1974 Pontiac Trans Am Super Duty 455 Muscle Car Of The Week Video Episode

[@cptnsolo77]

Pontiac was the ONLY car manufacturer that was able to integrate the federal bumper mandates and make it look GREAT. Kudos to the pontiac designer team. You did a awesome job.

[@GoodOlRoll]

Chrysler's Imperial division did it pretty good too ngl

[@NEUTRALDROP]

Love this car the grill the rear window roof line the flares shaker hood rear wing fender vent just enough perfect!

[@markjmaxwell9819]

GM got it all 100% right with this car, styling performance the whole shebang. Shave the heads to bump the compression a bit and a very stylish car and rapid car. Definately the LAST of the GM muscle cars.

[@saltydog4759]

The best looking trans am of all

[@hmackprotection1]

73/74 T/A SD are the very best Pontiac’s ever produced

[@chatsworth8768]

I love them but I got a 70 judge ram air IV in my shop I owned for 40 yrs that I think is best Pontiac of all time.😀😀😀

[@edwardchambers8251]

Bad ass car. My older brother had one or these. He bought his off the show room floor. Fully loaded White with powder blue interior and blue firebird grafics

[@W0wzersNumber1337]

190 likes, 0 dislikes. Thank god alot of people still respect these classics.

[@CaptainFALKEN]

Overly Abusive Demoscout you're right. Really surprised at the number of likes and dislikes. Dislikes are still at 0

[@gravelord2600]

Now its at 5 :'(

[@ilanoliveira4237]

Some assholes give dislikes...stupid people for sure!

[@Predikant]

16 Prius owners did not Like this video.

[@dragongodasura1395]

Dis likes at 16 those are clowns

[@jetfanken]

I wanted to express deep thanks in what you do each week. I have a special ring tone for your M.C.O.T.W. alert. When that 'tone' goes off, I get that same happy, giddy, excited feeling that I believe all us car nuts feel. That feeling when your favorite (MoPar) muscle car passes you by. When your favorite car magazine comes in the mail etc. In closing, I believe that your doing a great job. And I Thank You!

[@MuscleCarOfTheWeek]

Kenneth Young Jr Wow Kenneth, thank you so much for the kind words! We love the special ring tone... too cool. Glad you dig the show, we've got many more to come! Thanks again!

[@69telecasterplayer]

I owned a 1974 400 Trans Am 4 speed, no AC and I loved it. It was very rare in my area of Florida and it was a head turner. Buccaneer red.

[@marcialreyes4779]

That's a nice color

[@Lemev]

I can just imagine that... For sure it was a beauty! Isn't buccaneer red the very same red from this car on the video? Thanks

[@69telecasterplayer]

@@Lemev I think so.

[@karaDee2363]

@@Lemev yes..

[@jasonkrause6778]

One of the Most Beautiful cars GM ever produced My favorite year of Firebird 74 ' My favorite color

[@GoProMoFo-yj5wd]

Jim Rockford made me love the ‘74, ‘75 and ‘76 as much as the ‘77-‘78 styling

[@braddietzmusic2429]

Probably my favorite vehicle featured on Muscle Car Of The Week. Thanks very much for featuring this.

[@letitrest4662]

The most beautiful and symbolic car that ever came out of Detroit. As far as I'm concerned, the Detroit automotive industry was defined by the style and performance of the muscle cars, that the establishment hated. Each model had very well defined style, that told you, from a distance, who made it. By today's standards, they weren't performance cars, but they were symbolic of the pioneering, and competitive spirit of Americans. If someone offered me the choice of a brand new Ferrari, or a mint 1974 Pontiac Trans Am SD 455. I'd take the detroit muscle car.....every day. The car has character.

[@sarahawkins1917]

How much would you pay?

[@colinerikstanhouse6385]

My first car when I turned 16. That 455 was a BEAST !

