Just damn! Beautiful car. I still have my mother's. Bought it for her back in 2002. I built the pontiac 400 in my garage, kept 4 spd and rebuilt front and rear suspension. She sewed all new interior herself. She unfortunately only drove it one time on her birthday. Passed away the following morning. But she drove the hell out of it. Six months later I received a letter in the mail. Failure to Appear and copy of a 135 mph speeding ticket past A California Highway Patrol weigh station😁😁 Go Mom!!! Have that ticket on my wall till this day😃
Thanks, Great Memories… Anyways, mine was the performances, of **& seeing the **76 TA//Black Gold, I fell for:: ordering a **1977 SPECIAL ED/ Hurst Hatches/6.6 L / Velour/ loaded/ ZIEBARTED….fortunately the LOW HP 1977, engine easy to tune-up , ETC …. INTERESTINGLY, by 1997 about unsafe to drive , in N Indiana road salt & inner RUST… STARTED BODY OFF, gave up….remembering , the Salvage GUY paid $100 Me to cart away((* about 20%of value if one **Snowflake GOLD SE Wheel’s, etc)….lot of miles & use!!
Thanks, incredible, Great story & stuff!! Anything more:: options, which TA, PARTS ON! , find out anything else???? Interestingly, I ordered a 77 TA/Special Ed/ Hurst Hatch ( always seeped/ leaked )/ loaded::: building up carefully:: still low on HP, BUT great Speed (!,!) , & HANDLING! * ps ordered in OCT 1976, + all GM Manuel’s/ Zeibart, etc: before “” Smokey & BANDIT MOVIE, ETC. Though did bump into one acquaintances, Movie worker, said he helped Oreo/ Clean the “” Seven + one TA’s) for Movie, (maybe 1985?approx)…
Thanks m ps also,,, What Suspensions did you use… ?? back in the DAY:: 1977-79 , I went KONI, HO PRODUCTS Sway/ Grommets/ Eagles GOODYEAR, ETC…Actually enjoyed working on the TA, ETC..(( ps: I went back to VALVOLINE Racing Oils, as new Pridcts, the MOBIL ONE ALL SYNTHETC ,made a little “”to much noise “” in most ::: Engine operating modes……. Interestingly back to VALVOLINE, NIw **full SYNTHETIC for both our Vehicles ,@ my Mechanics(I cut back most of wrenching at 75 years young,etc…
I'd take a Firebird over a Camaro any day. Not that I hate Camaros, it's just that it's nice to not see yourself coming and going. And the Firebird/Firebird Trans Am of this time was just much better looking.
Had a Yellow 1976 Trans AM ... purchased it in 1977 ... installed B&M shift kit on the auto transmission, drove it coast to coast was a lot of fun and a great car for the time!
Who is this guy?!! He seems very knowledgeable about Pontiac. But all the rambling on b*******. Is a huge turn off to the video! I wish you'd just shut up! And talk about the car. Show off this car.
Doug DeMuro is an idiot who has no class, knows nothing about cars, but thinks he is a star. Bill is a classy guy, kind of old-school, with a great sense of humor and vast car knowledge.
That's like saying a mullet is the greatest hairstyle of all time . It is an iconic car ... But EXTREMELY cheesy .... Look at this ,then look at a 1958 Bonneville convertible and tell me this is beautiful
@@papimiami1938 theres no accounting for taste, the 58 bonneville is quite literally the car that homer designed in that simpsons episode, overblown and fancy with way too many design features, its a mess, a classless gaudy mess from when american designers were attempting to emulate classy european automobiles but just throwing chrome at it, its not a 55 chevy.
@@deadprivacy and a trans am was in every trailer park well into the 1990s . After that 1-2 %of the original owners actually have a positive net worth enough to drive the price of these shitboxes to ridiculous amount (anything over 1500 dollars) . Ugly , cheaply built , GUTLESS fuel hogs, did not stop and did not steer . This car epitomizes every negative stereotype of American built cars . Yeah any pre 1966 American car is substancially superior
@@papimiami1938 i didnt say it was any good, just a thing of beauty, its when america put their true personality into a car, the rover sd1 for example here in the uk, bags of junk but truly beautiful in a way a snob like yourself could never appreciate. its not really a stereotype when america has built truly fucking awful cars for its entire existence, every single one bar a couple were , are and always will be heavy, fuel hogging monstrosities, this trans am just represents the peak of that, and is therefore a truly beautiful classic. if you want quality? even going pre 66 wont get you that in america, lol. although ive got a soft spot for a packard or a studebaker.
@@papimiami1938 and the mk1 ford escort was in every travellers camp in the uk well into the 1990s, you cant buy one for less than 20 grand these days. you are a snob, its not my fault but that trans am, is iconic, unique and truly a thing of beauty, you can keep your 57 belairs and ridiculous plymouth superbirds and that gaudy monstrosity 58 bonneville pimp bus.
My dad took me to see Smokey & the Bandit when I was 8. When the Trans Am rolled out I told myself I'm going to own one some day. When I was 20, I took possession of a second owner 77 T/A Auto no T tops and felt like I'd been passed on to heavens gate when I drove it:).
Thanks. Me too. Interestingly, ordered mine in OCT 1976: ( before SMOKEY/ Bandit), got it March 1977((oddly, the MODEL 1976;**Black,*Gold TA got me interested) , & MOTOR TREND . LONG story
403 was an underrated motor . lots of low end torque in its day. Delorean was arrested for dealing drugs and it was a full front page story. When all charges were dropped it was a paragraph somewhere in the back.
I owned A 400 4 SPEED 79 T/A FROM 1980 TO 1992..... have owned a 79 Olds 403 T/A since 2000........the Olds 403 is faster in the quarter mile (15.9 versus 15.3) and gets better gas mileage.
Flying down the highway, laughing at the double nickels sign, hearing the engine roar, blasting "Panama", "I Can't Drive 55", "Highway to Hell", etc. etc. Good times!
Loved the commentary! Awesome review. I'm a 23yr retired Army mechanic and just starting to restore my white '79, 275,000 miles, same as this model but 10th anniversary LE 4 wheel disc. Actually 2 working discs, I crimped the rear brake line, poor mans line lock lol. Bought it back in 90 with my GI-bill college fund. Didn't need college, I did need a Trans-Am! Bought it off of my towns retired police chief's daughter. Got honked and waved at by a lot of officers after that. First thing I did was lose all the emissions control crap and took off the AC pump. They had a clause for older cars that said if it was gonna cost over a certain amount to repair the exhaust emissions, you get a pass for free. Not sure if that's still in effect. Plus I had a few friends that worked at state inspection stations. Well after 14 years of sitting in storage, gonna see if she has one more dance left in her. Its not just the car, its all the great memories that go with it! Can't even count how many times that cars been spun around on a wet highway, the Oh-shit bar works, or friends who got tickets in that car, but two DWI's that I know of. Not to mention blood sweat tears and knuckle busters to keep it on the road :-D Thanks for a great ride down memory lane!
