1976 Trans Am 455 4-Speed

‪@musclecarcampy9922‬ asks the question: Is the '76 Trans Am a legitimate muscle car?

[@CashMullen-ng4sr]

The first thing we did was buy a catalytic converter test pipe from JC Whitney to free up 25 HP! Then open up the shaker scoop for another 15 HP. Recurve the HEI distributor advance with lighter springs and weights, eliminate the air pump and EGR valve, swap in a 160 degree T-stat and you're running low 14 second 1/4 mile ETs.

[@musclecarcampy9922]

Those were the tricks of the trade back then.

[@williamzoom]

Herb Adams knew exactly what he was doing, he and his engineer team were road racers and had the pulse of what was going on in the So Cal canyon scene and the mid 70s birds mimicked exactly what was going on there at the time even after he left Pontiac they carried on!

[@MichaelSellers5691]

I drove one of these to high school my junior and senior year. I had an orange one. back then I remember I purchased the vehicle for about $4000 which is probably about $12,000 today.

[@AMCmachine]

The Buick, Olds and Pontiac 455 engines all took their final bow for 1976 as you said. The '76 442 carried the torch alongside the Trans Am with available 403 and 455 power in a good-looking Colonnade body, although only a handful of 442s came through with the 455 Rocket.

[@user-ui8or8cq7l]

Nice Ride. If I couldn't get a 70-73, I'd go for the 76.

[@bailey9r]

The shaker was on the TA into the 80's, and here is a bit of trivia for you the 76 TA like this one (only black of coarse) was the one in Smoky and the Bandit. Due to delays in production approaching 77 Pontiac sent them over new front fascias to spotlight their new look. ;

[@MrRebelss]

Thank god he had the brains to drill out the 3 rivets in the shaker scoop plate and replace it with a screen! 😁

[@oliverrojas3185]

Muscle Car Campy, thanks for reviewing Mike Kelso's 1976 Trans Am. Mr. Kelso, thanks for offering enthusiats and Pontiac lovers an opporutnity to get a hands on experience with Pontiac's 1976 Trans Am.

[@48grizzly]

I had a 76 455SD TransAm in the early 80s. I'm still kicking myself for selling it.

[@musclecarcampy9922]

Oh, you should be.

[@billmagorian490]

I love these cars. They are a part of my 20's car memories. I wish you would have asked the owner what HP he has with the high compression heads and if he has run a 1/4 for time. Also what if anything did he have to do to the car after he purchased it? Finally whatever you can do to make the audio on your interviews clearer would make them so much better. I give you Creds for finding this car and doing the show on it. It caught my eye as I was perusing KZbin. I'm subscribed and gave you a thumbs up!

[@musclecarcampy9922]

You are the Man. Thanks. Please share the link with your friends. To time slips or dyno sheets. Basically, he has tuned it and driven it since buying it.

[@barroncrist5779]

The 455 Pontiac engine was brought back into production in mid 1975. Horsepower was 205, down from 250 in 1974. The 1975-76 T/A 455 equipped engines could only be had with a 4-speed. They were discontinued for 1977-79. Top engine was the Pontiac 400 T/A 6.6.

[@p1315]

Joe Oldham got a 15.62 at 91 MPH out of the 76 T/A he tested at Atco.

[@culcune]

Back in 1989, I was looking for a decent '77-'79 TA or Formula (for that 'look' and 400 or 403 engine--the '80 and '81 were out), so perused the ads of the L.A. Times and L.A. Daily News. TAs were somewhat rare (rare as in 4 or 5 were found daily), and one day, an ad for a black '76 Trans Am popped up. The guy on the phone told me it was used as a prop and the location to see it was an office complex across the San Fernando Valley from where I lived. I arrived and a few people were coming in and out of the building. It was an office space that independent TV/film industry companies would rent temporarily (think low budget straight to VHS) for the production period. Some of the offices were rented by agents, so there was definitely a reason a bunch of attractive actress hopefuls were also seen everywhere. I found the office, and away we went. It was a black TA with the 'ugly' front end and Magnum wheels. It stated 455, but thinking back, it was automatic (I did not know how to drive stick at the time) so not sure if it was even a 'real' car as it appears the only 455 cars in 1976 were 4-speeds. At any rate, it was ugly and underwhelming in my opinion, so the $4k asking price was a bit steep in my opinion. The fact that it was used in a straight to video movie was not pulling my heartstrings. BTW, the one car I did regret not buying and did 'get away' was a 1979 Macho TA with a 4 speed for $1500, but that is a story for another time...

[@DanEBoyd]

I'm starting to like 2nd gen T/As which aren't white and blue, or black and gold, more and more. The red scheme is perfect on that car.

[@seththomas9105]

The last of the Muscle Cars. And they could be woke up real easy.

[@DaveInCanada081]

These things really did handle nice.

[@musclecarcampy9922]

Yes, sir.

[@donnaja5313]

76 was the last year of the shaker hood. Really. My 1981 TA that was my 17th birthday present damn sure had a shaker hood

[@musclecarcampy9922]

The inference was the Trans Am was the last car to get a shaker hood, not that the ‘76 was the last TA to get one.

[@electrolyticmaster8396]

I had the exact car except it was Carousel Red. After a week of driving brand new, I modified the engine from the carburetor to the exhaust.

[@musclecarcampy9922]

They needed those two mods.

[@AllCountiesNY]

Incredible love great content. I’m a sucker for the Trans Am.

[@willyhwang1059]

i love these cars, having said that, firebird/trans am look their best right up to 1973, then didn't look that great to my eyes, until they introduced gen 4 in 1993

[@musclecarcampy9922]

Sales figures would suggest you are in the minority.

[@walterclark5545]

Another great video !

