The 1973 Trans Am came in only three colors – Buccaneer Red, Brewster Green and Cameo White. This example is painted in Code 11 Cameo White and is located for sale in Powell, Wyoming. Pontiac delivered only 4,802 Trans Ams in 1973. This one is listed for auction here on eBay. The car is currently bid to $22,100 with 3 days remaining before the bids are closed and the auction is concluded. This car appears to be in drivers condition with its original drivetrain. The odometer shows 39,856 miles which the seller believes is correct but I would be surprised if it has not rolled over at least once in 52 years.
The 1973 Trans Am featured two Pontiac 455 V8 engines. The base engine was the Y Code 455 cubic inch V8 that produced 250 horsepower. The much rarer optional engine was the X Code Super Duty 455 engine rated at 290 horsepower. I have owned Trans Ams with both engines and you can definitely tell the difference between the two. The Y Code 455 engine is a great, reliable motor. With just some subtle changes like the additional of an 068 Ram Air III cam and 6X-4 Pontiac heads, the engine comes alive. The Super Duty engine is a whole separate matter. Only 252 Trans Ams were built in 1973 with this engine and they are highly sought after by collectors.
The black interior contrasts well with the white exterior. The car does not have many options other than an automatic transmission. It would be nice to see power windows, tilt wheel and air conditioning. All those features could be added. The seats have been recovered and, if original, reflect that the car was initially equipped with the custom deluxe interior which came with “horsecollar” seats and upgraded door panels. For some reason, someone has changed out the original Formula wheel with an aftermarket steering wheel. Most enthusiasts would prefer the factory steering wheel.
The car is said to run well. It does not have the correct wheels or exhaust tips. The car currently rides on 15×7 Pontiac aluminum snowflake wheels which were available from 1977-1981 on the 2nd generation Firebird. The body is said to have minor dings and has had one repaint, at least. The seller states that the engine, transmission and rear end leak fluids. Being from Wyoming, the dry climate helped preserve this car and it should make a nice addition.
These are nice cars, I would want to see it in person since the seller seems to have a very optimistic interpretation of the cars condition in their description.
Steve R
Holy cow what a terrible respray. They sprayed the exhaust, hood release and vents in the jambs. The trim around the rear window isn’t installed correctly and look at the front left where the bumper, fender and hood don’t line up right. But hey, it’s unmolested right?
I’ve seen better jobs with a brush.
Much sought after T/A with the 455, now is that the HO version or was that gone by 1973?
The round port head 455HO was gone after 1972.
A few weeks ago a friend picked up a 74 455 Y-code Trans Am for $4,000 including delivery. Lifetime California car, some rust, like it was parked under a tree or in the shade where damp leaves accumulated in a few areas, with a dry undercarriage.
There are still reasonably priced projects out there for those willing to put in the time to search, then inspect a car in a timely manner.
Steve R
The paint and prep looks to be of lower quality to begin with, but when I see that amount of overspray it only makes me question what other short cuts were taken on the car. Not often does one see weatherstripping sprayed over…
That’s an “Earl Schieb paint job” if I ever saw one. In the 60’s Earl advertised that he’d paint any car for $29.95. The car was in and out in under an hour.
That price didn’t include rust repair, surface prep, or even masking to prevent overspray. If you did all that, or paid them to do it, the paint job was usually pretty decent.
They painted my 55 Willys wagon in 1969. The body work was already done, I did some sanding and tacked it off, did some masking, cleaned off the overspray, and it was the best looking 55 Willys in the high school parking lot. That didn’t take much . . . . .
The paint still looked “pretty good” for an Earl Schieb paint job on a 16 year old jeep when I went to college in 1971. Dad kept it around for a hunting vehicle through deer season, but as soon as winter got close to the snow belt south of Lake Erie, it was gone because all the friends and relatives whose driveways I used to plow wanted Dad to plow. That wasn’t happening.
He looked at the Jeep that we had $125 invested in it and sold it for $435 when the next snow storm hit. The best news is he found a rust free, 32K mile 62 Impala 2 Dr. HT, 327 Powerglide for $425 when I came home from college the next spring. That was 1972 and I still have it.
I wasn’t thrilled when he sold my Jeep, but the 62 Impala more than made up for it.
What a front end 👍
Wrong/later model non 160 mph speedo.
Such a big clock was not avail on any 2nd gen t/a – tach with tiny clock should be there instead.
Only 4 rear leaf spring segments each side?
Aftmkt or painted over dash plate.
I noticed the same thing…that is NOT a transam dash board!
One of the first things I noticed too Joe. I’ve Never seen a Trans Am second GEN without a tach. Definitely one you would want to see in person before buying.
It’s got a twenty foot paint job. Not worth 22k but for the right price.. well I guess anything is worth it for the right price, at least it doesn’t have a thunder chicken on the hood. Needs some blue stripes.
That engine bay doesn’t look like it came from a dry climate
Maybe the best looking of all second generation Firebirds. Automatic transmission was standard on Trans Am. 4-speed was a no charge option. Equipped using muscle car mentality.
I believe all old cars(except big luxury cars) came standard with manual transmissions. Oddly, an optional automatic for 2nd gen T/As was no extra charge! On lesser birds, you had to pay extra for automatic. Makes no sense – but true.
Yes, Manuals were offered on standard full size cars until the early 70s and midsized thru much of the 70s. Then only found on trucks and smaller cars. The whole automatic being standard on Trans Am was a unique marketing move. Nobody was penalized for their choice or needs.
JoeNYWF64, you are 100% correct, a friend bought a 1974 Trans Am a few weeks ago and received a copy of the window sticker from PHS, which in the furthest left column stated “THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE STANDARD ON THIS MODEL AT (in even bigger lettering) NO EXTRA CHARGE, the first item says “400 4BBL V8 ENG”, the second item says “4 SPD TRANS OR AUTOMATIC TRANS”. His car had the optional 455 which cost $57, while the AM/FM stereo radio was $233.
Steve R
The price for the early 2nd gen T/A’s was the same, whether you chose the automatic or the 4 speed, and there was no “standard” transmission. Whoever placed the order had to choose between the two, but either it didn’t affect the price or the car. I guess you could say that they were both “optional”.
That engine doesn’t look like a sub 40k mile engine.l might be wrong but maybe there’s a reason for this. I’d move with caution and l hope the buyer knows what to look for.
Seller highlights that the original color was the rare Brewster Green (1 of 146, the seller claims, for a single-year color)
I worked in a Pontiac store when these were new. I remember a white Trans Am coming in without the stickers and puking chicken on the hood. (Decal delete option) I thought it was the most beautiful Firebird I had ever seen. (And I had seen alot of them.) It was a 455 4 speed car and the new owner traded in his wifes 1968 Firebird 350HO. (Also a beautiful well kept car.)
I don’t like Trans Am’s, not so much because of their looks, (I happen to think that they are a pretty attractive car) but because what a lot of folks seem to think they are worth, and this one fits that bill perfectly. The only saving grace with this one is the color because it reminds me of a friends ’71 white with blue stripes 455 4 speed HO, and I absolutely adored that car.
What a turd.
Sold on 5/16/2025 for a high bid of $29,100.
Steve R
Lord have mercy. Color me astonished!