1970 was an exciting year for Pontiac, as that’s when the all-new second-generation Firebird was introduced in the brand’s lineup. Buyers had four models to choose from, including the base Firebird, the luxurious Esprit, the sporty Formula, or the top-dog Trans Am. This 1970 Pontiac Trans Am here on Craigslist is said to have been previously parked in 1990, but the seller acquired it after the last owner passed away. This one’s come a long way since, so if you’ve been in the market for an early seventies F-Body, there are plenty of positives to consider here. The car is located in the Chico area of California, with an asking price of $101,000. However, as you scroll down, the seller then mentions $100,000, or the best offer.
Stepping up to the Trans Am in the Firebird lineup got you a standard L74 Ram Air III engine, a 400 cubic-inch V8 making 335 horsepower right off the lot at your Pontiac dealer. That’s how this TA is equipped, although a Ram Air IV option was also available. However, less than a hundred customers checked this box, so that one’s quite a rarity nowadays. The seller says the motor is numbers-matching and that it’s been completely rebuilt, including being bored .30 over in the process. The 4-speed manual transmission is also the factory component.
While other Firebirds were available in a variety of colors, Pontiac made the choice easy for Trans Am buyers in 1970, offering either a Lucerne Blue body with white stripes or vice-versa. This one came from the factory as the latter, and the seller says it’s since been repainted. He also claims the body is free from rust, although it’s not mentioned if any bodywork or repairs were made before the new paint was applied. The exterior presents beautifully here, and it appears the proper prep work was done to the panels to ensure a high-quality result for the fresh finish.
The only thing mentioned regarding the interior is that it’s new, and from the photos, the condition inside seems fine for a driver. The owner also states that he’s not in a hurry to sell, but will if someone offers to pay whatever the magic number happens to be here. Partial trades will also be considered, with a late-model Honda Accord on the list as a possibility. Any thoughts on this 1970 Pontiac Trans Am, or how much you’d be willing to spend here?
Nice car, well optioned, a 4spd with AC is rare and desirable. The seller is fishing right now, but if the car is as nice as he says and is willing to wait and listen to offers he’ll eventually find a buyer.
Steve R
I’d rather have a 4 speed ram air IV or later SD-455 – both of which u could NOT get a/c with manual trans.
Needs blue floormats. Never seen “50H” BFG tires before.
50H are Euro T/As pre Comp T/As IIRC. I had them in the late 80’s. To anyone interested in the car check the date codes to see how old they are.
Won’t last long at that price !!! 😂😂
I have always wondered: if I pay more will it last longer?
Buddy of mine growing up in the 80’s had this same color 400 Ram Air III formula with 4sp. Those 2 scoops looked mean, one of my favorites. We would street race all the time. My 87 Buick GN with chip, gutted cat, KB air and 160 thermostat. His bone stock. We ran neck and neck. One of the fastest stock Pontiac cars made. Sad to say we both sold them long ago.
Not surprised Bill. The Pontiac motors made awesome mid-range torque…which is where you want it in a race. Sounds like you had a mean 87′ GN too 😎 🆒️👍↩️🏁
I’m fortunate enough to own an ‘87 GN and a ‘71 TA. The GN is very nice, and the TA is a pretty crusty original car, that runs a drives great. The GN is faster, but when the time comes the Buick will be the first to go
GN would be slower if you would have been able to swap transmissions between the 2 cars. Or if your bird was a stripper ’73 sd-455 formula.
White with blue stripes and blue interior Trans Ams always looked good to me. I’m not going to comment on the price…… I iust emptied the contents of my entire wallet for a dozen eggs this morning…..
Anyways….. this Trans Am does look like a nice solid example. Nice options too with the Ram Air and 4 speed too.
$100,000 or a late model Accord?
Sounds like someone needs to make up there mind on the worth of this car. 😂
Sure, I’ll pick up a late model Accord to trade for it. Then put a belt on the A/C pulley & find out what the compressor needs. Looks like it has A/C parts.
You know for sure you are old, and no longer “getting” old when you see cars like this and immediately think of all the other cars you could get for $100,000. Not that I will ever have to worry about what car.
