The last true muscle car from the true muscle car era. Pontiac was the only manufacturer who still made a couple cool late 70s cars... the 1975-79 W72 400/4 speed Trans Am/Formula Firebird and the 1977 Can Am. The T/A's that had the Oldsmobile 403 and an automatic transmission we're dogs, but the ones that had the Pontiac 400 and a 4 speed we're still pretty decent performers. The NHRA rated the W72 400 at 260 horsepower I think...a really high horsepower rating for a car from the gas crunch era
Engine options and specs aside, it funny how so many people like the look of the 74 ta's but hate the 75 cars. They are basically identical except for the parking lights in the grille and the larger back window in the 75. I love them both!
I have a Buccaneer Red '73 TA 455 4 spd with a black interior and I agree. I can tolerate the '75 & '76, but I still refer to them as "the newer model firebirds".
As he says horse power ratings were required to be net power not gross power, so the last of the street hemi engines were a lie....it couldn't produce 425 gross before the change and 425 net after....all other manufacturers were honest...
orange70383 I HAD A 1972 455 H.O. 4 SPEED M22... NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR TRIMS. A CAR IS A REFLECTION OF ITS OWNER...GOOD OWNER = GOOD CAR...BAD OWNER = UGLY CAR.
Sold our 74 SD 4 speed with 25k original miles in 2006-bad idea. And another in 2013. Our 77 4 speed black/black sold this summer. Check out our page "Special Edition Finds" on Facebook.
citydriver We say "one of the last Super Dutys" in the video so people didn't assume this was the LAST one off the assembly line. '74 was the last year of production, however.
I’m sure it had something to do with safety regs, but Pontiac should have kept the smaller rear window. I always wanted to build a “Bandit SE” pro touring car but use a ‘74 body with all the 77-78 features.
Above all else, a heck of a Torque MONSTER!!!💥🇺🇸
The last true muscle car from the true muscle car era. Pontiac was the only manufacturer who still made a couple cool late 70s cars... the 1975-79 W72 400/4 speed Trans Am/Formula Firebird and the 1977 Can Am. The T/A's that had the Oldsmobile 403 and an automatic transmission we're dogs, but the ones that had the Pontiac 400 and a 4 speed we're still pretty decent performers. The NHRA rated the W72 400 at 260 horsepower I think...a really high horsepower rating for a car from the gas crunch era
Really listen to those pontiac v8s they have a unique sound that you can tell an original pontiac motor from any other its just plain sexy
Engine options and specs aside, it funny how so many people like the look of the 74 ta's but hate the 75 cars. They are basically identical except for the parking lights in the grille and the larger back window in the 75. I love them both!
I do too but in my opinion the '76 is the best looking of those three years with the exception of the rear window
Horsepower & torque dropped like a rock in 75'. 16 second quarter miles.
Very sad year for me....
Awesome video and car! I personally prefer the looks of the 1970-73 TA's but still a SD-455 is a mega cool car, the last true muscle car!
I have a Buccaneer Red '73 TA 455 4 spd with a black interior and I agree. I can tolerate the '75 & '76, but I still refer to them as "the newer model firebirds".
Great stuff...again. Thanks.
Had a 72 455SD 4sp. White blue interior 2 wide blue racing stripes,sold it when the Uncle called. I'll never forget this car.
no SD in 72
Must have been a 455 HO. No SD until '73. HO is an awesome motor as well, I own a '71. Great car!!!
There's no such car. 73-74 were the only SD Trans Ams
K.D. Pearce
Redux...NO 455 SD IN 1972 @ chuto paradani 👍
You mean a 455 HO ?
Great, & powerful engine
I have full on wood right now ! what a car ........
I had one identical to it only it was automatic with white interior
Dooooooope! Awsome episode and 74 TA!
I owned a 74 SD-455. Blue with black interior, 4spd. I was an awesome car but I had to sell it.
nice my sister had a 1974 firebird with a 350
Bad-Ass then, Bad-Ass now.
As he says horse power ratings were required to be net power not gross power, so the last of the street hemi engines were a lie....it couldn't produce 425 gross before the change and 425 net after....all other manufacturers were honest...
What's that crazy silver thing behind you in the outro?
acousticpunker Shelby Series 1
It is a great body style. But man I remember stuff like the door armrests and other interior pieces that would start falling apart in no time.
orange70383
I HAD A 1972 455 H.O. 4 SPEED M22... NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR TRIMS. A CAR IS A REFLECTION OF ITS OWNER...GOOD OWNER = GOOD CAR...BAD OWNER = UGLY CAR.
The lower compression ratio was not to meet emmission standards, it was lowered so it could run on unleaded low octane fuel.
Still leads to emissions dude
MrZdvy - I believe unleaded gas wasn't mandated untill '75.
No AC? No problem. didn't need the extra weight anyway
James Mata
I had the best AC in my 72 Trans Am 455 H.O. 4 Speed....Open the windows....
Why on earth was air con. only available with an auto? Thats unheard of today!!
+Darrren Betker The stick would spin the compressor too fast
Hmmmm
Sold our 74 SD 4 speed with 25k original miles in 2006-bad idea. And another in 2013. Our 77 4 speed black/black sold this summer. Check out our page "Special Edition Finds" on Facebook.
+Sean Fitzgerald Wish I had kept my 74 SD-455 T/A too - sold it in the 80's - don't know what you got till its gone
was DeLorean still at Pontiac for this car ?
+william harvey No he left late 1969/early 1970 influenced however.
what super dutys were after this one?
74' was the last year
citydriver We say "one of the last Super Dutys" in the video so people didn't assume this was the LAST one off the assembly line. '74 was the last year of production, however.
None. Unfortunately that was the end of the really stout Pontiac V-8's.
None. This is the last true muscle car from the muscle car era
I’m sure it had something to do with safety regs, but Pontiac should have kept the smaller rear window. I always wanted to build a “Bandit SE” pro touring car but use a ‘74 body with all the 77-78 features.
What's the car at 0:08?
alacarpa 1970 1/2 Trans Am ...First year with that body style. With the 400 Ram Air iv.
factory tires........so lets burn em off
James N - I believe this was the first year radials came standard. Also the RTS suspension as well.