Why The Pontiac Trans Am Ruled In 1976

The Golden Era of the American Muscle Car was over by the mid-1970s. However it was the best of times for the Pontiac Trans Am. The 1976 Trans Am was the king of the performance cars back in 1976. Watch the video to find out why.

[@jamesbarrick3403]

1976 the last year of round headlights... I always like the round over the square ones

[@MrTheHillfolk]

And the little taillights on a 74 look pretty keen too.

[@glennso47]

James Barrick The headlights now look like someone was sleepy 😴

[@TamingTheSprue]

I like the ‘76 as well.. The ‘77 and ‘78 were solid too..’79 -‘81 were not so great.

[@TheSchmed]

Especially on the Jeep Wrangler, known as the “Wrongler” with the squares.

[@mikebockey4125]

@@MrTheHillfolk, ‘74-‘78 were the same.

[@WinterInTheForest]

Pontiac understood what people wanted and were able to deliver performance during a time when it was no longer standard.

[@thebigpicture2032]

They also had great interiors in the Trans Am.

[@majesticfirebird2310]

Yeah, pontie was always the tulip in GM's garden of cheap weeds (GTO, Firebird, Can Am, Fiero, Solstice... need I say any more?). Such a shame they're gone now 😔

[@cf3661]

I have ‘76 carousel red 4spd, I was born in ‘79 and it was my favourite car as kid and finally acquired one a few years ago.

[@kelleyischy5677]

Ww

[@kelleyischy5677]

2

[@oldiron77]

My brother has a '76 with the 455. Bought it in '79 while he was still in High School. His first car and still driving it in the summer to more than just car shows.

[@Minong_Manitou_Mishepeshu]

That's awesome! He listened to ALL the older crowd that all wished they wouldn't have sold their classic cars. Every single one of them had one, or two, that got away. NOT your bro!...I can relate.

[@johnhull6363]

I miss Pontiac, always bringing excitement no matter the time period right up to the end

[@peter455sd]

Says Pontiacs were junk,drives a Corolla wears Crocs,i know the type...

[@johnhull6363]

@@peter455sd he got my down vote

[@tygercat9122]

@William Schwartz Don't forget about the G8 gt. Baddest American 4 dr sedan of the 2000s. I love TAs and I own a 4th gen ws6 but sadly I got smoked by a G8. Speaking of re-branded Holdens, the GTOs from that era are badass too.

[@tygercat9122]

@William Schwartz I hear ya, brother. Especially on the cheap, plastic interior. Crappy in my TA as well, but that's the General Motors way, focus more on performance and handling and less on interior design. Whatever works, I suppose. I still love 'em.

[@tygercat9122]

@William Schwartz Nothing wrong a Ford. I've owned a couple over the years. Wouldn't mind having my way with a 2020 GT500!

[@SEP392]

They never should have killed the Pontiac division

[@taskmaster58]

The reason Pontiac died is because Buick is a status symbol in China and they could sell more of them than Pontiac.

[@Dannyjoemustanggt]

@Lance Wells they're pretty cool , my brother had an 06 black vert and I tried and tried to get him to ls swap it and he wouldn't.

[@mikestanly749]

@@taskmaster58 Like Sep455 said, they should never have killed pontiac expecially for that stupid of reason !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@user-ui8or8cq7l]

They are bringing it back!

[@webman1956]

I remember cruising down the road listening to Framton Comes Alive on the 8 track player turned up all the way, drinking a cold beer with the T tops off. Man those were the days!

[@johnnyhunt9447]

I had that same 8 track tape player was loud and am radio I had Bob Seger Night Moves And Queen A Night at The Opera and Sammy Hagar Street Machines

[@rickschwindt1691]

I had a orange 1976 Trans Am back in 76.

[@user-cf1se1kk5x]

Those were my favourite colour

[@gracien2008]

Is it just me... or is it just nostalgic how i miss muscle cars of old. I would purchase these compared to todays mostly trash. Dont even get me started on manual transmissions 😊😁😎

[@skeezix8156]

Rick my uncle Dave had two in ‘76, a white one with the blue border outside of the decals and the yellow one with black, orange and red trim. He was a firefighter back then so not sure how he could afford both with the 455. Maybe he was selling coke at the station.