[@FloridaCoastalGuy]

In 1974, a friend (Rocky C.) purchased a new 1974 Red Trans AM 455-SD Automatic. It was a fast car, we outrun the fastest hot-rod big-block car from our neighboring county twice one night with the air conditioner still on! It looked just like this car in the video.

[@sarahawkins1917]

Does he still have it?

[@FloridaCoastalGuy]

@@sarahawkins1917 No

[@jeremythompson9122]

This beauty is the last of the true American muscle cars. Awesome machine. I'm a Mopar guy but always been a huge Pontiac fan as well. Definitely my favorite GM division

[@austinrealestatewithbutchn4420]

No it is a pony car. 2 + 2 at 10 lb per HP is a muscle car

[@laureanosanchez5265]

@@austinrealestatewithbutchn4420 you are comparing SAE vs NET horsepower. This thing has almost the same power as a Magnum 440

[@briansd2772]

Thank goodness for the Pontiac Engineering Department, Herb Adams for speaking out, and the Pontiac Sales Department for taking 600 orders for these cars "letting the genie out of the bottle" and making it too late to kill the SD-455 program. Bravo!

[@05gtdriver]

1974 SD455 T/A and especially the ultra rare SD455 Formula are my favorite Firebirds of all. Love the "newer styling" with the small rear window.

[@jeremythompson9895]

The 1974 SD455 is probably my favorite Trans Am of all besides the 1970 Ram Air IV. The 73 SD455 gotta be number 3

[@jeremythompson9895]

They should've offered the SD455 an an option in the 1973-74 GTOs too. That engine in the little 74 Ventura GTO would've been ridiculously fast seeing how that car was 500 lbs lighter than a 74 Sd455 T/A

[@bailey9r]

@@jeremythompson9895 They did offer the SD in the 73-74 GTO and I think the Grand Am but for whatever reason (lack of interest in that platform or change of policy) none were built. Shame

[@jeremythompson9122]

@@bailey9r Wow no shit I never knew the SD455 was actually optional in the 73-74 GTO's. As far as I knew in 73 the options were either a 220 horsepower 400 or a 250 horsepower 455 and the 4 speed was only available with the 400. The compact 74's all ended up with the 350

[@Lemev]

You guys in the US are very fortunate to have the chance of owning such a jewel!!!!

[@Ballenxj]

The SD 455 had a lot more potential than it's mandated low compression allowed. Thumb up for this video.

[@sergiojacquez2277]

Yes.....

[@burningblue1254]

This guy is great to listen to.

[@str1ka1]

Love the history behind these cars. Thanks for these informative, yet entertaining videos.

[@davecalvo6418]

A rare bird indeed, in 74 they really started moving away from the manual transmissions and they were getting harder to find...this is a real gem here

[@saltydog4759]

Mid 13s stock in 74 is astounding.

[@EricGordon-j2s]

I had the same make and model this very car right down to the color. Bought it when I was 20. Had a nice little factory job living at home join a credit union where I can go inside sign my name and get 2 Grand in the same day. Best car ever owed so much fun

[@MuscleCarOfTheWeek]

Very cool!

[@rgillies]

Wow this brought back memories. A good friend of mine got one of these while in high school. Imagine a 17 year old kid with this kind of power at his disposal. His dad owned a garage and he worked there pumping gas, doing tires and exhaust systems. One night he used the exhaust pipe bending machine to create a set of totally legit looking straight pipes. The cops would crawl around the edge of the car seeing nothing but professional looking work and never busted him, assuming that there HAD to be a muffler in their somewhere because nobody would install an illegal exhaust system. To know that fewer than 1000 of these were built makes me sad that he sold it.

[@craigkosters9852]

I broke the rear axel in mine under warranty, the mechanic was pissed. He said I was abusing the car and he was right. Theres two pins that went threw the housing holding the internal together, well it sheared them off. The drive shaft was hitting the bottom of the car when you gassed it. Pretty much shut me down but they fixed it.

