Mar 20, 2022  •  For Sale  •  17 Comments

Affordable Muscle: 1976 Pontiac Trans Am

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Out of all the second generation Trans Ams, 1976 is the only year with a unique front end design that was available only for its production year. The rectangular grills, single headlights and integrated body color front bumper are several of the key design elements that make the 1976 Pontiac Trans Am so special. This car is located in Houston, Texas and is listed here on Facebook Marketplace at an affordable price of $18,500. The Trans Am was listed 5 days ago and has not been sold.

This Trans Am is painted in Firethorn red which is one of two red colors available in 1976. The other color was Buccaneer red that had a lot of orange in the paint. Firethorn red is more of a cranberry color. The interior on this car looks nice. There is wear on the carpet and seats but it is really nice compared to some of the cars we see of this vintage. The Trans Am appears to have tilt steering and air conditioning.

The Trans Am is equipped with its matching numbers L78 400 cubic inch engine. The factory rating for this motor was 180 horsepower and 310 lb ft of torque. It was the base engine on the Trans Am in 1976 and could be ordered with a 4 speed transmission or an automatic transmission. My brother, Paul, drove a 1976 Trans Am in high school and it made quite an impression on me. The optional engine was the L75 455 cubic inch V8 engine that was rated at 200 horsepower. This engine was only available with a 4 speed transmission and 3:23 rear gear ratio.

This Trans Am is riding on its stock 15×7 Rally II wheels. A buyer could opt for honeycomb wheels which were introduced in 1971. This was the last year for the honeycomb wheel to be offered on the Trans Am. The seller states that there are a few blemishes on the car but overall it looks like a solid driver. The factory owner’s manual is the only documentation mentioned that comes with the sale.

Comments

  1. Rw
    Mar 20, 2022 at 1:55pm

    Affordable T/A,not necessarily muscle.

    Like 7
    • Peterf36
      Mar 21, 2022 at 10:39am

      I don’t see any trace of AC as an option here. I had 2 ’76 T/A’s, one was surprisingly quick and the other was a total dog.

      Like 5
      • Alan J OdzeMember
        Mar 21, 2022 at 1:14pm

        Not a AC car.
        The evaporator on an ac car is on the firewall.

        Like 1
      • Samuel T. Alexander
        Mar 21, 2022 at 10:19pm

        My folks bought a silver one with the red interior that also had the 400 with the automatic in it. This car was pretty darn quick when you just flat nailed it too. My hand on a Bible guys, it WOULD DO 93 mph in a 1/4 mile and well past the ” 100 ” mph mark on the speedometer. It was chic magnet in high school in 1981 too I might add……. Yup, the rear flip was..nice.

        Like 0
    • Motorcityman
      Mar 21, 2022 at 1:18pm

      It already HAS the muscle looks……now u can make it yours with more muscle if u want, it’s ALL there and in great shape!
      Price in today’s market is GOOD (IF it runs well)

      Like 2
    • 455RAIV
      Mar 21, 2022 at 10:09pm

      Easily remedied – its already got the cubes – just add some good heads – exhaust – open scoop etc.

      Like 1
  2. Yankee
    Mar 20, 2022 at 2:01pm

    “1976 is the only year with a unique front end design that was available only for its production year.”

    That’s not totally accurate, as the 74s and 75s also had noses that were unique to their model year. Car may have originally been equipped with AC but it looks to be long gone. If the car runs decently, that’s not a bad price these days, looks like it has great potential.

    Like 12
    • Bry593
      Mar 24, 2022 at 7:00am

      ‘74-‘75 headlight panel is same. Lower fascia and bumper change is ‘76.

      Like 0
  3. Mikefromthehammer
    Mar 20, 2022 at 2:45pm

    Price now shows as $17.5K.

    I wonder if he is lowering the price every few days until it sells? My brother sold a hard to sell house once that way.

    Like 4
  4. PaulG
    Mar 20, 2022 at 5:45pm

    No A/C on T/A

    Like 8
    • Alan J OdzeMember
      Mar 21, 2022 at 1:15pm

      AC was an option on the Trans Am.

      Like 1
      • Motorcityman
        Mar 21, 2022 at 1:20pm

        Until what year?

        Like 0
    • PaulG
      Mar 22, 2022 at 2:28pm

      Sorry, I was referring to this T/A

      Like 0
  5. Motorcityman
    Mar 21, 2022 at 10:06am

    I think this car was For Sale in New Mexico about 15 years or so ago.
    I remember talking to the guy selling it, he was near Gallup New Mexico.
    Was asking like $5,000 or so then, was in like New condition I was impressed and liked the RARE color!

    Like 3
  6. ken wilkinson
    Mar 21, 2022 at 8:38pm

    this car looks to never had a/c at all. no dash vents or any of the other related parts.nice color.

    Like 0
  7. Johnny
    Mar 21, 2022 at 9:03pm

    This Pontiac is alot more care for the money. Then any junk they put out today. Alot of people would like to own it. Including alot of these nit picker experts on hear. ,but they can,nt afford it . Its a nice looking car on topside. I wonder what it looks like in the trunk and bottom side? Hope it looks good. A friend tried to sale me a mustang. Looked real good in the pictures he sent, The day I went to buy it and bring it back. Was a no way–buy. The whole under neith was ate out with rust. Buyer better have it checked out and look at himself.

    Like 1
  8. Stevieg
    Mar 23, 2022 at 1:44pm

    I had a friend who had one of these, all black in and out. Same base 400 engine & same transmission. It was kind of a dog for what it was, but I felt cool driving it when her and I went out places.

    Like 0

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