1974 Pontiac Trans Am SD-455! Is This The Last Real Muscle Car?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 พ.ย. 2023
- In episode 87 of ‘Cars, Shops & Collections’ we visit Ron Brown to see a few very rare Pontiac Trans Am’s! A 1973 Trans Am 455, a 1974 Trans Am SD-455 and 1979 Trans Am with a Pontiac 400 engine!
We first met Ron during episode 1 of ‘Cars, Shops & Collections’ and round 2 does not disappoint! The episode starts off with Ron’s 1973 Buccaneer Red Pontiac Trans Am 455, then we move over to Jeff and his 1974 Admiralty Blue Pontiac Trans Am 455-SD (1 of 943 made)! PLU! Ron gives us a peak into his latest project and we wrap things up with a ride along in Jeff’s Rare 1974 SD -455!
Some stand out facts of the Trans Am Super Duty 455.
Engine: The SD 455 featured a 455 cubic-inch (7.5-liter) V8 engine. It was one of the last high-performance engines of the muscle car era.
Horsepower: The SD 455 was conservatively rated at 290 horsepower, but it's widely believed that the actual output was higher, possibly closer to 350-370 horsepower.
Performance: The SD 455 Trans Am was known for its impressive performance, capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in around 6 seconds.
Special Features: The Trans Am SD 455 had various performance-oriented features, including a functional shaker hood scoop, performance suspension, and a distinctive appearance with the iconic Trans Am styling.
End of an Era: The 1974 model year marked the end of the high-performance muscle car era, as tighter emissions standards and fuel efficiency requirements led to the decline of powerful engines in subsequent years.
Collector's Item: Due to its limited production, high performance, and historical significance, the 1974 Pontiac Trans Am Super Duty 455 is highly sought after by collectors!
#carsshopsandcollections #pontiactransam #transamws6 - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
A 455SD Formula Firebird is another rare bird indeed.
It was so much fun filming this episode!!
I worked for a Pontiac. In 74. Received a admiralty Blue SD drove it a while. Will always remember that car 😋😋👍
That’s awesome!! What happen to it?
“Old Car Memories” states the ‘79 Trans Am with the W72 Package denoted the end of the golden era of muscle cars. The Poncho 400 is a big block V8 factory rated at 220 hp but dynoed by “Hot Rod Mag” at a more respectable 260. By ‘79 the WS6 Package provided all four wheels with disc brakes and handling comparable to European sports cars of the era. One has to laud Pontiac for this build as late as ‘79. No other domestic automaker came close.
❤ ALL Due WORDS; mine WAS as clint Movie 🍿 swap350 V8, Wishing 455 colors replica "ThunderBOLT"& LIGHTfoot???rang it out LIKE "MOVIE" hanging out Door....?????;!!😮"Do it AGAIN????😮
73 is my favourite SD front end looks amazing! And i love the green with green fire chicken 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I need to find and feature a green one!!
74 just had to many tacky bolt on bumpers 🤢 73 coke bottle style
I watched McQ with John Wayne a couple of days ago. Beautiful dark green 73 until it gets crushed. Ripped my heart out.
I never saw it.... lol! I want to check it out now!
@@CarsShopsAndCollections How about Thunderbolt-and-Lightfoot? There's a white 73 in the beginning of the movie.
1981's AN EYE FOR AN EYE! With CHUCK NORRIS! RED 1973 SUPER DUTY!
My Base 1973 Was STOLEN In ENCINO CA In January 1986 In Front Of My Birthday. Talk About MY Heart Getting Ripped Out Back Then.
@@richardkaltenbach3961 that bites!
Man , as an official Pontiac freak ,both of these cars are badass. I own a 1972 455HO engine from a 72 TA , I would love to find the body this engine belongs to. My dad bought this enging in 1973 , my neighbor parted the TA out to get money for college. My engine has been built 60 over , trw L2394 pistons , comp cam , torker1 and a 850 hp series holley. I have it mated to a M-21 in a 75 bird with a 73 front clip and RA hood. Been racing Pontiacs since the mid 70s.
