For Sale: 1978 Pontiac Firebird in Ft Worth, Texas

As the '70s progressed, the muscle car was becoming a backburner item for several manufacturers, with both wheelbases and engines getting continually smaller as the result of the gas crisis. But Pontiac was having none of that. Aesthetically speaking, they doubled down on their coveted Firebird, equipping it with a high impact appearance and plenty of pop under the hood. This 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am ably captures the model at its best during that defiant time - turnkey ready with a strong 400 V8, a quick-shifting 5-speed gearbox, and an iconic color combination.

There's nothing subdued about this one. It's an absolute attention magnet, dressed out in black paint and ornamented with a terrific combination of gold pinstriping and badges. On its scooped hood sits what is likely the most instantly recognizable decal ever to emerge from a Detroit assembly line - an expansive namesake Firebird that stretches nearly fender to fender. From front to back, the car retains its stock configuration - it actually began life with this decidedly aftermarket-looking color scheme, which is still in great shape after a comprehensive respray completed 17 year ago. The array of gold accents is in particularly good form here as all decals, stripes and badging show consistent coloring and sharp edges against their clean black backdrop, and the overall strong driver-quality form of this T/A is exactly right for a car you're going to want to drive and show off. This '78 retains its original road hugging stance, sitting nice and low over its wheels for a great center of gravity. If you're looking to make a big entrance, this Poncho certainly has you covered.

Open the doors and you'll see a black vinyl interior that's been beautifully restored to factory specs, with the pair of high backed buckets straddling a very clean center console. There are no signs of excess wear inside the cabin, every surface seems like it's been treated with utmost respect and the fact that this Pontiac has logged very few miles since its restoration has left everything in great shape. The dash is free of cracks and features that iconic instrument bezel with a machine-turned texture that's a visual precursor to the carbon fiber look we see so often today, and a full complement of factory-style gauges are on hand ahead of the driver. A Pioneer AM/FM/Cassette head unit was added at some point in the stock stereo slot and the center console was left original as well, although a tall Hurst shifter topped with a shiny Tremec shift knob now juts out from inside. Black carpets are plush, matching door panels show practically no wear, and a taut headliner above serves as further proof of this T/A's comprehensive restoration. You'll find a full spare at the ready in the trunk, and a fresh-appearing rubber seal sits under the deck lid to keep the elements from intruding.

Raise that storied hood and you'll find a 400 cubic inch V8 waiting underneath, and although it's not a numbers matching block (it decodes to a 1974 engine) it is the correct displacement the car was born with. It sits in a nicely detailed engine compartment with a 4-barrel carburetor and an aluminum intake on top, block-hugging headers at the flanks, and chrome valve covers and blue engine enamel on the block itself that provide a little extra flash under the imposing shaker hood scoop. It's a strong runner, cranking effortlessly and pulling with ease up and down the throttle, and when paired with a Tremec 5-speed manual gearbox it reaches a whole new level of FUN. And thanks to an upgraded X-pipe dual exhaust with a pair of throaty Flowmaster mufflers, this T/A sounds downright erotic. Power steering makes this classic easy to navigate, while power brakes - with discs up front- equip it with fade resistant stopping ability as it turns heads on its set of 15-inch 'snowflake' wheels wrapped with 245/60/15 BFGoodrich T/A white-letter radials.

This 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am represents one of the most iconic classics in great form - it's been skillfully restored both inside and out and stands ready to provide many future miles of enjoyment. Call today!