Bill you are awesome, love the videos keep them coming you are a true gentleman with a great sense of humour. Takes us back to the old days where we didn't wrap ourselves in foam to prevent getting hurt, we just went and did shit for the fun of it. I miss those days dearly.
My first car was also a '79 Trans Am. Got it from my Uncle, the original owner. Mine was also white on red but with a gold screamin' chicken and a hard-top. Was nowhere near the pristine shape of this beast, as I got mine in 2004. The gutless Olds 403 wasn't meant for racing but cruising, not to say it couldn't embarrass someone at a stop light. Had an early 80s Pioneer cassette deck and matching 6x9 speakers, still worked and sounded great. Interior was pretty damn worn out by the California sun and it smelled like a damp, oily shop rag. GM quality everyone! Now I've got a 2002 Firebird, the last year for the breed. That Buick 3.8 pulls _hard_ compared to that Olds V8. Can't wait to strap a supercharger to it.
@@johnb2370 I got it that way. The person before my friend that I bought it from put a 76 Pontiac 455 in it, awesome saphire pearl paint, chrome roll bar, different wheels and a few other things. It was a T-top car. One of the many cars I regret not holding onto....
Brutally honest. Finally someone who knows cars who can tell me what the hell happened in the mid 70s to the early 80s. I had a1973 Charger SE with a 440 magnum. The last year.
I sooooooo wanted to buy one. I was 23 at the time. There was an orange/red one with the same interior at Boas Pontiac in SF. The things that prevented me from buying it was it didn’t have the tilt wheel and I didn’t have a covered garage. It would have been reckless. Instead, I saved the money for a house.
Please! Ramble on! Every time I watch your channel, I tell my wife I’m going to school. I learn so much from you, and I’m older, and I used to think I was a car buff! Some of the stories you tell, I’ve already hard, but I like the way you tell it, better!
@@borismcgillicutty3042 Looked to me like he drove what would be equal to the Berlineta edition of the Camaro. Like the luxury edition. I don't think I ever saw Rockford do a big burn out? But I didn't watch the show that much.
@@dwoodog i watched it a lot in the 70s I honestly don't remember ......i remember the car and the cheesy intro with James garner...guess it was better than driving a pinto or a Ltd back then
@@dwoodog whatever year it was definitely pre 79 like 75 I'm pretty aure, maybe 74....but it was the type with no spoiler, more of the generic firebird. They had a camaro v6 like that too in the 70s...slower than dog sh/t
My first car was also a 79 Formula. Miss her so much. It was 11 years old when I got her. Had the 403 olds. I took out the smog control, removed catalytic converter put a shift kit in the TH350 and put a 373 posi. Was able to run mid 14s at the bracket pizza races. Thought it was hot shit back then
Nice bird and a survivor. I bought a new a 78 with the T/A 6.6 220 hp (W72). The Red 8” Snowflakes are not a factory option. They were either gold or silver. These were fun cars to drive. I disagree that a Honda Accord would out handle.
Not my first car, but the first car I bought purely out of lust. A '79 T/A that was metallic blue with no screaming chicken decals that is to this day the best looking car I've owned. That's an awesome car and the condition is stunning!! What a find...
Ok.. Thats genration hasnt fuel injection "electrical" but pure Exhaust sound and pure power. If you miss the turbo you can change it to EFI with Computer system then add the turbo. You will get more than 500.
I was the luckiest teenager in 1978-79; I worked at the local Pontiac dealer as a car washer and mostly on the used lot but sometimes those cars were delivered new with broken windows from that plant in Tarrytown, NY; kids would throw rocks at the trucks that delivered them. (Have you noticed trains now have aluminum shields on the sides? Hillbilly's would swill beer and shoot them these days.) All the cars had 2.5 to 2.7 miles on them. You're right, they were smogged down and slow compared to some the 1967-71 cars on the used lot but that radial tuned steering and a 4 speed made driving them a joy. I would occasionally drive a new one with a dent or broken window to the body shop 5 miles away and then my job was "Test Pilot". After a few years the T-tops always leaked. While working for another dealer later in life as a buyer/wholesaler we had a kid who worked there who owned a rusty one like yours with 180K miles and he was going to junk it, 1996 for $200. We spent the afternoon taking turns trying to outdo each other on the back lot, smoking the tires. Believe it or not that Radial Tuned Steering felt just as nimble in the worn out car.
Rare to see one in such good shape. Most people raw dogged the hell out of them Just about all used ones were junk or built from other cars. My 1st car was a 1971 Mercury Comet. My CB handle was "Roadkill" because I was always broke down on side of the road.
I agree... had a 77 T/A and that was the only thing I didn't like as well. The seats could have been better but other than that an awsome car even today.
This is a great video. You really summed up what it was like to have this car. I used my discharge money from the Army in the late 90s to buy my dream car, a 1980 Firebird Esprit that was untouched and owned by a school teacher. After that I was able yo buy a 1980 Turbo and a 1976 Super Duty (parts cars) to make a car I loved. A 1980 firebird with a 1976 super duty and sexy ass 1980 turbo interior/ hood. Your description of this car is perfect and I am glad you made it so future generations can see what it was like to grab one of these when time allowed us kids were able to afford them and fuck with them.
Very beautiful car ....... I had one same year I found in a junkyard no tires missing the passenger side door half a motor bad transmission. This is how I learned how to turn a wrench. Miss it should had kept it. Later I bought a 86 t/a miss that one too.
I remember the day I went to buy my 79 T/A in the late 80's. Mine was exactly like this one except for silver exterior, light blue interior, and WS6 suspension. I never forget the feeling of that first trip home!
as always great test ride by bill. nice original car. over here in the netherlands they go fore €12000-€30000 depending on shape and originality. in general the transams cost indeed more than the formula. the 1981 turbo is very rare over here.
Laughed when the tach quit when he first pulled out! Super nice, well preserved machine just the same. LOVE that shaker hood! Don't see it on the AEN site any more so it must have sold, hopefully new owner is happy.
All those references to that movie brings back a lot of memories. As a kid I loved that movie - and I like that type of oldschool car to this day. Thanks for making my day.
