Author Topic: 1976 Trans Am - 17000 miles  (Read 2202 times)

TransAm7779

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1976 Trans Am - 17000 miles
« on: March 19, 2021, 12:50:04 PM »
Got this article in my email today and thought some others might enjoy it:

https://ls1tech.com/articles/incredible-1976-pontiac-firebird-trans-am-has-just-17k-original-miles/?utm_source=2021319&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=content

Side note, I know the engine color changed in the mid 70’s, but does the color on this engine look a little off to anyone else?
1977 Trans Am SE Y82
1978 C10 Big 10

roadking77

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Re: 1976 Trans Am - 17000 miles
« Reply #1 on: March 19, 2021, 03:09:13 PM »
I apologize in advance if someone here owns that car and I am insulting them, But I am calling BS. It may indeed be a low mileage car, and may have original paint and interior but there are some red flags to me. Theres no way that engine was painted at the factory that colour. My very early 76 had the light blue metallic like is on the earlier cars, after that they were a light blue. That doesnt even look like a Pontiac blue I have ever seen before. There are no core support to fender braces, the rear sway bar was left natural from the factory as well as the rear, those would at the very least have surface rust. They look like they have been painted with eastwood bare metal look paint ( I say that because they look just the same as on my 77 and thats the product I used). One other thing, I may be wrong with this one though, I was under the impression that up till 79 the bottom would have been in red oxide primer, not black. I have seen a few original cars and the bottom sides are truly a mess. The factory didnt care what they looked like and a lot of times they undercoated everything under there that didnt move.

Does look like a nice car though.
Finished!
77 T/A - I will Call this one DONE!
79 TATA 4sp-Next Project?
79 TATA - Lost to Fire!
86 Grand Prix - Sold
85 T/A - Sold
85 Fiero - Sold
82 Firebird - Sold
'38-CZ 250
'39-BSA Gold Star
'49-Triumph 350
'52-Ariel Red Hunter
'66-BSA Lightning
'01-HD RoadKing

Gene-73

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Re: 1976 Trans Am - 17000 miles
« Reply #2 on: March 19, 2021, 03:31:47 PM »
According to this site http://www.pontiacpower.org/enginecolor.htm, there was a similar metallic blue engine color during 75 to early 77. 
It could be that the photo is underexposed and throwing off the color we are seeing in the image. 
Gene


76 - 455 - 4

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Re: 1976 Trans Am - 17000 miles
« Reply #3 on: March 19, 2021, 05:01:36 PM »
Still my favorite year and color!
Thanks for posting!
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure.
I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe.
1968 400 convertible (Scarlet)
1976 T/A - 455 SE (No Burt)
1976 T/A - 455 (Latest project)
1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!)
1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone
2008 GP GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME!
1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold :(

chief poncho

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Re: 1976 Trans Am - 17000 miles
« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2021, 03:52:26 PM »
I question how original that car is too.  It might be original, but it was probably disassembled to some degree and "freshened" up.  As far as engine color, here's an original '76 with the same color. 



I do recall seeing that color on mid '70's TA's.  It's darker than the earlier metallic blue, and definitely different than the lighter pontiac blues used before and after that time period.  I like that color but the early metallic blue is my favorite. 

Weird to see a 455 equipped car with no console.  Someone was going bare bones with that one.
1971 Lucerne Blue Trans Am (455HO, Automatic) - currently my project car.
Previously Owned TA's/Musclecars: 2002 Pewter WS6/M6 Trans Am, 1968 Dodge Superbee 383/4speed,  1975 TA 455/4speed, 1989 Mustang LX 5.0/5speed, 1980 TA Indy Pace Car, 1977 TA 400/Auto, 1989 GTA 350TPI, 1990 GTA 350TPI, 1986 IROC 305TPI, 1989 Mustang LX 5.0/Auto, 1993 Mitsu 3000GT VR4 (and probably a few I've forgotten about)

Re: 1976 Trans Am - 17000 miles
« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2021, 03:52:26 PM »

chief poncho

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Re: 1976 Trans Am - 17000 miles
« Reply #5 on: March 22, 2021, 03:58:49 PM »
Interesting, I found another one without the fender to core supports.  Is it possible some '76's were shipped without them?  More likely they were removed for servicing under the hood and lost or never reinstalled.

