Enthusiasts face a range of choices when selecting a restoration candidate. Purchasing a rusty classic and spending hours cutting, grinding, and welding is one. However, commencing the process with a rock-solid vehicle that retains its original steel is often irresistible. That path was selected by the owner of this 1977 Pontiac Trans Am Y81. Its build ended recently, leaving the car shining like a new penny. Its only apparent need is a new owner, with the seller listing it here on eBay in Priest River, Idaho. Bidding sits below the reserve at $33,333 due to strong interest.
Classic car history is littered with paint and trim combinations that enthusiasts consider iconic. Our readers will undoubtedly be able to list many, but there is something inherently right about finding a Trans Am from the late 1970s finished in Starlight Black with Gold stripes and decals. That is what graces this car’s panels, and the recent professional restoration leaves it presenting superbly. The seller commenced the build with a rock-solid vehicle from Washington, ensuring the panels were as straight as an arrow and the plastic was perfect before applying this color as a clear-over-base process. It shines like glass, with no evidence of flaws or issues. The stripes and graphics are crisp, but they reveal the first of a couple of problems that prevent this from being a perfect restoration. The car’s drivetrain combination means the hood scoop should wear “T/A 6.6” decals, but the ones on this car read “400.” It is a minor detail, but these small items often differentiate a good restoration from a great one. The underside shots confirm this Pontiac is rust-free, with the sparkling glass and Snowflake wheels adding the perfect finishing touches.
Lifting the hood reveals this Pontiac’s powerplant, but there is one question I must pose before we delve too deeply into the drivetrain. Everything presents beautifully, but the paint on the engine leaves me confused. We know this is Pontiac’s 400ci V8, but the Blue it wears looks wrong. It could be a trick of the light, but if it is (as I suspect) incorrect, it is another minor detail that could prevent this from being a perfect restoration. It will be fascinating to gauge your feedback. This is the W72 version of the Trans Am, meaning its V8 sends 200hp and 325 ft/lbs of torque to the road via a four-speed manual transmission. High-performance models were shadows of their former selves when this Trans Am rolled off the line, meaning its ability to cover the ¼-mile in 16 seconds was as good as it got in 1977. The seller doesn’t indicate whether this car is numbers-matching, but we know its engine was rebuilt in 2020. They say it was completed with no expense spared, and they will include the verifying invoices and associated documentation. It runs and drives well, making it a turnkey proposition for the new owner.
Describing an interior of this vintage as perfect is risky, but this one should not cause its new owner shame at a Cars & Coffee. The discoloring on the upper right corner of the Gold dash fascia is odd, but it may be some type of reflection. If it is a genuine fault, it is one of the few worth noting. The Black vinyl upholstered surfaces are free from significant wear, with the same true of the carpet. It features the correct gold-spoked wheel to match the gauge fascia. The dash and pad are spotless, as is the console. However, the Dealer Invoice indicates that, as well as the tilt wheel, the original owner ordered this car with an AM/FM radio and 8-track player. The tilt is intact, but the dash houses an AM radio, and the 8-track is gone. Once again, these are details I wouldn’t expect with a high-end restoration. The correct parts regularly appear on online auction sites, but I find the omission disappointing.
Some readers will feel I have been harsh with some aspects of my assessment of this 1977 Trans Am, but I would typically expect careful attention to detail from a high-end professional restoration completed by a Pontiac enthusiast. Addressing the decal and interior shortcomings would be straightforward and inexpensive, but things could become complicated if the engine paint is wrong. The seller says they have set a low reserve, and with values taking a hit in the past year, that is probably wise. It will be interesting to gauge your feedback and to ascertain what you believe the reserve will be. Knowing whether anyone would consider pursuing it further will also be intriguing. So, over to you.
The car’s front seats do not appear to have shoulder and lap belts.
I’ve always wanted one of these but not about to pay crazy money for a malaise era car with a chinsy build.
I Believe The 8 Track Is Present. On Those You Shoved It In Through The Radio Dial Indicator & Chose Channel by Click Pushing the Tuner Knob in. I Would As You Indicate Consider This Car a Starting Point However, not a Pristine Rebuild. Also Bandit Had the Hurst T-Tops. Just Sayin’.
There was an 8-track like you describe but on this T/A, if the factory installed it, the 8-track would have been where the storage bin is located at the front of the console. I had a one like this in Buccaneer Red that I bought new.
Seems like pin striping or something is missing
Nice looking car. Having no AC in a black non T-Top car will be rough in hot weather.
If ya want to be extra nit-picky, those 15×8 snowflakes weren’t available on 77 TAs. Should be 15x7s. The 15x8s were first available for 78 models. However they do look good on this car for someone who isn’t overly concerned about OE accuracy.
I’d rather have this at a somewhat reasonable price than a fluffed and buffed overpriced, full of dissapointing issues pig from B-J or Mecum. That being said, would’ve been nice to scrape old engine paint before repainting (pic #30), and going that last mile and reattaching the seat belts.
I would agree with the article writer Adam that the most egregious of sins on this restoration was using the pre-77 “400” decal on the scoop rather than the “T/A 6.6” call-out (although that is relatively easy to fix). The early 77 low-profile scoop (non-drilled or modified) is highly desirable also!
Beautiful car, awesome that it has the 4 speed. I’d love to have it, but I’d either immediately build the 6.6 to well over 300 horsepower, or remove it and the transmission for posterity and replace it with an LS3 and a 6 speed Tremec and give it the power the style deserves. I can easily look past the mistakes in the details of the restoration if the price is right.
I would say the paint on the engine leans toward a Ford blue,Pontiac should have more of a green tinge to it.Needs work on some minor details…
I’d say it’s a nice looking car and leave it at that. Way too many things off on it for what it appears they were trying to do. Engine color(oil pan is a 60’s Pontiac color), headlight insert color(should be gold), seat belt harness(belt isn’t there and belt holders aren’t in seat back), exhaust system(headers and actual duals), stereo system(parts missing), stripes/graphics are all not factory(nor are they all there) though thank goodness, however, it doesn’t have those leaky T-Tops so he isn’t trying to claim it as a “Bandit”. As you can get virtually any info you want on one of these so not finishing it out correctly is strange unless he just got tired of it and decided to move on.