My opinion doesn't matter on much, my thoughts are often opposite mainstream views, possibly only so as not to follow the crowd even if it is the correct view! I like the idea of a shaker in a Trans Am, especially an SE. I'm not a huge fan of the later years but they were popular and given engine choice became limited you can only go with what's available. Otherwise you end up with that other SE with the 400 added. Half the guys scream and moan about originality, the others say, at last, the engine it should have had all along, maybe. So for 80-81 models I'd probably prefer the 305 over the 301 (fairly even) or the 301T (various reasons but based on shaker at this point). The 305 also leads into the 3rd Gens that became SBC specialists and with that you end up with the most highly catered for engine family for mods or resto parts. In a lesser car with a 305 or even a non-numbers 305, I'd happily drop in an angry 350+ but dress it up as the stock engine, just because.
I wouldn't worry about replaced interior or repaints, if done correctly and are mint, and also uses many original parts not just cheap and nasty reproductions that don't quite fit or look the same, some are excellent. Likewise, if I see an all-original car claiming original paint and untouched interior but it clearly all needs replacing and redoing, then I'm not going to pay extra for it. At just a shell with parts at that point with a lot a replacing and completing to do. This one looks super neat, I haven't studied the pics to find faults, or good points. Has many of the hard-to-find Chev parts intact. Appearance-wise always wondered if the Olds 403 radiator shroud was altered to suit the late chev engine vehicles, but never saw one close up to compare. I like that interior combination, the tan and the dark brown, common to the fashion of the era. Shame the dash is cracked, I haven't looked how badly, that's a huge job to not just find a replacement but then actually replace it, on any of these vehicles. But of course, how many original 40 year old TA's don't have a cracked dash by now, not sure. Hard to find a good used one in same colour, rather than the basic black, then again it also weeds out many of those who want black and don't want to redye it if found.
Can't help on the price, just felt like a ramble with my coffee. Consider it a free bump! Are you looking around for another car?