Has anyone ever asked to just come down and meet you, just talk with you? Can't afford the jag. But maybe something. I enjoy these videos so much. Thanks Bill
My 1979 Trans Am came with a 403 ci ("6.6 liter") Oldsmobile engine rather than the (discontinued) 400 ci Pontiac Engine. It was the 10th Anniversary T/A, but it had the big 14 mpg engine that put out merely 180 net HP. My next car was a 1986 Chev. Monte Carlo SS, having a 305 (5.0) engine, putting out 180 HP also,
Loved this video.. my first car was the white special edition 1979... (i turned 16 in '87) same car except i had blue interior. loved the flashback it brought.. thank you.
I owned a '71 T/A for a while in the late 70's, white with blue stripe, automatic. It had about 40K miles on it when I got it. AM radio, power steering, power brakes, tinted glass, deluxe interior and console, no other options. A decent combination of power, handling and looks. A power sliding demon, any corner or curve was very fun. In a straight line it was no HEMI or solid lifter Rat, but decent. I would rail it around and round cloverleafs just for the rush. It did take some work to keep it on the road. Got about 10 miles to the gallon of gas.
Originally those headlights were supposed to have motorized doors on them to cover them when they were off but GM bean counters said no way to the cost and they kept them uncovered.My neighbor ordered one of the 1st 79'Formula's in black with gold bottom and tan interior.Sharp car in the day.
You guys keep the best cars in the world in stock. My niece is a resident in sunny Florida. I can't wait to come down for a visit. Well done. Keep up the great work.
My mom and dad had a '79 Trans Am in the early 80's and they told me it was frequently vandalized. Never any damage to the paint, but one time some knucklehead put cinderblocks under the mufflers and they were torn right off as they drove away one day.
I think the biggest thing is the platform. You can take one of these, put a serious engine in it and upgrade the trans and handling and it become a gorgeous high performance car. I saw a show where they just put an overdrive unit on the trans and it transformed it. But imagine an LS engine, handling upgrades and a modern 6 speed manual.
I had the 74, Firebird Esprit back in the day over in the UK it had a 5.7 litre 350 race tuned 4 speed manual.in a straight line it would out drag the 2.8 Toyota supra back in the day but around corners in the wet..forget it!.the noise from those cherry bombs was thunderous,Owned for 8 years and absolutely loved it.
It's a pretty car. Always liked them. By '79 the emissions standards were choking the performance cars, and from the factory they were kind of a dog. But I'd still drive one today. Lemme grab my hi-tops and Jean shorts, throw in my Billy Squire cassette, and head on down the arcade. See ya there.
I can remember in 1984 and a just graduated HS senior my very best friend got a bunch of money from his father he never really knew. Any how he bought a black T/A with the T/A 6.6. Before he even rough it home he took to Antonio's race engine builders and spent insane money and had it built to the hilt. Also had them remove the Super Chicken decal and had a custom one painted on the hood, then 6 coats of clear coat. Looked like you could jump into the paint. Had a the baddest custom stereo installed and would actually get so loud it would bust the T-Tops. That fucking car was absolutely insane. I can remember going down the road blasting Queensryche's 84 album. I was so respectvely jellie maybe cause he at the same time bought a Chevy Monza that was damn insane itself. He passed away a few years ago cause he just wouldn't get a C-PAP he desperately needed. I'll still and always will always miss Steve. Memories can be great and or hauntingly depressing.
The 75-79 Nova front suspension and subframe assembly were based on the 70-81 F-Body Firebird front suspension and subframe assembly, not the other way around.
I never really thought about it until this video and don't get me wrong, I love it. But a huge bird decal that takes up the whole entire hood, from the factory, is so wonderfully insane. It really makes the whole car though. I can't think of any other car that had a decal like that. Racing stripes would be the closest thing I can think of. '76 and the 77- '78 where my favorites.
That's an amazing car! I had a '79 T/A, a 66k mile original in Lucerne Blue w/white interior. There was one thing I could never figure out about the 403-powered T/A though, and that's the hood scoop. All of the cowl induction/ram air parts were there from the factory, but for some weird reason, Pontiac didn't cut out the back of the hood scoop to make it functional. I did on mine
I had a new 79 T/A back in the day, 6.6 liter version, burned two sets of rear tires off of it in less than 5000 miles and it never spent one minute in the shop for unscheduled maintenance
The HP from the engine is just mind-blowingly bad for such a huge displacement. 2022 and you get a 3 cylinder with more power and incredible fuel efficiency.
I never had one, but a drove a couple back in the day - none were the 400s. I’m a Ford guy, but always liked the F-body style and the way they drove and handled. I especially appreciated the Trans Am - maybe a “Smokey and the Bandit” thing. I rode tested an 81 with a 305 Chevy back in 82 or so. Automatic. I thought it would have a lesser 301/4V, but apparently the 305s were more available. Again, it handled great, or at least better than everything else I’d ever driven to date, and probably had all the power an 18-19 year old college student really needed... Didn’t get to buy it. I remember a Hot Rod Magazine article from 79 featuring the TA and how the Pontiac 400/4 speed they tested ran a quicker quarter than the flagship Corvette - low 14s. Seems that the 403 versions were more like 16.5s average. I also recall the article stated that Pontiac had holed away something like 10K 400s for the anniversary version of the TA, while the rest got the remaining 400s and 403 Olds. Nice video.
That video brought back a lot of memories ! I had a 80 firebird i bought in Las Vegas in 85 ...One of the best cars i have ever owned . It looked just like your 79 with the exception of the chicken and the shaker hood . In 80 they had Yellowbird , Redbird , Bluebird and severla others . I had the Yellowbird ...Same interior except it was light brown . 305 ci engine .
Hi I used to have the 79 trans am 403 engine automatic and I used to have 81 automatic 301 back in the 80s man I had the fun with this cars so much fun
2.73 ratio, & yes, it has Posi-Traction (Safe-T-Track, the name-brand GM - PMD gave their Posi-Traction. And even the WS-6 cars had the same dash-badge as the WS-4's did.... (Radial Tunned Suspension).... The only indication it was a WS-6 in 1979 was the outside door handles had a badge that said "4 WHEEL DISC". And you didn't mention it has the factory Hurst slap-shifter as well.... Pontiac advertised 185 HP to satisfy the "suits" & the insurance companies, but it had ALOT more HP & Torque than what they were telling people !!!.... I enjoyed the video, keep 'em coming !! 👍👍
I'm gonna roll my odometer back on my 64 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 it's a roller and I'm replacing everything but the frame as far as I can tell rn no drivetrain ect so once I get it resto modded I'm rolling the odometer to 0 just because its mine I'm never selling and its rolled over idk how many times so when I put in a drivetrain from a Escalade I'm gonna have all new everything except car lol and just gonna put mileage as exempt as they do with cars this old
I have a 77, people used and abused them back in the day. Lots of fun to see the thumbs up. Mustangs and Challengers are intimidated but you know, keep them guessing lol
actually, in 1979, they ran out of ws6 rear disc brakes, so they offered the ws7, which was last years ws6. it was just the same package with a drum brake rear. still had all the ws handling package.
