100k Trans Am??

[rob07002]

All I can say is wow, I had no idea a 74 could come close to $100k. I always thought the 69's and 70 1/2's were the real collectables.

[wick]

The '73's do bring more money. I am looking for a complete '73 motor only now and some of the quotes are astounding. A '69 RAIV motor just sold for $14.5K and it was in parts!! Not even a restored engine but all of the date codes matched.

[68Formula]

Be nice David. We know you love the Pontiac engines, but you’re just being nostalgic.

Andrew

Please, he said what other felt. It's one thing to disrespect the man because you think he's out there, but at least respect the car. And at least know about something about the model history if your going to slam it.

It's like going to an Autoshow with someone looking at a 911 and saying "wow I paid 1/5 that for my VW and it's German and the same darn size too! Better have $75k in the trunk."

[6'9"Witha69]

My remark was geared more toward the "numbers matching" crowd, not against pontiacs or their engines. My buddy had a '76 Hurst T/A so I KNOW the value these have among enthusiasts. I just think $100k for this one is unreasonable.

[Ummgawa]

I'd like factory style hose clamps on my 100K Super Duty Thank you very much.

[68Formula]

Just to clarify, my comments had nothing to do with the fact that it was a Pontiac. The car could have been any make. The point is in many brands there are rare models or trim levels of models that have more value than others of the same lineage. Again if someone's out of the ballpark in value its not the fault of the car.

I think these cars (restorations and originals) hold an importance in the hobby as they represent the history of American cars. I respect them and appreciate them for what they are. Enough that I'm glad I started with a base model rather than rare trim model because I knew I was going to eventually replace the original suspension and upgrade the engine. I have a lot of respect also for the guys who are willing to track down that date coded lugnut to keep the car 100% factory. I would never have the patience and skills to be that meticulous.

I love g-machines, classics, concours restorations, non-restored originals, rods, etc. I like that I can go to a car show and see a variety of types. Okay, I don't love every hobby type but if any should be held in high regards I would think the factory originals that cultivated our love of cars would be. Maybe it's because of the tiny group within this crowd that like to ridicule others whos cars are not perfect originals, I don't know. But are we better then them, when we put them down or not wanting to improve performance or looks beyond factory original?

As a culture, we destroy so much of our history because it's outdated when we really should try preserving some of it.

[BonzoHansen]

Just to clarify, my comments had nothing to do with the fact that it was a Pontiac. The car could have been any make. The point is in many brands there are rare models or trim levels of models that have more value than others of the same lineage. Again if someone's out of the ballpark in value its not the fault of the car.

I think these cars (restorations and originals) hold an importance in the hobby as they represent the history of American cars. I respect them and appreciate them for what they are. Enough that I'm glad I started with a base model rather than rare trim model because I knew I was going to eventually replace the original suspension and upgrade the engine. I have a lot of respect also for the guys who are willing to track down that date coded lugnut to keep the car 100% factory. I would never have the patience and skills to be that meticulous.

I love g-machines, classics, concours restorations, non-restored originals, rods, etc. I like that I can go to a car show and see a variety of types. Okay, I don't love every hobby type but if any should be held in high regards I would think the factory originals that cultivated our love of cars would be. Maybe it's because of the tiny group within this crowd that like to ridicule others whos cars are not perfect originals, I don't know. But are we better then them, when we put them down or not wanting to improve performance or looks beyond factory original?

As a culture, we destroy so much of our history because it's outdated when we really should try preserving some of it.

Well said.

[BA.]

I'm a sucker for the Super Duty cars. The engine ranks as one of the top 10 greats in my book. It's an engineering feat, especially for that time period!!

[Roadrage David]

Be nice David. We know you love the Pontiac engines, but you’re just being nostalgic.

Andrew

im just as nice as him , thing is a 455SD engine can make a lot of hp. and im not being nostalgic,just think a chebby should drive a chebby and a poncho with a poncho thats all. by the way SD kicks LS butt in the max performance 365 day a year

[Roadrage David]

My remark was geared more toward the "numbers matching" crowd, not against pontiacs or their engines.. I just think $100k for this one is unreasonable.

thats not the impresion i got ,but let me gues a yenko is defenatly worth a 100 k right!!!....... thing is i say f..k stock myself , but when it comes to engeneering marvels (and im not talking RARETY in the likes of yenko,s copo,s ecetera, but real enegeneering ecselense) LIKE THE sd 455 Transam you should not toutch it, and they do have that valiuew..........as usual forgive my spelling

[6'9"Witha69]

but let me gues a yenko is defenatly worth a 100 k right!!!.......

