3,553 ACTUAL MILE Trans Am Survivor 400 V8 Automatic T-Tops A/C

Just as we predicted, 1977- 81 Pontiac pony cars have become some the hottest collector cars on the planet! If you grew up in the mid to late '70s, very little of the metal offered by the Big Three had any appeal, except for the Firebird. You either had one, your buddy had one, your uncle had one or you wanted one. And now, the generation that loves these cars is starting to move in to the collector car hobby in full force. That means TODAY is the day to grab a correct, low-mileage F2 to show and enjoy. And this awesome 1978 Trans Am is a numbers-matching time capsule that combines 3,553 original miles with enduring Pontiac performance and all-American style!

SOLID GOLD

Assembled at GM-Norwood, this halcyon Trans Am was originally sold through Motor Inn Company of Albert Lea, Minnesota. The car's first owner was a dedicated dealership employee who began systematically amassing a collection of spectacular Pontiacs. After roughly 20 years and only 1,700 miles, the enthusiast decided to thin his collection to fund his growing family. And, in the late 1990s, the car met its second and current owner. That owner maintained the T/A's routine of sparse drives and climate-controlled storage. And today, the car's glossy Solar Gold glow pays excellent homage to factory body panels that are as solid, straight and sculpted as the day they left the showroom!

Fresh off a significant cosmetic update that was performed at the beginning of the 1977 model year, Pontiac's 1978 Trans Am was all about minor visual tweaks and major mechanical upgrades. At the front of the car, a glossy 'batmobile' nose hangs cross-hatch grilles behind a small “PONTIAC” script, a traditional arrowhead emblem and boxy halogen headlights. Behind those grilles, a classic Screaming Chicken motif traces a small shaker. Behind that shaker, Hurst T-tops cap like-new glass that's trimmed in bright stainless and reflected in correct mirrors. Beneath those mirrors, striped door handles and tough “TRANS AM” call-outs border correct wheel spoilers and functional heat extractors. And at the back of the car, an optional D80 decklid flaunts a third “TRANS AM” call-out above clean taillights, a correct black valance and awesome side-splitter exhaust.

PONTIAC POWER

Under this coupe's long hood, you'll find an original Pontiac 400 that wears a correct 481988XX casting number opposite a matching 178763 partial VIN. Thanks to government mandated emissions standards, performance had almost been legislated out of existence. That left the Trans Am suffering a bit of an identity crisis. This 'bird's “YU” branded V8 combined the largest muscle car engine you could buy with Pontiac's proven “6X” head design to create one of the fastest pony cars on the market. At the top of the mill, a big 4-barrel carburetor rides under a familiar Trans Am shaker. Below that carb, GM Corporate Blue coats the entire block. The car's solid engine bay is covered in a nice coat of GM Satin Black. All the hard parts around the motor, from the vintage brake booster to the Delco Air climate control, appear to be factory-spec. And with just over 3K miles on the clock, the spry powerplant would, with a bit of exercise and maintenance, be a great candidate for decades of casual cruising!

TIME CAPSULE AUTHENTICITY

We'd like to take a moment to expound that title a bit more. Time Capsule Authenticity is exactly what you might imagine, in that this Poncho simply hasn't been altered much throughout its entire 40-year existence. While that's fantastic for a museum piece, if you want a truly safe cruiser we'd recommend a thorough sorting of the car's chassis, which can be easily priced and performed by our own RKM Performance Center. The proven Pontiac eight leads an original GM Turbo-Hydramatic 350 3-speed that's branded with a matching 178763 partial VIN. That trusty transmission sends power to a familiar GM 10-bolt that, according to its “PT” assembly code, spins a posi-trac differential around friendly, 2.56 gears. Below that smooth drivetrain, standard power steering joins 4-wheel power disc brakes to mix quick stops with great handling. At the corners of the car, gold-tinged Snowflakes spin old school GR70-15 Uniroyal Steel Belted Radials around 'red bird' center caps. And original floorpans seat vintage undercoating over a straight, Satin Black frame.

PLUSH TRIMMINGS

Open this Pontiac's massive doors and you'll find an original Camel Tan interior that creates a striking yet comfortable cockpit. Original seats are agreeably firm and, carrying cushy velour hides, look like they should be in a much more modern, much more expensive offering. In front of those seats, an engine-turned instrument panel hangs crystal clear Rally Gauges above factory climate control and a vintage Delco-GM cassette player. Beneath that dash, a Camel Tan console anchors a large storage bin and chrome power window switches behind a simple shifter. Below that console, tan carpet, which has been carefully protected by GM-branded floor mats, displays no serious fading or unraveling. At the sides of that carpet, Camel Tan door panels anchor chrome door lock switches above crack-free armrests. In front of the driver, a Formula Steering Wheel laps a tilting column. And behind the cockpit, a clean trunk centers a Space Saver spare tire under original decklid decals.

VEHICLE SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION AND ACCESSORIES

* A Pontiac New Vehicle Inspection Procedure checklist
* The car's original Owner's Manual
* The car's original factory accessory literature
* The car's original Warranty Booklet (completed with the original owner's information)
* An original Title Application (from the car's original owner)
* Miscellaneous car show literature
* The car's original key knockout
* A GM Concert Stereo Sound cassette
* The car's original Hurst T-top bag

NOW is the time to buy a correct, low-mileage Trans Am to show and enjoy for years to come. And here's a guarantee: if you don't, someone else will and you'll be chasing a value curve that's heading straight up for the next 20 years. If you're in the market for a pedigreed Pontiac that's the quintessential late '70s American muscle car, here it is. Grab it fast and thank us in ten years as you watch its value climb!

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SUMMARY

* 2-owner survivor that's logged only 3,553 miles
* Original 400 cubic inch L78 V8
* Original Turbo-Hydramatic 350 3-speed automatic transmission
* Original sheetmetal / Original Solar Gold paint
* Original Camel Tan cloth interior / Factory Delco Air conditioning
* Sale includes: The car's original Title Application / The car's original Warranty Booklet
* Correct 10-bolt rear axle / Posi-traction differential / 2.56 gears
* 15-inch Snowflake Wheels
* Correct power steering / Correct 4-wheel power disc brakes
* Hurst T-tops