1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Red Coupe 6.6L V8 108666 Miles

1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
- Georgia Car
- 6.6L V8 Engine
- Automatic Transmission
- Red over White
(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am on a website other than our Garage Kept Motors site, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of this vehicle due to website limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 185 photographs, as well as a short walk-around-and-startup video, please go to our main website: GarageKeptMotors.)
"When the Firebird launched... the car was an immediate hit." Pontiac marketing chief, Jim Wangers, in his memoir, "Glory Days"
The early Firebirds battled Mustangs, Camaros, and Javelins in the sixties. And then, just as many people feared the era of the muscle car was over, came the allure of the Trans Am. As Matt Litwin put it in the March 2008 issue of Muscle Machines magazine: "You thought performance died after 1970. The old muscle cars of your youth were left out to pasture, and you watched them rust into the landscape. You settled into the family lifestyle, piloting a full-size wood-grained wagon across six states to get to some cheesy tourist attraction. That's when the Trans Am hit the silver screen dressed in black, and the twinge of horsepower tickled your right foot again. You wanted one...."
Hold that thought.
Offered here is a 1978 Trans Am, red over white, rarer than black-and-gold, in excellent overall un-restored, survivor condition. With 108,000 miles on the odometer, or about 2,600 mile a year on average, this Firebird merits the "very low mileage" accolade. It is a lightly used, obviously well cared-for, and appealing 1970's statement. Indeed, its trademark-though it was optional- "screaming chicken" hood decal may well be calling out to you right now.
The exterior of the car reinforces the "survivor" tag: Paint is excellent throughout: from the twin front grilles in the Endura bumper, to the front-fender air outlets, to the flared "fender spoilers" ahead of each wheel, to the sport mirrors, across the smooth, "no-t" top (often a source of leaks) roof, to the rear spoiler. Glass and lenses are clear and undamaged, the bespoke decals (part of an option group) on the shaker and the hood "chicken", the front fenders, and rear spoiler are all excellent, properly located, and not faded. Proper emblems in excellent condition are all in place. The Trans Am–specific aluminum alloy "snowflake" design 15x7 wheels are virtually flawless with BFG Radial T/A tires mounted.
Under the hood, the 6.6-liter Pontiac V8 (notably not one of the Oldsmobile-produced V8s) power plant holds center-stage in a properly laid-out and complete, but not detailed, engine bay. The "shaker" air-cleaner assembly crowns the "Pontiac turquoise" engine while chromed valve covers add visual interest. From underneath, the chassis is clean with no signs of body rust. The exhaust headers and separate twin exhaust pipes steal the show.
The car's interior continues the theme of survivor quality. Across the machine-turned, driver-oriented dashboard, the instruments are un-faded with clear lenses. The top of the dash is unfaded, wrinkled, or cracked. Switches are complete and functional. A console-mounted shifter controls the 4-speed automatic transmission. An AM-FM radio is properly located in the dash. The optional high-back bucket seats in white vinyl show only minor wear from normal use, but no cuts or tears. Same with the rear bench seat. Door trim is in similar condition, and the doors themselves-including the sills (a good place to look to judge how a car's been treated in general) and the hinge areas-are exceptionally clean and undamaged.
The more than 185 high-definition photographs and the accompanying walk-around-and-startup video available on the GarageKeptMotors site faithfully present this red Trans Am from virtually every angle. Of course, the best appraisal of the car comes from an up-close, in-person look. For that, we encourage inspections by interested parties at our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom. We ask only that an appointment be made in advance via phone or email contact so that we can devote our attention to our visitors and the car.
When this Trans Am was brand new, Pontiac was pitching all its performance-minded cars with the line "We build excitement." All these years later, even after the brand Pontiac has left the automotive playing field, there are still ways you can feel that excitement. Look no further than this beautiful automobile.