“It’s a good riding platform, unless you’re going over bumps of any kind. Then, it will jar your spine loose.” LOL. Best car reviews on YouTubhe! Thank you!
I had a silver 78 t-top red interior auto same cb/am/fm 8track stereo bandit package I guess they called it . Mine had the TA 6.6 Pontiac 400 auto to this day my favorite car ever love the car. Shaker hood just made your heart pump!
3 года назад+1
GOD DAMN! MAN YOU ARE SO GOD DAMN KNOWLEDGEABLE ! APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU DO SO THANK U.
Firebird to Me has always been awesome since day one every version of it 67-70-79-80-88-2002 if they were building them today brand new people would buy them I would. love to have one any year. I wanted a 68 real bad but i ended up with an 88 I loved it I miss it
I am going to make you all jealous , i have a 70 formula 400 firebird , 2 1971 esprits one made into a trans am clone , a 72 esprit made into a formula 400 clone and a real 75 trans am and I don't plan on selling any of them , i love them ! and hope to one day build one into a road coarse race car and then life is complete !
Beautiful car. My dad has had one sitting for a couple years and he just recently started restoring it and someone stole it yesterday while it was at the shop getting some work done. My brother made a police report and went out looking for it and found the guy joyriding it near the shop. The guy ended up getting arrested but we wanted to get there before the cops to kick his ass lol
Nice car and great condition. I always laugh when I see the huge chicken on the hood but that was typical of late 70s styling. This was the car that caused “ooos”and “aahs” when people saw them.
Parents had a NEW !!701/2 ram air 4 . 4spd white / blue.. w/ two tone blue interior.. that was a real Firebird… not a velor 403 powered luxtho am.. but nice to see it all original.. thanks guy!!!
Man, that is a good looking Trans Am. I had an 84 for many years and loved it. it was a great driving car that I took to Germany and brought back home. The Germans loved it and got lots of looks driving around in it. Just hated it, however, when the VR6 Golfs would pass me like I was standing still.
Bill, & all: thanks: nice short overview of TA/ Pontiac. Interestingly, covered many of reasons I was TR@NS Am Fan:: & in Oct* 1976 ( after seeing the 1976 TA BLACK/ Gold, & MOTOR TREND): ordered my “ first special order Car” ( interestingly, also, same Dealer my Parents got their 1953 Buick DYNAFLOW 2 Door ,BLACK &* Yellow), a;; 1977 *HURST Hatch ( always seeps,etc)**TA/ SE, with Black Velour/ 6.6L( still a Pontiac engine?)/auto,cruise, window tint Delete, AM RADIO/tilt,ps, pbrake/reaR DEF/ mats/ Ziebart Rust protective/Posi/etc…….best Driver, low powered : a bunch of improvements helped…….long use..
Pontiac installed the Oldsmobile 403 engine in their Trans Am's because they had a serious problem getting the Pontiac 400 engine to pass the more stringent California emission standards. Hench, as one of the plants was in California, all of the T/A's out of that plant were 403's. If your lucky to find one from the plant back in Michigan, which were produced in much smaller numbers, it's more than likely to have the coveted 400 Poncho motor.
Never heard a more concise and up to the spirit summary of the movie ... please do one for Ulysses so I can get that bugger under my belt as well .. when I was charging the car places in and around Munich (Bavaria) in the mid eighties there were lots of 78 to 81 Camaro Berlinettas, some Trans Am's', few Firebirds to get hold of very affordably . but no one could scratch up the annual tax for it was calculated per 100 ccm (7 US$ per 6 cui) plus insurance plus fuel (1,3 US$ per gallon) . in 1985 rates :0
Just damn!
Beautiful car.
I still have my mother's.
Bought it for her back in 2002.
I built the pontiac 400 in my garage, kept 4 spd and rebuilt front and rear suspension.
She sewed all new interior herself.
She unfortunately only drove it one time on her birthday.
Passed away the following morning.
But she drove the hell out of it.
Six months later I received a letter in the mail.
Failure to Appear and copy of a 135 mph speeding ticket past
A California Highway Patrol weigh station😁😁
Go Mom!!!
Have that ticket on my wall till this day😃
she sounds incredible 😁
Your mom was way cool! Sorry for your loss.
Thanks, Great Memories… Anyways, mine was the performances, of **& seeing the **76 TA//Black Gold, I fell for:: ordering a **1977 SPECIAL ED/ Hurst Hatches/6.6 L / Velour/ loaded/ ZIEBARTED….fortunately the LOW HP 1977, engine easy to tune-up , ETC …. INTERESTINGLY, by 1997 about unsafe to drive , in N Indiana road salt & inner RUST… STARTED BODY OFF, gave up….remembering , the Salvage GUY paid $100 Me to cart away((* about 20%of value if one **Snowflake GOLD SE Wheel’s, etc)….lot of miles & use!!
Thanks, incredible, Great story & stuff!! Anything more:: options, which TA, PARTS ON! , find out anything else???? Interestingly, I ordered a 77 TA/Special Ed/ Hurst Hatch ( always seeped/ leaked )/ loaded::: building up carefully:: still low on HP, BUT great Speed (!,!) , & HANDLING! * ps ordered in OCT 1976, + all GM Manuel’s/ Zeibart, etc: before “” Smokey & BANDIT MOVIE, ETC. Though did bump into one acquaintances, Movie worker, said he helped Oreo/ Clean the “” Seven + one TA’s) for Movie, (maybe 1985?approx)…
Thanks m ps also,,, What Suspensions did you use… ?? back in the DAY:: 1977-79 , I went KONI, HO PRODUCTS Sway/ Grommets/ Eagles GOODYEAR, ETC…Actually enjoyed working on the TA, ETC..(( ps: I went back to VALVOLINE Racing Oils, as new Pridcts, the MOBIL ONE ALL SYNTHETC ,made a little “”to much noise “” in most ::: Engine operating modes……. Interestingly back to VALVOLINE, NIw **full SYNTHETIC for both our Vehicles ,@ my Mechanics(I cut back most of wrenching at 75 years young,etc…
I'd take a Firebird over a Camaro any day. Not that I hate Camaros, it's just that it's nice to not see yourself coming and going. And the Firebird/Firebird Trans Am of this time was just much better looking.
Heavier duty too.