For a tried and true racer, yes. Thing is I have been in the Chevy camp so long but am still ignorant to Pontiacs racing history. My apologies, just a difference in perspective.

[WS6]

Rob all the 70-72 cars are the very valueable especially the blue ones. They only had two colors to choose from in those years and most peple chose white with blue. The SD cars are leap years ahead of the other 73-74 cars because they are such a departure from the other cars even if it is only the engine that is different. 73 started the first year for more than two colors on the TA. They also started having more engine options and all the other options. So you could end up with a plain jane nothing really special TA. By the later years, like my 79, TAs where almost common place and rare wasn't a word associated with them. That is slowly starting to change. The 69 TA is so far above any other TA and almost any other car period. Valuable doesn't even begin to describe it. To those that see it for more than it's selling price, it is untouchable in every fashion. Give it a few more years and the price on them will be rediculous. I hope never to the stupid level that the Hemi cars have gotten, but it will get up there.

[wick]

WS6, unfortunatly those days are coming. Fact is , the SD is a low compresion motor that no one could touch. If it had been high compression like L-88's with no EGR and such would be interesting to say the least. From what I understand, the Ram Air V was like driving a modified L-88. Now that is impressive!!

Regardless, the SD is rare and valuble and no slouch.

[Takid455]

WOW, this has generated some interesting responses. Being the owner of many I can't resist to stay out.

1) The 100k car in question was recently on ebay not too long ago and I believe it sold for 93k ( maybe that was the final bid)

2) I like this car because its the same color and engine trans combo as mine and provides me inspiration to get mine going. After I finish my current project. focus is key to accomplishing things and not having many pieces of unfinished "I'll get to it later" cars that turn into junk.

3) As far as WS6's input on valve, I have to agree. I never thought I would own a SD or HO for that matter due to their price. Sometimes you just happen to respond at the right time. Yes, I see these as retirement funds and investments, but I also value their automotive history and ownership more than price. almost like its a privelage to have, drive, or sit it such a car. Certain cars have that arora about them. Lambos, Dueseys, auburns, v-12 or v-16 anything pre 1940, ect, ect.

personally, I would not pay 100k for any car. unless somehow in the future I am blessed with silly amounts of cash/assets. I would buy a barn or at least down payment on ahouse w/ many garages for 100k at this point in life, but thats just me. Damn 1/4 life crisis.

[Charley Lillard]

In 1973 they made 252 total SD's, 180 auto and 72 4 speeds. In 1974 they made 943 SD's..731 autos and 212 4 speeds. That is 1195 total SD's ever built..Pretty low production. It is very hard to find someone willing to sell a good 73 4 speed SD.

[Roadrage David]

For a tried and true racer, yes. Thing is I have been in the Chevy camp so long but am still ignorant to Pontiacs racing history. My apologies, just a difference in perspective.

here is some more injun raceing history . ever heard of the Super Duty raceing program of the 60,s(60/63) ranging from the 389 to 421 pontiac engines that SMACHED chevy ford mopar in sutch a big way,on EVEY field that GM under presure (ecscuse) from the govermend about becoming to big, puled the plug out of pontiac,s raceing departmend up till this presend day!!!! chevy was seen as the poor mans raceing horshe(not a degrading coment) and wat ever happen HAD TO STAY the biggest selling brand within the GM famely time over again Pontiac with a mutch smaller buget proved to be inovated enoughf to stay iven and sometimes ahead,witch proved the ecselence of the engeneers at PMD (SD 455program and beter engine disighn in general over chevy) Pontiac was not alowed in the mid 60s to eurly 70,s to stick a bigger engine then the 400 in its Firebirds and GTO,s (you ever saw a 454 chevelle beat a 400 GTO on the streets dont think so) while the 421/428 and the 455 where availeble. Pontiac in the Transam raceing series was forced to drive with chevy engines, when pontiac finally had the unbeliveble RAM AIR V engine in the later stages of developmend to enter the game again GM puled the plug again!!!!(go figure) the tottal dominance and shock wave of the SD raceing program of the eurly 60,s had GM and al the cooperatif brands leak fluid till today , resend history has it done again .in GM saying whe only need 1 brand in NASCAR racing lets pull the pontiac plug again ..last but not least the only rezen that GM puled the plugs on the other Motor divisions in the late 70,s and go on with 1 engine fits al stratergy and choose the chevy smal block engine had nothing to do with quality ore engenering ecselense, but with COSTS the sbc was is cheap to build and that was the end of pontiac oldsmobile and buick,s motor divisions. a dam shame if you ask me. GM