[@musclecarcampy9922]

Thanks.

[@troyburress4979]

Trans Ams continued to have shaker hoods until the 2nd generation design ended after 1981.

[@musclecarcampy9922]

But they were non functional.

[@troyburress4979]

@musclecarcampy9922 they were non-functional in 76 also. The narrator said that this was the last time the shaker hood was used but it was used thru 81

[@troyburress4979]

@@musclecarcampy9922 and they were available on some of the last generation challenger.

[@thomasdauphin4550]

We have a beautiful one for sale in Western New York .. I just wished I had 50 grand to buy it!

[@ScarlettFire341]

Michael Kelso from that 70's Show ? lol (kinda sorta) Cool - Glad he's still living the dream ! Big Block 4 Speeds RULE !

[@musclecarcampy9922]

It is his name!

[@golfer78100]

I know that owner. Captain Kelso.😅 Great job Jim!

[@musclecarcampy9922]

Thanks so much.

[@G77799]

Hey Campy great video as always thanks. Question does the T/A have power windows & locks ❓tilt wheel ❓Thanks again CAMPY ✝️🇺🇸

[@musclecarcampy9922]

Power windows only. No tilt or locks.

[@bluesman7475]

Send that 455 to Butler and it can come back 505 cubic inches and 600+ horsepower and torque.

[@musclecarcampy9922]

That would definitely wake it up. Wouldn’t be cheap, though.

[@scottreal7787]

Speedy car! Honey hush!

[@musclecarcampy9922]

Speedier than that. Lol.

[@victorxavier9977]

😎👍

[@musclecarcampy9922]

Thx.

[@randybichsel4244]

it's lifted about 2 inches maybe 3

[@opera93]

Thanks,!, Great overviews, & a real ( nothing else, maybe Corvette, even close)Supercar in 1976 , esp. interestingly! This 1976 **TA , in the **black & Gold (* 50 TH ANNNIV option, LE,:see LOU* CONSTABLE’s Review & my Comments) , what really got me to,order my 1977* TA, Hurst HAtches/ *SPECIAL EDITION,*LOADED in October 1976….!

[@musclecarcampy9922]

It is amazing how they kept the ponycar market alive through the bad times.

[@p1315]

There ya go Campy, more General Musclecars...less Furd. I like it! 👍 😜

[@musclecarcampy9922]

But is it a muscle car?

[@p1315]

​@@musclecarcampy9922 More so than that slow 63 1/2 427 Galaxy. 😜

[@TAMan78]

Maybe just misspoke, but not the ‘last shaker hood’ cars. They were used all the way through ‘81, with exception of the turbo cars.

[@musclecarcampy9922]

What I meant was the Trans Ams of that era (‘70-81) were the last cars to feature a shaker style scoop. You are correct it was not the ‘76 that was the last of the breed.

[@joequillun7790]

76? You did it anyway Campster. (LOL) This car is OK because it's clean, got the colors, and bird, but more importantly, has the 455, and the stickshift. (Will an ST-10 live behind the power of a hi-comp. 455?) I had a set of 62s, (69 428) heads, on a +.030 455, and it had over 225 lbs cranking compression. (mild cam). Bear to start when hot. HO racing rates it at about 11-1 compression ratio. Tons of torque. But sorry to say, the bumper effects on anything over 73 turns me off. But I like it when the driver actually uses the secondaries. Nice. :)

[@musclecarcampy9922]

What can I say?

[@joequillun7790]

@@musclecarcampy9922 You can say you're running outta pristine examples of the golden yr cars, and are accepting what else is left. And so are we. We know that pickings are slim on 55-60 yr old hi-performance Detroit iron. But it is, what it is. Thanks for trying.

[@mainiac4pats]

@@musclecarcampy9922I say thank you campy, no issue here, rock on 🤘🏼

[@musclecarcampy9922]

@@joequillun7790 Not running out of cars I just wanted to see if there was any interest in videos on malaise era cars.

[@joequillun7790]

@@musclecarcampy9922 I understand Campster. In order to continue operating a successful website/channel, you need-ta find out what's marketable. Unfortunately, my generation, (mid 60ish age wise), isn't as plentiful, as the younger generations moving in. (The "Smokey and the Bandit fans and younger). So alls I can say is, you bring out some fine machines, (most of the time), and enjoy your format, and how it's presented. So thanks for that. Keep the grove on. :)

[@clarkkent9634]

Love these cars, but my 2.0t (123 ci) Accord is a front wheel drive, tiny 4 cylinder, 4 door , 3500 lb family sedan...and smokes any of these cars in 0-60, 1/4 mile, top speed, braking, handling, reliability. I love them, but will never own another relic that gets embarrassed by 4 cylinder family cars & gets 10 mpg just to feel cool.

[@musclecarcampy9922]

You can’t compare it to a car with technology that is 50 years newer. Compare it to a ‘76 Accord and you’d rather have the Pontiac. And slow or not, I’d still rather have the Trans Am.

[@clarkkent9634]

@@musclecarcampy9922 I have to compare them. They are both cars & both cost money & both are still driven today. I have had GTO's, Trans Am, Firebird, Catalina, & a Grand Prix. I love Pontiac. But in 2023 when I drive an old muscle car and floor it, it doesn't impress me like it did when I was 18. Now it's almost slow. I hear your point, but I don't even wanna drive an old car unless it's driveteain, suspension, brakes & steering have been modified.

[@CashMullen-ng4sr]

With just a few mods, this '76 455 4-Speed TA will blow the doors off your jap POS and be worth 5X more $$$.

[@excelerater]

1976 nothing had muscle

[@lonmcq7317]

Pontiac was still in the game.. Car and Drivers car of the year...

[@dannydennis318]

Good looking car