It is pretty amazing to think back and see oil prices and insurance rates skyrocketing in the early 1970’s and yet, Pontiac provided enthusiasts with an optional engine in the Trans Am that could run the quarter mile in the 13’s. Guys like Herb Adams have to be admired for their grit and getting this legendary car to the market. This 1971 Pontiac Super Duty 455 Trans Am appears to have a fresh rotisserie restoration. It is located in Katy, Texas which is a suburb of Houston. The seller is asking $107,500 which seems like a good deal for its condition. The car has been listed for about a week here on Facebook Marketplace.
The camel interior looks pristine and the Trans Am is documented as a true Super Duty car by the Pontiac Historical Services (PHS). PHS can provide Pontiac owners with the build sheet and other information based on the cars VIN. This car is equipped with the deluxe interior which came with upgraded seats and door panels. The car is optioned with power windows, automatic transmission and air conditioning. The car rides on Rally II Pontiac wheels.
The Trans Am is said to be numbers matching including having the proper carburetor, heads and block. Pontiac designated the Super Duty 455 engine as UPC code LS2 and RPO code 35X. It was rated at 290 horsepower and 395 lb ft of torque from the factory, though some enthusiasts believe this rating might have been understated based on the RPM range used for reporting. The base engine for the Trans Am in 1974 was the L-78 400 cubic inch V8 engine. The L75 D Port 455 engine was the other optional engine but only came with an automatic transmission. This was also the last year before the introduction of the catalytic converter, which ended the era of true dual exhausts.
The exterior colors of the Trans Am were limited to Cameo White, Admiralty Blue and Buccaneer Red. This one is Admiralty Blue which is simply gorgeous with the camel interior. In 1974, Pontiac produced 73,729 Firebirds in total. Of these, 10,255 were Trans Ams—more than double the previous year’s count. Only 943 Trans Ams had the Super Duty engine in 1974, with 212 featuring 4-speed manuals and 731 equipped with automatic transmissions.