I liked the Camaro better!
going over a bank lol
They’re the same fucking car
Change the fenders, hood, front and rear plastics and the dashboard, and you have a Camaro.
Never heard "hicksploitation". Great word.
Had a Yellow 1976 Trans AM ... purchased it in 1977 ... installed B&M shift kit on the auto transmission, drove it coast to coast was a lot of fun and a great car for the time!
Bill, you crack me up! Way more entertaining than Doug DeMuro.
Doug is a clown. Bill is awesome
Thomas Michael I can’t stand Doug DeMuro ... he’s too in your face for me 🤪
Who is this guy?!! The car awesome. He seems very
Who is this guy?!! He seems very knowledgeable about Pontiac. But all the rambling on b*******. Is a huge turn off to the video! I wish you'd just shut up! And talk about the car. Show off this car.
Doug DeMuro is an idiot who has no class, knows nothing about cars, but thinks he is a star. Bill is a classy guy, kind of old-school, with a great sense of humor and vast car knowledge.
had a couple of these in high school. loved them. mullet optional.
😆
😭
@Marcos C Gotta have the mustache and shades to go with that mullet.
one the greatest looking cars ever to come out of america.
its just beautiful.
That's like saying a mullet is the greatest hairstyle of all time . It is an iconic car ... But EXTREMELY cheesy .... Look at this ,then look at a 1958 Bonneville convertible and tell me this is beautiful
@@papimiami1938 theres no accounting for taste, the 58 bonneville is quite literally the car that homer designed in that simpsons episode, overblown and fancy with way too many design features, its a mess, a classless gaudy mess from when american designers were attempting to emulate classy european automobiles but just throwing chrome at it, its not a 55 chevy.
@@deadprivacy and a trans am was in every trailer park well into the 1990s . After that 1-2 %of the original owners actually have a positive net worth enough to drive the price of these shitboxes to ridiculous amount (anything over 1500 dollars) . Ugly , cheaply built , GUTLESS fuel hogs, did not stop and did not steer . This car epitomizes every negative stereotype of American built cars . Yeah any pre 1966 American car is substancially superior
@@papimiami1938 i didnt say it was any good, just a thing of beauty, its when america put their true personality into a car, the rover sd1 for example here in the uk, bags of junk but truly beautiful in a way a snob like yourself could never appreciate.
its not really a stereotype when america has built truly fucking awful cars for its entire existence, every single one bar a couple were , are and always will be heavy, fuel hogging monstrosities, this trans am just represents the peak of that, and is therefore a truly beautiful classic.
if you want quality?
even going pre 66 wont get you that in america, lol.
although ive got a soft spot for a packard or a studebaker.
@@papimiami1938 and the mk1 ford escort was in every travellers camp in the uk well into the 1990s, you cant buy one for less than 20 grand these days.
you are a snob, its not my fault but that trans am, is iconic, unique and truly a thing of beauty, you can keep your 57 belairs and ridiculous plymouth superbirds and that gaudy monstrosity 58 bonneville pimp bus.
These were one of the coolest looking cars! May not have a lot of power but still is a good looking car.
Thank you Bill for the trip down memory lane. I seem to have misplaced my youth...has anyone seen it?
My dad took me to see Smokey & the Bandit when I was 8. When the Trans Am rolled out I told myself I'm going to own one some day. When I was 20, I took possession of a second owner 77 T/A Auto no T tops and felt like I'd been passed on to heavens gate when I drove it:).
Thanks. Me too. Interestingly, ordered mine in OCT 1976: ( before SMOKEY/ Bandit), got it March 1977((oddly, the MODEL 1976;**Black,*Gold TA got me interested) , & MOTOR TREND . LONG story
403 was an underrated motor . lots of low end torque in its day. Delorean was arrested for dealing drugs and it was a full front page story. When all charges were dropped it was a paragraph somewhere in the back.
I owned A 400 4 SPEED 79 T/A FROM 1980 TO 1992..... have owned a 79 Olds 403 T/A since 2000........the Olds 403 is faster
in the quarter mile (15.9 versus 15.3) and gets better gas mileage.
@@winstonmccollum8992 The Pontiac would chew the 403 without breaking a sweat... Good Lord...
Flying down the highway, laughing at the double nickels sign, hearing the engine roar, blasting "Panama", "I Can't Drive 55", "Highway to Hell", etc. etc. Good times!
Was given my mother’s 74 camero 350 it had a/c amfm. I got it in 79 with 18 thousand miles! My first car. Wish I still had it.
Loved the commentary! Awesome review. I'm a 23yr retired Army mechanic and just starting to restore my white '79, 275,000 miles, same as this model but 10th anniversary LE 4 wheel disc. Actually 2 working discs, I crimped the rear brake line, poor mans line lock lol. Bought it back in 90 with my GI-bill college fund. Didn't need college, I did need a Trans-Am! Bought it off of my towns retired police chief's daughter. Got honked and waved at by a lot of officers after that. First thing I did was lose all the emissions control crap and took off the AC pump. They had a clause for older cars that said if it was gonna cost over a certain amount to repair the exhaust emissions, you get a pass for free. Not sure if that's still in effect. Plus I had a few friends that worked at state inspection stations. Well after 14 years of sitting in storage, gonna see if she has one more dance left in her. Its not just the car, its all the great memories that go with it! Can't even count how many times that cars been spun around on a wet highway, the Oh-shit bar works, or friends who got tickets in that car, but two DWI's that I know of. Not to mention blood sweat tears and knuckle busters to keep it on the road :-D Thanks for a great ride down memory lane!
Bill you are awesome, love the videos keep them coming you are a true gentleman with a great sense of humour. Takes us back to the old days where we didn't wrap ourselves in foam to prevent getting hurt, we just went and did shit for the fun of it. I miss those days dearly.
me too
My first car was also a '79 Trans Am. Got it from my Uncle, the original owner. Mine was also white on red but with a gold screamin' chicken and a hard-top. Was nowhere near the pristine shape of this beast, as I got mine in 2004. The gutless Olds 403 wasn't meant for racing but cruising, not to say it couldn't embarrass someone at a stop light. Had an early 80s Pioneer cassette deck and matching 6x9 speakers, still worked and sounded great. Interior was pretty damn worn out by the California sun and it smelled like a damp, oily shop rag. GM quality everyone!
Now I've got a 2002 Firebird, the last year for the breed. That Buick 3.8 pulls _hard_ compared to that Olds V8. Can't wait to strap a supercharger to it.
This salesman does a great job with the story behind the car. And it doesn't feel rehearsed.
Had a 79 with a 455 when I was 17. It passed everything except the gas station...
Did you replace the engine? Or did you get it that way with the engine already changed out?
