Big Red Bird: 1976 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 455 Hardtop Coupe 4-Speed
- March 23, 2021
- Rebuilt, 455ci V8 Engine
- 4-Speed Manual Transmission
- Matching Numbers Example
- Rare, One-Year Only Firethorn Red Paint
- Family Owned Since 2012
- Well-Equipped Including AM/FM/8-Track
- Well-Documented
What’s not to like? Finished in the über-rare Firethorn Red with color-matching rally wheels wrapped with BF Goodrich white lettering tires, the car is fitted with all the requisite decals, scoops, flairs, wings, and spoilers that make the Trans Am one of the boldest cars ever made. Inside, white vinyl upholstery is met with red carpeting, dashboard, and details, the bucket seats separated by a center console with side-hinged armrest over a compartment, the power window switches, and the 4-speed shifter. An AM/FM stereo is nestled into the dash just above the 8-track player and the black-rimmed gauges are surrounded by the famous engine-turned aluminum bezel.
Under the hood, the rebuilt 455ci big block V8 engine sustains the newish look of the Trans Am, with the engine painted in the proper Pontiac Blue, while all the accessories and hardware look correctly finished, as well. Not fitted with T-Tops, the car seems to be a rust-free example and the trunk looks like it was never used. This would be the last year for round headlights, the 455-engine, and the Firethorn Red color. To be sold with various documents (including the build sheet), it’s obvious this car has been well cared for its whole life and it was well optioned to begin with way back when it was ordered by Wells Buick Pontiac GMC in Fort Collins, Colorado so long ago – items like power steering, power disc brakes, air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, power windows, a rear defogger, space-saver spare, 3.23 Positraction (and more), really put the car over the top – not to mention the overall condition!
Trans Ams have long been strange birds on the collector car market, and even though they were on an upswing the past few years, they leveled out, dipped, leveled out again, and most recently they seem to be back on the rise. In particular, of course, are those equipped with the 455ci V8 because of their rarity and power. With the roster of options, seemingly exceptional overall condition, rare color combination, big block engine, manual transmission, and so on, we consider this one to be well bought at this price, which is smack dab in the middle of Hagerty’s #2 and #3 cars from their price guide.
