1971 Pontiac Trans Am
© craigslist - Map data ©OpenStreetMap
(google map)
1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
fuel:gas
title status:clean
transmission:manual
This is an extremely nice 1971 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 HO, 4spd, 78,674 original miles on the body and original interior. There were only 2,116 Trans Am's produced in 1971, 1,231 being Automatics, 885 with 4 speed manual Transmissions, so this is one of those rare 885 PHS Documented 4 speed Trans Am's that were built. This was a fairly low optioned car, the WS4 Trans Am package, Custom Trim Group, Roof Molding, Wheel Trim Rings, M22 Muncie 4 speed Transmission, AM Radio, 8-Track Player (not in car, have it though), Electric Rear Window Defog, Tinted Glass, HD Battery, and that's it. Of course it has Power Steering, Power Front Disc Brakes, Positraction (Limited Slip) rear Differential, Factory Tachometer and Gauges, Front and Rear Sway Bars, but these were included in the Trans Am Package. This car was ordered and delivered to Hoxie Buick-Pontiac, in Westerly RI. This is not a numbers matching car, but it's as close as you could possibly be. The previous owner, had a Lucerne Blue on White, 1971 Trans Am with a numbers matching 455 HO with a Muncie M22 (Rock Crusher) 4 speed Transmission back in early 80', after owning it for years, the body and frame (Michigan) had seen better days, with that said, the owner decided it wasn't repairable and made the decision to part it out, he kept the original engine and components, and the Muncie M22 4 speed, he took all the remaining good pieces and the body was off to the local scrap yard =(. Knowing someday he would hopefully find another car to put the drive train into. So life happens, Marriage, Kids, Soccer, and an engine and transmission, still waiting patiently to come to life again. Now fast forward to 2003, browsing on Ebay, he comes across a Cameo White 1971 Trans Am, original 4 speed car with the non-original engine and transmission, but with a killer low mileage body and great original interior, here it is, the car he's been waiting for, okay, click "watch", nervously checking the Auction daily, anticipating the last few minutes to finally come, then one final Bid, Yes, it's mine. So, Chapter two begins. After getting the car home, he gets to see how truly clean this car is, and decides to do the beautiful restoration you see here. The car was completely disassembled, the front sub frame was removed, Sand Blasted, and repainted in a correct satin black finish, all new front Suspension, Brakes, Lines, Bushings, ect. The Rear End is a (CJ) Coded 3;42 Limited Slip, was removed, Sand Blasted, primed, replaced any need parts, New Brakes, Lines, Fluids, Sway bar detailed, New Bushings, Rear Springs look to have been replaced and detailed. The Underside is very clean and original, and needed no metal replacement, it was an original undercoated car so it was cleaned and left alone. The car was then sent to a Local Body Shop that had to only do a small metal patch on the Passenger lower rear Quarter, just behind the tire area, at its lowest point, very minimal, the rest of the body was rust free and very straight. The paint and body are very nice, great fit and finish work. Now to the Drive train, although the Engine and Transmission performed well before putting them into storage, he didn't want to take any chance, with putting so much time and effort into the rest of the car, he wanted a reliable driver, not just a piece of Art, so with the help of Dan Jensen, a local Pontiac Guru ( Founder of the Pure Stock Drag Racing event), they used his tricks of the trade, and made HO come back to life, I'll tell you what, I've owned a half dozen or so of these 455 HO's in my 56 years on Earth, and this is by Far, the best running one I've ever had the pleasure of driving. It scoots, sounds amazing with new original style Dual Exhaust out to Factory Style Chrome Tips. The Transmission was also gone through, adding of course a new Clutch and Pressure Plate. The Shifter, I'm assuming was rebuilt also, it shifts smooth, and tight, lock out Reverse works as it should. The car has new correct Decal Stripes, Trans Am Decals, Nose Bird, All new Weather stripping, New Window Seals, Window Felts, Beautiful Glass, Re-Chromed Rear Bumper, New Rear Pontiac Emblems, all Window Trim is very nice, it also has a new set of Firestone Wide Oval reproduction tires (F60-15's) all around. The car has been finished for approximately 5-6 years, driven only 529 miles since completed. The Interior of the car is pretty much original, with the exception of Carpet and Sill Plates, every else is original and in amazing condition. I have PHS Documentation for Both cars, this White one your looking at, and the Blue one (pictured), that the Engine and Transmission came from to prove they came from one of the other 885 4 speed Trans Am's built that year. So as I said earlier, it's not a Numbers Matching car, but it's pretty darn cool that has an original 455 HO and Transmission from another 1971 4 speed Trans Am. That being said, this is a very nice example of a very sought after car, Looks, Runs, and Drives Fantastic. If you have any questions, you can call me, Todd, (Six 1 Six) 4 4 Six - 3 Six 2 4. or tgvollink@gmail.com
