Frame Off Restored Numbers Match Trans Am SD 455

There are decent cars, there are over-the-top cars, and then there are cars like this matching numbers, air conditioned 1974 Pontiac Trans Am SD455 which are so outrageously nice that I don't even have a category for them. Finished just a few weeks ago, this car received a professional frame-off restoration by Muscle Car Alley that cost $110,000.00 (receipts are included), and is probably one of the nicest ones in the world, if not THE nicest. Let me tell you more about this car, look at the photos, and then you can decide for yourself whether you think it deserves to be called the best.

The SD Trans Ams were not cushy, emasculated boulevard cruisers, they were the real deal, a special motor and performance package that somehow the engineers at Pontiac put together and got out the door without anyone sounding the alarm. They kept it pretty quiet, mostly because this car would probably humiliate the Corvette in any speed contest you can imagine, and as a result, only 731 were built. This particular car's original invoice shows the following hardware:

* Y90 Custom trim group
* U69 AM/FM radio
* D55 Front console
* B85  Hood moldings
* A01 Soft-Ray tinted glass
* B32 Front floor mats
* AK1 Custom seat belts
* WY3 Bumper protection
* LS2 455 SD 4-barrel engine
* U80 Rear stereo speakers
* B80 Roof molding
* WW7 Hood decal
* C60 Air conditioning
* B33 Rear floor mats
* QRZ GR70x15 white letter tires

It is also equipped with the optional TH400 3-speed automatic transmission and yes, factory air in a Super Duty ever seen one before? I bet not. Matching numbers, loaded with options, in spectacular Admiralty blue? If you're even remotely interested in this car, I suggest you stop reading right here and call now. You can read the rest after you get your deposit in. No, I'm not kidding, this car is that nice.

OK, since you're going to continue reading anyway, I'll tell you exactly how nice it is. The bodywork is first-rate throughout, with flat, smooth panels and factory-style alignment. The paint is base/clear, and the clear has been cut and buffed to a pristine shine. I really like the Admiralty Blue, it's sophisticated and not in-your-face bold, but still gets attention. It's also this car's original color. This was the 1970s, so there's a lot of metallic in it, and the chicken on the hood is pure 70s glitz. But that's why you love these cars, right?

When I was looking this car over, I could see a few areas where some sheet-metal had been expertly replaced, but my overall impression was that it wasn't due to rust, but probably due to 35 years of hard knocks. I say this because none of the hard parts on the car show any signs of rust ever. There's no pitting on the cast iron differential, for example, and the floors are excellent with no signs of replacement. This was probably not a rusty car at any time in its life, and its original buyer in Chapel Hill, North Carolina is probably the reason.

The trim and other parts are a combination of NOS and reproduction items, and the restoration file shows a very long list of NOS components that were used on this car. Some items include the weather stripping, headlight bezels, bumper filler panels, bumper guards, chrome exhaust extensions, center caps and trim rings, and door sill plates. New items include the front grilles, window moldings, door handle escutcheons, and all the decals are excellent reproduction items. Glass is unblemished and lenses are clear.

But under the hood is where the party really lives. The engine is the original 455 SD, rebuilt and now displacing 462 cubic inches thanks to an overbore. The engine builder included a dyno sheet showing that this big Poncho makes 392 horsepower at 5000 RPM and a whopping 462 pounds of torque at just 3000 RPM. Wow! That's a lot more performance than they were punching out when they were new, but it does show you how restricted these motors were from the factory.

This car carries a correct Y8-coded SD engine block, which is correct for a 1974 SD automatic. The heads show casting numbers 485214 485216 and cast on the exhaust port is a number 16. The intake manifold is a correct LS2 piece with an authentic Quadrajet carb with number 7044270. The distributor is the unique SD piece with the larger distributor drive gear developed just for these engines, and it carries number 1112205. Exhaust is handled by the stock exhaust manifolds dumping into a high performance Spin Tech stainless system capped by those great-looking NOS chrome tips. The radiator is new, but it is cooled with the help of an NOS fan shroud. A new high-torque mini starter brings it to life.

The factory-original PQ-coded M40 GM Turbo 400 transmission was rebuilt (it carries number 24N168684, which matches the VIN), and the original shifter was retained. The freshened GY G203 2G 3.08 geared Safe-T-Track rear end is the original piece, too. The brakes and suspension are, of course, all-new with fresh bushings, fuel and brake lines, and a new gas tank.

Now the reason why I say this car is so far over the top in terms of restoration quality is the chassis. Of course everything is highly detailed and authentic, but check out the red oxide primer on the floors it has been clear-coated! It's also obvious that everything was neatly masked and blocked off before the body was painted, because there's no overspray anywhere, just crisp, clean paint and primer, all under a coat of glossy protective clear. No, it's not how they did it on the factory floor, but if you're restoring a car, why NOT go all-out and make it as perfect and durable as possible? This car will look like this forever!

The rolling stock consists of original 15-inch SD wheels with new 225/60/15 BFGoodrich T/A radials.

The interior is just as beautiful, and looking at these seats, I'm wondering if they're too nice as well. Were seats in the 1970s this comfortable? This is an extremely inviting interior and those deep bucket seats are the reason why. I can easily see spending a long day in there, say, driving cross country and running interference for my buddy who has a truck full of illegal alcohol. Either way, the all-new interior is a show-winner. Everything is new, from the carpet to the seat covers, to the door panels, to the door panel pull straps. The automatic shifter plate and lens is a NOS piece, as are the seat belt side retainer clip bases and door weatherstrip. Heck, even the cigarette lighter is a new piece. The original seat belts were restored by Ssnake Oyl, the dash was restored by Just Dashes, and all the interior chrome was replated.

There's also a ton of documentation on this car, starting with copies of the package from PHS that includes the original invoice, build sheet, and window sticker. Receipts from the restoration for all parts and labor are included, as is a full summary of all the parts that went into the restoration. And the engine builder included the dyno sheet, too. If you care about pedigree, these are all documents you need to see.

Pontiac SD 455s are only going up in value. All the mid-70s Trans-Ams are seeing a notable bump in market performance, and these are the blue chip investments among them. When they are matching-numbers and restored to incredibly high standards like this one, it really is an easy decision to make. This car is a no-stories, no-excuses piece with all the right components, in a gorgeous color combination that will make it the star of the Pontiac Nationals next year. And we should know we've restored Trans Ams that have won there. Call today!