[@ragimundvonwallat8961]

did you have very tigth jeans and heeled ankle boots? ...you had too if you were a true one lol maybe even a cowboy hat but those werent mandatory

[@superkick5699]

did you jam some Zeppelin in it lol?

[@RyanGallager]

My mom had a 76 Trans Am with the 400 and auto, in Silver, red interior and that big old bird on the hood. She was the coolest. Then I came around and she got a Sunbird...

[@drippinglass]

jason9022 Why? A lot of “chicks” were driving them.

[@MikeBrown-ii3pt]

Does she hate you? Lol! Your mom sounds like a pretty cool lady. When I was a kid in the 70s, my cool aunt bought a brand new 77 T-bird. No, it wasn't the fastest car in the world but, she'd pick me up off the farm about 1 Sunday every month in the summer and drive my cousin and I to the beach in that T-bird. It was candy apple red with a white Landau top and white interior. Every time I see her and/or my cousin, we all reminisce about the fun we had back then. Aunt Suzzie is still cool to this day and she'll turn 78 in a few months!

[@RyanGallager]

@@MikeBrown-ii3pt Hah no, no hate... most people just get a car with four doors and an accessible back seat when you have kids, and child seats, I guess. I swear I'll never get rid of my future 87 Trans Am due to kids!

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

@@RyanGallager I have two kids and I kept my 88 Trans Am. I don't drive it often now that the kids are small, but when I do it feels great!! 🙂

[@ragimundvonwallat8961]

the first gen? like the pontiac vega? good grief that was a painfull transition

[@crazeenydriver]

I remember these cars. I was a kid in school in 1976 and always thought the Firebirds were cool. Also, Jim Rockford always drove a Firebird so theres that :-)

[@xyrzmxyzptlk1186]

Jim Rockfords car was a gutless grocery getter. Anything could do a Rockford turn though, so it was adequate for TV. 🚀

[@Porsche996driver]

Time to binge watch again lol

[@user-cf1se1kk5x]

Yep, I remember walking down my block in about 1977 on a summer day, guys would be washing their firebirds in the sun listening to disco on the radio

[@milojanis4901]

Not always, didn't he also have a 4×4 Chevy truck?

[@crazeenydriver]

@@milojanis4901 I believe that was his old man's truck [Rocky]. Also, I am guessing you are a Columbo fan :-)

[@lrg3834]

The 1976 Trans Am still looks good by 2020 standards. Classic character car.

[@d.antondigre8859]

The honeycomb wheels are my all time favorite. Such an original design!

[@mikestlouis5304]

Awesome! I still have my 76 Trans Am I’ve had it 23 now. She’s made it thru 3 divorces I’ll never get rid of her! Black with red interior and gold honeycombs.

[@Oilman455]

I hear you, I had a 76 455/4 speed white with blue decals. Unfortunately didn't make it through my last divorce. Feel lucky bro👍

[@SA-zoom1]

I am on my fourth Trans Am now. I just have a love for these cars that I cant explain. And I am in England that makes even less explainable.

[@wes326]

A friend of mine in college around 1980 had a late 70's Trans Am and a Kawasaki Z-1R. Rich kid from South Florida. Good times.

[@mikehowey4869]

I had a 1978 T/A.loved it ! In my opinion the trans am was the best muscle car built.should have kept it.😞

[@jrfoster4225]

I love these old cars! I love the fact that back in those days, they all made their own unique motors, Pontiac, Chevy, Olds, Buick and Caddy. I currently own a 1969 Pontiac Firebird 400 with a Muncie four on the floor in excellent condition (midnight green/black interior). Lord willing, I’ll have this car until I draw my last breath!

[@richarddobreny6664]

I remember them well! The coolest car on the road!

[@OspreyFlyer]

I liked Pontiacs, had 3: Trans Am (me), Firebird (wife), Grand Am (wife). We were young and they were fun!

