Red is a great color on performance cars and that is the case with this 1978 Pontiac Trans Am. It is located in Enid, Oklahoma and is being auctioned on eBay. Currently the bids have topped $15,600 but for the condition of this Trans Am and that fact that it is a 4 speed car, that should go up before the auction ends in 3 days. The seller states that he took the car in on a trade for a 38 foot quad side fifth wheel RV. The prior owner had it since 1987 and his uncle had bought it new. The chrome roll bar is said to have been in the car since new and installed by the dealer.
Since this car is a 4 speed, it was optioned with the the Pontiac W72 400 cubic inch V8 engine. The standard or base engine for 1978 was the Pontiac L78 400 cubic inch V8 engine, coupled with a GM Turbo Hydramatic 350 automatic transmission, rated at 180 horsepower. This car has been repainted and a prior owner has put the “6.6 Litre” decal on the hood scoop which is incorrect for this engine. Buyers in California could only ordered the Oldsmobile L80 403 cubic inch V8 engine also backed by the GM Turbo Hydramatic 350 automatic transmission. This engine was rated slightly higher at 185 horsepower. The hood scoop decal should be T/A 6.6 which designates the W72 400 cubic inch V8 engine. Power was increased over 1977 with this engine due to new dual exhausts. The engine was rated at 220 horsepower in 1978. The W72 engine could be paired with either an automatic transmission or a Borg Warner T-10 4-speed manual transmission.
The odometer on this car shows 37k miles and some of the pics make it look like it is a low mileage car. However, other pics like the wear on the seats indicate it might be 137k miles. The seller has disclosed that they don’t know as well as listed the items that need fixing on the car. The windows and doors are said to close like new. The interior includes the optional velour deluxe cloth. There are some electrical problems that need sorting out and the car needs a full exhaust system. it is currently running straight headers.The paint is said to be in average shape and is probably not as glossy as in the pictures.
If you want to place a bid on this car, it can be seen here on eBay. The car is being sold at no reserve. With T-tops and a 4 speed, this car has two great features that should override some of the flaws. In 1978, Pontiac sold 93,341Trans Ams and only 12,665 came with a 4 speed transmission. The Trans Am is riding on the optional 15×7 aluminum wheels. If the car was optioned with the WS6 performance suspension package, it would have 15×8 aluminum wheels. Regardless, the car could out handle most of its rivals with the base suspension. This car has some potential for the next buyer.
Wow, chrome roll bar on a t-top. We’ve officially seen it all on Barnfinds.
One of my first cars was a red 77 Formula, this one puts a smile on my face and ticks all the right boxes-W72, 4 speed, T-Tops and I love the roll bar and back story. It seems like a lit if the heavy lifting has been done and fixing brake and tracking down electrical gremlins should be straight forward. I’d love to spend a weekend on the paint with my new orbital polisher. Anything under 20k is a deal glwta
Nice to see these cars still around tho sad that the original owner may no longer be with us. Cars like this stuck to the script embracing max performance over luxury. T-tops and velour being the only splurge. Someone will have a great car here.
Fresh paint job on top (and bottom) of a car that looks to have been ridden hard and put away wet, including inside where the T-Tops leaked in moisture.
I bought a 78 Trans Am new and the T Tops leaked a little from day one to the day I sold it.
The tail lights in the 78’s were outlined in black, not the body color. The 77’s were outlined with the body color. Unless this is a repaint, this is a ’77.
All GM t top cars of this era leaked. I owned several. Thankfully, I had them garaged and knew to keep the garden hose away from them. But one look at this beauty and it makes me glad I was 22 when this car was new and I saw hundreds of them. Got to drive quite a few as well as I worked at several GM dealers in those days. Today nothing but completely ugly SUVs on the road.
It don’t get much easier under the hood to work on a V8 when u dont have a/c – on Pontiac V8s of the ’60s & ’70s. The car mags back in the day praised that on a ’76 t/a 455 with no a/c.
Not the best looking with blackwalls, but RWLs can cost you double these days over odd name blackwalls. & how much are you driving these now, compared to back in the ’70s & ’80s, especially with touch screen & texting distraction?
The original 225-70r15s were a ridiculous size & amazin these cars handled so good with such tall & somewhat skinny tires.
A later common replacement size was 235-60r15 for better handling, braking
& acceleration. & i would get a replacement RWL set – if they werent so expensive for my ’74 bird.
So i will next try inexpensive even shorter 225-60r15 blackwalls for still better performance & lighter weight.