What was the best year for Trans Am?
The best looking trans am is the 1977 black and gold special edition. I drove mine for 20 years and it was the best feeling to drive the black car with gold fire in your sight on the long good. PURE American. Nuff said.-Nobody
What years were Trans Am made?
Without argument, few mass-production cars from the early ’90s, or any decade for that matter, turn heads like a fourth-generation Trans Am. In actuality and technicality, the fourth-gen Firebird/Trans Am was built in two distinct iterations, the first batch from 1993-’97 and the second and final examples from 1998-’02.
What was the last year the Trans Am was made?
Unlike the Camaro, which would be revived in 2010, the demise of the Pontiac brand meant the 2002 would be the last Trans Am ever made, and that’s one of the big reasons why the late model cars have continued to hold their value and will likely appreciate in the coming years.
What year was the Bandit Trans Am?
In the summer of 1977, Smokey and the Bandit burst onto movie screens. This month marks the 45th anniversary of the iconic movie. And, there’s a special connection here in the Tampa Bay area. It has four wheels and a gold bird on the hood. "It’s a 1977 Trans Am," says Gene Kennedy, owner of Bandit Movie Cars in Palmetto.
What was first Trans Am or Firebird?
Pontiac Trans-Am Firebird The Pontiac Firebird went into production contemporaneously and on the same platform as the Camaro. Pontiac entered the Trans-Am Series in 1968, and a year later introduced the Trans-Am Firebird for public purchase.
What year did the Trans Am start?
The 'Trans-Am series' is an automobile racing series that was created in 1966 by Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) President John Bishop. Originally known as the Trans-American Sedan Championship, the name was changed to the Trans-American Championship for 1967 and henceforth.
What year was the first Firebird made?
1967First generation (1967–1969)First generation1967 Pontiac Firebird convertibleOverviewProductionFebruary 23, 1967–1969AssemblyLordstown, Ohio, United States (1967–1969) Van Nuys, California, United States (1968–1969) Norwood, Ohio, United States (1969)13 more rows
What is the rarest Trans Am?
The rarest of them all is the two-door convertible Pontiac Trans Am with only 8 ever produced.
How much did the Smokey and the Bandit car sell for?
The 1977 Firebird Trans Am once owned by Burt Reynolds was sold at auction Saturday for $495,000 at a sale held by Barrett-Jackson. The car was not used in the filming of “Smokey and the Bandit,” but was given to the actor to thank him for his role in the movie, the company said.
How many Firebirds were used in Smokey and the Bandit?
To give the 1976 model the look of the upcoming vehicle, the carmaker installed the bumper of the 1977 Pontiac. Even with the hiccup, the film still advertised the 1977 model so well. According to Motorious, four Trans Ams exist in the film, but three were destroyed.
What is the rarest Pontiac?
Five Of The Rarest Pontiac Grand Prix Models Ever Made1967 Pontiac Grand Prix Convertible. ... 1968 Pontiac Grand Prix WG Code. ... 1986 Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2. ... 1989-1990 Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo ASC/McLaren.
What was the first GTO?
First Generation Pontiac GTO (1964 to 1967) The original Pontiac GTO started as an optional package for the Pontiac LeMans in 1964. This package offered increased power, with the GTO providing an upgraded 6.4-liter, 389-cubic-inch V-8 engine, which put out an impressive 325 horsepower.
What car was Knight Rider?
KITT was a gorgeous black 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am with a rather annoying voice and a long-suffering, if humorous attitude. Along with Knight, the car was the hero of the show.
How much did a 1967 Firebird cost in 1967?
Firebird prices started at $2666 for the hardtop and $2903 for the convertible.
What is the biggest Pontiac engine?
Big, Bigger, Biggest Pontiac's 428 was found primarily in full-size sedans and coupes, and when the mid-size GTO was up for a replacement motor the company's engineers created the 455 by boring the Super Duty engine to 4.1525 inches and using a crankshaft with a 4.21 inch stroke.
How much is a 1981 Pontiac Firebird worth?
Vehicle Valuation AnalysisBodystylesMedian SaleFormula Hardtop Coupe$8,850Trans Am HardTop Coupe$14,400Trans Am Turbo SE Coupe$18,150
What year was the last Firebird made?