[@kingkrimson8771]

I owned a '76 T/A in that bright orange color, it had a 400 backed by the excellent Turbo-Hydramatic trans. It was a great car to take on road trips with its highway-geared rear end it would run all day at 80 mph without breaking a sweat.

[@davidkosach3095]

Oh yes I agree ☝️ my 4 speed that came with it had a great 4th gear for highway driving! That gave me good gas mileage at the time. Sure miss those days.

[@cabforwardooo9983]

I had a black '76 with the 455 and the hood decal. It was kind of a dog performance-wise, but the handling was great for its day. Man, I loved that car! That was the car I had when I met my wife. Our first date was to see Smokey and the Bandit. It's a wonder that she went out with me after that. It must have been the car! 40 years later we're still together!

[@doughertybob2803]

What a great feel good story a marriage, a nice car, and a good life!

[@midsouth2strokes185]

Had a artic white with red interior 79 trans am when I was 17 in 1995. That summer was magical.

[@michaelbaumgardner2530]

I rode in a new 76 TA 455 it was swift,and coming from the muscle car era I must say the handling was amazing it impressed me the most.

[@cm1133]

I was 9 the summer of 1976. I was obsessed with TransAm. That was a really hot but awesome summer. I just want to go back.

[@TheShrededward]

smokey and the bandit, rocky 2, and the rockford files sold tons of those things. That, and it was really the last real muscle car you could buy brand spanking new.

[@ragimundvonwallat8961]

paaa pa pa pa PA PA PA PAAAAA paaa pa pa pa PA PA PA PAAAAA pa pa pa tadi tadi dudaaaa, CHUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNN CHUUUNNNNNNNNN DA TA DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, TA DA DA DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA ahhh my child hood lol

[@Rockinruffhouser]

And “high school USA” with Michael j fox

[@AirCargoHeavy]

I had a '78 and wish I never got rid of it. That thing handled like it was on rails. I miss it.

[@johncollins7423]

I had one that looked like the one @ 7:51, white w/blue striping & black interior. It had the 400 w/automatic. It was a pretty good runner, compared to other cars of the era (Camaro, Mustang, etc.). The only thing I would've changed would be having a set of those honeycomb wheels on it. Good times...

[@danmay9728]

Thanks for the videos. And the memories. Be safe. Peace🇺🇸

[@keithe.bilitsky833]

Boy, do l remember that year and those cars. 2 of my friends had them. My favorite was my friends powder blue t-tops 50 th. What a car. I was 13 !!!!

[@DinsdalePiranha67]

Fun fact: The Trans Am SE's color scheme of black with gold accents was inspired by Team Lotus's "John Player Special" Formula One cars. GM styling head Bill Mitchell was a big fan of that livery.

[@mr.toobigformypants8145]

I had a 1976 Trans-am golden anniversary edition with the rare Hurst t-tops and the 400 ci auto, not particularly fast by today's standards but it would sure turns heads. I miss that car.

[@lonmcq7317]

there was no gold edition in '76...

[@gutz1981]

Its interesting to see the US history around the early to mid 70s where things were bad on the V8 front. In contrast, Australia from 1971-78 had its peek in V8 performance. This was due to the rise in popularity in touring car racing that saw the two big names, Ford and Holden (GM) go head to head on the race track at Bathurst and as such, our Ford XY GTHO Phase III with a 351 Cleveland saw an output over over 350 HP. The XA GTHO Phase IV in 1972 was to be the grand achievement. Same V8 at an output of a top speed of around 160 Mph. It never went into production. But the GT was the closest we got. Till the GT was discontinued in 1976 the the XB being the last of it.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

We had the demise of the musclecar hp in the 70s , yes , but like you guys our big 18 wheelers were in a massive hp war of their own. K series Cummins with 600hp, wow that was king of the hill back then

[@MrMenefrego1]

My sister's beau had a brand spanking new red on red '76 Pontiac Trans Am with a 455-CI, that he personally tweaked. I didn't know much about drag racing, just enough to ask my sisters boyfriend what she ran in the quarter mile, it was "in the low 12's", according to him. During regular school hours I was just another average slob who sucked at math, but, when my sisters beau came to pick me up in his rumbling '76 Trans Am, I was the coolest kid in school lol!