[@SnoopysVet]

I had a 1970 Firebird 350 as a kid, engine crapped out and put is a 455 and then broke the rear axle within a week, long stroke torque monsters were those 455s

[@imbluz]

Groovy 70's classic. Nothing like the good old American muscle.

[@philipthomas6808]

This is my dream car TA; I've always wanted a 74 SD 455 TA... Bad to the bone...

[@sarahawkins1917]

How much would you pay

[@paulreints2279]

I owned one of these in 1994, as a young kid who just got his license. It was clean, straight & had a fresh engine, transmission, suspension & interior rebuild completed. It wasn't perfect but it was a solid, fun, fast ride. I began painting cars professionally shortly after I sold it. That's when I knew I made a mistake in selling it!

[@havefaith3213]

I sold my 71 Z28, 8 months later went to a Pontiac dealer .There was a dark blue SD 455 Trans Am white int. Power blue dash and rug turbo 400 trans. auto on the column no bird, sticker 4,800. Salesman said, some guy order it took too long to come in so he went down the street and bought a 442 hurst o's. 3 weeks later l took the SD home in pouring rain paid 4,850 the 50 was for fm radio instead of the am it came with.1st song on the way home band on the run. l was 21 years old and in car Haven. today I have a 13 zl1 got some of the magic, but that SD man , that was Haven .

[@randycurtis1176]

Have Faith what a car! If I had one I think the stereo would only play Blackfoot's "Highway Song." I wonder what the engine would do, h.p. and torque, if the compression was raised and it had been otherwise warmly massaged but left very drivable. I know there are gear heads reading this that can tell me exactly what I ask.

[@goodbonezz1289]

Greatest muscle cars ever. Awesome video..thanks!

[@ziggylothbrook8644]

just found the Chanel and Absolutely love.... Thanks for keeping these legends to the young car enthusiast Alive

[@jeremythompson9895]

Pontiac should've put the sd455 engine in the GTO in 73-74 as well. They might've gone down as the fastest GTOs of all, especially the 74 Ventura based GTO. The sd455 in that light little body with a 4 speed and the right set of gears would've been a terror

[@davewil3]

The original plan was to do that. I remember having a car magazine from back then that showed the SD-455 in the GTO. See: www.hemmings.com/blog/article/the-car-of-the-year-that-wasnt/

[@ONTHEEDGEFRED]

No doubt about this, that Ventura was several hundred pounds lighter than even the Trans Am.

[@braddietzmusic2429]

I prefer the 1974 model to the 1973, based on looks, alone.

[@cliffwright9842]

My dad bought one of these in '75 from a airline pilot in portland. I was so glued to the hip of my '70 forest green z28 that I payed no attention. I remember my mom let my girl friend, of the day, take her drivers test in it. It was that red but the white interior I guess turned me off. They traded it for a new '76 Fiat 131 brava? eeck! better gas mileage I suppose. If I only had the foresight, ya, well if I'd only kept the Camaro!!! that's life. Love the Brothers' collection....

[@emeyer6963]

1974 was a nice update to the earlier ones.Fell in love with them when I saw an Esprit on the Rockford Files TV show.

[@thud9797]

Everyone has an opinion... I like the 74.

[@GoodOlRoll]

To me it's vice-versa but the 74s are nice cars.

[@amandaduncan9025]

Thank you! Just found this video after discovering pictures my dad had of one just like the one in the video! Super cool, don't know why he ended up getting rid of it or what happened to it. Nonetheless, it's really cool to learn this information. Thanks for what you do

[@MuscleCarOfTheWeek]

Wow, that's really cool. Love old pics like that, especially when they are family connections. Glad you found them!

