1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

Benefiting from truly enthusiastic ownership and care under just one lady owner for the past 35-years, this all-matching-numbers 1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am is a rare 4-speed example with ample motivation delivered by Pontiac’s 225-horsepower RPO L78 400 cubic-inch V-8 engine. Exceptionally original, well-preserved, and appropriately repaired and serviced as required, this choice Trans Am is offered from a devoted caretaker who inherited her passion for automotive excellence from her beloved dad, who instilled a true affection of automotive excellence and taught his daughter the skills and techniques to respect, enjoy, and fastidiously maintain her chosen object of automotive desire.

As offered, this 1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am is a wonderful touchstone to the mid-1970s and Pontiac’s status as one of the “Soul Survivors” of the original American Muscle Car Era. A repaint in White with Blue Pearl was performed approximately 25-years ago (circa 1998). While OEM type “Trans Am” decals are present, the optional hood “Firebird” graphic has never been on the car for a particularly clean and purposeful look. The original Rally II 15-inch wheels and beauty rings were removed when new and were reportedly reinstalled on the car about 15-years ago, now sporting BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires, while twin polished exhaust tips finish it off. As expected, after 25-years since the repaint was performed, reasonable adult road use of the vehicle has resulted in some stone chips to the lower rocker panels and flares ahead of the wheel housings. Also, a rust bubble is present to one of the lower surfaces, as depicted in the photos for this auction listing.

The rare black corduroy and vinyl interior provides a great visual contrast to the white exterior finish, in well-maintained OEM condition. In addition to the 1974-only front bucket seats, features and amenities include power brakes and steering, a correct “Formula” 3-spoke steering wheel – with aftermarket wrapping, plus a floor console and updated digital AM/FM cassette head unit with a built-in equalizer. An FM signal booster is also present, hidden inside the glove box. Occupying the Trans Am’s handsome engine-turned dash insert is a large speedometer, tachometer, and full complement of functional instruments monitoring coolant temperature, oil pressure, amperage, and fuel level. Carpeting is newer and the interior panels appear to be in good order throughout. A small tear is present to the upper rear seat that appears to possibly be repairable and the front bucket seats do show age-appropriate wear when folded forward.

The RPO L78 Pontiac 400 cubic-inch V-8 engine is topped by the Trans Am “Shaker” hood scoop/air cleaner assembly and dressed with OEM type chrome rocker covers. Power is delivered by a Hurst-shifted Muncie 4-speed manual transmission and a 3.73:1 rear axle. The underbody appears solid and protected by rubberized undercoating in the photos provided by the Seller. The underbody, chassis, suspension systems and front disc/rear drum brakes are presented in well-maintained, driver quality and in unmodified, OEM condition. The driveline and dual exhaust system appear in good order throughout.

Having been used as her primary automobile for many years, the Seller had an engine-out service performed in 2009, including new gaskets and seals, main and rod bearings, water pump, radiator, recurving the distributor, transmission output shaft seal, and rear pinion seal. She was able to convert the car as a weekend cruiser to preserve it, driving a mere 14k miles since. Another major service was performed in 2011, including new rocker arm studs, connecting rods, pistons, rings, camshaft and connecting rod bearings, head gasket, high-pressure oil pump, clutch, vibration damper, and 166-tooth steel flywheel. In 2019, a new radiator and thermostat were installed, master cylinder was replaced, and brakes serviced, plus a new battery, oil change, and new power steering pump were installed - all less than 1k miles ago. Most recently, in 2021, a safety inspection was performed, oil was changed, chassis was lubricated, new power steering pump installed, and the heater core was replaced - all within the last 500 miles. All receipts for services listed above are documented in the photo gallery.

According to the GM body tag affixed to the cowl, this 1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am was built during the third week of February, 1974. As related by the long-term Owner, this Trans Am has “…always been serviced either by my dad or his friends after he passed – they always treated me like their daughter and would go out of their way to make sure my Trans Am was running perfectly and never left me stranded." A mentioned previously, a repaint in White with Blue Pearl was performed 25 years ago and the car has been wonderfully maintained throughout the current owner’s loving, long-term stewardship of this uniquely American high-performance car.

A selection of extra and original parts that were collected and saved by our Seller over the years accompany the car, including an extra “Shaker” hood in excellent condition, plus an extra side mirror, original brake calipers, an original manifold, and an original trunk liner. A spare Rally II wheel, mounting a BF Goodrich Radial T/A tire, occupy the Tran Am’s trunk, which is also equipped with a properly mounted OEM roadside jack.

Reluctantly offered for sale, the Trans Am is a fitting tribute to the Seller’s dad, who introduced her to the garage at age 3 for shared time to give her mom some time as she was very pregnant with her younger brother. A shared passion for great cars began with handing her dad tools since then, including an early command of fractions before preschool while handing dad a ½-inch wrench or ¾-inch socket and knowing the difference. According to the Seller, she even backed the car out of the driveway when she was just 7 and her dad had her driving by age 14!

According to the Seller, “I’ve been wrenching along side him (dad) for years. If he fixed my car it would cost me parts and dinner. He always told me gender has nothing to do with ability, knowledge is power and not gender based. He kinda ruined me for a world that doesn’t think similarly. My pops was a unique man. He has since left this earth and the missing of him is never ending. Dad stopped racing when mom was expecting my brother, so he started customizing and we then started going to shows. He was on the same circuit as some of George Barris’s creations, including the original Batmobile from the TV show, which I would car sit in and watch over while the car’s handler would go for a break.”

Photos of the car doing hot-laps at Buttonwillow Raceway for the 2004 Paul Mumford Memorial Open Track Challenge with the Seller riding shotgun and her brother (a licensed race car driver) at the wheel are displayed in the photo gallery.

The car now comes to market with a clean California title in the Seller's name.

Pontiac’s second-generation Firebird Trans Am of 1970-1981 remains one of the best-selling American high-performance cars ever produced. While other automobiles were reduced to “tape-and-stripe” specials with only a vestige of their former potency, the Trans Am bucked that trend during the 1970s and only grew in popularity throughout its long production run. Offered from long-term and caring ownership, this 1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am exemplifies the passion of its long-term caretaker and now stands ready for a new owner to enjoy and appreciate. The icing on the cake is this vehicle’s 400 cubic-inch Pontiac V-8 engine and rare 4-speed manual transmission.