Vehicle Description
1974 Pontiac Trans Am SD 455 - Rotisserie Restoration - Numbers
Matching 455ci SD V8 - Numbers Matching TH400 Automatic
Transmission - 3.08 Rear End - Buccaneer Red Exterior - Rare Red
Interior - Window Sticker - Factory Cruise Control - 53k Miles
Shown In the early 1960s, Pontiac was well into their rebranding
from an older man's car company to a more youthful brand. Part of
the strategy was to be more involved in racing, and in 1961 the
Pontiac Catalina was redesigned to prepare it for competition on
the oval and the quarter mile. A specially prepared version of the
Catalina was offered spec built just for racing. This
competition-only option included lightweight body parts,
stripped-down with minimal options, special race-only chassis
components, and in between the swiss-cheesed frame rails was a 421
Super Duty V8. This car later led to the GTO in 1964, the car that
spawned the performance youthful market, aka; The Muscle Car Era.
In 1974 however, this era was drawing to an end due to rising
insurance costs, stricter exhaust emission, safety regulations, and
a looming energy crisis. Pontiac was now in a tight spot as it
built its reputation as a performance brand and it appeared the
automotive market was moving away from this trend. In a bold move,
when other car companies were pulling back on high performance and
large cubic inch powerplants Pontiac offered in 1973 the optional
455 Super Duty (SD) in their performance flagship the Firebird.
Much like the original 421 SD produced in 1961, the 455 SD was a
near-race spec engine offered in both the Pontiac Firebird Formula
and Trans AM in 1973 and again in 1974. Only 1296 units were
produced equipped with this motor during the two-year production
making these cars very collectible. Garage Kept Motors is very
excited to feature here for sale, one of these very rare birds; a
1974 Pontiac Trans Am equipped with a 455 SD. This Buccaneer Red
Trans Am has been treated to a very accurate and carefully
completed full rotisserie restoration. The red finish was
professionally applied over well-executed bodywork and polished to
a deep luster. The underbody is coated in the correct red oxide
finish with attention to re-creating the correct factory over spray
in this area. Factory stainless has been fully restored and
polished and all the correct Trans Am decorations have been applied
including the subtle 455 SD decals on the functional shaker hood
scoop. The Buccaneer Red exterior over the red interior is a unique
and rather rare color combination. The interior has been fully
restored with new seat upholstery, headliner, and carpet. The dash
features full instrumentation and engine-turned dash trim which was
a Trans Am only feature that carries down to the shifter plate in
the console. This T/A is well optioned including power windows and
locks, air conditioning, cruise control, rear window defogger,
power trunk release (in the glove box), and console mounted 8-track
tape player. The factory AM/FM radio has been upgraded internally
to offer a digital screen and auxiliary phone input. The trunk
space has been fully detailed with the correct vinyl textured floor
cover and the original jack and spare tire present. Under the hood
sits the numbers matching 455 SD V8 with the correct Y8 casting
number. It is rumored this mill was underrated by the factory at
290hp (net) horsepower at 4000 rpm and 390-lbs.ft. of torque at
3200 rpm. The truth is the venerable Super Duty prepped engine
blocks bottom end with forged connecting rods and nodular iron
crankshaft was capable of much higher power producing RPMs but for
insurance reasons, GM wanted to downplay the output of the engine.
The engine has been completely rebuilt and the under-hood
compartment has been restored to near-showroom fresh condition with
all the correct factory decals. The power is transferred through a
GM 400 Turbo-Hydramatic 3-speed automatic transmission to the GM 10
bolt limited slip differential. As this
