IN THE GARAGE: 1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

AS ONE ERA ENDS, ANOTHER TAKES FLIGHT. Although it never had the opportunity to compete in its namesake racing series, the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am brought the manners which made for a successful road-course car to the highways and byways. With an emphasis toward greater downforce, the Trans Am favored handling over the straight-line speed that dominated the end of the muscle car era. At the time of its mid-1969 introduction, the horsepower wars were at their peak. Pontiac was well in the mix with the Ram Air 400s, but the writing was already on the wall. Federal safety and emissions regulations were looming, taking most of the muscle out of the muscle-car era.  Rather than abandon a market still coveting V8 performance, Pontiac compensated for a lower compression ratio—brought on by unleaded fuel requirements—through more cubic inches and improved breathing. For 1971, they introduced the 455 HO to the second-generation Trans Am. Though its gross horsepower was still shy of the Ram Air 400, the 455 HO—combined with the TA’s aero kit—was, as Pontiac Engineers called it, “the beginning of tomorrow.” Prophetic words, as the Trans Am lived on into the next millennium, finally ending its run in 2002.

This 1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (N^o 25628) is an extraordinary original example, benefiting from only two passionate owners; the second and current owner having owned the car for 38 years. Throughout that time it has garnered awards and even achieved a moment of stardom in the Paramount Pictures comedy Anchorman 2. Yes, it’s kind of a big deal. The car has excellent documentation with a complete PHS report as well as owners manual, sales brochure, and print ad. With over 95,000 miles on the clock, it’s no garage queen. Having said that, it has always been garaged and currently resides in a state-of-the-art collector car storehouse. The attention to preservation and detail radiates in every aspect:

EXTERIOR is excellent with a straight, absolutely rust-free body. Its Cameo White paint shines, glass-smooth and completely original, with no repaint, no respray, and no touch-up. Ever. It wears a few minor pits and chips on its chin and flares (pictured) as a testament to a long, exceptionally well-cared for, well-preserved life, but otherwise looks admirably unblemished.

INTERIOR is near flawless, showing very little wear to its Blue Knit vinyl upholstery. Only the padding of the center console shows some cracking, but again, it is what the car was born with. No cracks in the dash, no scuffs in vinyl, and no snags in the knit. The Trans Am’s distinctive engine-turned dashboard is brilliant and unmarred. Carpets are fresh and clean with aftermarket floor mats, though the original ones come with the car, as does the original AM/FM radio, which was swapped for a more “modern” cassette unit shortly after it changed hands in 1978. It’s a car that was biased toward performance over creature comforts. Thus, in an effort to “add lightness and simplify,” few other options were checked at the time the car was ordered by the original owner:

DRIVETRAIN is exceptionally strong with its smooth running 455 c.i. V8 and, while it lacks the personal connection of the M22 4-speed, the Turbohydramatic 400 is very well mated to the HO’s 480 lb/ft of gross torque. The gearbox shifts surely without any lurching or slips, even when shifting manually. This harmony between motor and transmission elevates the driving experience to a point where a manual is seldom missed. The variable-ratio power steering is positive, with no slop and excellent feedback at higher speeds or under cornering. Because the current owner is a master mechanic, any potential issue was addressed long before it may have affected the life of the drivetrain or any of its vital parts. As such, there’s an integrity to its mechanical performance that feels very much as it might have at delivery.

BRAKING AND SUSPENSION are two of the areas where the second-gen Trans Am set the stage for the aforementioned “beginning of tomorrow.” In addition to the road-holding provided by the aerodynamics, the suspension featured thick anti-sway bars front and rear, as well as heavy duty shocks and a limited-slip differential (Safe-T-Track in Pontiac parlance).  N^o 25628 currently rides on near-new Goodyear Eagle GTs for added grip and a softer ride, however a set of correct Polyglass F60-15s are available.

With only 2,116 Trans Ams produced in 1971 (1,231 of which came with the TH400 automatic), finding one in any condition is out of the ordinary. Finding one in excellent original condition, well, that is a rare bird. The 1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am was the bridge that spanned the brute muscle of the ’60s and what would ultimately define the muscle car of the ’70s. A relative bargain priced at $49,950.