Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present a very collectible example of this 1978 2nd generation Pontiac Firebird Trans Am with the desirable 6. 6L 400 c. i. W72 V8 engine and fully loaded with added factory options including;
Trans Am Package
W72 6. 6L T/ A 400 4 BBL V8 Engine $75
62B Camel Vinyl Trim
50U Solar Gold Paint
Air Conditioning $508
Battery Heavy Duty $20
Soft Ray Glass $56
Safety Belts $21
Door Edge Guards $11
Additional Acoustical Insulation $29
Lamp Group $18
Front & Rear Mats $21
Roof Drip Moldings $20
Delco AM/ FM/ 8 Track Cassette $351
Tilt Steering Wheel $69
Windshield Wipers $32
Super Cooling Radiator $31
Custom Velour Trim $134
Other factory and added options for this particular example include:
400ci W72 V8
GTO-Sourced Heads & Intake
Ram Air III Camshaft
Aftermarket Exhaust System
Four-Speed Manual Transmission
Solar Gold Paint
Camel Tan Vinyl Upholstery
Gold-Finished 15" Snowflake Wheels
Power Steering
Power Front Disc Brakes
Front & Rear Spoilers
Shaker Hood with Firebird Graphics
Eight-Track Radio
Copy of Original Dealer Invoice
This 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am is finished in its original 'Solar Gold' over Camel Tan vinyl upholstery and is powered by a 400ci W72 V8 paired with a four-speed manual transmission. The engine has been fitted with a GTO-sourced intake manifold and cylinder heads as well as a Ram Air III camshaft, and additional equipment includes a Shaker hood with a Firebird hood decal, front and rear spoilers, 15 snowflake alloy wheels, power steering, power front disc brakes, an aftermarket exhaust system, and an eight-track radio.
The car was first delivered to 'Stallings Motors' in Globe, Arizona, and was acquired by its most recent owner in 2023. The car left the factory finished in Solar Gold (50) and features front and rear spoilers, bright-finished trim, front fender vents, body-color sport mirrors, dual exhaust outlets, and a shaker hood with a Firebird hood graphic. Gold-finished 15 snowflake alloy wheels are mounted with BF Goodrich Radial T/ A tires.
The car is equipped with power steering, and braking is handled by power-assisted front discs. Noted service under previous ownership included replacing the brake master cylinder, hoses, front calipers, and rear wheel cylinders. The seating surfaces are trimmed in Camel Tan vinyl with a color-coordinated dashboard, door panels, and carpets. Amenities include a silver engine-turned dash fascia, a full-length center console, an eight-track radio, manual crank windows, and Trans Am logo floor mats.
Please note that the air conditioning system components have been removed. The leather-wrapped steering wheel fronts a 100-mph speedometer, a 6k-rpm tachometer, an analog clock, and auxiliary gauges for oil pressure, coolant temperature, fuel level, and voltage. The five-digit odometer shows some 97k miles. The 400ci W72 V8 breathes through an Edelbrock carburetor and has reportedly been fitted with an intake manifold and cylinder heads from a 1970 GTO as well as a Ram Air III camshaft. Power is routed to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission. An aftermarket exhaust system has been fitted utilizing Pypes Turbo Pro mufflers. The seller notes that the clutch components were reportedly replaced under previous ownership. A copy of the original dealer invoice shows initial delivery to Stallings Motors in Globe, Arizona, and lists factory equipment, colors, and an MSRP of $7, 609.
In 1969, the first of the fire-breathing Firebird Trans Am's, named after the Sports Car Club of America's late 60's Trans-American racing series, debuted as a Firebird $725 option package and boasted a potent Ram-Air 400 V8 with heavy duty suspension, steering and brakes and was fated to be a one year only model which went on to keep the Pony Car flame burning strong throughout the 70's virtually all by itself, when most of the other muscle cars either disappeared or dropped their engine displacements! Pontiac had no part in that sell out for its high performance Trans Am motors during the 70's and maintained 400 or 455 cid V8's even as the Corvettes and Camaros dropped to 350 cid and the Mustang down to 302 cid by mid decade.
The car was obviously always well cared for and is remarkably unabused for a Trans Am! The paint is in quite exceptional condition with only some very minor imperfections, if any, only noticeable upon close inspection. The very striking 'Camel' vinyl interior is in very clean condition throughout with no signs of wear.
This particular model must be driven to be fully appreciated - the car drives as good as it looks with no shakes or rattles with the considerable power of it's 6. 6 litre 400 V8 engine! There are no noticeable oil leaks, the transmission shifts smoothly through the gears and the temperature always remains cool.
This is one very unique and rare and ridiculously attractive muscle car and this must surely be one of the few unabused example's left available of this 1978, the 3rd to last year of the legendary 2nd generation Trans Am!
