Vehicle Description
1981 Pontiac Firebird Bandit Edition Turbo Trans Am
The sporty Firebird was Pontiac's answer to the Ford Mustang and
Chevrolet Camaro. The car combined an available big V-8 with
aggressive, attention-grabbing styling and delivered it in a
relatively practical four-passenger package. Like it's pony-car
competitors, the rear-wheel-drive Firebird offered tire-smoking
power and impressive acceleration. The F-body platform on which it
and the Camaro were based, however, was arguably well past its
prime by the early 2000s. 2002 was the final year of production for
Pontiac's iconic but dated speed machine. The Trans Am was the
pumped-up, V-8-powered model.
For consignment, a 1981 version of the screaming chicken adorned
hood, T topped, PHS documented, black and gold, (hi oooooh!), Trans
AM from Pontiac. This car is also one of the 5,263 Bandit Editions
built, was completely redone in 2016 by Legacy Innovations,
competed in the 2013 Bandit Run, and has only been driven 550 miles
in the last 9 years. Let's take a spin, evade Buford and his son
Junior, stop at the nearest choke and puke and this time, let's
avoid the Diablo sandwich and Dr. Pepper.
Due to varying emissions control devices being removed, please
check with your state, county, local or provincial motor vehicle
department to verify the ability to legally register this vehicle
in your area***
Exterior
Code 19, Starlite Black, bathes the exterior of this racy looking
car. It will stand out in a crowd with a gold screaming chicken
decal, two-color, (gold and tan), decal badging, and gold turbine
styled wheels. All fender flaring, neoprene bumpers matching the
body black and a rear spoiler look to be in top notch condition
with nearly no flaws in the finish and certainly no rust. Side
vents can be seen on the front quarters, and a chin spoiler is just
below the gold stripe highlighted black grilles. The back is more
racy with the rear spoiler and ribbed black horizontal bar panel to
use the taillights. Another deep end of the pool black neoprene
bumper is hanging on the bottom. Up top it features black smoked
glass for the removable "T" top and all trimmings for the side
windows are in black and highlighted in gold. The gold from the
hood decal encompasses the A pillars and moves to the top. A turbo
hood, with lighting on the back of the scoop to indicate boost
levels hovers above the quad of headlights and has the Turbo 4.9
decaling. Some gold pinstriping also shows up and offers up some
nice highlighting to the gold and tan tones on the black.
Interior
Light Doeskin is the color motif for the interior chosen and is the
perfect compliment to the black. Swinging the long doors and
getting past the Doeskin colored vinyl door panels are showing a
side view mirror toggle, power lock actuator, and some thinshiny
trimmings we are greeted with high back buckets in front and a 2
plus 2 bench for the back. These are covered in broadcloth in light
tan with some vertical striping and shallow tuck and roll inserts.
The bolsters are a smooth, slightly darker Doeskin and all is
looking just fab. A chocolate brown console shoots forward between
the buckets and houses a glovebox, power window switches, and shift
lever. As it rises it meets the circle machined pattern aluminum
dash that houses black faced original gauges all held within a
crack free chocolate brown padded dash. There are plenty of them as
well, all in circle form, even a factory tachometer, and a clock is
seen on drivers left. Air-conditioning, a multitude of gauges, a
see-through roof, power windows, tilt steering wheel, AM/FM/CD
stereo, and rear window defogger. What more could you want? Oh, I
know, read on!
Drivetrain
Under the screaming hood is a numbers matching 301ci turbocharged
V8. It has a single 4-barrel carburetor on top and a TH350 3-speed
automatic on back. A 10-bolt 3.08 Positraction rear axle spins the
tires. This engine bay has been restored to original and is showing
well with a multitude of wiring and hoses throughout.
Undercarriage
Some light surface rust is seen on the usual suspects with
independent coil spring suspension in front and leaf springs in
back. The unibody, flooring and rockers remain solid and show in a
mix of black paint and undercoating to provide years of protection.
RPO J65 4 wheel power disc brakes have been optioned along with the
WS6 performance package. A dual to single to dual exhaust ends in
chrome tipped dual outlets in front of both rear tires, but we note
that the catalytic converter has been removed.
Drive-Ability
As I slipped in for my test drive I buckled myself firmly in the
Doeskin high backs and was off. Nice turbo acceleration after a
slight lag, and smooth shifting from the TH350. Bias free panic
stopping albeit with a notable soft brake pedal and all functions
were in working order save for a the power locks being inoperable,
a notable rattle in the left rear exhaust piping, the turbo lights
on the hood not illuminating, (even with the switch turned on), and
a fluttering oil pressure gauge, (the oil is full and no engine
noises are heard, so we chalk this up as a failing gauge or
sender).
Nicely restored and with all its fairings and flaring, scoops and
spoilers, and the T-tops we are firmly in Trans Am heaven, but
actually in the West hallway of the Classic Automatic's Malls
Hallowed Halls. You got your ears on good buddy?
1G2AW87T9BL139616
1-USA
G-General Motors
2-Pontiac
A-Manual Belts
W-Trans Am
87-Coupe
T-301ci Turbo V8 4bbl 200hp
4-Check Digit
B-1981
L-Van Nuys, CA Assy Plant
139616-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
06D-4th Week June
2FS87-Firebird Coupe
64B-Light Doeskin Cloth
19L 19U-Starlite Black
A51-Bucket Seats
CC1-T Tops
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our
showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just
1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The
website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888)
227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come
see the vehicle in person.