has power windows, air conditioning and tilt steering. The front seat belts appear to be missing and the original stereo is replaced with a period correct Kraco AM/FM cassette unit. A CB radio sits in the map pocket of the console.
A buyer in 1975 had two engine options when ordering a Pontiac Trans Am. This car is equipped with the base L78 400 cubic inch V8 engine that has been modified with ported heads, Competition cam, aluminum intake manifold, Edelbrock carburetor and headers. The optional engine was the L75 455 cubic inch V8 engine in 1975. Only 857 produced in 1975 with the L75 455 engine which came with a 4 speed and 3.23 rear end. This 455 engine could also be found in Pontiac sedans and station wagons of that era. However, Pontiac decided to designate it as the 455HO engine in the Trans Am to garner attention based on the reputation of the 455HO engine that was offered just a few years earlier. The 1971-1972 Trans Am was equipped with a 335 horsepower 455HO round port head engine but this base engine was rated at only 200 horsepower.As can be seen, some bright yellow paint has been sprayed on the fan shroud and engine.
The Trans Am was the top performance model that Pontiac offered in 1975. Trans Am production had more than doubled between 1974 and 1975, increasing from 10,255 Trans Ams in 1974 to 27,274 Trans Ams in 1975. This car is not running due to fuel and brake problems. Rear window louvers and painted spoilers add additional flare to this ride. If you look closely, it appears that this car has a vinyl top. If this is your cup of tea, it appears to be a solid car.
Whoa…I love and hate this all at the same time….
Seems some doofus went ‘full disco’ on that poor car. May have been a better path than the cruel death imparted on my ’66 Olds 4-4-2.
We’re why they’re rare.
If you want to spend (waste) time on YouTube, check out the Car Chase Wonderland channel (see picture above).
I watch it all the time.👍
A lot of otherwise good Formula hoods were sacrificed because of CHiP’s.
This car is hideous, but the workmanship was probably pretty good. I’d make it mechanically sound, clean it up as best you could and drive it as is. Modified cars were the norm, no matter how tacky they look now, they reflected specific periods of time. There is no need to restore it, doing so will be wiping away its uniqueness in the process.
Steve R
The first Poncherello Firebird (they sacrificed a few) was previously used in Corvette Summer. Aside from the hood the tackiness continued onto the fenders using both 71 firebird louvers and Trans Am scoops. I remember one of the Poncherello birds had the Trans Am side scoops installed upside down.
I agree with Steve. The car reflects its time-period, a time I remember fondly even if much of it was more than a little silly.
I’m surprised there’s not more chrome on that engine to go with that yellow.
Price isn’t bad unless the engine is seized or there’s a bunch of hidden rust.
Clearly this is the vaunted Formula T/A package which distracted competitors in the 1/4 mile instead of using the 455 HO.
Not sure if the roof has vinyl or if just the trim is there to make it look like it has a vinyl roof?
I’m on the side that can appreciate the formula hood and the shaker. I like those rims too. I like factory stuff but like the period “Day 2” stuff as well. Would get it running mechanically and make small changes as I cruise around. First thing I would do though is get rid of the yellow paint under the hood. The rest I can deal with.
Nope, not today, nor tomorrow. I can find no redeeming qualities with this thing. With a 4 speed and a much lower price someone with a lot of spare time could maybe make something out of it, but that somebody would not be me.
I had a friend back in the day, had a gaudy rod with an ungodly amount of horsepower, that had an interrupt switch.
He used to ‘fish’ $ off rich kids, that had latest 💪 cars.
This post brought that memory home.
Thanks BF. 💕
An original Super Duty from 1973-74 is more to my liking. I’d probably spend more than it’s worth trying to bring the interior back to stock while simultaneously upgrading the engine systems to cure the awful drivability of this example of “Malaise Era” iron. I could also do without the vinyl roof, thank you very much! I’d spend a small fortune just peeling off the vinyl and having the rust damage under the roof repaired and the car repainted. Thanks, but no thanks. GLWTS.
Maybe the first vinyl top T/A I ever recall seeing.
And I don’t think that you are seeing one now. I have never seen a vinyl roof with no seams. They may exist but I have never seen one on a Firebird or Camaro.
They did offer the Cordova full vinyl top on the Trans Am for the 74 and 75 model years.
I like the auxiliary rear window shelf air conditioner.
At least there’s no giant chicken on the formula hood.
Pick one. Shaker or snorkels. Either one is fine. Both are an abomination.