The 1994 Firebird was the last of its kind and was basically a badge-engineered product with the Chevrolet Camaro. Yet, it had unique features that made it more desirable for many. While for other carmakers, the era of pop-up headlights was already gone, the Firebird still used them.
Is a Firebird the same as a Camaro?
Most people believe the 1967 Camaro and Firebird are essentially the same vehicle. However, the Firebird offered a better interior and a few more luxury options.
Q: What is the highest sale price of a Pontiac Trans Am - 1st Gen?
A: The highest recorded sale was $350,000 for a 1969 Pontiac Trans Am Ram Air IV on May 21 2022.
Q: What was the lowest recorded sale price for a Pontiac Trans Am - 1st Gen?
A: The lowest recorded sale price was $55,500 for a 1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am on June 19 2022.
Q: What is the average sale price of a Pontiac Trans Am - 1st Gen?
A: The average price of a Pontiac Trans Am - 1st Gen is $127,058.
Q: What years was the Pontiac Trans Am - 1st Gen sold?
A: The Pontiac Trans Am - 1st Gen was sold for model year 1969.
What year was the Trans Am?
The year 1969 was the beginning of a glorious adventure for Pontiac. Ford and Chevrolet were dominating the market and the race tracks, but Pontiac did not back down. The General Motors brand released its amazing Trans Am. Via mecum.com.
What is a trans am?
The Trans Am is a monster that gave Ford and Dodge night sweats. Thanks to their racy looks and outstanding engines, the Trans Am became a very popular muscle car offering from General Motors . The Trans Am sure is one of those used American cars that every gearhead should own .
What is the evolution of the Pontiac Trans Am?
The Evolution Of The Pontiac Trans Am In Pictures. The Pontiac Trans Am was one of the greatest pony cars of all time. Unfortunately, its legacy was tarnished by emissions regulations. American muscle cars are some of the coolest cars to ever burn rubber on the racetrack.
How many units were made in 1976 Black and Gold Trans Am?
The 1976 Black-and-Gold Trans Am is a special vehicle with only 2,590 units produced that year. The car was released in the midst of the enactment of laws relating to emissions. As a result, the Y82 inherited the 7.5L V8 that cranks out 200hp. For 1976, a racy muscle car that produces 200hp is not bad at all.
What does ASC stand for in Pontiac?
This Pontiac Trans Am is a very peculiar car. It was not officially distributed by Pontiac. ASC stands for American Specialty Cars. They transformed regular muscle cars into targas and convertibles. The Trans Am ASC is not an official GM vehicle, however, it's a cool looking convertible.
What is a trans am pace car?
The Trans Am Pace car is one of the American performance cars from the 1980s that was a complete joke. The turbo was considered to be outdated and not adapted to the car. Despite being stuffed with a 4.9L V8, the Trans Am Pace car was rated at only 220hp. Despite being a cool collectible, it is safe to say that the Pace Car was a complete letdown.
Which car made the fastest muscle car in the 1960s?
Pontiac produced some of the fastest American muscles of the 1960s. From the GTO to the Trans Am, Pontiac never failed to come up with some of the most exquisite muscle cars ever.
When did Trans Am end?
1972 is considered to be the end of Trans-Am's "golden era". From 1973 onward, the Trans-Am Series would evolve into a lesser clone of the rival IMSA GT Championship: similarly modified cars, but with a more conventional focus. From the 1970s on, Trans-Am cars and/or drivers would also be seen running in the IMSA GT Championship. IMSA GT's focus on exotic cars such as Ferraris and Porsches provided a more adaptable format in comparison to Trans-Am's reliance on domestic performance sedans.
What is a trans am?
The 'Trans-Am series' is an automobile racing series that was created in 1966 by Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) President John Bishop. Originally known as the Trans-American Sedan Championship, the name was changed to the Trans-American Championship for 1967 and henceforth. The series has in fact gone by a variety of different names through the years (too many to list), some linked to sponsors, some not. It has evolved over time from its original format as a Manufacturers' Championship series for modified passenger sedans and Coupés to its current form as a Drivers' / Manufacturers' Championship Series that is open to GT style racecars. Champion drivers have been officially recognized, and Drivers' Championship (s) have been awarded since the 1972 season.
