When you think of the Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am, you probably picture a black car with the iconic gold decals and matching gold trim and accents. This was not only a common color combination for multiple generations of Trans-Am, it was also the color of the movie car in the wildly popular 1970s film Smokey and the Bandit.
This 1978 Pontiac Trans-Am that was recently listed for sale on Bring-A-Trailer is a nice change of pace from the preferred black and gold Trans-Ams, in our opinion. It has been repainted in its Martinique Blue exterior color and received replacement trim and decals, as well, doing this great color combo justice. It has also had its interior retrimmed and had its 403 cubic inch V8 refreshed under previous ownership, receiving a new carb, water pump, cooling fan, alternator and more. The three-speed automatic transmission is a replacement unit as well.
Currently showing 96,000 miles on the odometer, this beautiful Pontiac Trans-Am is being offered with documents from Pontiac Historical Services and a clean California title. At the time of this writing, bidding sits at $5,500 with a week left before the auction times out. If you’ve been in the market for a clean Pontiac Trans-Am, this car just may worth a look. In fact, it’s hard to look away..
Check out this listing at this link for additional information and photo and let us know what you think of this car in the comments below.
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Source/photos: Gotdunham1970 on Bring-A-Trailer
Comments
NICE….That blue is sensational!
Beautiful car! I wish they were still making the Birds.
My friend in college had a ’78 Trans Am and would let me drive it. Absolutely loved that car. Really wish.they would make it again.
You can get original or a Camaro conversion here in Tallahassee, FL. There’s a TV reality Show on Demand called Trans Am about this shop building Trans Am’s.
I had one just like this but it was 1979. Loved it. This one is very nice.
I had a ‘78 Trans Am with WS6 in Platinum with Carmine velour interior. It was absolutely gorgeous. Bought it brand new in Fresno, CA. I loved it!
I had a blue 1978 I bought early in the year when they had the 220 hp Pontiac 400 with the 323 rear end. Later in 1978 they went to a 180 hp Pontiac 400 with a 241 gear. The 403 Oldsmobile motor was used in 1979 with the exception of the special addition which cane with the early 1978 220hp Pontiac 400 and only in four speed. We thought that was a lot of power and it was a very nice car for its day. At least these were the drive train options in Texas. My new 2019 ZR1 corvette has 755 hp. It’s crazy fast but I loved my Trains Am.
There is a independent builder that makes the Firebird. They use a Camaro body. They change the front and rear ends and badges, put in a high performance engine, Now all of you that wish they still made them, there you go. Can’t remember the name of the company. Google it!.
Better tell them to be sure to bring their wallet with them! They are pricey.
It’s in Tallahassee, FL and the reality TV show on Demand is called Trans Am
I got my ’74 t/a 455 for $4400 new – no radio or woosie a/c or p/w – exactly as i wanted it. Room for 4 instead of 2, like the current one. Nice long hood, ez to make shaker functional & upgrade motor(which i did) & no factory cat converter or air pump to worry about + std hei ignition. NO EXTRA CHARGE! –> for the best auto trans of all – turbo 400. Still good after 250k miles.
Try that today. I could have also instead gotten a f/b formula for lot less $ stripped even more, if i wanted, with many interior color choices, none of which are ugly gray, like today’s cars.
I could have also gotten the sd-455 motor & upgrade that to 500hp easily via Nunzio Romano in Brooklyn. Best of all, i can SEE out of the car, unlike the current f-body. & not have to worry about all those cv joints on new ones.
just love that car i had 3 of them a 1975(grey color), 1976(dark red), and 1977(brown)..excellent souvenirs from these cars.
Always liked the nose of the ’78’s over the ’79’s. This one has the odd small block Olds 403 which is not desirable like the venerable and tried and true Pontiac 400 is. Being that, I’d say this one should get a nice bored & stroked LS swapped 6.6L and make that shaker functional, IMHO.
Originality? Stick the 403 on an engine stand in the back of the garage.
For the guy that said a 403 was an odd motor in a TA, that’s not true. A lot of them came with the 403 Olds motors in them. It’s just the way Pontiac was back then. It did have a little less hp then the 400 but was still a very good motor.
I guess you missed the reply button, lol.
The reason it’s odd is because of it’s specs and limited production, not because it was used in the T/A.
“403
The 455 “big block” Olds V8 was replaced in 1977 with the 403 cu in (6.6 L) “small block” V8. It used a wide 4.351 in (110.5 mm) bore, the largest ever used in a small-block V8, with the Olds small-block standard deck and 3.385 in (86.0 mm) stroke. The bore was so wide that the cylinder walls were “siamesed” (similar to the Chevrolet 400 CID small block engine) — there was no space for coolant flow between the cylinders. This sometimes led to overheating problems. Some very early 403s were painted metallic blue like the 455, but most were painted GM Corporate Blue.
The Olds 403 was used by Buick and Pontiac in addition to Oldsmobile. The engine was only produced through 1979. Output was 185 hp (138 kW) and 320 lbâ‹…ft (430 Nâ‹…m).”
Also there is this,
https://www.hotrod.com/articles/ccrp-1105-oldsmobile-403-engine/
Besides cooling and strength issues, the cost of parts to get moderate performance will cost you. I know. I had a ’70 Olds 442 w/ the 455. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my Olds but the 403 is nothing special and is less desirable with less performance potential than a Pontiac 400. Even the T/A’s that came with SBC’s had more potential. That’s why I would do an LS swap if the engineis a 403, 301, 305, IMHO. The 350 is worth keeping with plenty of potential as most already know but it is still overshadowed by the power potential of ANY LS.
I still have my 1979 Trans Am bought 2nd owner
In 1989 still have it dropped a 454 and now pulling that out and dropping a 468
I love it
I had a new 1978 Z28 Camaro in this same blue color but it had the 350 cid.
My 76 Trans Am is the same blue, spectacular!
Sweet car! I just put my 1981 white Nascar pace car away for it’s Winter sleep yesterday. These cars are a blast to own and drive and are a constant reminder of the many things we have lost over the years.
Everyone had one or knew someone with one. Have a z28 and everyone says they wish they still had one.
I would have paid 19,000.