Rare 1972 Pontiac Trans Am Headed To Florida Summer Special

Pontiac took a stab at a two-seat production car with the Banshee concept, also known as the XP-833, in 1964. Styling was very similar to the forthcoming third-generation Chevy Corvette, with similar power from GM drivetrains, but carrying five hundred fewer pounds. Pontiac head John Z. DeLorean called the Banshee a “Mustang fighter,” but with similar power and less weight, the Banshee would have almost certainly outperformed the Corvette. Chevy execs wouldn’t stand for another GM product stealing Corvette sales, and the Banshee concept was halted. But there would come a light in the Pontiac performance coupe tunnel in the guise of the Pontiac Trans Am.

Bowing for the 1967 production year, the Pontiac Firebird was the Excitement Division’s F-Body cousin to the Chevy Camaro. After the Camaro debuted in late September of 1966 to rave reviews, Pontiac wanted in on the party, and five months later it got its chance. The Firebird was quite similar to the Camaro with door skins, front fenders, and rear fenders in common, but with its own trademark Pontiac beak, split grille, and taillights that resembled those on the GTO. The Firebird also utilized Pontiac drivetrains. But the real Firebird fun would come two years later with the Pontiac Trans Am.

In 1969, the Pontiac Trans Am debuted as an option package for the Firebird. Taking its name from the SCCA racing series, the Trans Am Performance and Appearance Package option had incredibly limited production that first year, with only 689 coupes and eight convertibles making their way into customer’s hands.

By 1972, the federal government had taken much of the fun out of muscle cars and pony cars, robbing them of horsepower via emissions and economy standards. In some cases, the only changes the manufacturers made were the claimed output numbers, doing so to give the appearance of complying with government policies. To wit, the second-generation Pontiac Trans Am LS5 455 HO engine was rated at 335 horsepower in 1971, but the same engine, essentially unchanged, was rated at just 300 horsepower in 1972.

Our feature 1972 Pontiac Trans Am is finished in its original hue of Lucerne Blue with white Trans Am stripes over a black vinyl bucket seat interior. It is powered by the original LS5 455 HO Big Block backed by the Muncie heavy-duty M22 four-speed gearbox. The Trans Am is equipped with power brakes, center console, Formula steering wheel, Rally II wheels shod in raised white-letter BFGoodrich Radial T/As, sport mirrors with driver’s side remote, power steering, power brakes, and a shaker hood. This Trans Am is one of 1,286 produced for the 1972 model year, and one of only 458 with a four-speed manual gearbox. Included in the sale are Pontiac Historical Society documents.

This rare 1972 Pontiac Trans Am will cross the Mecum Auctions block at its Florida Summer Special Saturday, July 12^th.