I always twitch slightly when an owner makes a rarity claim for their classic car. While some are valid, others are less relevant and more obscure. That brings us to this 1977 Pontiac Trans Am. While I’ve had no luck pinning down exact figures, there is a chance that the owner’s claim that this car features a rare paint and trim combination may be accurate. It is purely subjective, but of all of the Trans Ams I’ve seen over the decades, I struggle to remember one the same as this. Interested parties will undoubtedly investigate this further, but at first glance, this could be an automotive unicorn. If you wish to pursue it further, you will find the Pontiac located in Denver, Colorado, and listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set a BIN of $39,900, but he may consider offers.

The owner refers to this Trans Am as being very original, suggesting that the Sterling Silver paint that graces its panels may be the factory finish. If that is the case, its condition is pretty impressive. There is no evidence of fading or the patchiness that can plague silver paint over time, and no signs of blemishes or other defects. My instinct tells me that someone may have treated the car to a light cosmetic refresh, but it would take better photos to confirm this. The panels are straight, the gaps are consistent, and there’s no visible rust. We don’t receive any shots of the prone underside regions like the rear valance, but the owner’s insistence that potential buyers come and inspect the car suggests he has nothing to hide. Rounding out the exterior are flawless tinted glass, shining alloy wheels, and a T-Top with no evidence of leaks or other problems.

You have to give Pontiac their due. This Trans Am rolled off the production line during the depths of The Malaise Era, but the company still tried to provide some motoring excitement. The 400ci V8 under the hood of this classic should be producing 200hp, and with the four-speed manual transmission bolted on behind, it should romp through the ¼ mile in a neat 16 seconds. To place that into perspective, the best that a buyer could expect from a ’77 Camaro Z28 was 16.7 seconds, while the poor old Mustang II Cobra II brought up the rear with 17.5 seconds. The days of 14-second ETs must have felt lightyears away! Our feature car is a numbers-matching classic that is in sound mechanical health. The owner says that it runs and drives well, making it a turnkey classic begging for a new owner.

Okay, we’ve finally reached the point where we need to consider what may constitute rarity with this Trans Am. The Sterling Silver interior isn’t unusual, but this car features Code 11N White Deluxe vinyl upholstery with contrasting Code 19X Black carpet, dash, and console. I’ve seen plenty of Trans Ams wearing Silver, and I’ve seen nearly as many with this interior trim combination. However, I can’t remember seeing one with this overall package. Leaving the rarity question to one side, this interior presents as impressively as the exterior. The White vinyl is free from stains and yellowing, while the remaining upholstered surfaces, dash, pad, and console look spotless. Someone has installed an aftermarket radio/cassette player, but this isn’t the end of the world. The owner has the original AM/FM radio and 8-track player. He sent both items to a specialist for refurbishment, and all the buyer will need to do is slot them into their rightful place. Unusually, this Pontiac doesn’t feature air conditioning. However, the power windows and tilt wheel should contribute to occupant comfort.

The internet is a double-edged sword. While it has allowed me to write for Barn Finds and share my undying passion for classic cars. it also brings its pitfalls. When I started questioning the owner’s claim about the paint and trim combination, I went to good old Mr. Google and typed “1977 Pontiac Trans Am paint and trim combinations” into the search bar. The result? Only around 3,700,000 hits to sort through! Therefore, I am relying on my own memory (which is pretty good), and I can honestly say that I have never seen a ’77 Trans Am quite like this. That statement is hardly conclusive, but it will be interesting to see if our readers can further clarify this one. I’m always happy to learn, so over to you.