Is 1+1 equal to 1 good car? The seller for this listing here on Craigslist is asking $6,300 for two 1977 Trans Ams. The white one is rusty and a 4 speed car that was running 18 months ago but doesn’t appear to be at this time. The other Trans Am is a 1977 model that is said to be a parts car. The parts car is more rusty. Mitchell G. found these two project cars located in Bemidji, Minnesota. The seller states that the white car has a strong 400 cubic inch V8 engine and he or she has all the interior parts. The parts car also has a 400 cubic inch V8 but it is backed by an automatic transmission.
There is no sugar coating this. Both of these cars need a lot of work. Both cars have engines but it is not stated whether they are original or numbers matching. At this point, a rebuild and amalgamation of the two cars is probably the only path forward. In 1977, Pontiac Trans Am offered three engines: the base Pontiac L78 400 V8 (180 hp, 325 lb-ft), the Oldsmobile L80 403 V8 (185 hp, 320 lb-ft) for California and high altitudes—only with automatic transmission—and the performance oriented Pontiac W72 400 V8 (200 hp, 325 lb-ft), identifiable by chrome valve covers and 6X heads. There are not pictures of the engines in the ad but it is possible that the white car is a W72 optioned Trans Am since it has a 4 speed.
Pontiac built 68,744 Trans Ams in 1977. The white or primer colored car has aftermarket rear louvers which really help keep the car cooler in hotter climates. Not sure it is needed in Minnesota but it looks cool. For 1977, Pontiac designed the Trans Am with square headlights and a newly designed grille. The hood was redesigned to a flat profile, and the front fascia became a single-piece construction, replacing the separate bumpers used in 1976. The Trans Am scoop also changed with a new, more angular hood scoop; notably, two versions of this scoop appeared in 1977: an initial design and a taller version was introduced mid-year.
The interior of the white car is red cloth. The dash has a cover over it and, as shown, there is no carpet. The door panels are also missing the lower plastic section. The car sits on Pontiac aluminum 15×7 honeycomb wheels that have been painted white. This car can probably be put back on the road as a driver but it will need the right buyer.
Both need much much work but then one has to decide which to keep.
Might I suggest “Smokey and the
Band it” style jumping a house or , bridge something to keep one survivor 🤔
Good luck with sale…
Twenty two days on the market for a pair of normally desirable cars is a strong indicator that the market considers these cars are too far gone to make for one good restoration project or parts cars. Winter is coming, there is a good chance these will still be sitting come springtime.
Good deals don’t last.
Steve R
i wouldn’t pay 62.00 each for them
Has this turned in to the Trans Am Times? Multiple listings every day..
Is everyone trying to shed their malaise Fire Chickens?
The rear window louvers are nice to have in Mn. Sitting in the back seat there’s a lot of sunshine/heat bearing down on your neck. Too bad these are so rough. Only about 4 hours away from me
Both parts cars, in my opinion. If you already have a T/A in better shape than either one of these, and can afford them, buy them, strip everything useable, and junk the rest. You might make a little money back selling off the parts you don’t need, but it’s risky. I hate to see any Pontiac in this condition, but realistically, they’re both pretty much junk.
Where it’s at says it all.
Whoever painted the white car’s wheels brought snowflake wheels to a higher level.