@@johnb2370 I got it that way. The person before my friend that I bought it from put a 76 Pontiac 455 in it, awesome saphire pearl paint, chrome roll bar, different wheels and a few other things. It was a T-top car. One of the many cars I regret not holding onto....
@Sean Gavin Probably didn't have a 455 ci engine then.. lol..
Brutally honest. Finally someone who knows cars who can tell me what the hell happened in the mid 70s to the early 80s. I had a1973 Charger SE with a 440 magnum. The last year.
I sooooooo wanted to buy one. I was 23 at the time. There was an orange/red one with the same interior at Boas Pontiac in SF. The things that prevented me from buying it was it didn’t have the tilt wheel and I didn’t have a covered garage. It would have been reckless. Instead, I saved the money for a house.
Please! Ramble on! Every time I watch your channel, I tell my wife I’m going to school. I learn so much from you, and I’m older, and I used to think I was a car buff! Some of the stories you tell, I’ve already hard, but I like the way you tell it, better!
Didn’t Jim Rockford from Rockford files drive a nice gold version I always loved that car. 👌
He drove a 75 firebird I believe
@@borismcgillicutty3042 Looked to me like he drove what would be equal to the Berlineta edition of the Camaro. Like the luxury edition. I don't think I ever saw Rockford do a big burn out? But I didn't watch the show that much.
@@dwoodog i watched it a lot in the 70s I honestly don't remember ......i remember the car and the cheesy intro with James garner...guess it was better than driving a pinto or a Ltd back then
@@dwoodog whatever year it was definitely pre 79 like 75 I'm pretty aure, maybe 74....but it was the type with no spoiler, more of the generic firebird. They had a camaro v6 like that too in the 70s...slower than dog sh/t
He drove formulas trimed out as an esprit for the show
My first car was also a 79 Formula. Miss her so much. It was 11 years old when I got her. Had the 403 olds. I took out the smog control, removed catalytic converter put a shift kit in the TH350 and put a 373 posi. Was able to run mid 14s at the bracket pizza races. Thought it was hot shit back then
Nice bird and a survivor. I bought a new a 78 with the T/A 6.6 220 hp (W72). The Red 8” Snowflakes are not a factory option. They were either gold or silver. These were fun cars to drive. I disagree that a Honda Accord would out handle.
“It’s the 70s everyone’s into disco, nobodies shooting anyone” lmao love your commentary
Finally Bill after teasing us with other videos seeing the TransAm behind the scenes! What a beauty What an icon! Love it!!
Not my first car, but the first car I bought purely out of lust. A '79 T/A that was metallic blue with no screaming chicken decals that is to this day the best looking car I've owned. That's an awesome car and the condition is stunning!! What a find...
1979 GM 6.6 litre V-8: 185 horsepower.
2020 GM 2.0 litre Turbo I-4: 250 horsepower. And 35 MPG.
Fuck that 4 cylinder piece of shit, turbo is gonna die at 120k .
Ok.. Thats genration hasnt fuel injection "electrical" but pure Exhaust sound and pure power. If you miss the turbo you can change it to EFI with Computer system then add the turbo. You will get more than 500.
I was the luckiest teenager in 1978-79; I worked at the local Pontiac dealer as a car washer and mostly on the used lot but sometimes those cars were delivered new with broken windows from that plant in Tarrytown, NY; kids would throw rocks at the trucks that delivered them. (Have you noticed trains now have aluminum shields on the sides? Hillbilly's would swill beer and shoot them these days.) All the cars had 2.5 to 2.7 miles on them. You're right, they were smogged down and slow compared to some the 1967-71 cars on the used lot but that radial tuned steering and a 4 speed made driving them a joy. I would occasionally drive a new one with a dent or broken window to the body shop 5 miles away and then my job was "Test Pilot". After a few years the T-tops always leaked. While working for another dealer later in life as a buyer/wholesaler we had a kid who worked there who owned a rusty one like yours with 180K miles and he was going to junk it, 1996 for $200. We spent the afternoon taking turns trying to outdo each other on the back lot, smoking the tires. Believe it or not that Radial Tuned Steering felt just as nimble in the worn out car.
Rare to see one in such good shape. Most people raw dogged the hell out of them Just about all used ones were junk or built from other cars. My 1st car was a 1971 Mercury Comet. My CB handle was "Roadkill" because I was always broke down on side of the road.
Had a silver 79 T/A with the same interior.. loved it. The only draw back was the seats don't recline
I agree... had a 77 T/A and that was the only thing I didn't like as well. The seats could have been better but other than that an awsome car even today.
i dont know why it took so long for car manufacturers to do that....id kill for reclining seats in an older car.
I had an 83 T/A and loved it. Thank you for the trip down memory lane. A great video and review and just love the visit. Thanks Bill! :)
This is a great video. You really summed up what it was like to have this car. I used my discharge money from the Army in the late 90s to buy my dream car, a 1980 Firebird Esprit that was untouched and owned by a school teacher. After that I was able yo buy a 1980 Turbo and a 1976 Super Duty (parts cars) to make a car I loved. A 1980 firebird with a 1976 super duty and sexy ass 1980 turbo interior/ hood. Your description of this car is perfect and I am glad you made it so future generations can see what it was like to grab one of these when time allowed us kids were able to afford them and fuck with them.
Was always a trans Am man....
Very beautiful car ....... I had one same year I found in a junkyard no tires missing the passenger side door half a motor bad transmission. This is how I learned how to turn a wrench. Miss it should had kept it. Later I bought a 86 t/a miss that one too.
I remember the day I went to buy my 79 T/A in the late 80's. Mine was exactly like this one except for silver exterior, light blue interior, and WS6 suspension. I never forget the feeling of that first trip home!
as always great test ride by bill. nice original car. over here in the netherlands they go fore €12000-€30000 depending on shape and originality. in general the transams cost indeed more than the formula. the 1981 turbo is very rare over here.
Laughed when the tach quit when he first pulled out! Super nice, well preserved machine just the same. LOVE that shaker hood! Don't see it on the AEN site any more so it must have sold, hopefully new owner is happy.
I saw that too
Funny how this brought a smile to my face. Well Done Bill. Well done.
All those references to that movie brings back a lot of memories. As a kid I loved that movie - and I like that type of oldschool car to this day. Thanks for making my day.