How long was the 1975 SCCA race?
Also, beginning with the 1975 season, all races were approximately 100 miles in length, except for the Six Hours of Watkins Glen (1974-1980), and Trois-Rivieres (Various race lengths from 67.5 to 98.8 miles in 1976, 1979–1985, 1990–1999, 2002–2004, and 2011. See Trois-Rivieres for details) races.
Why is the Firebird not in the Trans Am?
Despite its name (which General Motors took from the series in 1969 without the SCCA's knowledge or consent), the Firebird Trans Am was not initially used in the Trans-Am Series, due to the fact that its smallest engine was larger than the SCCA's 5.0 Liter (305 cubic inches) limit. In 1982, with Elliott Forbes-Robinson behind the wheel, a Pontiac would win the series Championship for the first and only time.
What caused the decline of the Trans Am?
By the early '70s, insurance premiums for "muscle cars" had gotten to be extremely high, causing a significant sales decline. The 1973 oil crisis also hastened the demise of the "muscle car". This is generally considered to be the beginning of the decline of the Trans-Am Series. After 1972, there were a lot fewer races each season, with 1974 being the shortest Championship season ever at just 3 races. Seasons would start to lengthen again for good in the '80s.
What caused the Trans Am Championship to decline?
Already contributing to the Trans-Am Championship's decline was the dominance of AMC. Follmer and Donohue had switched to AMC in 1970, ending the Ford vs Chevy rivalry that had made the series famous.
How many tracks are there in the West Coast Championship Series?
Since the 2017 season, the stand-alone West Coast Championship Series has raced at four tracks—three on the West Coast, and one in Texas that is a 'shared event' with the Trans Am Championship Series. Each Championship Series is independent of the other, but both are run according to virtually identical rule books.
When did Pontiac offer the Trans Am package?
The initial offering we refer to is the Trans Am you see here. When Pontiac decided to offer the Trans Am package for the successful Firebird in 1969, these rowdy ponycars with the WS4 (Trans Am Convenience and Sports Package) option were born out of the Van Nuys, California, and Norwood, Ohio, assembly plants.
What tires did the 1969 Trans Am have?
Rally II wheels were a Firebird option in 1969 but were standard on the Trans Am. This car also came from the factory with the optional F70-14 whitewall tires, rendered here by Coker.
How many Firebird TAs were built?
A total of 697 Firebird TAs (including eight convertibles) were built and sold that year, an inauspicious start for what would become one of the most popular and enduring muscle cars in history. Several factors contributed to that low initial production run.
What year was the 1969 TA?
Like all 1969 TAs, the hood on this car is steel with added fiberglass hoodscoops. Kevin found writing on the underside of the scoop indicating it was the "latest modified" scoop and a "4-1-69" date. PHS data indicate the car was assembled on April 29, 1969.
Where was the 1970 Pontiac sold?
The second invoice shows that in July 1970, after the car's promotional duties were done, it was sent to Front Pontiac in Perrysburg, Ohio, for sale to the public. That's when the car's timeline is interrupted until it was purchased as a used car in 1987. See all 32 photos.
When was the Van Nuys car sold?
Kevin says, "Unfortunately, I don't have information between the time it was reinvoiced and sold to the public on July 20, 1970, to the point when Don bought it in 1987.". What is known is that 18 years after it left the Van Nuys plant, Don answered an ad in the Orange County Auto Trader for the car.
Who made the 1969 TA?
Knowing that Norwood also produced 1969 TAs, it became a matter of finding out which plant built theirs first. He was still very interested in purchasing the car, as long as it was the first TA produced overall by Pontiac. Kevin had his work cut out for him.
What size wheels did the T/A come in?
T/A wheels were again shuffled, with 1985 being the year of the high-tech turbo aluminum wheel in both 15” (deep-dish) and 16” (flush-face) diameters; a no-cost option on the T/A was a new diamond-spoke design, a wheel which would see major applications in the future
How many 1970 Ram Air 400 convertibles were built?
697 total units built, 8 of which were Ram Air 400 convertibles. Debuted again at the Chicago Auto Show on February 26, 1970. First year for color option: Cameo White w/ blue stripe or Lucerne Blue w/ white stripe.