[@sarahawkins1917]

Who wants a 1974 455 SD Trans Am Midnight Blue, white interior single owner, original parts

[@tscooter22]

Nice car! My next door neighbor had the same car and color with the 6.6 liter engine. I loved that car! Some kid in my HS had an earlier '72 or '73 SD 455 Firebird in white with blue stripes. I always loved the looks of the 70s vintage Firebirds and Camaros. When I had enough money to pay cash for a car I ended up ordering a fully loaded '82 Mustang GT. I liked the Camaro looks better, but the Mustang was faster and had better cargo capacity -- something I planned for, knowing I'd be making trips to and from college with loads of personal items. It was also the fastest American built car of the time. Don't believe it, Google it. :-) ...all ~157 hp! lol That was the era of the Boss is back campaign.

[@jimjones3226]

tscooter22 ugliest one tho anything after 72 for mustang looks like complete trash

[@Darryl6636]

Wow what a cool car and they cut Pontiac?!!

[@TheRPGentleman]

Darryl6636 Yeah, lol, and kept Buick. Like what a fucking joke.

[@hotwheel6663]

Liked the 70-73 Body style better especially the Formulas. Had a 78' TA 400 but 455 long gone by then.

[@marcialreyes4779]

Yeah I had a 78 400 4 speed. But always like that 70 to 73 bullnose. What a car

[@MarinCipollina]

I'm probably in the minority here, but I really liked the 1974 front.

[@NewtonWashinton]

Sadly in 1974 i did not know about this car. with 290 HP i would have bought one.

[@sergiojacquez2277]

Well that's what Pontiac said , but it;s more than 290 HP believe me.

[@ProspectorFrank]

I bought a new red 74 Trans am with white interior from a showroom in Prince George BC. I was sold the minute I saw it...a fun car for sure.

[@crankychris2]

These SD's were rare birds, indeed.

[@shaneraymer5147]

Beautiful car. I have a white and blue 74 455

[@sarahawkins1917]

Is it midnight blue exterior with white interior

[@shaneraymer5147]

@@sarahawkins1917 it’s a two-toned paint, midnight blue on the lower half, white top half, with black interior.

[@Ackharrystowing]

I have two 74 super duty cats now have owned 5 over years not as rare as you say

[@christophbuch339]

For ten years I drove a 79 TA with a 454 under the hood. I enjoyed every meter in this american classic. I started grinning from the moment the big block was started. Thank you, America, for the music !

[@austinrealestatewithbutchn4420]

Glad you had a Poncho. But. Don't post a brag bout having a Chevy motor in a Pontiac.

[@MarinCipollina]

If you did, it was an aftermarket engine. In 1979 the engine choices for TRANS AM were the 403 cubic inch Oldsmobile engine, which came with ALL automatic transmission TRANS AMS, or the 6.6 liter 400 cubic inch Pontiac T/A motor, which was in the 4 speed manual transmission cars only.

[@GoodOlRoll]

@@austinrealestatewithbutchn4420 unless it's one of the ones that came with a Chevy engine. You could get a 305 in the late 2nd gens iirc.

[@billyfoster3223]

If I win the VA lottery, yes I'm from Virginia, I'd buy one!😁👍🔧

[@billyfoster3223]

Awesome machine!!😁 Great Trans Am!😄

[@TheMrmmkkpro]

I own a 1972 455HO and a 1990 ZR-1 corvette. I took the Ole lady for a drive in the Z ,asked her what she thought and she said "it ain't no Firebird".

[@MrDjh66]

Great vid love it I have a 73

[@radars56]

I have a 1969 Firebird 400/4speed car that I love, but I'd trade it in a heartbeat for a '73 or '74 SD Trans Am. Thanks for the video!

[@kurtzimmerman1637]

great car! wish I had one. thank you Pontiac!

[@sarahawkins1917]

How much would you pay?

[@maniacjack3700]

Beautiful❤👍

[@SF80CAMARO]

Thx Kev for another cool car. Impaitently Waiting for next week's car!!!!!

[@Ontariosound]

4 Speed !!!!!!! Have been following these cars since the mid 80's and never saw a 4 Speed SD for sale in Southern Ontario. All were TH400.

[@karaDee2363]

I had the same exact car as this one including the Muncie 4 speed, except mine didn't have the sd455.... Loved it,..

