1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Description

1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

Two-and-a-half to three-year frame-off restoration with nearly all-new parts ($60K investment) 100 miles on odometer since restoration Pacifica Blue Pearl exterior and black interior SD 455 overbored to 468 CID H.O. V-8 cylinder engine making an owner-estimated 438 hp Rochester Quadra-Jet 780 CFM carburetor, Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold, Ram Air III Cam Lifter Kit, Shorty Headers and High-Energy Ignition Muncie four-speed manual transmission Posi-Trac limited-slip differential with 3.73 gearing Highly desirable smoked T-top roof panels Power steering, power windows, power locks, rear window defroster, air-conditioning Converted to power four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock American Racing five-spoke black wheels

Looking for your own Trans Am like the one Burt Reynolds drove in “Smokey and the Bandit?” While it’s not black on the outside, MotoeXotica Classic Cars is excited to present this extremely nice understudy, a 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, originally assembled in Van Nuys, California, which has since undergone a frame-off restoration using almost all new parts.

Mr. Barks, of St. Charles, Missouri, and a former Pontiac Master Technician, bought the car from a friend and rebuilt it to his personal specifications. Over the course of 2.5 to three years, he estimates he spent approximately $60,000 on the car’s restoration.

He pulled the original engine, purchased a NOS 390-horsepower Super Duty 455 V-8 from New Jersey then sent it to an area machine shop, Todd’s Machining. Bob requested the shop to overbore the cylinders by .06, blueprint the engine and balance it internally and externally plus straighten the crankshaft. Once the now 468 CID engine was in the car, he mated it to a Muncie four-speed manual transmission with a Hurst shifter. He claims a verbal dynamometer test result of 438 horsepower.

Under its Ram Air shaker flap are a 780cfm Rochester Quadra-Jet four-barrel carburetor, Edelbrock aluminum intake, High Energy Ignition (HEI) distributor, Shorty Headers, Ram Air III Cam Lifter Kit, and the following NOS items – air, oil and fuel filters, distributor, ignition coil, alternator, radiator, engine fan shroud, upper and lower radiator hoses, thermostat, thermostat housing, radiator cap, front brake pads, rotors, hoses and hub assemblies, brake master cylinder, brake lines, front wheel bearings and seals, rear wheel seals, rear brake hoses, parking brake and cable, axle housing cover, power steering pump and hoses, fan belts, clutch with flywheel kit, universal joint, differential fluid, other engine hoses, traction bars, fuel return line, valve cover gaskets, spark plugs and spark plug wires, heater core, blower motor, battery, wiper motor, wiper blades and windshield washer pump. Driver assist features include Posi-Traction limited-slip rear differential, rear window defroster, power steering, power brakes, power windows and power locks.

Finished in a fresh Pacifica Blue Pearl, this hardtop coupe shows extremely well with only minor exterior imperfections visible upon close inspection. Many trim pieces are new – splash flares, wheel flares, rear spoiler and moldings, headlights and gas cap. The body has a new hood and cowl, trunk lid and color-matching new front and rear bumpers. Rubberized undercoating has been applied to the new floorpan, plus a transmission mount. The windshield wipers don’t work but the car has a functioning Ram Air shaker flap with all the factory decals, badging and new striping plus a couple added after restoration, like 4 Wheel Disc badges on the exterior door handles. The wheels are American Racing Equipment five-spoke black aluminum rims within new BFGoodrich Radial T/A P245/60R15 tires and the car has Monroe Sensa-Trac shock absorbers.

Swing open either of those long doors and the newer black bucket seats, rear seats and rear package shelf appear with normal with only minor signs of wear visible. The matching new black door panels, armrests, new carpet, sill plates, door window lift motors, door window reveal moldings, console kit and dashboard with blue metal are a great compare-contrast with the car’s blue exterior and look fantastic. The originally equipped tilt steering wheel is in good condition and functions as designed, there are new pads for the accelerator, brake and clutch pedals and a new driver’s power window switch. The air-conditioning works but does not blow cold air, however, in the dash is a new, true mileage, 100-mph speedometer (needs calibration) with odometer and new cable, a Pontiac AM radio, new headlight dimmer switch on floor plus sound deadening from 3M. Car also comes with original owner’s manual, new floor mats, trunk mat and smoked T-top roof panels, which are highly desirable.

The Trans Am was a specialty package for the Firebird, typically upgrading handling, suspension and horsepower, as well as minor appearance modifications such as exclusive hoods, spoilers, fog lights and wheels. In using the name Trans Am, a registered trademark, GM agreed to pay $5 to the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) for each car sold. Four distinct generations were produced between 1969 and 2002 and were built on the F-body platform, also shared by the Chevrolet Camaro. The 1977 movie, “Smokey and the Bandit,” the second-highest grossing film in the U.S. that year, served as an additional advertising boost for ’77-’81 Firebirds, particularly those with the Trans Am package and T-tops. The 2010 and later Camaros ride GM’s Zeta platform, even though they continue to show Fs in their VINs.

Competing models to this car in 1978 included its corporate F-body sibling, the Chevrolet Camaro Z-28, Ford’s Mustang GT, the Chevrolet Corvette, Mazda’s RX-7, Datsun’s 280Z and Toyota’s Supra.

Without question one of GMs most iconic models, the Trans Am immediately became synonymous with cutting edge styling, great handling and fantastic muscle car performance. This would be a welcome addition to any enthusiast’s collection! GET OUT AND DRIVE!

Current mileage on the odometer shows 100 miles since restoration, It is sold as is, where is, on a clean and clear, mileage exempt title.

VIN: 2W87Z8L182874

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