How much horsepower does a 1976 L-78 400 have?
Once again, the L-78 400 c.i. engine was the T/A standard with 185 hp; the 455 HO engine package with 200 hp was available as an option, again except for California buyers. Biggest news in 1976: the 1976 Limited Edition T/A, which was introduced at the Chicago Auto Show in February 1976.
What tires were used on the F-Body?
Mechanically, this model was the first F-Body to sport 16” wheels and tires; the VR50 Goodyear “Gatorback” tires were used on 16” white “flush” high-tech aero wheels ; some tests complained that the suspension was not up to the level of the tire/wheel combo
When did the Firebird 3rd generation come out?
The new third generation Firebirds and Trans Ams arrived on January 14, 1982 ; the model line was pared to the base Firebird, the Firebird S/E, and the Trans Am
When did SLP Performance Engineering come out?
SLP Performance Engineering made its first official appearance in 1991; a dealer-ordered package, the SLP kit featured new performance parts engineered for maximum performance from the TPI engines.....claimed power increases amounted to 50 hp across the board on cars equipped with the performance kit
When was the first anniversary of the rage?
The rage for 1979 was the first of the “Anniversary” T/As..... the 1979 Tenth (10th) Anniversary T/A, introduced on February 1, 1979. Featured as the Pace Car for the 1979 Daytona 500 NASCAR race, the Tenth T/A was limited to a production run of 7,500 units.
When did the Trans Am start?
The Trans-Am Series began in 1966, with the first race being held on 25 March at Sebring International Raceway. The series consisted of two classes: over 2 litres and under 2 litres.
What is a trans am?
Trans-Am production cars were factory-built pony cars based on vehicles raced in the Sports Car Club of America Trans-Am Series. These cars were used largely for homologation purposes, but also as promotional tools for the series. The first Trans-Am street car was Chevrolet 's Z/28 Camaro, which entered production in 1967.
What engine did the 1970 Camaro use?
In its first year, the Camaro could be ordered with RPO Z/28, which included a small block-series 302 cubic inch motor with 11.0:1 compression. For the 1970 model year the Z/28 engine was changed to the 350 cubic inch LT-1 . 1967.
What was the first pony car?
The Ford Mustang was the first "pony car," introduced mid-year in 1964. Ford had participated in Trans-Am since its first season in 1966. In 1969 and 1970 Ford produced the Boss 302, a replica of their Trans-Am race cars.
When did the Pontiac Trans Am Firebird come out?
The Pontiac Firebird went into production contemporaneously and on the same platform as the Camaro. Pontiac entered the Trans-Am Series in 1968 , and a year later introduced the Trans-Am Firebird for public purchase.
When did the 302 Cougar Eliminator come out?
Mercury Boss 302 Cougar Eliminator. Mercury released its pony car, the Cougar, in 1967. Although Mercury only participated in the 1967 Trans-Am season, the company offered the Boss 302 motor in the 1969 and 1970 model years. 1969.
When did Chrysler introduce the pony car?
In 1970, Chrysler introduced its first pony cars, the Plymouth 'Cuda and Dodge Challenger, built on the new E Platform. In their first year both of the new vehicles participated in Trans-Am.
When did Trans Am come out?
1982 saw the release of the 3rd gen Trans Am. The new one underwent a complete redesign and looked different than the previous one. Talking about the looks, it is the same one seen as K.I.T.T. in Knight Rider driven by David Hasselhoff .
How fast was the Trans Am?
It was also fast, handled well, and very energetic with the way it moved. The 5.7-liter V8 engine kept the bar high against competition with a 4.8 second 0-60 mph time. It was the last ever Trans Am and while we were sad to see it go, we are also happy that such a unique and characterful car got made in the first place .
When did the golden age of muscle cars end?
The golden age of muscle cars was at its end by the mid-’70s. Most upcoming muscle cars that year were considered slower and blander than what they used to be in their glory days of the late ‘60s. But Pontiac stood out when the Trans Am SD 455 entered the market. The new Firebird Trans Am looked beautiful and fast, with the mechanical prowess to back it up.
Is the second generation Trans Am better than the original?
In this case, the sequel was better than the original, which is rare.
