4 Speed Driver: 1975 Pontiac Trans Am
For the 2nd generation Firebird and Camaro, the 1975 model was the first year for the wrap-around rear window. In prior years, the rear window was flatter and did not curve around to the C pillars. This 1975 silver Pontiac Trans Am is located in Galion, Ohio in a dealer’s showroom. The car is listed here on eBay with 4 days remaining in the auction. The bids for this 4-speed, numbers matching Trans Am have reached $25,300 but the reserve has not been met.
This Trans Am has a red deluxe interior based on the configuration of the seats and door panels. These Pontiac bucket seats were also found in the Grand Prix and are often called “horse collar” seats because of the way they wrap around the driver. The interior pictures indicate manual windows, no tilt steering, and no air conditioning. The black steering column and Formula steering wheel stand out against the red interior. It was not until late 1977 or early 1978 that Pontiac started color-matching the steering column and steering wheels in Trans Ams. The car is said to start and run well. The only flaw on the interior is a rip in the driver’s seat.
Trans Am buyers had a choice of an L78 400 cubic inch V8 engine or a L75 455 cubic inch V8 engine in 1975. Pontiac decided to call the L75 455 an HO 455 engine by changing the hood scoop decals. They caught so much grief from the press because the L75 engine was the regular Y code engine found in Pontiac station wagons and not performance cars that they discontinued the HO designation mid year. Only 857 HO 455 designated Trans Ams were produced. This car is equipped with the base L78 400 engine rated at 185 horsepower and backed by a 4-speed manual transmission.
The exterior paint and interior look very nice on this car. However, the undercarriage indicates that the car has been driven up north and shows some corrosion. The original build sheet is included with the sale of the car and shows that it was equipped with a 3.08 rear axle ratio. The car rides on the optional honeycomb 15×7 wheels and someone has added dual splitters on the exhaust that were not standard until 1976. This should make a nice driver for the new buyer.
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Comments
No thanks….I’ll take what looks like a 30″s Ford on the left please…
Or the yellow corvette by the drivers fender
Huge surprise, “Edsel” Didn’t see that one coming!
When I was shopping for a 1975 Trans Am, the dealer had this exact car and a blue one with white interior and automatic. I knew how to drive a manual but for reasons I will never be able to figure out, guess which one I bought? Yep. The wrong one. They must have made me a great deal just to get it off their floor.
Frank, you are probably on the right track with the great deal idea.
Same thing happened to me when shopping for a manual Maxima in the 90’s. They were hard to find, and when I actually found one, I took the deal to a neighboring dealership and he did the same deal on a fully loaded automatic. I went for the better deal. Not that the auto was bad, but I got rid of that car 3 years later for a manual Accord EX DOHC – much more fun.
A faded blue firebird Esprit model showed up at the lot I worked at.Was surprised when I popped the hood to check the fluids.And there was the good old straight 6 banger.What a let down.No V8, and needed paint and interior work.My boss wholesaled that pile.A silver t-top 6.6 TA I drove once was a thrill.Oh the good old days working at the used lot for 4 years.
Trans Am with a station wagon engine. Well, it probably is relatively quick on its feet, but no screamer. You could have a lot of fun for about $24,000.00 out the door, but not 30k , it’s just not special enough. I think a lot of people are getting stuck right now because prices on these are starting to flatline. The graphics on this car makes it look faster than it is. Good luck.
Station wagon engines LOLOLOL
How many muscle cars didn’t have Station wagon engines?
😂
Maybe this one isn’t a Muscle car ? I’d much rather have the lo-po 455 ..if I have to settle for lo-po.
Looks like a really good fun car with a 4spd yet can’t get any better than that and if you really gotta have it even at 30,000. It would be a good buy
Just like you Frank, I purchased a new 1974 Camaro with the automatic.
I learned how to drive on my dad’s three on the tree Chevy pickup, so a 4 speed manual would have been amazing.
My girlfriend, later wife (now ex-wife) didn’t know how to drive stick, so I guess that played a role in my decision.
Twenty years later we purchased a 1994 Z-28 with a 5 speed stick. She learned how to drive it with no problems.
1975 is the year they slowed them down,I had a 1973 455 4 speed and it would run mid 13’s on street rubber. All the Trans Am’s before 1975 were thrilling rides. I bought a 1975 just like that one and my son and I rebuilt it as his first car.
I agree. GM really did slow them down in 1975. I had a 1976 Trans Am 455 four speed I special ordered. Same color, interior and honeycomb wheels as the one above. A few minor modifications (smog pump, cat converter and a few other things disappeared) and the car ran much faster. The sad thing is the engine stock only developed 200 hp. My 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan has almost 300 hp. How have I sunk so low. :(
Even at $32K, this is fully worth the price of admission. This Goldilocks TA is just right: not too perfect to drive whenever you feel like it, but not even close to trashed either. Goldilocks cars are the sweet spot for those who want an unrestored original car without the curse of ending up being too paranoid to drive it. And the lack of AC is a big plus in my book – just look at that beautiful unencumbered hunk of Pontiac V8 art.
The L78 400 cid V-8 with the 4-Speed Manual would spin the tires on dry payment 1st , 2nd, and at times 3rd gear. For some reason the 400 cid V-8 launched better with the manual 4-Speed than the 455 cid V-8 with the manual 4-Speed. 2nd, the 400 Cid averages 16 – 17 mpg every day driving versus the 455 Cid’s 12 – 13 m.p.g. For me, this one is perfect for me….now where do I get $30,000.00?!!!
No air pump either on non Calif Pontiac V8’s – even on ’74s.
Could not be easier to work on, espec when you take the shaker & air cleaner off. The magazines back in the day liked/mentioned that with non a/c Pont V8 t/a’s.
I’m sure this will be getting true dual exhaust soon – even if it winds up in Calif.
Shaker appears to be opened up.
The 1st style ’73-77 hood birds look the best, IMO.
I had a 76 Grand Prix silver/charcoal with red interior and the 400
Love the silver/red combo especially with the 4speed
I’ve restrained myself from commenting on how badly many of these cars are detailed or not even attempted. They are private sellers so I give them the benefit of a hard, time-consuming job. Still, some are asking for enormous sums of cash. The engine compartment should be steamed at least when asking for multiple ten thousand of Franklin’s. But this car is being sold by the dealer, and the carpet is a mess. Come on, sellers; you can do better.