1971 Lucerne Blue Trans Am (455HO, Automatic) - currently my project car.
Previously Owned TA's/Musclecars: 2002 Pewter WS6/M6 Trans Am, 1968 Dodge Superbee 383/4speed,  1975 TA 455/4speed, 1989 Mustang LX 5.0/5speed, 1980 TA Indy Pace Car, 1977 TA 400/Auto, 1989 GTA 350TPI, 1990 GTA 350TPI, 1986 IROC 305TPI, 1989 Mustang LX 5.0/Auto, 1993 Mitsu 3000GT VR4 (and probably a few I've forgotten about)

Jack

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  • 1971 Esprit TA Clone W72 1972 Formula 68 350 HO
Re: 1976 Trans Am - 17000 miles
« Reply #6 on: March 24, 2021, 03:21:36 AM »
I actually like the color contrast of the engine against the black surround. It's a nice car that most of us would love to have.




Regards, Jack

roadking77

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Re: 1976 Trans Am - 17000 miles
« Reply #7 on: March 24, 2021, 07:39:19 AM »
2018-02-20_09-07-44 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

This is my motor right after the rebuild. The new paint matched what was originally there almost to a 'T'.  My car is a very early 77 build.

2018-02-22_09-52-43 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

Best pic I had off hand of it in the car.
Finished!
77 T/A - I will Call this one DONE!
79 TATA 4sp-Next Project?
79 TATA - Lost to Fire!
86 Grand Prix - Sold
85 T/A - Sold
85 Fiero - Sold
82 Firebird - Sold
'38-CZ 250
'39-BSA Gold Star
'49-Triumph 350
'52-Ariel Red Hunter
'66-BSA Lightning
'01-HD RoadKing

roadking77

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Re: 1976 Trans Am - 17000 miles
« Reply #8 on: March 24, 2021, 07:43:47 AM »
I agree with Jack, that 76 is a fantastic car. I suppose I may have been a bit harsh with my opening statement. I get irritated sometimes when people present cars as low mileage original examples, only to find 'only 1 repaint, motor rebuilt, transmission updated etc., etc., etc.  My point was that even though it may have 17k miles does not necessarily mean that it is a factory original car, which I believe would merit more value.  I would be skeptical that the motor has come out for some reason, and that the undercarriage looks way too perfect for an 'original' car.
Finished!
77 T/A - I will Call this one DONE!
79 TATA 4sp-Next Project?
79 TATA - Lost to Fire!
86 Grand Prix - Sold
85 T/A - Sold
85 Fiero - Sold
82 Firebird - Sold
'38-CZ 250
'39-BSA Gold Star
'49-Triumph 350
'52-Ariel Red Hunter
'66-BSA Lightning
'01-HD RoadKing

chief poncho

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Re: 1976 Trans Am - 17000 miles
« Reply #9 on: March 24, 2021, 01:20:06 PM »
Kerry, the color on your '77 looks just like the earlier 66-70 light blue metallic.  That's the color I originally painted my engine before deciding to go with the correct '71 blue.  I know this has been posted a number of times before, but here is a great resource for the pontiac engine colors.  It could probably be updated with regard to sources, but the colors are accurate.  I've never seen a factory '75-77 pontiac engine painted the lighter metallic blue, but do recall seeing the darker metallic blue.  It could be the lighting, but yours looks like the lighter metallic blue. 

http://www.pontiacpower.org/enginecolor.htm
1971 Lucerne Blue Trans Am (455HO, Automatic) - currently my project car.
Previously Owned TA's/Musclecars: 2002 Pewter WS6/M6 Trans Am, 1968 Dodge Superbee 383/4speed,  1975 TA 455/4speed, 1989 Mustang LX 5.0/5speed, 1980 TA Indy Pace Car, 1977 TA 400/Auto, 1989 GTA 350TPI, 1990 GTA 350TPI, 1986 IROC 305TPI, 1989 Mustang LX 5.0/Auto, 1993 Mitsu 3000GT VR4 (and probably a few I've forgotten about)

Re: 1976 Trans Am - 17000 miles
« Reply #9 on: March 24, 2021, 01:20:06 PM »
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