[@1Bandit455]

7:28 of video - Just Rev and pop the clutch - Nice Burnout :)

[@chuckselvage3157]

That was a tough motor

[@chutoparadinni5474]

Pretty Bad ASS for the times.

[@quentin3330]

I was thinking 70 1/2 would be last great performer. Cool video.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

Peak was 1970 Chevy L88's and Pontiac Ram Air V's...

[@cali2468]

@@BuzzLOLOL There were no factory L-88's built in 1970. 1969 was the last year.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

@@cali2468 - I think they were still available over the counter and used in movies like 2 Lane Black Top...

[@cali2468]

@@BuzzLOLOL Maybe so but they were out of production by 1970. The big dogs of 1970 was the 426 Hemi, Ford 429 SCJ, Buick Stage 1 and LS6 Chevelle.

[@michaelk487]

beautiful

[@chutoparadinni5474]

Funny, but still 40 plus years later not many know what an SD-455 really is, many think it's just a regular smogged low comp. no guts 455. Truly the Last Muscle Car from the Real Muscle car Era.

[@74SD455TA]

You are so right, they have no clue at all and sure, its not their fault. To this day I tell them the other 455 was just a station wagon motor, which is what it was... as in a Grandville and yet they still don't get it. These SD's were, and are monsters. I am so happy to own one now. I was 16 years old when these were built but I couldn't afford one let alone try and even consider buying one and then finding one.....wasn't happening...... Even if it were possible that I could have....I would have destroyed it anyway. Even back then, nobody ever saw one of these cars around let alone know what they were. Really neat time in history.

[@quincee3376]

By any chance do u know the difference on performance between the 73 sd-455 and the 74 sd-455? I know the 73 was a screamer.. but I was thinking there was probably more smog and pollution crap on the 74's . Just wondering if they're close in 0-60 and qtr mile times...??

[@quincee3376]

@Stealth Customs nice! Thx! I think I'd want a 70 1/2 with the Ram Air IV or the 73 ... but 74 is nice too! Personally I think they did a good job with the front bumper on the 74. Could have looked much worse. People tell me to stay away from the 71 and 72 T/A's.

[@quincee3376]

@Stealth Customs I think they were just telling the 71 and 72 HD don't compare to the SD-455 .. idk... can't really remember their reasoning or what they said in their replies. Heck I'd take a 69 to 74.

[@quincee3376]

@Stealth Customs thx! Wow I always thought the 400 Ram Air IV with it's high compression was the best in performance. With 73 being very close but 70 1/2 being the best . Thx for replying.

[@stardustdreamfactory1947]

Proof that low compression muscle cars were still possible. Rumors were these guys actually made around 370 net hp vs. the advertised 290 net hp - with unleaded 87 octane fuel no less. Plymouth carried over into 1975 with the 230 net hp 400 in the Road Runner and the 220 net hp 360 in the Duster (secret options). The Plymouths were available w/o cats and true dual exhausts if you knew the right sales people apparently. Factory Muscle Cars literally died afterwards unless you built your own.

[@jeffwilson4243]

Stardust Dream Factory the SD 455 is supposed to run on 91 octane

[@jeffwilson4243]

That's what my sticker on my glove compartment door says

[@jeremythompson9122]

The 340 and 360 Dusters and Demons/Dart Sports were pretty quick little cars still too even in 1972-74. Probably the quickest cars you could still buy other than an SD455 Trans Am because of how lightweight they were. The 1972-73 Mopar 340 and the 1974 360 still made pretty good power even with compression ratios in the 8's. After 1971 Dodge/Plymouth and Pontiac were the only brands who were still even trying to build muscle cars anymore over the next few years. Neither Chevy or Ford had anything even remotely close to being considered a real muscle car after 1971 or 72. The 72 Gran Torino Sport was a sharp looking car but they were heavy and the top Ford engine option in 1972-73 was the 245 net horsepower 351 CJ...not a very powerful engine for a car that size

[@Predikant]

As a general rule a lower compression ratio actually decreases fuel economy.

