This 2-door station wagon must have been confused back in the day. The line started as a “Kammback” wagon as part of the Chevrolet Vega roster in 1971. Then Pontiac copied the Vega in 1976 and called it the Astre. The Astre was dropped in 1977, and the body style moved over to the Sunbird, which didn’t look that much like a Vega or Astre. The seller has a 1978 version of the little transport, but it’s been tricked out and will turn some impressive speeds at the racetrack. Cosmetically challenged, this Pontiac is in Burleson, Texas, and is available here on eBay, where the current bid is $2,025.
One of the improvements of the Astre over the Vega was the use of the “Iron-Duke” inline-4, which we assume once lived in this wagon. It was much more reliable than the aluminum block engine of the Vega. The Sunbird wagon was probably not any more successful than the Astre version, as it only lasted two years (1978-79 vs. 1976-77). Whatever the case, a Chevrolet 327 cubic inch V8 resides in this Pontiac today.
We’re told the Chevy engine has a steel crankshaft, forget pistons, a beefier camshaft, aluminum heads, and a lot more. With a TH-350 automatic transmission using a stall converter, the seller says the car will put up times in the “low 8s” at 75 mph. But what length of track is involved here? The Sunbird has a 10-bolt rear end, Rally wheels, and new tires fore and aft. No mention is made of any mechanical shortcomings. All-in-all, this is said to be a turn-racer.
Everything on the downside may be cosmetic. The body has a few bumps and dings, and the burgundy paint is well past faded at this point. The glass is good, but the interior has been baked by the Texas sun, and the upholstery is cracked, at least on the driver’s seat. We’re told this car was rescued from a backyard after 440 yearss and we assume that it was before the racing stuff was dished out.
I really hope that engine has forged pistons in it, and the seller didn’t “forget “ to install them.
Being in California there is no chance I can afford to add the needed parts to meet our draconian smog regulations, otherwise I’d would be intrigued
The “8 seconds at 75 MPH” is on a 1/8 mile track. The seller says that time was at XRP, Xtreme Raceway Park in Ferris TX.
A friend of mine had one of these with a 350/4 speed set up. It was decently quick. It eventually developed a good size crack in the firewall after a few too many power shifts. Hopefully this one won’t have that problem because of the automatic transmission.
It likely runs mid-12’s, figure 8.2 x 1.555 =12.75. Which isn’t bad for a street car, but is far from a race car. This would fail tech at my local track, it’s probably only been raced occasionally. There is nothing wrong with that, but the ad mis-identified several parts listed in the description, but it’s cheap, so far. This could be a good deal, but potential buyers should check it out carefully and understand it is more street car than anything else.
Steve R
Another set of gears\n And some Framework.
Would like to see a pic of the heads and know what year this one is Regional year and cohortbound tour of this 327.