My new 77 Trans Am - 11,700 mile Survivor

[PeteLeathersac]

'

Congrats and sure looks like a beauty, hood bird delete or removed?
Rod or original, love to see more of the '36 Ford too!

~ Pete


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[Tracker1]

I have three of these W72 4 speed cars, 77-79. Ames Performance Engineering is a very good supplier. That car is a quality piece, congrats.

[StealthBird]

Very nice Trans Am! Let me know if you are interested in getting an accurate reproduction window sticker.

They produced 68,745 Trans Ams, and only 10,143 buyers opted for no hood bird, so it's around a 1 to 6 ratio.

Hood birds were always optional on the 1973-1981 Trans Am, the exceptions were Special Editions, Pace Cars, or Anniversary cars.

[Dave Castine]

Thanks guys - I wasn't looking for a car but a client of mine told me about his late friend's car that his widow was looking to sell and asked me if I could help her. This was on the Friday after Thanksgiving - I was getting ready for my 40th class reunion (yup graduated HS in 1977), Smokey and the Bandit, had a CB - the whole 9 yards...LOL

Once Howard told me the car was a one owner 77 Trans AM with 11k miles on it I was very interested. Then he told me it was a stick car - I had to have it. It started out as a dealer owned car for it's first 8k miles, then sold retail to Tom (Howard's late buddy) - Tom only drove it 3,700 miles since Feb of 1978 - yikes! I have the original Rally wheels with original Uniroyal Steel Belted Radial Tires which I will be putting back on after I swap the BFG's from the Snowflakes over onto the Rally's.

As far as replacing the belts and hoses; I just figured that I "should" - do you actually think that even if they look good, they'd be safe? The last thing I need is to get caught on the side of the road with my wife giving me that look... (been there, done that - X10, LOL)

I opened the trunk and found an NOS SE Hood Decal in the GM shipping tube (this car is not an SE), so Maybe Tom was looking to change the look of the car by throwing on the Snowflake wheels and having the hood decal put on? Who knows? Can't imagine that few decade old hood decal is any good, but I'll keep it for a conversation piece.

The untreated metal parts under that car are pretty rusted (brake lines, leaf springs, front control arms, coil springs, etc.) - what should I do with those? Coat them with some sort of rust neutralizer? Replace them?

Thanks for your guidance everyone! - Merry Christmas

[Dave Castine]

Originally Posted by PeteLeathersac

'

Congrats and sure looks like a beauty, hood bird delete or removed?
Rod or original, love to see more of the '36 Ford too!

~ Pete


.

I'll get you more info on that Ford Street Rod - it's my buddy Howard's baby...

I sent away for the PHS docs, so we'll see if it's a decal delete or not, the buildsheet is probably still in the car as well.

Thanks

[Crush]

Very cool story and one that will hopefully happen to all of us!

[Tracker1]

Join over on this Pontiac forum (link below), and post in the 1977-81 Trans Am Tech section. Very knowledgeable people there would love to see such a great specimen. I had a 1970 Trans Am that we used Evapo-Rust on and it really did a great job on the underside of the car, once the sprayers were directed properly. njsteve is a member here, and over there, and you should look up his revival of a 1972 Trans Am survivor - his homegrown method of using rust remover was very effective.

Try and post a pic of your car's undercarriage too please.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/forums/index.php

Here is njsteve's thread
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...keepat&page=82

[Dave Castine]

I'll get some pics posted tomorrow of the undercarriage and I will definitely join the Pontiac Group.

[sixt9rsx33]

Wow congrats on a great car. Nothing better than a great survivor! Enjoy cruising that baby.
I graduated High School in 1982 and my step brother had a 78 W72 with T tops but an automatic car. That car was a great runner and a fantastic driving vehicle. Myself, I had a 78 Z28 an automatic car too. Black on Black. We use to race all the time and basically would tie each time out. I guess it was best that way!

[Dave Castine]

Originally Posted by StealthBird

Very nice Trans Am! Let me know if you are interested in getting an accurate reproduction window sticker.

They produced 68,745 Trans Ams, and only 10,143 buyers opted for no hood bird, so it's around a 1 to 6 ratio.

Hood birds were always optional on the 1973-1981 Trans Am, the exceptions were Special Editions, Pace Cars, or Anniversary cars.

StealthBird - I WILL want a window sticker, I'm away on business and when I get back home I expect to have the PHS docs there. I'll be in touch! THANK YOU!