Did the 1982 Trans Am have pop up headlights?
The revised suspension meant the car handled well, and while the power was comparatively lower than expected, it makes up for it with a lot of torque on standby. Hence, the 1982 Trans Am never failed to deliver a thrilling performance. Oh, and it had pop-up headlights !
Did Pontiac make a race car?
It’s fitting that the very first Trans-Am starts this list. Pontiac wanted to make a car to race in the Tran-Am series, but GM wouldn’t let them build a racecar. So, they cleverly got around the problem by launching a car that would be a perfectly normal streetcar but can be easily modified into a race-worthy model.
Is the Trans Am still cool?
More than just a car, this Trans Am was a significant piece of ‘70s pop culture, and years later, it still is one of the coolest cars on the roads today.
When did Pontiac need a transam?
It enjoyed a typical press car life until Pontiac needed an LE Trans Am for a photo spread in the 1977 sales brochure. The company was in a pickle: production of the 1977 LE’s wasn’t scheduled to start for months, but they needed to get a photo of an LE in the brochure.
Where was the 1977 Trans Am car repaint done?
Realizing what they had bought, they contacted Rick Deiters of Trans Am Specialties in Miami to house the car and perform some restoration work, including a repaint and re-installation of a 1977 front-end.
What car did Burt Reynolds drive in the movie?
The car, a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am LE, was such an integral part of the plot that the film’s director considered it a character. It would be hard to fathom the Bandit behind the wheel of anything other than a black and gold Pontiac, but had it not been for a photograph in a brochure, the late Burt Reynolds may have been east bound ...
What car was used in Smokey and the Bandit?
The car, a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am LE , was such an integral part of the plot that the film’s director considered it a character.
How much did a 1977 Pontiac cost?
The car bounced around GM’s warehouses until early 1977, when it was sold to a California Pontiac dealer for around $7,400 ($31,895.39 adjusted for inflation).
Where was the Bandit Trans Am purchased?
At some point, the car made a trip across the country and landed at a dealer in Virginia, where it was purchased by a mother and son.
Did Pontiac make a 1977 Trans Am?
Pontiac executives decided that their best option was to go double or nothing and graft the 1977 nose onto this 1976 model. Pontiac sent a 1977 hood, bumper, headlights, wheels, decals and other trimmings to special projects engineer John Callies at the Van Nuys plant in California. Callies and his team got to work and, presto changeo, a “1977” Trans Am LE appeared.
How fast is a Trans Am WS6?
It performed better, hitting the 60 mph mark in 5.0 seconds flat, while the quarter-mile time was 13.5 seconds at 107.4 mph.
What transmission did the 2001 Firebird use?
Also, in 2001, a new camshaft and the LS6 intake from Z06 Corvette were added to the Firebird models thereby increasing total output by 5 horsepower. via Hagerty. The engines were optionally mated to either a four-speed automatic transmission or a Borg-Warner six-speed manual.
What year did Pontiac make the Firebird?
Pontiac designed the Firebird as the ultimate car to slug it out with Ford Mustang for a larger stake in the American pony car market. The Firebird had a great production run that lasted from 1967 to 2002. However, in its third year of production, Pontiac introduced a specialty package called the Trans Am to the Firebird models – ...
How tall is the Firebird WS6?
The coupe variant of the Firebird WS6 was built with a length of 193.8 inches, a width of 74.5 inches, and 52.0 inches on a wheelbase of 101.1-inch. The convertible is about an inch taller than the coupe due to its top up, nonetheless, it had a matching exterior dimension with the coupe.
When did Pontiac introduce the WS6?
In 1978 , Pontiac introduced the WS6 Special Performance Package to the Firebird Trans Am for the first time. It was the ultimate package for the model, making the car more desirable than it’s ever been.
When was the WS6 introduced?
via Hagerty. Upon its introduction in 1978 , the WS6 performance package added an extra $324 over the standard Trans Am price. The package had an obvious effect on the car's performance, aided by added features which include larger tires, wider wheels, and a thicker rear sway bar. via Pinterest.
When did GM take off the WS6?
For not having an impact on its sales, GM took the WS6 package off the market in 1992, having been made a standard feature on the Trans Am GTA and Firebird Formula since 1987.
