1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Gold Special Edition

Description

Say what you want about the image these late'70s Trans Ams used to portray, but the times, they are a-changin'. No longer the sole provenance of Burt Reynolds wanna-bes, these are legitimate collector cars in their own right and this 1978 Gold Special Edition Trans Am is a rare find that should turn out to also be a smart investment in the future.

With just two owners from new, you know this is a special car. Add in the code 50 Solar Gold paint job and it becomes a relatively rare car, too. It was repainted in its original hue just before the current owner acquired it in the early 2000s, so it has the right look. It was obviously never wrecked or rusty, so major surgery wasn't required, but they do seem to have taken their time with the work. Gaps are even, the body surfaces are smooth and shiny, and the gold paint is exactly the right shade. Of course, a Trans Am wouldn't be complete without the bird on the hood, so new decals were installed throughout and they look sharp, crisp, and properly installed. And to be honest, the gold cars seem to offer a more sophisticated look than the over-dressed black ones, and it really works well. Details like the urethane nose, fender flares, and deck lid spoiler all remain in excellent condition thanks to a lifetime spent as a fair-weather toy, not a daily driver.

The gorgeous "Camel" cloth interior is an unusual find in a Trans Am, and it was freshened with the paint a few years ago. Even the driver's seat looks virtually new, a testament to the quality of care this car has received since the work was done and the materials are a dead-ringer for the factory stuffAs a top-of-the-line Trans Am, this one is loaded with options like factory A/C (needs to be serviced), power windows and locks, a tilt steering column, and an AM/FM/cassette stereo system that replaced the original 8-track (which is included with the car). Perhaps most importantly, this car has three pedals on the floor and a 4-speed shifter on the center console, raising the entertainment level considerably. And a Trans Am just isn't a Trans Am without T-tops, with these fitting snugly and remarkably free of the usual squeaks and rattles, thanks to the low mileage. The trunk still carries its original mat as well as a space-saver spare that looks to have never been used.

4-speed cars in 1978 got a genuine Pontiac 400 cubic inch V8 which still delivered thrilling performance despite the federal regulations trying to kill it. It's quite original under the hood, nicely maintained and only a quick detail away from preservation-class judging. The air cleaner dominates the engine bay, looking like a scoop but actually inhaling through a standard intake tube, and the 4-barrel underneath still knows how to make horsepower. A brand new exhaust system highlights the undercarriage, which is mostly original and in good order, although not currently detailed for show. It rides and handles like low-mileage cars always do, feeling tight and well-built as it goes down the road. Classic "snowflake" alloys are fitted with 225/60/15 BFGoodrich radials, and they may just be only the second set of tires this car has ever worn.

'70s Trans Ams with lots of documentation are red hot in the hobby right now, and few cars of the period were more iconic. Affordable today, but not likely to stay that way forever, so call now!