Green Bird

1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Tribute

(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 1977 Pontiac Firebird Tribute on a website other than our Garage Kept Motors site, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of the car due to third-party website limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 155 photographs, as well as a short start-up and walk-around video, please go to our main website: Garage Kept Motors.)

“When the Firebird launched… the car was an immediate hit.” Pontiac marketing chief, Jim Wangers, in his memoir, 'Glory Days'”

The early Firebirds battled Mustangs, Camaros, and Javelins in the sixties. And then, just as many people feared the era of the muscle car was over, came the allure of the late-70s Firebirds. As Matt Litwin put it in the March 2008 issue of Muscle Machines magazine: “You thought performance died after 1970. The old muscle cars of your youth were left out to pasture, and you watched them rust into the landscape. You settled into the family lifestyle, piloting a full-size wood-grained wagon across six states to get to some cheesy tourist attraction. That's when the Trans Am hit the silver screen... and the twinge of horsepower tickled your right foot again. You wanted one….”

Hold that thought.

Offered here is a 1977 Pontiac Firebird Tribute in a unique, but not original, lime-green over black with TransAm “screaming chicken” graphics and other TransAm bits added. (Depending on your computer monitor, be sure to watch the linked video for probably the best representation of the color.) The car is in excellent overall condition. With 46,746 miles on the odometer, or just over 1,000 miles a year on average, this Firebird merits the “very low mileage” accolade. It is a lightly used, obviously well cared-for, and appealing 1970's statement.

The exterior of the car prompts “Why didn't Pontiac make TransAms in this beautiful color?” questions and compliments. Paint-finish quality is excellent throughout: from the twin front grilles in the Endura bumper, to the front-fender air outlets, to the flared “fender spoilers” ahead of each wheel, to the sport mirrors, across the smooth, "no-t top” (the t-panels often being a source of leaks) roof, to the rear spoiler. Glass and lenses are clear and undamaged, the bespoke decals— “400” on the shaker, hood “chicken," the front fender and rear panel “TransAm,” and Firebird insignia on the sail panels— are all in excellent condition, properly located, and not faded. Five-spoke PMD® styled steel wheels are mounted with Cooper Cobra® Radial GT performance tires.

The car's interior evidences more quality in parts selection and professional work; surface condition is as excellent inside as out. Across the bespoke, machine-turned, driver-oriented dashboard, the instruments are un-faded with clear lenses. The top of the dash is unfaded, wrinkled, or cracked. Switches are complete and functional. A console-mounted shifter controls the 4-speed automatic transmission and a vintage-look Pontiac-branded AM-FM radio is properly located in the dash. The optional high-back bucket seats in black leather appear as-new; the attractive horizontal-panel design is accurate to the TransAm. Same with the rear bench seat. Door trim (with roll-up window cranks) is in similar condition, and the doors themselves—including the sills (a good place to look to judge how a car's been treated in general)—are clean and undamaged.

Under the hood, the 370-horsepower, 400 cubic-inch Ram Air Pontiac V8 powerplant holds center-stage in a properly laid-out and complete and well-kept engine bay. The “shaker” air-cleaner assembly crowns the engine while chromed valve covers and a polished brake booster add visual interest. The exhaust headers and full-length dual exhaust system steal the show.

While the more than 155 high-definition photographs and the short walk-around-and-startup video available on the GarageKeptMotors website showcase this Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Tribute in detail from every angle, including from below, we expect and encourage in-person inspections at our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom. Please call to arrange an appointment in advance as our showroom is not open to the public. And feel free to get in touch anytime by phone or email if you have questions.

When this car was brand new, Pontiac was pitching all its performance-minded models with the advertising line “We build excitement.” All these years later, even after the brand Pontiac has left the automotive playing field, there are still ways you can feel that excitement and pay homage to the storied Pontiac brand. Look no further than this beautiful '77 TransAm Tribute.