Beautiful machines and with a little tweaking that SD ain't no joke.👍👍🏁🏁
I truly appreciate you watching!! You know your Pontiacs! Good luck tracking down the car!
One of the greatest RETRO cars ever manufactured!!! I am a big FAN of old cars, music, movies and guys! Thanks for sharing great videos !
Thanks for watching… if you like movies and music check out this episode! It has both!
th-cam.com/video/kc6xEeAIZDU/w-d-xo.htmlsi=wZoi6Qb_YAX8b-AI
I love the look of the 73. However both cars are pretty sweet rides the F-body was GMs rear wheels drive pony car platform
Both incredible! Thanks for the info on the F-body!
In 1976, I owned an all white with a red dashboard 1974 Trans Am SD455 automatic with 3.42 gears. At the same time, my wife had an all white with a blue dashboard 1973 455 trans Am automatic with A/C. Both cars had honeycomb wheels.Those where the days.
Holy Smokes!!! How cool were you two! Wow!
We where too cool for , well you know.@@CarsShopsAndCollections
What an awesome pair of American muscle car history. Keep them coming JC.
😎👍
Truly is! Thanks for watching!
I had a '73 and the interior was EXACTLY like these.. crazy. Brought back some great memories!
Nice!!! Thanks for watching… that’s what I love about doing this show! Evokes great memories for people!
Had the honor and opportunity to drive one of those '74 SD's back in the 80's while working as a teen at the local Pontiac dealership. Same color even! Great car and great memories! 👍😎
Thanks for watching… I’m sure you have a few great stories to share from the dealership!
My first new car was a 73 Firebird 350. I made many changes and upgrades to it and loved it. I then ordered a 1979 Firebird Formula with the T/A6.6 WS6 4 speed. What a car!!! I regret ever having sold it...
Wow!! I’m sure you have some great memories with them!
My friend had the blue one,,we wrapped the speedo at 140 so we were doing,155,,,such fun growing up he also had a 79 Transam,
Sounds like a blast!!!
Another great episode JC, I might be a little bias though! Thanks again for doing these videos.
Thank you my friend… dropping some Trans Am knowledge in this one!
Back in the mid 80s I was at Fermilab in Batavia Illinois for a seminar or something and way back in the parking lot was a rusty green 1973 Firebird with a shaker scoop. I moseyed over to check it out and sure enough it was a code X car.
X code! So many just wasted away. Thanks for watching!
That 74 is an awesome car.
Beautiful Firebirds!
I had a 72 firebird with a '79 trans Am interior with t-tops. 400 small block 373 rear end cragor spoke rims. Brown metallic paint job with gold and yellow stripes. It wants three car shows just a beautiful car ,I miss it!
Sounds like a car with lots of personality!
had to be 79 trans am with earlier front clip installed/ replaced. t- tops not option on Early birds/ Camaro
Amazing, Love them😍
Thanks for sharing👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I had a 75 ta white with blue screaming chicken, red and black interior, 4spd. Built the top end and had a blast with that car, a real head turner. In High school i had a 74 esprit, blue with white seats and black dash/console. It had a 350 and put a 400 trans, also a fun fast ride! The chicks digged it!😅
Both sound epic!!!
I'm so torn between the '73 and '74. They both look great.
Same here… both great cars!
I’d go with the 73 , just something about those bumpers on the 74 and especially the 75 that kinda makes them look weird,
I'll go with the 74. Pontiac had no choice but to integrate the federal mandated 5 mph bumper and did a good job.@@terrybangley2281
Both beautiful cars , one thing i wanted to point out though is that a 4-spd with A/C was available I actually have one
Wow! Thanks for the heads up… And congrats on having one!
Correct. I owned a white one as well, 4-sped with factory air. Super Dutys however were either or.