I must say of all the car sales men I watch on RUclips, you are the only one that points out the good places to put your hand guns
Has anyone ever asked to just come down and meet you, just talk with you? Can't afford the jag. But maybe something. I enjoy these videos so much. Thanks Bill
My 1979 Trans Am came with a 403 ci ("6.6 liter") Oldsmobile engine rather than the (discontinued) 400 ci Pontiac Engine. It was the 10th Anniversary T/A, but it had the big 14 mpg engine that put out merely 180 net HP. My next car was a 1986 Chev. Monte Carlo SS, having a 305 (5.0) engine, putting out 180 HP also,
Torq. Can tune motor to 280. 305lil less but good mpg
Great history lesson by BILL including DeLorean lineage. Love it! This man knows his cars!
Loved this video.. my first car was the white special edition 1979... (i turned 16 in '87) same car except i had blue interior. loved the flashback it brought.. thank you.
I owned a '71 T/A for a while in the late 70's, white with blue stripe, automatic. It had about 40K miles on it when I got it. AM radio, power steering, power brakes, tinted glass, deluxe interior and console, no other options. A decent combination of power, handling and looks. A power sliding demon, any corner or curve was very fun. In a straight line it was no HEMI or solid lifter Rat, but decent. I would rail it around and round cloverleafs just for the rush. It did take some work to keep it on the road. Got about 10 miles to the gallon of gas.
Originally those headlights were supposed to have motorized doors on them to cover them when they were off but GM bean counters said no way to the cost and they kept them uncovered.My neighbor ordered one of the 1st 79'Formula's in black with gold bottom and tan interior.Sharp car in the day.
You do the best reviews on RUclips! This is awesome!
You guys keep the best cars in the world in stock. My niece is a resident in sunny Florida. I can't wait to come down for a visit. Well done. Keep up the great work.
My mom and dad had a '79 Trans Am in the early 80's and they told me it was frequently vandalized. Never any damage to the paint, but one time some knucklehead put cinderblocks under the mufflers and they were torn right off as they drove away one day.
I think the biggest thing is the platform. You can take one of these, put a serious engine in it and upgrade the trans and handling and it become a gorgeous high performance car. I saw a show where they just put an overdrive unit on the trans and it transformed it. But imagine an LS engine, handling upgrades and a modern 6 speed manual.
yep, the engine bay is massive and you can put almost anything you want in there!
That’s literally my plan for my old 79 firechicken!
i had a couple of these back in the day . i a black one with no bird on the hood . just beautiful
I had the 74, Firebird Esprit back in the day over in the UK it had a 5.7 litre 350 race tuned 4 speed manual.in a straight line it would out drag the 2.8 Toyota supra back in the day but around corners in the wet..forget it!.the noise from those cherry bombs was thunderous,Owned for 8 years and absolutely loved it.
It's a pretty car. Always liked them. By '79 the emissions standards were choking the performance cars, and from the factory they were kind of a dog. But I'd still drive one today. Lemme grab my hi-tops and Jean shorts, throw in my Billy Squire cassette, and head on down the arcade. See ya there.
This lockdown is making me mad luckily videos like this are keeping me entertained....thankyou
Engine turned dash like the spirit of St. Louis plane
I can remember in 1984 and a just graduated HS senior my very best friend got a bunch of money from his father he never really knew. Any how he bought a black T/A with the T/A 6.6. Before he even rough it home he took to Antonio's race engine builders and spent insane money and had it built to the hilt. Also had them remove the Super Chicken decal and had a custom one painted on the hood, then 6 coats of clear coat. Looked like you could jump into the paint. Had a the baddest custom stereo installed and would actually get so loud it would bust the T-Tops. That fucking car was absolutely insane. I can remember going down the road blasting Queensryche's 84 album. I was so respectvely jellie maybe cause he at the same time bought a Chevy Monza that was damn insane itself. He passed away a few years ago cause he just wouldn't get a C-PAP he desperately needed. I'll still and always will always miss Steve. Memories can be great and or hauntingly depressing.
The 75-79 Nova front suspension and subframe assembly were based on the 70-81 F-Body Firebird front suspension and subframe assembly, not the other way around.
Best year in the TA history. My cousin owned one. Grant Brown Buick Cadillac Toronto, ON
I never really thought about it until this video and don't get me wrong, I love it. But a huge bird decal that takes up the whole entire hood, from the factory, is so wonderfully insane. It really makes the whole car though. I can't think of any other car that had a decal like that. Racing stripes would be the closest thing I can think of. '76 and the 77- '78 where my favorites.
That's an amazing car! I had a '79 T/A, a 66k mile original in Lucerne Blue w/white interior. There was one thing I could never figure out about the 403-powered T/A though, and that's the hood scoop. All of the cowl induction/ram air parts were there from the factory, but for some weird reason, Pontiac didn't cut out the back of the hood scoop to make it functional. I did on mine
GM did that, because it would not pass noise pollution law.
I had a '79 Z28- it was a 49 state car with very little smog equipment on it. It was a very cool car and I loved it- but it broke down constantly!
I had a new 79 T/A back in the day, 6.6 liter version, burned two sets of rear tires off of it in less than 5000 miles and it never spent one minute in the shop for unscheduled maintenance
I've never heard Bill so genuinely enjoying himself while driving a car.
The HP from the engine is just mind-blowingly bad for such a huge displacement. 2022 and you get a 3 cylinder with more power and incredible fuel efficiency.
I never had one, but a drove a couple back in the day - none were the 400s. I’m a Ford guy, but always liked the F-body style and the way they drove and handled. I especially appreciated the Trans Am - maybe a “Smokey and the Bandit” thing. I rode tested an 81 with a 305 Chevy back in 82 or so. Automatic. I thought it would have a lesser 301/4V, but apparently the 305s were more available. Again, it handled great, or at least better than everything else I’d ever driven to date, and probably had all the power an 18-19 year old college student really needed... Didn’t get to buy it. I remember a Hot Rod Magazine article from 79 featuring the TA and how the Pontiac 400/4 speed they tested ran a quicker quarter than the flagship Corvette - low 14s. Seems that the 403 versions were more like 16.5s average. I also recall the article stated that Pontiac had holed away something like 10K 400s for the anniversary version of the TA, while the rest got the remaining 400s and 403 Olds. Nice video.
That video brought back a lot of memories ! I had a 80 firebird i bought in Las Vegas in 85 ...One of the best cars i have ever owned . It looked just like your 79 with the exception of the chicken and the shaker hood . In 80 they had Yellowbird , Redbird , Bluebird and severla others . I had the Yellowbird ...Same interior except it was light brown . 305 ci engine .
I've had three '79 Formulas. And I'd dearly love to have a fourth. Fun, pretty cars.
Hi I used to have the 79 trans am 403 engine automatic and I used to have 81 automatic 301 back in the 80s man I had the fun with this cars so much fun
I have had 3 . A blue on blue 77. A dark blue with light blue interior 79 esrite and a 80 turbo black on black with red fire chicken
my absolute favorite trans am body style and in my top 5 best looking cars of all time. always will be a dream car for me.