Not many people know that 1 could get a new stripper ’70-74 t/a for only $4300 back then with all the right equip that was standard – & a turbo 400 automatic option was no extra charge! But they, like most ’70s cars, must be kept away from water, & of course salt.
The real proof of getting old is when the cars you drool over start falling in price. As long as the prices are going up you are still middle-aged.
I got advice , your not yourself lately & your horoscope says refrain from selling Trans Am & put that nonsense of driving a Honda Accord daily out of your head !
Well, I guess it’s mostly younger folk, or rich drunk boomers at auctions who hand out that kind of coin for these. I’m too old… so old I remember how cheap these were during the malaise era.
It looks nice though, just can’t fathom the thought of parting with 100k USD for it.
Great survivor and looks great . Remember these cars back when they were new in the showroom of Pontiac garages and they always were the first to go . I’ve had many Trans Am cars and this one presents itself as a excellent buy for the next owner . It’s always great to see people still care for the great muscles cars that were always burning up the roads everywhere .
will never sell anywhere near that price !!!!!
The 70 T/A was amazing and gorgeous. I’ve always liked the 400. I have no opinion on price watching what people pay for Cars today.
To me being old enough to be driving in 1970, This was a super cool car, I never nitpick because it’s petty. This baby is 55 years old and dressed to kill. My thoughts. Even your wives is botox
Back when these were new I had a friend in a small town in New England who had a small repair shop behind his house. The rutted gravel driveway that went past his house to the shop, continued on to another residence. The folks back at that other residence had a car identical to this and I remember listening to it and watching it as they idled past his shop, the car because of it’s stiff suspension almost dancing over the ruts as it went, I thought it was the coolest car at the time.
Stick with air T/A? Nice.
Four years ago for my son I built a plain 71 firebird into a trans am with the T/A fenders and a factory dual scoop formula hood It was a 4 speed car with a Pontiac 400 motor, all new interior new wiring kit. I think the front end of these cars is the best look ever. Sadly the boy wanted a Harley so he sold the car for $23,000 and bought a Harley I have a 68 Camaro SS for myself or I would have kept the T/A
$100,000 is a little much for this car isn’t it ?even as nice as this looks. If I was in the market, I might see if he’d take $50 grand
Realistically, $45-$50,000
Odd on firebirds there were NO fender to radiator supports on ’70-’72s(but were on camaros), while the ’73-’76s birds got gigantic heavy leaf spring-like ones, & the ’77-’81’s got much much slimmer lighter ones. I think the bumper standards might have been reduced/relaxed in ’77.
A nice 1969 Trans Am Ram Air III, 4 speed, white with blue stripes, matching numbers just sold at auction for 194k. Makes this car at 100k look like a bargain.
https://www.hagerty.com/media/market-trends/hagerty-insider/sale-of-the-week/this-194k-pontiac-trans-am-rammed-its-way-to-rarified-air/?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=MED_VAL_NA_EML_UN_UN_Insider&hashed_email=b2457994b47679fb74ca73bed37b58f829ab245f1378159f6154883a9899f832&dtm_em=b2457994b47679fb74ca73bed37b58f829ab245f1378159f6154883a9899f832
69 vs 70. The 69 is much harder to find and more expensive.
Sitting side by side unaware of scarcity due to the lower production numbers in 69, many would likely choose the 70 over the 69 and if in equal condition, the $100k over the $194k makes an easy choice. But do the buyers at these prices care?
If you are trying to decide between a 55 or 56 year old car, a first year or second year T/A and paying $100k or $194k… you are not someone concerned about the cost of eggs or probably your mortgage.
These are for car collectors. You do not see them on the road except in photographs.
It was an interesting time, the malaise era, when these were simply 10 year old used cars. Very few people were interested in them.
Location is everything, when you want 100K for a car.
Relocating this car (even if that means paying a few $$) and professionally photographing (a few more $$) would go a long way to selling this at the price they want.
Someone notify The Brothers museum in Salem Oregon they might snatch it up and put next to all the other Trans Am cars they have. I think they have half of the 1969 Trans Am convertibles and who know how many Trans Ams in total.
I was only 8 when this one was born, and by the time I was driving the good ones were long gone, and/or unaffordable to a high school kid. BUT this one is what I would want in a TA, but Im not a buyer these days