[@eac1235]

Low 12s?? That would have been alot of tweaking, alot. High 13s with headers definitely possible.

[@melrose9252]

The 455 in 76 was fast got it’s day but not 12, 13’s or even 14’s. The 77 then 78 TA 6.6 were as fast or faster than the 76 455.

[@davidkosach3095]

This car was awesome!! My neighbor was a stock car mechanic back then. I bought mine from his wife lol It was a black with white interior, hurst 4 speed manual with the big daddy 455 under the hood! She had it from 76-81 then I had it from 81-86. Her husband tuned it up a little then put on a 200hp nitrous bottle in the trunk that looked like a fire extinguisher lol. It had 2 speedometers on it because the factory one only went up to 100mph lol This monster easily did over 180mph on the track lol. The motor had 850hp without the bottle! Flip the switch and 💥 pow you were instantly over 1000hp ! Had a Holley 850 double pumper carb on it. At the track he use to switch it out for 2/1000 Holley carbs on a custom tunnel ram. This way you could switch the carbs from 1 to 2 for street/strip. You could put 4 beer cans in the top of it for show lol, those were some huge Hollies. Sure miss those days of low gas prices and very few police giving you a hard time, unless you were known for doing stupid stuff lol

[@jamesstaggs4160]

7.6 to 1...damn. That thing was begging for boost. R.I.P Pontiac. I always loved that division of GM. Very sad day when they killed it.

[@hyzeronhisrizer]

Wish they could revive Pontiac.....if they did it justice?!

[@williamjordan5554]

All the divisions are meaningless. It's all GM, whether it was Pontiac, Oldsmobile, or Saturn. The names are gone, but a 2020 Pontiac Firebird, for example, would be pretty much be a slightly modified Comaro anyway.

[@Nostradamus_Order33]

William Jordan John DeLorean would tell you otherwise.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

@@Nostradamus_Order33 They all use the same platform/chassis, so how is one going to stand miles above another ? It's still gonna handle about the same overall and have the same feel no matter what model you drive.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Lol 7.6:1 so you could run it on paint thinner and stale gas 🤣

[@Wildstar40]

I can not help but wonder what cars in the 70's could have been if there was no fuel shortage scare and emission control garbage.

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

@Miller Heileife I would really like to have one of these 30. 😁

[@elitewarrior0076]

Yeah buts that stupid. In a way the emissions controls were a blessing in disguise because it forced American auto manufacturers to get off their lazy asses and innovate. We had to improve engine efficiency in order to comply with emissions regs and it led to modern fuel injection systems that we know today that are far more powerful and far more efficient than anything a carbureted. Now look at us, we have the most amazing sports and muscle cars in the world. Just goes to show, sometimes a road block like that can lead to something even more amazing later down the line

[@douglorimer5985]

And an intrusive government. I wondered the same thing.

[@paulallison6689]

@ LincolnTek...& also due to the higher insurance premiums that all of the insurance companies started chargin' for the sporty muscle cars once they finally caught on/figured it out...that was a pretty big factor in the demise of the powerful muscle car era back then.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

@@elitewarrior0076 I'm only 47, and I know plenty of guys who lived the glory musclecar days. But alot of them agree that what's coming out of the factories now is downright amazing. There really wasn't such a thing as the common man walking into a dealer and driving out in a 600-700hp brand new car with a warranty back then. Muscle has never been easier to get , walk-in and plunk down a check for a 700hp car.

[@Blog4Justice]

Love this channel. Winning formula. Each new production is a real treat. Thanks from England!

[@ergodoy7741]

My dad worked at the GM plant in Van Nuys making these. We had quite the collection of Firebird Appliques that made their way into My dads garage from the factory

[@wilshirestrasse2220]

Must have fallen off the truck...

