The values and collectibility levels for the second-generation Pontiac Firebird are a bit of a mixed bag. Some examples from this generation can often be found at bargain prices, but others are high-dollar collector pieces. Case in point: a 1978 Pontiac Trans Am with a strong resemblance to the famous Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am sold on Bring a Trailer for a whopping $285,000.
That’s an eye-watering amount, but this was no ordinary Trans Am. One could call it a restomod, a classic car with enough enhancements to elevate the driving experience ot be on par with a more modern performance car. It starts under the hood with a 6.2L V8 LS3 linked to a Tremec 6-speed manual transmission. The LS3 powered not only the C6 Corvette in its later model years, but the Pontiac G8 GXP, and it’s a good candidate for an engine swap into a classic Trans AM like this one.
A long list of other mechanical modifications to this Pontiac Trans Am include a limited-slip differential with 3.73:1 gears, adjustable front coilovers, four-wheel disc brakes, a Texas Speed camshaft, an Edelbrock throttle body, an aluminum radiator, PRC cylinder heads, Holley fuel rails, long-tube headers, and a Pypes dual exhaust system.
There are also some modern creature comforts and enhancements inside while retaining the look and feel of a classic muscle car. The seats appear original but may have been reupholstered at some point. The car also has aftermarket air conditioning, a digital radio that looks period correct, and a tasteful Hurst shifter.
As for factory options, this Trans Am was originally specced with the WS6 performance package, T-tops (RPO CC1), a tilt steering wheel (N33), velour interior trim (Y90), and, of course, the iconic “screaming chicken” hood decal (WW7). The original MSRP on the window sticker is $8,519, which is about $44,000 in 2025 dollars.
Once the bidding crossed the $200k mark on this Trans Am, there was a three-way bidding war that ended with a final sale price of an even $285,000. It’s shocking to see any third-gen Trans Am sell for that kind of money, but this is a unique example of a particularly clean restomod build in an already desirable spec.
Comments
Boomer priced.
That chicken on the hood alone is worth the price.
Great car!
Burt would be proud…
Bid up by guys with money that can’t turn a wrench. You could build this car for much less.
At least they did not claim Burt owned this one. There was an industry of buying and titling cars in Burt’s name then restore them and sell them as if he personally owned. it.
Many were hooked on that scam.
The retro one to have is the one that was done with the Pontiac engines and were called Bandit Editions. These were well done and endorsed by Burt not owned. These use after market Pontiac racing blocks and really were done to the top level.
“Bid up by guys with money that can’t turn a wrench. ” Even most guys who can turn a wrench can’t turn out work like that. It takes a team of sub-contracted labor, years of PITA effort and wheelbarrows full of cash to turn an old tub like a 78 T/A into a car that good. Even if you could build 100% of that yourself you’d be sick of looking at it by the time you were done. If you have the means it’s much, much nicer just to buy a car that’s finished and jump right to the ‘enjoyment’ part. That final number was certainly high, but not unjustifiable if you’ve been through the wringer of restomodding before. Ask me how I know.
I know many that do as good or better. It is my line of work.
And yet it still runs leaf springs…
This is a better investment than that beached whale Celestiq.
You never know. In 40 years the value of something that has only been purchased by 3 people will be very high
in 40 years none of those 3 Celestiqs will still exist because every fundamental system of that atrocity will be unserviceable obsolete tech. Think of it as you would today of a Kenwood minidsic player circa 1987 with proprietary batteries they only made for 3 devices.
That Trans Am will still be running around though.
This is beautifully done…and on the most appealing body style IMO (77/78). Can I use the word restrained when speaking of a Trans Am restomod? This looks worth whatever a Trans Am lover is prepared to pay. Hope the buyer truly enjoys it on the road and doesn’t give a hoot what he sells it for.
Reminds me of my days working as a Pontiac lot boy in the summer of ’76 and then at another one in summer of ’77. Sales and General manager let me drive these all the time. I spent time with the guy who ordered inventory. We brought in the best equipped TAs around. Cleaned them every day. Nice and shiny.
My favorite TA was a 1969 white with blue interior. My good friend’s brother got one new. It was beyond fast. I lived in a very hilly town and one time we got the vehicle air borne. That was too much for me. Started backing off on crazy car stuff after that.
That’s nuts! A couple years ago one of my customers built a 77 “Smokey” TA restomod much nicer than this one, and for a lot less than this one sold for.
Unlike this car, my customer wanted it to be Pontiac powered. I had a Pontiac 455 built for it with aluminum heads, custom ground cam, Edelbrock intake, Holley Sniper, custom made headers, etc. that dyno’d at about 500 HP and 530 torque. Instead of stock front suspension we used Heidts tubular a-arms with coil overs up front, a Borgeson steering box, B&M 700R4 trans, subframe connectors, Ford 9″ with four link and coil overs rear suspension (unlike this car’s stock rear end and springs), and Wilwoods all around.
If this car is worth $285K, his has to be worth $500K with it’s much more updated suspension.
The buyer purchased it as a Father’s Day present for her husband.