Last real muscle car of the FIRST era of muscle cars. Mid-late 80's began the rebirth of the pinnacle of automotive performance we live in today.
Excellent point! I as pull up to the episode in my Challenger with 485hp
I have heard that the only reason the original muscle car era ends after 1974 is because of the SD-455 Trans Am. Otherwise it probably would've ended in 1973.
One could argue the limited production performance option Pontiac W72 400 engine that was available in 77 through 79 (like the gold one in the garage) was the last muscle car. Pontiac underrated the horsepower at 220 when it was more like 280. I have a Martinique blue 1978 with the W72 and it runs the quarter in mid 14s which keeps pace with many of the early 70s muscle cars. Great video! Always loved the looks of the 70-73.
I appreciate you watching.... and sharing your knowledge! And congrats on having that 78!
Cool, enjoy not only the content but your approach on your Q&A about the cars you review. Have a soft spot for Trans ams. Own a 74 with a 455, not a SD. It was one of the best all-around cars I have owned. Sold it back when gas was being sold on a rotating basis in Ca. If there was one thing you could watch move it was the gas gage. Still truly enjoyed mine while I had it. Look forward the next!
Wow! Thank you for the kind words and thank you so much for watching! I’m sure you have some great memories with your 455!
I Have A Soft Spot For TRANS AMS/FIREBIRDS, CORVETTES. CAMARO Z-28S AND CHEVY MONZA SPYDERS! ESPECIALLY BUILT CHEVY MONZA SPYDERS!!
I am finally getting a 1973 Firebird Formula, one of my top tier dream cars!
Wow! Congratulations!
Isn't the guy with the red one, the President of the Las Vegas chapter of the Pontiac Oakland car club?, well he should be.
Ron! The Professor of Pontiacs!
As always awesome content JC!!! Can't wait for the next one.
Thank you! I appreciate the support… It was fun filming with Ron & Jeff! They are TA experts!
Great cars. Murica!
the average gas milage on these things was 10-15 MPG ... gas prices were going UP - so, interest on these things were going DOWN !! .... insurance costs were going UP - so, interest on these things were going DOWN ... you can get a fully loaded 350, for the same price as a no-option 400 !! (you do the math)
I love Firebirds/Trans Ams.
I always had the image in my head that their owners not only love musclecars, but also love hard rock music, great sense of humor, cool as F, and have THE hottest girlfriends, more so than other musclecar owners.
I have great memories of riding around in my Dad's 1969 Firebird 400 listening to the ZZ Top Eliminator album. Still have that cassette, and wish I had the car. He sold it to my Uncle who sold it a few years ago. That was my Dad's first car he bought in 1979. Now I just bought a 1979 Camaro. Haha
Mine was a 74 with t-tops and a white interior on Matador red. Great car. Wish I never sold it, but I had to pay for college.
Incredible!!!! We all have that one that got away, but at least you had college paid for!
Had a 76 400 loved it
So cool!!
73 in green is the car for me
I’d say a ‘74 Javelin with a 401 was a contender for last “true” muscle car, too.
Beautiful..I own a 75
That’s awesome!!!
I never will forget my brother and I looking in our 1975 400 cid Trans Am rea r view mirror seeing this Red 1974 SD-455 Trans Am. We were topped out in the 1975. The SD-455 Trans Am was playing with our accelerating/breaking a couple of times effortlessly then came around us like a raped ape and like a missile disappeared from sight. This was a guy we went too school with. I remember his SD-455 would melt 60 series tires turning them into a smoke show. The Super Duty was a detuned race engine and it did not take much to gain 300 HP. This was a period where they started putting 0-100 mph speedometers in Trans Ams and the smog equipment was off the charts. Trans Ams handled like race cars too. I owned 3 if them. 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1978. The 1973 and 1974's had the 455 which was still full of power. It is just the Super Duty was Ridiculous.
Wow!! Thanks for sharing your stories… I can envision it now.. wild times!