[@ergodoy7741]

Wilshire Girl - yeah, it seems like lots of stuff seemed to fall off the truck. I’m ashamed to say that we had an endless supply of 12 v bulbs, tire stems and camaro/trans am/firebird badges. I would stick them all over my school 3 ring binders. :)

[@wilshirestrasse2220]

@@ergodoy7741 Well, when things fall off the truck, somebody's gotta keep the streets clean.

[@carloscarpinteyro332]

I'm from the San Fernando Valley as well! It's great that your dad has those "momentos!"

[@wattsenough]

There was a plant that made a particular aluminum rim for a sports car. Some would toss the rims over the fence into a drainage ditch and pick them up after work. That had to be quite the toss to get it over an 8' fence. But that was back when such items were reasonable and considered a commodity. Today original rims would be priceless.

[@chuckhursch5374]

My cousin had a ‘76 with the 455. I saw it on his wedding day in June 1976. He told me brusquely “don’t touch!” He had that car till just a few years ago, drove it a lot of miles. Not as fast as his 69 GTO, tho...

[@davenolan5709]

LOL! Did he have the hologram sticker on the window " You toucha my car, I puncha your face.'? 🤣

[@rays7437]

Now I want to watch Smokey and the Bandit again...

[@thefettfan3994]

Pontiac Trans Am, king of the road. Great video and most enjoyable as always!!!!

[@JR-ii5ld]

We have a 76 Firebird 400, 4SPD and a 77 S.E. T/A, Y82 with White interior, tilt, ps, pdl and rear disc brakes. Took 10 yrs but worth it. Thanks for keeping these cool 70's cars alive. Love ur vids.

[@whackamolechamp]

The prism like interior appliques were awesome.

[@eddieberberich6611]

Another outstanding job ! Thank you.

[@patientmental875]

Had the exact car in the thumbnail when i was 19 bought it for $1200 in great shape in 1994! Fun times!

[@michaelp_42]

Thanks for posting. My friend had a sweet Orange (Buccaneer Red ?) ‘76 T/A 455 in the mid 1980’s. I loved those Honeycomb Wheels 👍

[@michaelp_42]

Correction Carousel Red !!! Sweet Cars

[@ztwntyn8]

Idk but 75 it was still buccaneer Edit: there was an orange color too

[@jimferry4751]

I wanted one of these so bad. I was 18 and broke but saved up and purchased a 1970 Pontiac GTO 400/4 speed. Set me back $800 back then. Fast forward to today and was thinking of buying one until I was shopping to find a decent car and still can't afford the 20K they sell for now. Great video.

[@RoadRunnergarage8570]

Thanks for keeping the videos flowing as the world goes through these uncertain times...

[@jeffruebens8355]

The Smokey and the Bandit movie sold a lot of Trans Ams. I was 17 in 1976. Almost everyone was buying 1960s to 1972 muscle cars used then adding modifications, instead of the same cash for a used car. I was driving a very used, rusty Impala with a smallblock 327 V8. I bought a 1972 Barracuda with a 318 smallblock in 1978, because it cost less than a similar Camaro. I sold it in 1980 to buy a motorcycle (Yamaha 650 parallel twin).

[@stepheng3667]

Another great video. I had the chance to buy a low mileage 76 4 speed from a guy at work in 2000 for $6000. How I wish now I would of had the money. But had a young family and new mortgage at the time so getting an old car wasn't a priority. Went on vacation last fall to California and made a point of doing my research to find out where the Rockford Files was filmed, Paradise Cove in Malibu. I wanted to see where Jim lived and picture his Firebird pulling in. Great memories.

[@Yankeededandy62]

Another great piece of car history. The comparison with the 76 Corvette was spot on. If I remember correctly, Pontiac downplayed the actual HP of its 455 in the smog era and played a little dirty in the emission field. 200HP is not a lot to move a 3700 pound piece of iron. I always dreamed of a Pontiac TA and a (earlier) Corvette back in the day. Thanks for the video.

[@modspell]

I enjoy Dave’s passion for the grand old T/A. He obviously loves that car and that love is contagious. My roommate bought a new 1979 T/A off the lot and proceeded to pick up every loose girl in town with it. But eventually kids were born and an Accord replaced it. A worthy trade? You decide.

