1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

Description

In 1972, Pontiac built just 1,286 of its hot Firebird Trans Am models. The speed-crazy 1960s were a memory, and the muscle cars and pony cars of the early 1970s were all being canceled or severely reduced in performance. No one at Pontiac got the memo. 

Fast forward to the 1978 model year, when 93,341 Trans Ams were built. The factories could barely keep up. That popularity was boosted by the hit movie Smokey and the Bandit, but sales the previous year were 68,745, so the car was selling itself. Pontiac was the last automaker to build excitement, and it paid off. Power was from Pontiac’s famed 400 cu-in V8 in standard or high-output versions. The black-and-gold “Special Edition” model was all the rage, but the Trans Am was available in other colors, too, like this one in Mayan Red. 

Featured in more movies like Hooper and Smokey and the Bandit II with Burt Reynolds and The Hunter with Steve McQueen, the Trans Am had become a must-have fashion statement. Even Sammy Hagar, “the Red Rocker,” sang of the virtues of the red Trans Am that he owned in his 1979 song “Trans Am (Highway Wonderland).” Hagar’s California license plate: I EAT Z28. 

Highlights 

• Documented with original build sheet and warranty book 

• Finished in Mayan Red over a Black velour interior 

• W72 400 cu-in High-Output V8 

• Upgraded automatic transmission 

• The Body by Fisher tag decodes as: 

  • ST78 – Model year 1978 

  • 2FS87 – Model Tran Am 

  • L – Van Nuys, California, body plant 

  • 071387 – Fisher Body Production Number 

  • 19B – Trim: Black velour interior 

  • A51 – Bucket seats 

  • W75LW75U – Paint: Mayan Red lower and upper 

  • 11C – Third week of November 1977 

  • B 3-18200A – Fisher Body Time/Date Code 

• The chassis number (2W87Z8L119342) decodes as: 

  • 2 – Manufacturer - Pontiac 

  • W – Model Firebird Trans Am 

  • 87 – Two-door coupe body 

  • Z – 400 cubic inch V8 

  • 8 – Model year 1978 

  • L – Van Nuys, California, final assembly plant 

  • 119342 – Sequential production number 

Features 

• Upgrades for improved reliability and performance include: 

  • COMP Cam XE262H camshaft and lifters 

  • Holley Terminator X Stealth 4150 EFI system 

  • In-tank electric fuel pump 

  • Crower Performance valve springs 

  • 200-4R four-speed automatic transmission 

  • Hedman Shorty ceramic coated headers 

  • Flowmaster 80 series crossflow muffler 

  • New air conditioning compressor and drier 

• New carpeting 

• LED headlights 

• Custom Autosound stereo with Bluetooth 

• Sequential taillights 

• Keyless entry system 

Known Imperfections 

• Paint is showing some age 

• The hood “bird” isn't the normal decal, but a vinyl decal added by a previous owner’s restoration. There are some stains on the decal.  

• Small spots where paint looks buffed through 

• Slight cracks at top edge of windows 

• Fuel gauge shows 3/4 when it is actually full 

• Seats starting to fade 

• Slight oil drip from the engine, possibly the rear seal 

Included 

• Notebook with manuals and receipts for updates by current and previous owners 

• Original parts that have been removed including an additional aluminum intake and Quadrajet 

• Original warranty book 

• Factory jack and lug wrench 

• PHS documents 

• Two keyless fobs 

Ownership History 

This 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, optioned with the W72 Pontiac 400 High-Output engine, was initially delivered to Doug Willey Pontiac in Birmingham, Alabama. It was acquired by the seller in 2016 and used as a daily driver for a few years. He states, “A previous owner rebuilt the engine in 2012 per receipts included in the notebook. It looks like a mild rebuild. The cam I later installed is also stronger than stock, but a very mild cam meant to work the with factory low compression heads. The original components were kept and are sold with the car so that it can be put back as original if desired. The car also comes with a notebook with receipts and history of modifications of current and previous owners, as well as two build sheets found while working on the car.”