[@MarinCipollina]

Correct. Lowering the compression was about meeting emissions requirements, not increasing fuel economy

[@AmirGaming-cj1gy]

Nice Trans-Am.

[@gymesum]

Awesome show love it keep up the good work !

[@MuscleCarOfTheWeek]

Thanks Shane!

[@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe]

This may be an obvious question but was the SD built on a small seperate line by real enthusiasts? Hard to imagine in the 70s. Out of the question today. Beautiful!

[@74SD455TA]

It really was, Pontiac engineers stockpiled engine blocks, heads, and so on trying all the while to get the Pontiac brass to OK the project. Amazingly, they did and after a few changes that the EPA required, it was a go for just the TransAm and the Formula. What they did do as it was going down the line was to paint the engine a different color so that it would stand out. A brief moment in time.

[@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe]

@@74SD455TA Guys stood around all day in confabs as they created the last beauty from Pontiac?

[@EricTheOld]

Another awesome video

[@marcialreyes4779]

What a power house!!!

[@peterhogan9537]

the very last true muscle car.

[@sornord]

I recall reading (and research would confirm/debunk) that, alone among the GM makers, Pontiac lowered their compression ratios by opening up the combustion chambers in the heads vice dishing the pistons or destroking. Put some closed chamber heads on it and you had an immediate return to 1970 and earlier compression ratio and power with no other engine mods needed.

[@arthurdduda8233]

I'd take one of these over a 30 year anniversary edition or a 2002 any day whoever was running Pontiac at the end was a schmuck and it's a shame that even tho Pontiac was going down gm didn't keep the trans am alive and improve the quality and performance. . hats off to dodge and Chevy for keeping muscle and style going, and for real, not just ripping people off with special badges and decals like Pontiac did with the trans am at the end. .

[@thatairplaneguy]

My father bought one of these last year. Automatic though.

[@chutoparadinni5474]

What's wrong with auto??

[@74SD455TA]

@@chutoparadinni5474 exactly, I prefer the Turbo 400 especially when they are fitted with a shift kit and a stall speed. The ultimate being a manual valve body. For 1974 that was the LAST year for the venerable turbo 400. Racers choice

[@jked7463]

I know alot of people do not like the nose on this car but I like it's more reserved (refined?) look. It reminds me of a 1965 bizzarrini. Would love to restomod one for a canyon Carver.

[@chutoparadinni5474]

I for one Love that front end

[@74SD455TA]

Love that front end. Amazing that they had that changed so quickly from the 1973 nose because of the 5mph crash mandate (which was a joke back then). The 1974 SD car is the rarest of them since its a one year body style with the flat glass panel in the rear window. Then of course they changed the glass in 1975. The 1970-1973 TransAm's were too similar in looks.

[@thud9797]

Love it and better looking overall than the 73. The Admiralty Blue with the Black Deluxe interior is absolutely killer.

[@manuelstapp7277]

I had one these fine machines man it would go ...sad thing 6 miles to the gallon at 55 or over 100 mph ...but I did love the power it had also it had a four speed trans ...

[@trackpackgt877]

Looks like Pontiac figured out before anybody else that to pass emissions and make power it's all in the heads just like my 2010 GT 281 cubic-inch makes 335 horse it's got a set of heads on it bigger than a old Hemi. Pontiac was ahead of their time back then

[@jjs777fzr]

Canonball Run...Countach beats Pontiac. Reality - Pontiac Trans Am S/D 455 destroys Countach. Just to correct the Hollywood myth.

