74 SD Trans am Canadian Barn Find (sort of)

[1969camarors427]

Been stored in a shop for 15 years. Canadian GM Documented 1974 SD Trans Am project car. Picked this up this week.

[scuncio]

Nice find and pretty well equipped!

[COPO]

Great score. Congrats.

[daverd]

Wow great ding you are very fortunate!!

[BJCHEV396]

Saweeet...congrats!

[L78M22Rag]

Nice find! Is that still the original factory paint?

[njsteve]

Very nice. You'll have some fun with that car!

[The Boss]

Block heater too! Nice find.

[Mr70]

Nice get George.

[Bill Pritchard]

Wow, looks like there aren't too many options it doesn't have!

[Steve Shauger]

Looks like the perfect project and optioned just the way I like them. Congratulations:beers:

[cook_dw]

Does the paint and body need to be repaired? If not can the paint be saved (if original) & same question for the interior. Congrats btw.

[1969camarors427]

The car was painted at one time. The quarters were replaced up to about 6 inches above the top of the wheel well. You can see where it is starting to bubble where the seam is.
Outer rear tubs are not bad at all, can not feel any filler where the quarter panel and outer tub meet.
Doors, fenders, trunk lid, hood etc ... are in good shape with no rust and look original to car. The front spoiler and fender flares are missing. The original owner worked on a ski hill up here near Banff and it was used as a driver, maybe the snow took out the spoiler ??
The black interior is all original and not to bad at all. Dash pad has a crack but am getting a mint dash pad with the car.
The engine is out of the car and the one thing I do may not have is the distributor, there is a aftermarket electronic ignition system in the distributor but the housing has the larger section to fit the larger hole in the block. I will check and see if it is the original housing with a electronic modification done to it.
The short block is completely rebuilt. All the original oil pan, valve covers etc... are all still there.
I will bring the car to my garage on Saturday and can go through all the parts then.

[Mr70]

Was it re-painted Buccaneer Red,or Orange?
I would've assumed it got a 3.42 rear.

[KenMaisano]

Great project. These Pontiac SD cars are on the top of my list. I love how they feel. They are a Executive Muscle car.

[1969camarors427]

The car was painted in the original Buccaneer Red, It just looks kind of orange in the pictures, the paint is also a little dull.

Here is a quote about the rear axle ratio with A/C. "The Super Duty came with either automatic or 4-speed manual transmission. The standard rear axle gear was 3.42:1, but Super Duty T/As ordered with air conditioning were given 3.08 cogs"

The car is a great car to restore as most of the hard to find parts are with the car.

What would a fair value be on this car if I decide to sell it. Not many around to compare to. I am in the market for a 69 Camaro which I was looking for and this car came up. Too rare to pass it up, so I bought it.

[Mr70]

B-J sold a Buccaneer Red 4spd. back in 2015 I recall for 111K....Here it is. http://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1974-PONTIAC-FIREBIRD-TRANS-AM-455-SUPER-DUTY-185726

In reference to the quote you posted,here's a 1974 Buccaneer Red T/A Super Duty with Auto Trans,Air Conditioning AND a 3.42.1 rearend,if I'm reading the window sticker correctly.
Here.. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1974-Pontiac-Firebird-SD-455-Super-duty-Firebird-transam-/272762359885

[njsteve]

That BJ auction car was a four-speed. They go for a premium over the automatics - maybe 25% more?

The paragraph on the left hand margin of the window sticker is what the standard equipment is for a Trans Am. The Super Duty engine option supercedes that equipment with a variety of additional components (like the gear ratio change for A/C cars) which are not listed on the main portion of the sticker because they were not extra cost items. No A/C available on four-speeds, by the way.

[Mr70]

Thanks Steve
Why don't either pieces of paperwork shown in that ebay auction,mention it came with an Auto Transmission anywhere?
I understand a Super Duty with air conditioning automatically received it,but odd they never call it out anywhere.

[njsteve]

Pontiacs are strange. The window sticker and PHS invoice will not show transmissions because it was a no-cost option. Only cost items are listed on those documents. The actual broadcast sheet will show the transmission code number (as well as the GM of Canada documents).

[396L78canuck]

Nice find and with GM of Canada documentation.Bob

[1969camarors427]

If or when I sell the car is a fair price for the car $35000.00 (US) as is, too high, too low or in the correct range. Keep in mind it will need a complete restoration and a shipping cost which would vary depending on location.
The car is numbers matching engine, trans and rear end, all main correct engine parts except the exhaust manifolds as there are headers on the car, but the block, heads, intake, carb, distributor are all included, The short block has been rebuilt with new pistons but original crank and rods. Great documentation.
I really do not know the value as I can not find any for sale anywhere and this is the first Pontiac I have ever owned. Thanks.

[njsteve]

I think that's a reasonable price given what the car needs. Can you post photos of the VIN off the lower front of the block. The engine code photo you listed is only the engine unit number and application code. Also the trans VIN on the side above the trans pan rail. These cars have a ton of extremely expensive unique parts that may or may not be part of your parts stash with the car- EGR valve and vacuum hoses come to mind. Did you finding out if the distributor is original or not? What's the stamped part number on the housing. That's a $1,500 to $2,000 part right there. Camshaft? They are also unique to these engines and are big $$$$ as well. What pistons are in the block?

[KenMaisano]

FYI, I just sold a all original, great running 74 SD Auto a/c car. Needing restoration on Ebay and it sold for $38000.00

[1969camarors427]

I could not find any history of your car that sold on ebay. The distributor turned out to be a 400 distributor with the adaptor on it for the larger hole in the block.
The EGR parts appear to be all there with the correct part number. Alternator is correct, Valve covers look correct with the correct PCV Valve. I will get the pictures of the vin on block and trans tomorrow.

[1969camarors427]

A few pictures of some of the decals on the car and cowl tag.

[earntaz]

Screws attaching the cowl tag?

[Mr70]

That's typical.

[1969camarors427]

That is the first thing I thought, they look like something from Home Depot. The first thing I did when I saw them was do some research and that is what GM used.

I found a receipt in an old radio shack box from 1991 and who I believe is the original owner and his name was on there. I knew he lived in Jasper Alberta, right in the mountains.

I looked him up on the internet and his name comes up in Jasper, now to try get a hold of him and see what he remembers about the car and see if he has the distributor and exhaust manifolds with a little luck.

[Mr70]

Plymouth-Chrysler & Mopars used Philips head screws on their trim tags too.
Before I knew what was what,I actually turned down a very reputable car,because I thought the tag was not legit. :(

[njsteve]

Screws attaching the cowl tag?

That is absolutely correct for 1974 and newer.

[earntaz]

Copy that ...

[1969camarors427]

I have now posted The Trans Am Super Duty up for sale. It is below in the Cars For Sale section. Tons of pictures and serial number of car, block and transmission. Genuine GM of Canada Car, 1 of 92 for Canada with documentation, numbers match.

[The Boss]

Personally I think this car would be more fun if it was just put back together and driven. Cut & buff the paint as best you can, let the car still tell it's stories. It looks just like they did in the early 80's when we all started buying them - just like the clock stopped!

They don't all have to be shinny and perfect to be enjoyed.