[@burningblue1254]

Everybody was going to small blocks but Pontiac never surrendered. Got to love them. The Trans Am always had the cool factor, nothing looked liked them.

[@mwaynem]

My brother had an orange one with Cragers and 50's on all four corners also 400 and 4 speed. What a beautiful car.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Lol hope he had some air shocks out back ... Haha im a rare one that likes that 70s look.

[@jerrycallo]

@@MrTheHillfolk You talking about cars, girls or both?

[@MrTheHillfolk]

@@jerrycallo 😆 Nah I don't like the 70s look on my women, I like them to trim up a little down there and get rid of some of that hair 😂

[@kenswitzer4133]

Wide track tiger tail in your face kinda attitude. You nailed here. I was in my mid twenties and had been around some of the really great muscle cars and this thing hit the streets hard after we starved for 5 years for what we considered muscle back then. My family owned several Pontiacs and really liked all of them and as some have said, I miss them too.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

Of the 2nd gen Firebird and Firebird Trans Am, I've always found the 1979-81 to be the best looking.

[@ztwntyn8]

Jason Carpp For real? Check the 70-73.

[@SierraBravo347]

Always loved the big Thunderchicken on the hood... It just worked.

[@jamesy5607]

Had a 78 formula that came with the last TA 400 engine- 200 hp. It was lightning -wish I could find it

[@97MstngCobra]

Hi James, I own a 1978 Formula with the optional 400 W-72 and a 4 speed. What color was yours?

[@blipco5]

My previous wise-acre comments aside...I was blown away with the 1973 Trans Am when it came out. It was like some sexy alien spacecraft. Nothing could replace it. But as usual you put up a great argument and really make me appreciate the later models. Cheers 🍻. Don't forget to wash your hands for twenty seconds.

[@davidstansell7842]

Wow..this sure brought some good memories. I owned a 1976 TA..Thornfire red, 4/11 rear end, borg Warner Trans, hursts slap stick, craiger ss mags... unbelievable guide. Wish I still had it. Thanks for the memories

[@davidstansell7842]

Sorry "quick" not guide

[@MrFrankenass]

Dont forget how much the movie Smokey and the Bandit boosted Trans Am sales for the rest of the 70's

[@mustardseedpower1188]

What was very good move on PMD was the cylinder head interchangeably between the tall deck engine blocks... Pick your compression ratio on back to 1965 head bolts right up until GM head office(Chevy) told Pontiac to stop production on the 400cid in 1979... Some TA's got the Oldsmobile engine 403 better than putting a Chevy.. Chevy engines are good engine but the pull is not the same as a Pontiac engine.

[@msbae]

I still prefer the styling of the 1970-73 and 1977-78 versions of the Firebird Trans Am.

[@tedmccauley9319]

Good looking Firebird, the urethane bumpers help disguise the 5 mph bumpers, but god were they slow, especially with an automatic. Drove a couple new ones back in the day and it would take a lot of work to bring the performance back. A 4 cyl Camry is almost 3 seconds quicker from 0-60. From 1974 to 1983 there were no muscle cars, just lots of stickers and plastic spoilers.

[@lordapophis5723]

Beautiful presentation! Thank you!

[@MikeBMW]

I love the videos - keep 'em coming! Thanks! :)

[@goodbonezz1289]

Great videos..music, narration, video, content...all top notch. Thank you!

[@tonychavez2083]

As mentioned, having a Trans-am was a status symbol and if you had one you were instantly cool. I remember it well, the feathered hair, the roach clips with a feather hanging from mirror, truly good times.

[@dh87990]

I have a black Pontiac firebird trans am with 455 7.5L engine and 4-speed manuell gearbox, white inside. Love that car, and it's back in the family again. Now I have that car for 13years🚔🚔

[@matthewlibanio8227]

Pontiac always new how to build good looking cars. The Grand Am, Firebird, Gran Prix, and show stopper Bonneville SSE were amazing looking cars. For the 2000's though, Oldsmobile was king. Alero and Intrigue were just so forward looking and the Aurora is just sensational to this day.