Bullnose style front end way nicer than the later Pontiac firebirds
Honestly I like them all. The mid 70s nose looks really good in silver!
nothing like pontiacs. great video... these are my big bros. i build pontiac fieros for a living. my first was 85 se auto v6..now i own 86 gt fastback fiero auto
I had an 84 Pontiac Fiero… great memories! If you were in Vegas I would come do an episode with you!
good one
Alright! Love This ! My First Car was a 1976 455 4 Speed Trans Am White with Red Interior and Red Bird my Dad got it Brand New in 1976 a Lady had ordered at our Local Pontiac Dealer Ship when it came in she didn’t like 4 Speed Manual So Dad got it gave it to my Oldest Brother and he drove a year in HS for his Graduation the next year 1977 He got a new Grand Prix SJ TTops my Dad drove the T/A a little until I got my license most fun car I ever had between Brother Dad and me went through 7 clutches the car had a AM Radio and A 8 track tape like The Blutone and that was a Loud 8 track tape I Loved Classic Rock also had Smokey and The Bandit 8 track The movie made you always want to drive faster the cars that Pontiac provided for movie were 1976 only fitted with the new 1977 cat eyes headlights! I Always look to get one of those I Really like the 1979 as well! When each of of us 3 Boys were Graduating we got brand new cars from my Dad I was last in 1982 I had Always wanted another Trans Am and then they were changing to Gen 3 and I really was not fond of what they had changed T/A ‘s to I Always thought until then the Trans Ams were Better Looking than Z28’s but that year I just let my Dad pick He was working out of State and made arrangements at a Big Cheverolet Dealership in Dallas Tx I left School that day with Friend rode a Bus 3 hours to Dallas my Oldest Brother picked us up and took us to that dealership I still did not know what I was getting and we started walking around looking salesman spots us takes me to his office to sign lots of paperwork finally what seemed like 2 Days he asked me if I wanted to see what I was getting he took me to showroom floor and it was a 1982 Z28 Maroon and maroon velour interior and Beautiful! These Camaros first to have struts and the handling was So much Better but the 305 V8 and metric200 Transmission they Sucked!
That was a nice car
I had a 76' in Carousel Red, ( hugger orange)Tan interior all there still had decals bird,
73 thunder bolt abd lightfoot..455 transam.
I returned some of the SD parts I was looking for a perfect SD engine & was returning any SD with pitting in the heads.
I like the 73 front compared to the 74 personally.
Two Beautiful Beasts!!
I just shipped my 74 Admiralty Blue/Red Interior 455 from Tenn to PA.
Needs paint and seat upholstery, but totally solid and rust free body, undercarriage and sub frames.
Set in a garage since 92.
Right corner of the front rubber bumper got tapped.
Does anyone make repros?
Thank you.
Martin Farmer
AC was not available with the 4 speed on S.D.455 only, the 455 was available with anything.
Thanks for the info!!
I owned one, was mint, wished I hadn’t sold it.
Dang it! We all have that one that got away!
I have the exact same 74 Trans Am. Only mine isn't a SD. It has all the same color package and the 455. Just wish it was the SD. It would be worth double. Mine needs full restoration though. But it has 45,000 original miles. But my ex father in law left it sit outside for 45 years. 😞😞😞😞
45k miles! Wow! Despite the condition it still sounds awesome! Thanks for watching!
@@CarsShopsAndCollections it's actually still in good shape for being outside for that long. It still has the original undercoating and solid floor boards. Imagine my disappointment when I ran the vin and it wasn't an SD..... 🤣🤣🤣
Two Beautiful Beasts!!
I just shipped my 74 Admiralty Blue/Red Interior 455 up from Tenn.
Set in a garage since 92.
Needs paint and some interior, but totally rust free body, undercarriage and sub frames...
Needs the front rubber bumper though. Does anyone make repros.
All I've seen is so far is a used fiberglass.
