OK, o ahead and get your "Smokey and the Bandit" jokes out of the way early, ecause this 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SE deserves a closer look. With a matching-numbers powertrain, ots of new equipment, nd that familiar '70s performance look, t's no wonder these cars are seeing strong gains in value over the past few years. This Y82 Special Edition was delivered to Witt Pontiac in November of 1977. It only has 300 miles on a complete frame-off restorationdone 2013 through May, 015. It's dressed in fresh starlight black paint and sports Hurst, irst edition T -tops. The black seems to highlight not only the aggressive shape, ut the many gold-colored details practically leap off the glossy bodywork. And for a car that's coming up on its 40th birthday, his one sure looks good, ith super straight flanks that don't even show so much as a parking lot ding and a glossy finish that holds up under close scrutiny. It's got that look that will get every man thinking about hitting the road and and running from "Smokey" A few bubbles under the firebird on the hood seem to be the only issue, nd an afternoon spent buffing the hood will probably pay big dividends. Nonetheless, his is a very good-looking car.The tan interior is a more comfortable choice to Bandit's basic black, specially when you pull the T-tops off. The interior is in fantastic condition, ith new and very correct uphholstery with exact factory specifications, long with crisply rendered door panels and that cool gold-toned engine-turned instrument panel. Gold seems to be the theme for this '78 SE, ecause the spokes of the steering wheel are the same color, nd as an SE, ust about everything was part of the deal, ncluding A/C, ower windows, ruise control, nd, f course, he T-tops. The A/C uses R134a refrigerant so it's effective today and easy to service and the gauges are in excellent condition with big, asy-to-read markings. An upgraded AM/FM/iPod stereo head unit has been stuffed into the dash and the floors are protected by big heavy-duty rubber mats. The trunk is upholstered in black carpet and extra sound-proofing which give the Trans Am an upscale vibe and help control noise, oo.The legendary W72 6.6 litre V8 advertised under the hood still delivers big fun in today's era of 300-horsepower minivans. The engine was rebuilt in February and runs superbly and thanks to much time out of the engine bay, t's quite nicely detailed, oo. The block wears correct corporate blue engine enamel, nd the big hood scoop still inhales through a separate hose, ot the scoop itself. Lots of new components ensure a great driving experience, list of parts several pages long. It's backed by a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission that never seems to mind dropping down a gear when you get heavy on the throttle. The soundtrack is quite thrilling thanks to a recent Flowmaster dual exhaust system underneath. The chassis is quite clean, hich comes courtesy of a life lived in the warm, ry climate of Texas, nd even the gorgeous "snowflake" alloy wheels show littlesigns of age. Documented with tons of receipts for the extensive restoration work plus the original window sticker and PHS paperwork, his is a high-quality T/A that was built to enjoy while it appreciates. For all practical purposes this a "new" thirty seven year old classic.Call us today while we still have it!