The Trans Am was introduced by Pontiac in 1969. It was a limited-production muscle car that saw fewer than 700 copies. The following year, with a redesign, the tally grew to just over 3,000 units, making it the rarest Trans Ams of the second-generation Firebird (1970 to 1981). The seller has one with matching numbers and a Ram Air III that’s been under a carport for eight years. This rare project, which needs considerable work, is available in Monroe, Georgia, and is here on Craigslist for $30,000. Thanks for the tip, Mitchell G.!
The 1970s Firebird (and Trans Am) was an all-new car that hit the market early in the calendar year. This was due to production delays getting it and the Chevy Camaro ready for the assembly line the prior Fall. As the 1970s unfolded, so did the popularity of the performance Trans Am. After starting the decade at 3,196 copies, demand for the car peaked in 1979 at 117,108 units, thanks in part to the success of the hit Burt Reynolds/Jackie Gleason car chase movie, Smokey and the Bandit.
The seller says collectors want the ’70 Trans Am. We assume that’s because its low production numbers make one hard to find these days. With Ram Air III and a 4-speed manual transmission, Pontiac only delivered 1,769 copies that year. If it had Ram Air IV, that number would drop to just 59, making it the rarest of the rare.
From a technical standpoint, this car should have a factory 400 cubic inch V8 that produced 345 hp with a 4-barrel carburetor and air induction. The transmission would be a Muncie M20 4-speed manual. The last time this Pontiac was driven was in 2017 and it doesn’t look like it would move anywhere on its own now. The car was parked with 98,000 miles on the odometer.
We’re told the paint color is white (or is it primarily grey primer now?) with a Bright Blue interior. That would have been a sharp combination back in the day. Apparently, it is noteworthy that the dealer installed a hood latch that you can open from the interior (to keep thieves out of the engine compartment). “Most” of its original parts will go with the sale and the carburetor has been rebuilt. The seller says he/she is “motivated,” but the asking price leaves a lot of room for negotiation.
Still for sale ?
Hahahaha ! ….$30,000 for this pile of 💩 !
$30,000 plus the bucks you’d have to spend to get this back
into show quality would be out of sight. .. A big no imo
Seems like a lot of money for the condition it’s in……bad
Well, look on the bright side, for 30K you’re getting a really nice carburetor!
I agree that his price is pretty lofty for the condition of the car, but in fairness to the seller, that’s easily a $3000+ carburetor if it checks out.
He could probably get more for the car by parting it out instead of selling it whole. Hopefully that doesn’t happen!
unfortunately that is whats happening far to often. they start picking the bones clean $2000.00 carb and other goodies same fate . before long you have a body shell to sell. with nothing on it or in it. what ever you do dont let the stripping begin or take on a project that requires 6 garage bays to rebuild. if your thinking of doing it you will have nothing left but a shell. take $10,000 for it and be happy. follow roadworthy and get her going again and you might get $15,000. if you can do it. theres always a vocational technical school that will take it over…
BUT REMEMBER parting it out requires a lot of attention and time to dismantle and keep track of lists. and thats if the carb is not a rusted brick…WHICH CARB IS ORIGINAL ON ENGINE OR THE SHINY ONE
Hagerty lists a value of $30,900 for this car in “fair” condition, by which they mean ” daily drivers, with flaws visible to the naked eye. The chrome might have pitting, the windshield might be chipped and perhaps the body has a minor dent. Imperfect paintwork, split seams or a cracked dash might be present. No major parts are missing, but there might be non-stock additions. A #4 vehicle can also be a deteriorated restoration.”
I think the seller misunderstands what that last sentence means.
$10,000 would be a much more reasonable ask.
This one is a hard pass at this price. I think 10k would be pushing it too. I’d say 5K would be a fairer asking price
It’s a shame there is so much confusion about what these are “realistically “worth.
I have been buying and selling these most of my life, and at no time in my memory has it been as challenging to restore these as right now, with costs so high and documentation so available.
Restored cars are heavily scrutinized because we have the ability to identify the smallest of parts to be correct, and those “correct “ parts have become extremely expensive.
In saying that, people don’t understand that to restore this would easily top 70k .
I personally wouldn’t want 100k in this one, but that’s just me.
Russ, FYI the 1970, at 3,196 T/As built, was not the lowest 2nd generation production total. That distinction goes to the ’72 model with only 1,286 made for that strike-shortened year. 1971 would be second lowest at 2,116 Trans Ams produced. 1970 had the third lowest production total.
30 thousand is a complete crazy price.
The ad states the condition is “Good”. Am I missing something?
It looks like they found it at the bottom of a pile in the junkyard, took it home and listed it for $30k.
Guess I would be motivated too, if I thought I was about to turn a junk car into $30k…
gota ’69 & ’70 on the property. Kinda wish he’d take em away, guess space rental cks make it ok. Hoods are closed but windows open. I think he’s done w/collectin parts?
Used to B the tow man would give you 200$ a piece. Last few yrs its been ‘the other way’ close to 150$ a piece to haul away…
Looks like you get a fair amount of vehicle plus some cardboard boxes. A lot to ask for a non-RA IV car. White and blue were the only two colors.
Nope.
Crack pipe.
Why do people tear things apart to strew around their yard?
I’d consider $10k but none of the purists would be happy with me if I did. I have another home for the drivetrain and would part the rest of it out. JS
Rare or not, as a car slowly rots away it eventually reaches a point of diminishing returns and I’m afraid that this beauty reached that point long ago. I’m not really sure that any price for this junk yard dog would be justified.
Absolutely,crack pipe.
I find it hilarious when a seller is asking a small fortune for something that is worth 1/10th of the asking price (IMO). Yet they do nothing for presentation purposes, leaving it looking like a pig face down on the mud. The “sales pitch” couldn’t be any worse.
I can only guess, but I kind of think that they have decided that their little ”jewel” is so desirable that it will sell itself.
Unfortunately in this case, I feel their “jewel” is a cubic zirconia.
Yeah if it’s so rare, why doesn’t the current owner restore it and then see how much money he can get for it?
theres a SALVAGE CAR on ebay a white 73 ta. for 18,000 in worse shape than this…
Thank the circus auctions like Barrett Jackson, and Mecum for making this kind of thing happen. Rare? Kind of. Real ram air lll? Yet to be proved. Matching numbers? Maybe. If it was a driver in 2017 what made them tear it down like this? Better to start high then low, I get that, but don’t ridiculous or you chase away real buyers. I’d like to say common sense prevails but unfortunately yet again it didn’t!
It’s a pile. Yes some specific parts are worth some money like you guys said. It looks like it’s already been parted out. It will sit there till he passes away and the kids have to clean up the yard and unfortunately it’ll all go in a big dumpster. Fistic get some money for it pay it forward. Hopefully another guy finishes his project. Never ever do anything with that vehicle I promise you!
BTW the 400 Ram Air V8(aka Ram Air III) was standard equipment in the Trans Am. Of the total production of 3,196 1970 Trans Ams 3,108 had this engine, with the remaining 88 equipped with the Ram Air IV.