[@camaro69green31]

Another well done video! Thanks. Great visuals as well.

[@monkeebizz5997]

I bought a gold 79 in 92 swapped a 455 olds from a 74 98 into that with 90 thousand but changed the timing set and drove it for a decade with Bosch plugs in it and never had any issues.The best 1500 dollars i ever spent and i still got that laying around for those that know what its value is .

[@J_ismyname48]

The black one at 5:02 and the white one at 6:32 were 2 very sharp machines! I'm so glad I am old enuff to remember seeing all these cars on the lot new and seeing them plentiful on the road and riding in them before technology and 4 cylinder, plastic EVERYTHING! These were REAL cars!!

[@toddadams8420]

I always thought it was cool that ponch on chips drove a root beer brown 76 T/A. Ponch in a Poncho. I was so bummed when they totalled it

[@airborneshodan]

I had a 76 trans am with a 455. No cars could come close to me off light. Only car that ever beat me was a 911 on open highway. It developed shudders around 140 mph. Pretty much king of hill when I owned it from 79 to 82.

[@theeducatedredneck4144]

After the '70-'73 Trans Am, the '76 has always been my next favorite year of styling.

[@momcilogavric4930]

I had a toy like this at 7 years. Best toy ever 😀

[@flyinbrianz22]

This car was the only bright spot in the mid 70's muscle car world. I sure miss Pontiac

[@1VaDude]

The last great Trans Am coupes were the 1973 to 1974 with the 455 "Super Duty" V8. Unleaded fuel with lower compression ratio engines in 1975 and 1976 hurt performance, but the 1976 Trans Am still did well for a car of that era. With some tweaking, it would likley smoke a Corvette with its smaller 350 L82 V8.

[@dukecraig2402]

1Va Dude While the 455 SD was probably the finest factory built V8 ever put in a production car there's a little known fact about them, only about the first 30 cars made perform the way everyone thinks they do, the rest weren't 13.5 ET cars, they were actually low to mid 14 second cars, the reason for that is only the first 30 made had the intended cam in them, the EPA came down on them immediately after they caught on to what they were doing and the vast majority of the 455 SD cars had more mild cams that would pass EPA standards. The only reason Pontiac got away with what they did at all is because Pontiac told them it was the existing 455 engine when really it wasn't, the SD engines had many changes to everything including the blocks, heads and enough that they actually should have been considered a new engine which meant that they never would have passed emissions with even the milder cam since they wouldn't have fallen under a category of the kinds of engines that were "grandfathered in", had they been classified as a new engine they never would have met the stricter standards for a new engine.

[@1VaDude]

@@dukecraig2402 -- Those 455 V8 engines were monsters.

[@dukecraig2402]

@@1VaDude Yes I know, I've been around a long time and have driven more than 1 of them being a mechanic from way back and having worked on them, all I'm saying is only the first 30 cars made are actually the 13.5 ET cars, the other over 1,000 aren't, that's something Pontiac was tight lipped about and never really went around blabbing about it, all the magazine's got some of the first 30 cars for test cars to write articles about, those were the cars provided to them, the vast majority that were actually sold to customers were the slightly de-tuned ones.

[@1VaDude]

@@dukecraig2402 -- Look at how many people still bought the much slower 1977 to 1979 Trans Am and still thought they were "fast" - even with the 403 Oldsmobile V8 that only had about 185 hp. But the screaming chicken decals & ground effects kits made them look cooler. The "Smokey & The Bandit" movies certainly did not hurt sales, either. I bet that even the "weaker" 455 SD would still make a 400, 403 or 350 seem like a boat anchor in comparison.

[@Visionery1]

HUGE under-stressed gas-guzzling engines, but no real power. We had a 5.7l Mustang Mach 1 in the late 80s, loved it!

[@joeblow6852]

Love ur channel brother keep up the great work

[@charlieryan1736]

Thanks for featuring this amazing vehicle

[@1962pjb]

Trans Am, what's your pleasure? :-)

[@midsouth2strokes185]

Fill it up my man

[@melrose9252]

Have a smooth ride Mr.Bandit!