[LowBuckX]

here is some more injun raceing history . ever heard of the Super Duty raceing program of the 60,s(60/63) ranging from the 389 to 421 pontiac engines that SMACHED chevy ford mopar in sutch a big way,on EVEY field that GM under presure (ecscuse) from the govermend about becoming to big, puled the plug out of pontiac,s raceing departmend up till this presend day!!!! chevy was seen as the poor mans raceing horshe(not a degrading coment) and wat ever happen HAD TO STAY the biggest selling brand within the GM famely time over again Pontiac with a mutch smaller buget proved to be inovated enoughf to stay iven and sometimes ahead,witch proved the ecselence of the engeneers at PMD (SD 455program and beter engine disighn in general over chevy) Pontiac was not alowed in the mid 60s to eurly 70,s to stick a bigger engine then the 400 in its Firebirds and GTO,s (you ever saw a 455 chevelle beat a 400 GTO on the streets dont think so) while the 421/428 and the 455 where availeble. Pontiac in the Transam raceing series was forced to drive with chevy engines, when pontiac finally had the unbeliveble RAM AIR V engine in the later stages of developmend to enter the game again GM puled the plug again!!!!(go figure) the tottal dominance and shock wave of the SD raceing program of the eurly 60,s had GM and al the cooperatif brands leak fluid till today , resend history has it done again .in GM saying whe only need 1 brand in NASCAR racing lets pull the pontiac plug again ..last but not least the only rezen that GM puled the plugs on the other Motor divisions in the late 70,s and go on with 1 engine fits al stratergy and choose the chevy smal block engine had nothing to do with quality ore engenering ecselense, but with COSTS the sbc was is cheap to build and that was the end of pontiac oldsmobile and buick,s motor divisions. a dam shame if you ask me. GM

Now take this statment and switch the names and you have the Ford story. Or swap pontiac and Chevy and you have the chevy story.
Read a Ford book and they claim to have won every race and had the fastest cars. Read a Mopar book and they won everything and had the fastest cars. ETC.. ETC

And No David Ive never seen a 455 Chevelle beat a 400 GTO But Ive seen 454 Chevelles spank 400 GTO and T/As Hell Ive seen 396 Chevelles lay waste to GTOs

[Roadrage David]

...

[Roadrage David]

But Ive seen 454 Chevelles spank 400 GTO and T/As Hell Ive seen 396 Chevelles lay waste to GTOs

LIAR

[Bandit]

Pontiac was not alowed in the mid 60s to eurly 70,s to stick a bigger engine then the 400 in its Firebirds and GTO,s (you ever saw a 454 chevelle beat a 400 GTO on the streets dont think so)

Is this like your life's saying or something? This was the first thing you posted in response to my very first post on this site. I am a Pontiac guy through and through, but to claim that any GTO that rolled off the factory floor with a 400 was the fastest ever is just ludicrous. Plenty of cars were faster, and all cars were limited on the street by the crappy tires of the day. Which means that it usually came down to driving skills as far as who actually won the race. My dad had a '69 RAIII Judge 4-spd, and it was an awesome car, but still only ran 13's. To answer your rediculous question, yes, of course Chevelles have beat Goats. And Goats have beat Chevelles. And Mustangs have beat Goats and 'velles and vice-versa, etc., etc.

It sounds like you have a purist attitude that is just not in keeping with the spirit of what most of us are trying to do here. You bashed me for putting a big Chevy engine in place of my Pontiac POS 301, because you say I should have used a Pontiac motor instead. The ironic thing is that the Chevy 305 was an option for my Trans Am for that year, so the way I see it, what's the difference? Either way it wouldn't have the original engine. The factory does it, it's called corporate power. Get with the program, no one cares whether your car crosses the finish line 1st with a "Chebby," or "injun," or "wedge," or whatever. Only the #'s matching crowd cares, and they are not concerned with real performance for the most part. I am tempted to drop a blown Hemi between the fenders of my TA, just to piss off guys like you!

P.S. Your writing is very difficult to understand!