[@jrvbamafan1]

I love trans ams but that sd455 won't "destroy" a 79 countach, which is what the cannonball run countach was. They are both mid 5 sec 0 to 60 cars, both capable of high 13 1/4 times north of 100mph, so at the very least it'd be a drivers race....top end that 74 trans am isn't topping that countach, not stock anyway. Most everyone has them around 150-155 top speed, where the countach was rated at 180 top end, but was actually 174. They are both impressive cars in different ways. They are both 6 figure cars now too which is impressive especially for the TA, which was about $5300 new compared to the $40,000 countach. I'd take the cannonball run countach and sell it for $300,000, then buy a 74 sd455 and a few other cars I want, because I much rather have an older muscle car than a lambo.

[@chrispeters4405]

the grill was so much better the year before

[@siemenstraffic]

Those Uniroyal are the factory tires! Too bad Coker tire don't make them

[@74SD455TA]

Those tires were dangerous even when brand new. Slipped belts, horrible. I know, I had them but only for a short while. Still have an original one from 1974 which was the spare.

[@SteveHolsten]

Damn, it's a shame that more of the Super Duty engines weren't ordered. I wish I had one each of the 4-speed & TH400. The only reason for that is to get one with A/C!!!

[@74SD455TA]

The A/C in those cars was a joke. Never worked right, blowing thermo limiter switches all the time, it was heavy and required a lower rear gear ratio. I know, I had a new 1974 Forumula 400 with air back then.

[@reacp9114]

what's crazy is that half of these cars came with a 400 instead of a 455, but I've never seen one.

[@74SD455TA]

Standard TransAm was the 400, optional "station wagon" 455 was also available. They were both dogs.

[@arnienelson6415]

In High School My Best Friend Had the '74 Trans Am 455 HO. The SD 455 would beat it by a nose.

[@chutoparadinni5474]

No HO from the factory in 74, most likely a Y code 455

[@arnienelson6415]

@@chutoparadinni5474 Really, on the shaker hood it said 455 HO. Is this one rare then? It did not have that black bumper either.

[@chutoparadinni5474]

@@arnienelson6415 Must not be a 74 then, the 455 HO was 70 D port, and 71-2 round port, and then again 75, but totally different engines as far as compression/smog, in 75 the HO was just a sales ploy to get more buyers, in reality it was a Regular 455, same as the ones used in station wagons and others, not High Output round port like 71-2.

[@arnienelson6415]

@@chutoparadinni5474 Could this have been a half year? '73 1/2? It was Red with The Clucking chicken 455 with the HO on the shaker and that was stock, he just added a slot 4 shifter. It was fast because 3 of us could tailgate that car down the street in the snow. We called that "Skeetchen", out here in the west they call that "Hookey Bobbin"!

[@74SD455TA]

@@arnienelson6415 No

[@jackduguid177]

I bought one of these brand new in ‘74, same color combo, but mine had A/C and a automatic trans.. Odd though, mine came with chrome valve covers, and it did have that sticker on the drivers side.. Wish still had it..

[@chutoparadinni5474]

Not an SD

[@74SD455TA]

I agree, not an SD. Now if you bought it used there is that chance that a previous owner changed those out to chrome covers.

[@mcinkyt]

I was born in 1961,what year was it bias ply just ''went away'' and cars where delivered with radial tires?

[@mikeblankenship7930]

Had one exactly like it.

[@radioguy1620]

I remember the arp rod bolts in my 289 Ford were stretch set also, I didnt have a gauge so guess 33 lbft and was right on lucky ,

[@quincee3376]

What were the 0-60 and qtr mile times on the 74 sd455 compared to the 73 sd455?

[@chutoparadinni5474]

Too many variables, loaded car? manual? auto? driver?

[@quincee3376]

@@chutoparadinni5474 good point. But I'm just wondering comparing Apples to apples . I always hear the 74's shaker hood was closed off and that the 74 had more pollution regulations but the engine was exact same as 73. Same tranny too. I always hear 75 is where the huge drop off starts but 73 being a bit quicker than 74 both being stock.

[@chutoparadinni5474]

@@quincee3376 everything was the same in both years as far as emmisions, SD parts, etc.. And don't buy all the BS about their tested times, too many variables like I said, and some early times were from pre released cars.

