Good Shiny Paint/Nicely Preserved Decals/Original SD Block/Honeycomb Wheels

1974 Pontiac Trans Am Super Duty

The 1974 Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am Super Duty were the very last of the high-performance cars from the '70s. A total of 943 were produced for the 1974 model year. Stick your head inside this 1974 Trans Am and you know what it smells like? High school. “This is the end of the era,” as we mashed the throttle on the Trans Am on our test track, the grand beast rising on its haunches, roaring its terrible roar.

For consignment one of 943 produced in 1974, the Trans Am Super Duty. With a 455ci SD V8 and an automatic transmission we have an original car with a correct but not numbers matching engine. Also, a rare dealer installed T-top in smoked glass, the scooped hood, and those iconic honeycomb wheels. Time to release the screaming chicken into the halls of the Classic Auto Mall.

Exterior
Looking closely at the fit and finish of this car it definitely has seen some action in its days. There are some inconsistent gaps, and plenty of stone chips on the lower body, but the Buccaneer Red paint retains its shine, and shows no rust. The screaming chicken decal shows nicely with slight fading. A scooped hood with a 455 SD badge emblazoned on the scoop sits between the chicken and the chrome trimmed front glass. A dealer installed smoked glass T-top is nice and tight, and appears as it does not leak. Flared wheel wells frame the honeycomb wheels, and a snazzy rear spoiler brings up the rear. Body matching bumpers are nicely preserved and utilize black rubber bands to stay within the 5mph bumper mandate. Dual chromed tip tubes peek out from under the rear bumper, and the double type badging is all looking just fine.

Interior
Grabbing the chromed and red stickers door handle we open up to a world of black vinyl panels and a large storage tray at the bottom of each long door. Inside the seats are covered with a suede like cloth that has a white square pattern on the inserts. We are not sure off the seats are covered in factory correct material as we cannot associate code 576 as either vinyl or cloth. It sure looks great on the buckets and rear 2 plus bench. Black covers most of the surfaces such as the carpet, dash and dash top as well as the original steering wheel. Black faced gauges sit in an aluminum panel that has the machined swirl pattern worked into it for extra texture. All is nicely preserved inside.

Drivetrain
A circa manufacture dated 490132 was cast on the 3rd of January 1973, and does translate to a 455ci V8 Super Duty. It has the stock correct heads (#16), and is topped with a GM1 LS2X intake and a 4-barrel Quadrajet carb. A numbers matching TH 400 3-speed automatic transmission is on back and a GM 10 bolt 3.08 posi rear axle way back.

Undercarriage
Looking good underneath with little to no rust, strong frame, rust free floorpans, and all buttoned up rust free rockers. Power disc brakes are up front and power drums are attached to the rear. A dual exhaust system is seen and it has Turbo mufflers attached.

Drive-Ability
She fired right up, and we were off. One can hear the iconic rattles of an F-body car, it comes with the territory. The car accelerated nicely, and grabbed the road and handled well. We noticed the throttle sticks intermittently, and it is in need of new wipers. Also noted the car rubs on the passenger rear when taking a left turn. Overall a pleasurable experience with nothing terrible.

SD455 is the word for this bird, and with nicely preserved paint, a good interior, and that massive 455 up front, pop off the T panels and let the wind take over your hair. Like being in a time machine of our last gasp of a true muscle car, of course until current technology has our economy cars keeping pace with this mid 70's muscle. I need to also mention the consigner has the original radio in the trunk, and for an extra cost, the original carburetor, and a 1971 455 HO complete engine if you have any interest, call in!

VIN Decode
2V87X4N164533
2-Pontiac
V-Firebird Trans Am
87-Hardtop Coupe
X-455ci V8 4bbl Super Duty
4-1974
N-Norwood, OH Assy Plant
164533-Sequential Unit Number

TRIM TAG
ST 74 2FS87-1974 Firebird Hardtop Coupe
BDY N239813-Norwood Body #
TR 576 A51-Black Bucket Seats
PNT 75-Buccaneer Red
07A-1st Week July Build
WS4-Trans Am