The 1977 movie Smokey and the Bandit was a huge boon to Pontiac Trans Am sales in the late 1970s. But the euphoria may have been gone by 1980 as Trans Am sales fell by more than 50% from the year before. But to be fair, demand may have also waned as available engines were limited to either 301 or 305 cubic inches. This apparent survivor with 24,000 claimed miles has the former powerplant, which came with a turbocharger. Located in Lake Balboa, California, this very clean Pontiac is available here on craigslist where the asking price is $19,500. Thanks for the tip, Pat L., on this one-owner Poncho!
Second-generation Firebirds were introduced in 1970 and would run an impressive 12 years. The detuning process that hit the U.S. domestic car market in the 1970s led Pontiac to discontinue its largest engines in 1980, and that especially impacted the Trans Am. Buyers could choose from just two engines in the TA in ’80, both only with automatic transmissions (TH-350). A Chevy-supplied 305 V8 was one choice while the 301 with a turbocharger was the other, and that’s what appears to be under the hood of the seller’s car.
This 1980 Trans Am seems too good to be true. One owner. 24,000 miles. All original, including the paint. Runs and drives “excellent.” Where has this car been hiding? 500-600 miles of average use per year? Was the buyer a big Smokey movie fan when the car was new and decided to save it as a future collectible? We don’t know, but we’re glad that someone has taken great care to preserve this automobile. Note: the seller provided an engine compartment photo that was flipped before being posted.
The seller says the paint isn’t perfect, but what is after four decades? The interior looks great, although the left side of the driver’s seat back might be a little worn. Everything is said to work as it should, so if your goal is to make the Cars & Coffee scene regularly, this vehicle should serve you well. We understand that these turbocharged 301s weren’t the fastest things built in 1980, but nothing then was like it was a decade earlier. So, enjoy the car for what it is.
Looks sharp in that blue. Underhood pic is either flipped, or this is a rare right hand drive T/A.
The blue is sharp! A good friend of mine had one of these – his parents bought it new when we were in elementary school and by 5 years later, it had been handed down to him. I rode back and forth to college (a 4 hour trip) a lot in it.
I wonder how this combo (301 V8 with a turbo) would perform with modern fuel injection. The modern turbo engines seem to do pretty well, older carbed stuff not so much. Is EFI (or the lack thereof) the primary reason?
https://youtu.be/zVhyYnr2XSQ
Great question. Found a company in Kenosha Wisconsin that modifies 80-81 turbo TAs.
Look in YouTube “tta performance e85”. A turbo trans am ran 12s.
Apparently Barnfinds doesn’t like linking to Youtube, because I dropped a link to that vehicle turning a 12.85 on E85, and the link is gone.
WTH Barnfinds! I’ve been posting here for 4 years now. You’d think I can be trusted to post a link.
Seems like a decent price compared to the red 3,100 mile one we saw a few weeks ago. Still hadn’t hit reserve at $70k. Good luck!
Um how is the turbo on the wrong side🤔?
I got it
Really nice sharp car .If i was in the market for a new ride id purchase it…
My first ever new car was a 1980 Trans-Am. 301 155 hp sticker price $8700. Bought at Wilkins Pontiac Minneapolis area. White on gold. Loved it but what a piece of junk.
The Turbo Turkey’s are coming home to roost! Amazing what time does
Two of my friends had these turbo models. One ran like a champ. The other ran to the repair shop all the time. I guess you get lucky or unlucky sometimes. Anyway, nice looking vehicle and seems priced to be reasonable, unlike a lot of these overpriced heaps I see being pushed off on the market.
I bought the 81 Turbo, I went through a turbo. I liked the handling better then my 76. I wish I could have got it to the Wisconsin shop before my wife talked me into selling it.
One of the worst GM V-8’s EVER! They pinged so badly that they imploded. One of the 10 worst American V-8’s in muscle car history.
One of the worst V-8’s In muscle car history. They pinged all the time and eventually imploded.
I bought a super clean one in 1987, mine was an 81 with the tops, sorry I drove this thing two weeks and dumped it. I have had a few duds and this was one of them. Super clean one here that needs to stay where it is. I haven’t seen one of these in a few decades though which likely makes this unit quite rare and unique….but still a dud.