20,611 Actual Mile Trans Am Gold SE Y88 400 L78 WS6

Just as we predicted, 1977-1981 Pontiac Trans Ams have become some the hottest collector cars on the planet! If you grew up in the mid to late 70's, very little of the metal offered by the big three had any appeal, except for the Trans Am. 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 into 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 Gold Special Edition, an original 20,611 mile time capsule, combines enduring Pontiac performance with all-American style!

Included with the sale of this vintage Firebird is an original build sheet which highlights a long list of optional equipment:

* AK1: Deluxe color-matched seatbelts
* AU3: Power door locks
* A01: Tinted glass
* A31: Power windows
* A51: Bucket seats
* BS1: Additional acoustical insulation
* B22: Door emblems
* B37: Front and rear floor mats
* B82: Body emblem delete
* B89: Black reveal moldings
* B93: Door edge guards
* B97: Rear wheel spoilers
* CC1: Hatch roof
* C49: Electric rear window defogger
* C60: Air conditioning
* D35: Dual sport mirrors
* D55: Floor console
* D80: Rear decklid spoiler
* D92: Door handle tape stripes
* F41: Rear anti-sway bar
* GM8: 2.56 axle ratio
* G80: Posi-traction rear end
* JL1: Pedal trim
* JL2: Power brakes
* K15: Fuel return
* K30: Cruise control
* L78: 400 cubic inch V8 that's complete with a 4-barrel carburetor
* M33: Automatic transmission
* NK3: Formula steering wheel
* N33: Tilt steering column
* N65: Space saver spare tire
* QGR: 225/70R15 white letter tires
* T93: lack tail lamp panel
* UA1: Heavy duty battery
* UM2: AM/FM radio that's complete with a tape player
* UN9: Radio suppression package
* U05: Dual horns
* U25: Luggage compartment lamp
* U27: Glove box light
* U28: Ash tray lamp
* U29: Courtesy light
* U35: Electric clock
* U76: Windshield antenna
* U80: Rear speaker
* V02: Heavy duty cooling package
* VK3: Front license plate bracket
* WS4: Trans Am
* WS6: Trans Am IV
* WW7: Hood decal
* WW8: Rally gauges
* YJ8: Gold cast aluminum wheels
* YR1: Custom front seat
* YS1: Custom rear seat
* YT1: Custom door and quarter panels
* Y88: Gold Special Edition
* Y90: Custom trim
* Y92: Lamp group
* 62I: Buckskin trim
* 62X: Big four tan

Assembled at GM's Van Nuys, California manufacturing facility on March 15, 1978, this virtually untouched Gold Special Edition Trans Am was delivered to McCoy Pontiac in Flagstaff, Arizona where it kicked off three decades of low miles and proud owners. Its unique coat of GM code 50 Solar Gold lacquer still pays excellent homage to factory body panels that are as solid and straight as the day they left the showroom floor. A set of Gold Special Edition exclusive full outlining stripes still trace an original Gold Special Edition exclusive brown, yellow and gold hood decal to complete the car's transformation from a regular bird into full-tilt 'screamin' chicken'. And today, this 'bird looks just as good as you'd expect any 34 year old unrestored F-body to look featuring classic lines and sizzling graphics that have become one of the most iconic automotive brandings in history!

Despite minimum brightwork, Special Edition Trans Ams are highly decorated cars which bring new meaning to the word “details”. Up front, a straight and glossy urethane bumper hangs a monochromatic arrow head between correct gold headlight inserts to provide Pontiac's familiar split grille face. Behind that bumper, a “6.6 LITRE” branded hood leads the eye to like-new tinted glass which is complete with an integrated antenna, an electric rear window defogger and correct black reveal moldings. At the center of the car, Y88-exclusive gold-tint Fisher T-tops ride above traditional chrome door handles, which feature correct gold tape stripes, original stainless door guards and bright brown, yellow and gold 'screamin' chicken' B-pillar decals. Below those T-tops, striking “Trans Am” call-outs ride between traditional Pontiac fender vents, body-matched sport mirrors and correct fiberglass wheel spoilers. And at the back of the car, a straight D80 decklid hangs a bold “Trans Am” call-out above a correct black tail light panel, showroom fresh tail lights and familiar Firebird side splitter exhaust tips.