[@quincee3376]

@@chutoparadinni5474 thx!

[@vintagesavoiur]

Love this channel!

[@twincammike8329]

What a beauty...

[@bkehlin]

Is that Buccaneer red? I like that color, and I'm thinking of painting my '77. My wife says she likes it being Silver now, but she doesn't like the car at all because it's so hot inside while driving. Should I keep it silver or paint it?

[@vipergts488]

Beautiful car. Just wondering why it has the drivers side rain drip moulding but is absent on the passenger side. Love the SD cars.

[@davewil3]

Isn't that interesting. My 1974 SD-455 also has drip molding missing on passenger side! I purchased way back in 1974 with 1000 miles on it and did not notice this for over 10 years. I wonder if any other long time owners have come across this.

[@sarahawkins1917]

​@davewil3 maybe that's how it was built 🤔

[@chrisamazonia3138]

j'avais exactement la même..même couleur en boite auto .. le problème c'est qu'a 3000 tours tu étais a 130 sur l'autoroute ...

[@kranmaster]

Say this engine had been produced in 1970, any idea of the performance numbers it might be capable of producing with a higher compression ratio and without all the emissions equipment?

[@74SD455TA]

But since it wasn't, it wasn't complicated to create what might have been. Over 500 HP for sure. Now, another way to look at it is, with the compression under 9 to 1, you could easily bolt up a twin turbo set up and get maybe 650HP or more. But, as an owner of one, with a few tweeks, change of cam and so on, its putting out 450HP, and I like that.

[@brianfusco5753]

who would trust 40 plus year old tires on the road if there origanal,that may equal one less SD 74 trans am in existence

[@shayzayit]

holy moly what a beauty beast

[@dougackerman4182]

Neat video

[@therazgriz9]

Well i love this car for everything power, body, interior except no AC

[@74SD455TA]

A/C in these cars was a big negative, heavy got in the way of things in the engine bay and never worked very well. A/C meant a 3.08 rear axle vs. a 3.42 rear axle for the non air cars.

[@ronevans6662]

Wow! There's an ultra good chance this is the 4-speed I owned in the Eighties! Serial number of my SD was 2V87X4N168943. Built July 30, 1974. The car was sold new at Royal Pontiac in West Vancouver, British Columbia. The original owner was killed in an accident and I purchased the car from his widow in 1987. I put under 1,000 miles on it and then sold it to a buyer from California in 1988. Had 13,000 miles on it at that time and the Uniroyal tires were original. Can someone confirm this is the same Trans Am? I'm happy it ended up in a good home, but I now sure wish I had kept it (although I did own 3 other SD-455's after this one, but all were automatics).

[@74SD455TA]

With regards to this car and yourself thinking that it may be yours, while I looked up your cars VIN on the SD 455 Registry, it did not say whether or not your VIN had rear defog like this car does. I know there wasn't a spot to put that entry in there but if yours had rear defog, yeah there is a real good chance that this is your car. Myself, I own VIN #129978. Its a real monster, set up the way Pontiac envisioned with a Nunzi style Ram Air IV cam, re-jetted carburetor and timing advance plus I have 2 shakers, the one I use has the plate removed and it is open. I have owned mine for going on 10 years now. As I look through the SD Registry, mine is a 1 of 1 (known to exist) in that it has white standard interior and a THM400. Only 4 options, 23,000 original documented miles and mine also was exported to Canada. Options are, SD-455 engine, tinted windows, roof drip moldings, and a center console. It is a radio delete car as well. All original except the paint and the headliner which was replaced because it had a small bubble in it. You need to search for another one today. I am so happy to own one today. I commend you for the care you put into yours. I bet the other ones you owned were really nice too.

[@ThunderAppeal]

Youre here for 7:32

[@Sam-fc8ik]

Yes

[@dw6148]

Can you guys please do a video of a third generation Camaro? Thanks

[@tjclt250r]

in the tach you will find a clock that stopped working 2 weeks after the car was bought in 74