I may have dropped the polyester and bell bottoms, but I never regret owing a few of these 40 plus years ago.
Love how you bring the history and the weaponry
2.73 ratio, & yes, it has Posi-Traction
(Safe-T-Track, the name-brand GM - PMD gave their Posi-Traction.
And even the WS-6 cars had the same dash-badge as the WS-4's did....
(Radial Tunned Suspension).... The only indication it was a WS-6 in 1979 was the outside door handles had a badge that said "4 WHEEL DISC". And you didn't mention it has the factory Hurst slap-shifter as well.... Pontiac advertised 185 HP to satisfy the "suits" & the insurance companies, but it had ALOT more HP & Torque than what they were telling people !!!.... I enjoyed the video, keep 'em coming !! 👍👍
Any Car Dealer knows damn well there’s no telling what the mileage is with a pre-1981, five digit odometer, pre-digital service records automobile.
IT'SME They can’t turn back Carfax records, or dealer service records.
I'm gonna roll my odometer back on my 64 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 it's a roller and I'm replacing everything but the frame as far as I can tell rn no drivetrain ect so once I get it resto modded I'm rolling the odometer to 0 just because its mine I'm never selling and its rolled over idk how many times so when I put in a drivetrain from a Escalade I'm gonna have all new everything except car lol and just gonna put mileage as exempt as they do with cars this old
@William Schwartz Carfax is only for '81 or newer....requires the 17 character vin
And that's why the condition of the car can be the telltale sign on whether or not the odometer reading is accurate.
look at the pedals and overall shape of the interior.
Mine, was the 1971 HO, Trans. BTW didn't top glass panels have leak issues.I forgot to say it was the 455/HO.
The SD was cooler
John Challeen
The ‘71 455 H.O. had the Ram Air IV heads and cam. It moved alright.
I have a 77, people used and abused them back in the day. Lots of fun to see the thumbs up. Mustangs and Challengers are intimidated but you know, keep them guessing lol
actually, in 1979, they ran out of ws6 rear disc brakes, so they offered the ws7, which was last years ws6. it was just the same package with a drum brake rear. still had all the ws handling package.
“It’s a good riding platform, unless you’re going over bumps of any kind. Then, it will jar your spine loose.” LOL. Best car reviews on YouTubhe! Thank you!
I had a silver 78 t-top red interior auto same cb/am/fm 8track stereo bandit package I guess they called it . Mine had the TA 6.6 Pontiac 400 auto to this day my favorite car ever love the car. Shaker hood just made your heart pump!
GOD DAMN! MAN YOU ARE SO GOD DAMN KNOWLEDGEABLE ! APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU DO SO THANK U.
My first car was a 1974 Trans Am purchased in New York in 1988. It was full of rust.. an 84 year ran a stop sign and totaled it. I miss that car
A lot of history from you Bill about The Trans Am. If this dealership ever lose you, there in trouble.
Firebird to Me has always been awesome since day one every version of it 67-70-79-80-88-2002 if they were building them today brand new people would buy them I would. love to have one any year. I wanted a 68 real bad but i ended up with an 88 I loved it I miss it
I am going to make you all jealous , i have a 70 formula 400 firebird , 2 1971 esprits one made into a trans am clone , a 72 esprit made into a formula 400 clone and a real 75 trans am and I don't plan on selling any of them , i love them ! and hope to one day build one into a road coarse race car and then life is complete !
I loved Ponch's gold TA, glad to see you acknowledging that lol!
This was my dream car when I was in high school and got a 1981 Turbo T/A in 90. It was very slow car but I loved it.
Beautiful car. My dad has had one sitting for a couple years and he just recently started restoring it and someone stole it yesterday while it was at the shop getting some work done. My brother made a police report and went out looking for it and found the guy joyriding it near the shop. The guy ended up getting arrested but we wanted to get there before the cops to kick his ass lol
I actually bought one of these when I was 16 since then I've loved it
Nice car and great condition. I always laugh when I see the huge chicken on the hood but that was typical of late 70s styling. This was the car that caused “ooos”and
“aahs” when people saw them.
Parents had a NEW !!701/2 ram air 4 . 4spd white / blue.. w/ two tone blue interior.. that was a real Firebird… not a velor 403 powered luxtho am.. but nice to see it all original.. thanks guy!!!
These reviews are funnier than a lot of stand-up comedy!
One of the best comics on RUclips right here!
Yes, Bill should take his act on the road. Oh wait, he has! lol
Man, that is a good looking Trans Am. I had an 84 for many years and loved it. it was a great driving car that I took to Germany and brought back home. The Germans loved it and got lots of looks driving around in it. Just hated it, however, when the VR6 Golfs would pass me like I was standing still.
Dorlean wanted a 2 seater like the Vette but GM said no and gave him the Camaro. I heard it was $1.00 to Trans Am racing. Good video
Bill, & all: thanks: nice short overview of TA/ Pontiac. Interestingly, covered many of reasons I was TR@NS Am Fan:: & in Oct* 1976 ( after seeing the 1976 TA BLACK/ Gold, & MOTOR TREND): ordered my “ first special order Car” ( interestingly, also, same Dealer my Parents got their 1953 Buick DYNAFLOW 2 Door ,BLACK &* Yellow), a;; 1977 *HURST Hatch ( always seeps,etc)**TA/ SE, with Black Velour/ 6.6L( still a Pontiac engine?)/auto,cruise, window tint Delete, AM RADIO/tilt,ps, pbrake/reaR DEF/ mats/ Ziebart Rust protective/Posi/etc…….best Driver, low powered : a bunch of improvements helped…….long use..
Great car and great commentary. I smiled all the way through.
The firebird was one of my childhood favorites
Pontiac installed the Oldsmobile 403 engine in their Trans Am's because they had a serious problem getting the Pontiac 400 engine to pass the more stringent California emission standards. Hench, as one of the plants was in California, all of the T/A's out of that plant were 403's. If your lucky to find one from the plant back in Michigan, which were produced in much smaller numbers, it's more than likely to have the coveted 400 Poncho motor.
Never heard a more concise and up to the spirit summary of the movie ... please do one for Ulysses so I can get that bugger under my belt as well .. when I was charging the car places in and around Munich (Bavaria) in the mid eighties there were lots of 78 to 81 Camaro Berlinettas, some Trans Am's', few Firebirds to get hold of very affordably . but no one could scratch up the annual tax for it was calculated per 100 ccm (7 US$ per 6 cui) plus insurance plus fuel (1,3 US$ per gallon) . in 1985 rates :0