Under this Pontiac's long hood you'll find an all-original L78 V8 which wears a correct 568557 casting number, an October (J) 11th (11) of 1977 (7) casting date and a correct 150873 partial VIN. Thanks to government mandated emissions standards, performance had almost been legislated out of existence; and that left the Trans Am suffering a bit of an identity crisis. This bird's L78, punching in at an even 400 cubic inches, combined the largest muscle car engine you could buy with Pontiac's proven “6X” head design to produce a higher compression ratio and provide enough low end grunt to create one of the fastest pony cars on the market. At the top of the engine, an original Rochester 4-barrel carburetor rides under a familiar shaker scoop. Below that carburetor, original GM corporate blue paint coats the entire block and original cast iron manifolds send spent gases into a high performance factory exhaust system. The car's clean engine bay and hood are covered in a nice coat of GM satin black paint. All the hard parts around its motor appear to be factory original. As expected, markings and stamps are just where they should be. And there's fresh belts, fresh hoses and even a fresh battery.

At the bottom of this solid gold F-body, a clean undercarriage tells a long story of excellent maintenance and carefully chosen road time. The car's straight floor pans still hang most of their mild factory undercoating over a satin black suspension that still retains much of its factory shine. Behind the motor, an original Turbo-Hydramatic 350 3-speed automatic sends power to the car's factory 10 bolt rear end which still retains its familiar metal maintenance tag. At the ends of the car an original Trans Am suspension, which includes power steering, thicker sway bars, better shocks and stiffer springs, combines with power front disc and rear drum brakes to provide quick stops and great handling. And at the corners of the car, power flows to the pavement through original 15 inch Pontiac snow flake wheels which spin modern 225/70 BF Goodrich Radial T/As around Special Edition exclusive gold paint and 'gold bird' center caps. While most of this Trans Am's original exhaust system seems to be present and accounted for, it now wears a fresh, transversely mounted factory replacement muffler that breathes through aluminized tail pipes and traditional Firebird side-splitter tips. And, based on a quick visual inspection, all the car's hardware and bushings appear to be in good, road-ready condition.

Open the car's massive gold doors and you'll find a factory-equipped custom Camel Tan interior that's centered in virtually miles of Special Edition exclusive gold trim. The car's original seats are comfortably firm and, carrying vinyl that's thicker than typical pony car attire, look like they should be in a much more modern, much more expensive car. Below those seats high quality tan carpet, which has been carefully protected by factory rubber floor mats, displays no fading or unraveling at all. Between those seats, a Camel Tan console props a large storage bin behind a simple automatic shifter and small chrome buttons for optional power windows. And above those seats, a stain-free headliner is stretched tight around the cars mirrored T-tops. In front of the driver, an excellent looking engine turned dash hangs crystal clear Rally Gauges above controls for the car's heat and air conditioning system and an original Delco-GM stereo. At the sides of the cockpit, thick Camel Tan door panels feature pristine stainless trim, bright chrome handles and small chrome buttons for power locks. Connecting the driver to the road is a correct Formula steering wheel which spins a Camel Tan rim around a correct 'screamin' chicken' horn button and a correct gold steering column. And carrying the passenger's luggage is a factory fresh trunk which props a Space Saver spare tire under original decklid decals and a fully functional courtesy lamp.

Like all of our investment grade cars, this Trans Am comes with extensive documentation. We have the original build sheet outlined above, the car's original owner's manual and warranty booklets, and a small stack of paperwork from Pontiac Historic Services.

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 will be chasing a value curve heading straight upwards for the next 20 years. This is the kind of car that you can take to the cruise in on a hot Saturday night and drive to work on a sunny Monday morning. If you're in the market for a kick ass Pontiac that is 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!