1978 Pontiac Firebird

1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am It took some time, but Trans Ams are finally having their day in the sun. Between the period when the over the top design and graphics seemed normal, and the rediscovery of the coolness, the market for Trans Ams was soft compared to Camaro counterparts. But no more, the second generation T/A's are some of the hottest cars on the market, highly desirable, and usually not at the mall for very long before finding a new owner. 1978 saw the greatest number of Trans Ams produced up to that point with over 93,000 cars finding their way to American roads. For consignment, a 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am coupe showing 83,074 miles, but the true miles are unknown. After 1978, customers could pick an exterior color and decal color separately thereby creating your own combination. But in '78, the decal colors were selected automatically by Pontiac. ***Due to modifications of the emissions control devices installed by the manufacturer, please check your local, state, and federal laws to determine if this vehicle is applicable for use on public highways in your area.*** Exterior Regardless of how it was born, this car received new paint about seven years ago in one of the eight colors originally offered in 1978, Starlight Black, here with the charcoal/red decal selection beginning with the screaming chicken iconic hood decal and including the Trans Am designation on the side and tail, pinstriping around the heat extractors and wheel flares, and on the T/A 6.6 on the shaker hood scoop. 1978 would be the final year for the open grille between the dual headlights and the three part tail lights as seen on the muscular tail of this car. 15-inch Pontiac snowflake wheels are in place here, looking right at home of course and chrome rear splitters peak out the back, a reflective warning to challengers that four tips mean business. Imperfections on this black beauty include a misshaped corner of a plastic wheel flair, and some paint chips down low. Interior Legendary Auto Interior redid the upholstery on the car creating a unique configuration of silver vinyl inserts with pewter borders and charcoal piping applied not on to the front buckets, but to the rear 2+2 as well. Our consignor states the door panels are newer and they do present cleanly, with slight separation of the carpeted kick panel on the passenger side, nothing a little glue couldn't remedy. Up front, the now legendary Trans Am design, a three spoke steering wheel fronting the spun aluminum applique on the dash with the most pertinent gauges in front of the driver, including the tachometer, and others to the right over the A/C panel. With the black formed plastic dash, a Kenwood AM/FM/CD player has been added in the middle over the useful storage bin and pull out ashtray. The familiar shifter is in the center console over low pile gray carpet protected by Trans Am branded carpeted mats. The black foam backed headliner above shows some depressions, the visors remain in good condition, and the trunk is clean and lined with black cloth mats and houses a covered spare. Drivetrain The nicely detailed engine, topped with the shaker scoop of course, is a non original 400ci V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor and mated to a non original TH350 3-speed automatic transmission sending power to the 10 bolt axle with 3.42 gears and Positraction. A gold power booster is onboard to assist the front disc and rear drum brakes. Undercarriage Clean and dry underneath with no surface rust nor errant fluids to note here. Floorboard patchwork is noted underneath and undercoating applied for a uniform, semi gloss black finish. Dual exhaust veers from the original configuration, meeting at an X pipe and continuing in tandem to a Pypes muffler that disperses two tailpipes terminating at dual chrome splitters. No catalytic converter is present. The transmission pan is polished as is the rear differential for some old school enhancement. Suspension consis