Thank You
Martin Farmer
I’m wondering why you didn’t include some specs on the 455 S.D. such as horsepower, torque, engine breakdown, 1/4 mile etc? I had a ‘79 silver anniversary with the 400 and 4 speed. It was a beautiful car with great handling but was puny as hell in performance and couldn’t handle 4,500 RPM! I got myself a ‘68 corvette with a 454, 4 speed and couldn’t believe the difference in performance! I would never have another 400 Pontiac engine…
1973 was such a great looking car.
The square headlight cars were ugly
Yeah.. you get mixed reactions on those lights!
Yes ‘74 was the last good yr for horsepower. I was into Z/28’s rather than TA.
Check out this Z28
th-cam.com/video/iPPZjcul-VQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=2c39Uh_owYGGIHWN
Hope there's a cloth on the roof on the....... t/a with the hood on the roof not a good way to store the hood on the roof a big no no if it were my trans am
I believe there is a pad.
yes 2 of them
The specs were not all that great on the SD-455 Engine: 7.5L V-8, 290-310 hp, 390-395 lb-ft. It was not unheard of getting 600 HP with full flow headers, a tune and maybe a couple of other little things. We had to add a screaming chicken on a standard 73 455 Trans Am in Brewster Green. We let the dealership put in on. It is not stock if the SD-455 was race ready. I do not think it would be too impressive with factory HP values. I read some info indicating that the SD-455 was detuned to fit regulations. Like I said back in the 1976 timeframe we had a friend in high school, that would smoke the tires as long as he had his foot on the gas petal. I will never forget. The SD-455 was an Automatic Transmission and you could hear it smoke tires through every gear. I have never seen anything like it. This was on 60 series tires as well.
I have trouble figuring out why the government went stupid in 1975 putting HP killing emissions on all cars. I do not recall insurance being an issue. It was most likely the snowflake idiot Democrats trying to battle the climate hoax. It sure rocked my world since I got my drivers license in 1976. At that point the firebirds would not pull a hat off your head.; The acceleration was sad.
The 74 doesn't have the 2 vents on the dash plus can't beat a 4 speed manual 400 Pontiac engine Oldsmobiles engines were no way as good as a 400 Pontiac engine .....
Do you know why it used a cast crankshaft instead of forged like most performance engines?
I asked Ron…. His response:
The need wasn’t enough to go steel, plus the Pontiac engine was going away. The nodular iron cranks were good!
I rather to have the 73.
Both so cool… Ron has his 73 in great condition
In my opinion, since I’ve owned and restored a number of them.
Two for you and they are not Chevys. Buick Grand National 3.8l turbo. No better than that.
The 1989 GTA anniversary Trans Am! Why? My cousin had one I was always rerepairing what Nardi Pontiac messed up on. Anyway it’s the ONLY WAY TO GET A FIVE SPEED BEHIND THE 3.8 turbo was this beast!
76' is the last real Pontiac T/As, but there are some rare 77'Smokeys that have a 400 Pontiac &
How do I get merch? Need triple x. Buff guy cut, not fat guy cut. Let's get it.
I appreciate it! CarsShopsAndCollections.com
the 1973 cars were left over 1972 cars with changed vins
I say no, today's muscle out hustles yesteryears' by a large margin.
At least goose it on the drive!
I know… we were in a neighborhood! Next time!
Used to drive a W72 4 speed Trans Am as my winter beater. Rough riding rattle trap garbage. Grand National was a much better muscle car. Never drove mine in snow or even rain.
My Stolen 1973 Base 2bbl 350 Was 2S87M3N135540!
We found it! Lol!!!!!
He never got on it.
If we were not in a neighborhood we would have!!
That's an eagle, that is not a chicken, quit insulting.
The last real muscle car was the grand national
Automatic transmissions ? Really ?
This narrator needs to chill....BIG TIME! If an originally designed (but never installed) SD cam is now in the blue car, it's pushing 310hp...not 290.
What’s with the automatic transmissions? Girls drive automatics.😂