[@kencooper2059]

I really enjoy your vids. Please keep up the good work.

[@johnjacobjingleheimerschmi3857]

I went for a ride in the '74 Pontiac Banshee III shown in the beginning of the video. 455 SD engine with a auto trans. Later I ended up owning a Black on Black 1978 T/A W-72 Engine.

[@WhittyPics]

My first car I bought on my own was a 78 Firebird. I wonder how well these cars would have sold if Smokey and the Bandit was never made?

[@stevenmitchell5319]

I remember the Younge St. strip in TO loaded bumper to bumper with these cars in the late 70's.

[@KAS6558]

Back when Pontiac had serious design game. RIP Pontiac.

[@forestlawrencegrading9154]

The charger was a Cordoba the doggone Mustang was a pinto Rockford Files was a big hit nobody realize though the Firebird Esprit was really a formula put back into a Esprit trim

[@emeyer6963]

Good catch.Rockford drove an Esprit in 74 and after that all Converted Formula's.They needed the bigger engines and better suspensions for the stunts that Jim Garner and Roy Clark had in mind for Rockford.

[@dansmith822]

That's right it was a Pinto and a Mustang Too

[@Porsche996driver]

They just worked over an Esprit.

[@blisterbrain]

@@Porsche996driver No, E Meyer's right. It was much easier to take a Formula and change the trim than to add mechanical upgrades to an Esprit. Think about it.

[@dukecraig2402]

They never put the Esprit badges on the Formulas that were modified to look like the Esprit's, only in 74 when they were actually Esprit's did they have the badges, in later seasons if a car is seen with the Esprit badges that's because stick footage from the first season was edited in for certain shots. The reason they went to the Formulas was because the Esprit's didn't have enough "pop" to perform some of the stunts they wanted for the show and it would have been illegal for them to hop up Esprit's being that the show was filmed in California. Starsky and Hutch had a similar problem, they wanted more acceleration out of their car but couldn't modify the engine so they put a super low gear ratio in one of the cars to get hard acceleration out of it, there's a few interior shots of that particular car where you can see a small warning sign in the dash that says "Do not exceed 50 MPH", that's because it would have over revved the engine.

[@777jones]

OCM really enjoy your obsessive channel. Thanks. You do a great job.

[@rays7437]

Smog systems and unleaded fuel really did a number on performance. But I can see the skyline of my city again, so I guess it was worth it.

[@scarbourgeoisie]

The '76 T/A was unique because of its distinct one model year appearance with its unique front end treatment. Had chance to buy one for under 10K back in the late 90's but I didn't have a spare penny to my name with three young kids at home and a mortgage. Still kick myself for not picking it up, because it was factory orange in colour. It's pretty easy to wake up those anemic 400/455's with a set of 72cc aluminum Edelbrock heads and cam treatment, not to mention the overall vehicle weight reduction that comes with aluminum heads. I knew the Chief Pontiac engineer back then and he blamed the hernia surgery he required from carrying around iron Pontiac heads early in his career. Much love for the '76 (and the '70-1/2 as well!).

[@mikeblankenship7930]

I had a 75 Trans Am back then and the 75 and 76 models were almost identical.

[@AMCmachine]

I wonder how the relative handful of '76 4-4-2s built with the 455 Rocket, also in its final year, would have stacked up against the '76 T/A? That'd make for an interesting '70s-themed shootout.

[@stratovani]

Such a beautiful car!

[@danhambrick6331]

I wish I still had my 1978......

[@realestateinfonet9041]

Superb video! Thanks!

[@carsonhoward2884]

I have a 1976 trans am and I love it!

[@tylertm7557]

I just bought one today I love this car so much

[@stevehendrickson494]

Thank you. Very informative and cool video.

[@loutielli]

My very first brand new car was a '76 TA silver/black. Sure wish I still had it!

[@igoski1582]

I always like the look of the Trans Am but never was able to buy one. However, I did own a 72 GTO and loved that car. Another video noted that, it was the Trans Am that killed the GTO. There simply was not enough room in the stall for both muscle car horses and the Trans Am kicked the GTO out.