The second generation Pontiac Trans Am was popular for a reason. It had great looks, superb handling and could be optioned with powerful engines. Of course all these attributes are relative and comparable to the other options of the day. Today’s cars are vastly improved but sometimes just don’t have the same nostalgia as a 1970’s Trans Am. This car is a 1978 Pontiac Trans Am optioned with the Y88 appearance package. Instead of black (Code 19) and gold stripes for the usual special edition, the Y88 was painted Solar Gold (Code 50) with black stripes. Pontiac only produced the Y88 Trans Am for a short time due to problems with the gold paint so they were discontinued. This car is listed here on eBay with 4 days remaining in the auction. It is currently bid to $33,600 and has a Buy It Now Price of $54,900. The Trans Am is located in Elk Mound, Wisconsin.
There were three different engine options installed in the Trans Am in 1978 depending on where you lived and ordered the car. The base engine was the L78 400 cubic inch V8 engine which was available only with an automatic transmission (GM Turbo Hydramatic 350 transmission). It was rated at 180 horsepower and was also available in other large sedans and station wagons. If you lived in California, your only option was the L80 403 cubic inch V8 engine also only with the Turbo 350 automatic transmission. It was rated at 185 horsepower. The performance option was the W72 400 cubic inch V8 engine that received new dual exhausts which increased its horsepower rating from 200 horsepower in 1977 to 220 horsepower in 1978. It was available with either an automatic transmission or a Borg Warner T-10 4 speed manual transmission. A factory memo came out mid year that limited this engine to only manual transmissions for the rest of 1978. That is the engine that this car is equipped with.
The interior looks to be in pristine condition and the car is heavily optioned with the deluxe interior, power locks, power windows, air conditioning (not working), rear defrost, and tilt steering. One key feature that indicates a Y88 Trans Am is the steering column is painted camel tan on a Y88 Gold Special Edition, while a regular gold Trans Am had a black steering column. Also, you can see the dash bezel and steering wheel are tinted gold. This car was supposedly restored by Restore A Muscle Car in Lincoln, Nebraska.
This Trans Am has 74,000 miles on the odometer. Production was limited to only 1,267 Y88 Trans Ams and could only be ordered from November 1977 to February 1978. The seller includes an appraisal for $95,000 which is so high that it may discredit its credibility. With that said, the asking price is reasonable for such a rare car in this condition.
This is such a nice trans am. I bought a 1977 trans am new right off the dealers show room floor. I can’t remember the exact amount but it was south of ten grand and I paid cash. Mine was a royal blue color with same color interior. I had a buddy of mine paint white flames on the hood scoop. It looked classy and it didn’t have the screaming chicken on the hood. Mine had the 400 and auto trans. Was my daily driver and I loved it. These are great cars and quite comfy for highway cruising at any speed. They weren’t great at the drag strip but that’s not what they were made for. I hope whom ever buys this gets it out often and enjoys it. To the seller GLWTA
In 1978, my brother ordered a new Solar Gold Trans AM because it was different. When standing at the front corner of the car, it was clear to see the hood, fender and nose cone were 3 different shades of gold
If I win the lotto tonite, I may buy this one and the 1998 listed a bit earlier🌟 🏁
Where I live we don’t need ac, but for $55,000 I expect seller to hook it up and use R12. R134 does a lousy job of coolng in a system NOT designed for it. Been there. Done that. Love Solar Gold and 4 speed.
A/C is missing! Seems like the A/C is never a priority.
Bought new Grand Prix in 77 for 58 hundred they were giving away Trans Ams because gas went past a dollar.
Another contributing factor to their popularity is that for 74 Ford turned the Mustang into a re-bodied Pinto and after 74 Mother Mopar axed the Challenger, Barracuda and Satellite plus the Charger and Road Runner changed to bigger less sporty cars. Chrysler’s designers had new E bodies slated for 75 but the execs shot them down, what a big mistake that turned out to be. From 75 on if you wanted anything in the way of a pony car Camaro and Firebird were the only option. In my humble opinion GM made a wise decision to continue those cars even though they became slow and heavy. Left with Volaries, Pinto-Mustangs or Firebirds I’d have went with the Pontiac.