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Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Site
The Second Generation Trans Am Information Site
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* 1976 Y82 50th Anniversary
* 1977-81 Y81, Y82, Y84 SE
* 1978 Y88 SE
* 1979 Y89 10th Anniversary
* 1980-81 Y85 Turbo Pace Cars
* "Bandit" Trans Am
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* Year By Year
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* __ FAQ
* T-Tops
* Shaker Scoops
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* W72
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* Interior
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* NOS?
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* __ Restoration
* Interior
* Dash Removal
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__ Text : 440-701-6550
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WELCOME TO 78TA.COM!
Welcome to the newly redesigned website. Hopefully this site will be
easier to navigate and also _be easier to view on your PC, Apple or
even Android device._ I will try to do my best to keep this site
updated and fresh and try to have the most complete collection of
information regarding the Second Generation Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.
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INFORMATION ON SPECIAL EDITIONS AND MORE!
I will try to cover all the Special Editon Trans Ams from 1976 through
1981 including the Y81, Y82, Y84, and the Gold Y88. Plus I will also
cover the Y89 10th Anniversary and the Y85 Turbo Pace Cars.
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PONTIAC FIREBIRD TRANS AM BY THE NUMBERS !
I will also try to list on this the most comprehensive list of
decoding of numbers covering the VIN, Cowl Data, Engine, transmission,
paint codes, RPO codes from the Build Sheet and more.
*
ALSO CHECK OUT MY STORE
Don't forget to check out my store for great deals on restoration
items such as door panels, seat covers, and carpets for the interior.
Also, I carry decals, moldings, and emblems for the exterior. I have
many more items such as collectibles and GM Service manuals too!
NEWLY RE-DESIGNED TRANS AM WEBSITE!
* __Fully responsive design that looks great on desktop or any
mobile device.
* __Re-Desgined menu and pages that are easier to navigate on any
device.
* __More information about the Pontiac Trans Am than before.
* __Aslo newly re-designed store that also works on any mobile
device.
* __Cutting edge design that will allow for greater enhancements
coming soon.
* __The one-stop-shop for all your Pontiac Trans Am questions.
* __All new an updated information regarding the Second Generation
Pontiac Trans Am.
SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT QUOTES!
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the
country you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
BO DARVILLE | "Bandit"
SHERIFF BUFORD T. JUSTICE
And don't go home, and don't go to eat, and don't play with yourself.
It wouldn't look nice on my highway.
SHERIFF | Bufford T. Justice
SNOWMAN CLEDUS SNOW
Hoss, you ain't gonna believe this, but that crazy sombitch just tried
to drive right up under my truck!
CLEDUS SNOW | "Snowman"
BO DARVILLE
For the good old American life: For the money, for the glory, and for
the fun... mostly for the money.
BO DARVILLE | "Bandit"
THIS WEBSITE __ __ __
This is my 1978 Pontiac Trans Am webpage. I am trying to gather as
much information as I can about mostly the second generation Trans
Am's but I will also try to have some information regarding first
generation, second generation, and some third generation cars as well.
Now since I own a 1978 Pontiac Trans Am, then most of this site will
cover that year and mostly the second generation Pontiac Trans Am. I
will also try to cover information regarding any Firebird, Formula,
Macho Trans Am, Trans Am, and/or any Special Editions. There is alot
of information located in the Trans Am Information and FAQ section.
Now in 2016, not only have I changed the look of the website, I am
also starting to add different pages with even more information about
the Pontiac Trans Am. There is a lot of information spread out over
this entire site. There is the navigation bar on the top that takes
you to the main areas on the site. You can also view the Site Map to
see most of the pages on the site. Some of the new pages are under
construction, but I will be adding more over the coming months. You
can also go check out and register for the Trans Am Forum located
here: Forum There are over 7,900
members there now and is also a great place for information and to
talk with other Trans Am owners. In addition to the Information
Sections above, I also have an area dedicated to the Y82 and Y84
Special Edition Trans Am's, which has information regarding the 1976
Y82 50th Anniversary Trans Am, Y88 Gold Special Edition, Macho Trans
Am, the Y89 10th Anniversary Trans Am, the 1980 and 1981 Y85 Pace
cars, the Skybird, Redbird and Yellowbird Edition cars. I have had so
many people ask me about the Bandit Edition Trans Am so I posted up a
page about that as well. I also of course have the Parts for Sale
section and a newly renovated store that is also "mobile friendly". I
have many different parts up there for sale such as decals and
interior parts as well as a great Officially Licensed GM Pontiac Parts
manuals for all Pontiac Firebirds and Trans Ams from 1967 to 1981 AND
I also have the 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975,
1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, and 1981 Pontiac Service Manuals on USB
and Fisher Body Manuals. This is a must if you are in the restoration
process of your car or even as just a handy reference chart if you
need to replace a part. There is also a huge section now dedicated to
Decals (direct from Phoenix Graphix), Interior Parts, Misc. Items, and
More.
OH YEAH! DON'T FORGET ABOUT OUR PRODUCTS!
Click the button to view the newly updated store and the parts for
sale!
Trans Am Store
ALL YOUR PONTIAC TRANS AM DECALS
I carry all the GM Authorized decals from Phoenix Graphix to complete
your restoration project or just to freshen up the outside of your
car.
INTERIOR PARTS
Here is a great place to get your new interior soft items such as seat
covers, door panels, carpets, headliners, Hurst Hatch storage bags and
more. I will be carrying both PUI Interiors as well as Legendary Auto
Interiros.
GM SERVICE AND BODY MANUALS
If you are in the process or need to work on and restore your Pontiac
Firebird Trans Am, I carry all of the GM Servide Manuals, Body Manuals
and also the Parts and Illustration Catalogs to help you along in your
work. These are all the manuals converted to .PDF format to easily
view on any device. They are the GM Authorized original service
manuals that break down everything you need to know about your car.
FIREBIRD TRANS AM COLLECTIBLES
Looking for that little extra to help finish up that Smokey and the
Bandit Trans Am? Or maybe just looking for a nice diplay piece for
your garage or Office, then check these items out.
GOT QUESTIONS? SEND AN EMAIL
If you have any questions about your Trans Am that is not covered on
this site, please send an email with your question. You can use the
contact form or send me an email directly. I get alot of questions
each and every day and average about 108 emails a day. So bear with me
if you don't get an answer right way.
HAVE A QUESTION? CALL US!
Need a question answered right away? Give us a call or send a text. If
I do not answer. please leave a message and I will get right back to
you as soon as I can. A quick text might be responded to faster.
TRANS AM INFORMATION
* Photos
* My Trans Am
* Photo Shoot
* Multi-Media
* Trans Am Gallery
* Trans Am Information
* Generation Changes
* Matching Numbers
* NOS?
* PHS
* Specifications
* By The Numbers
* Year By Year
* VIN and Cowl Tag
* Build Sheet
* Engine/Trans/Rear
* Paint Codes
* RPO Codes
* Production Numbers
* FAQ
* T-Tops
* Shaker Scoops
* Wheels/Rims
* Decals
* W72
* WS6/WS7
* T/A 6.6 or 6.6 Litre
* Interior
* Shows and Events
* Trans Am Nationals
* Bandit Run
* Other Shows
FEATURED VIDEO
LATEST NEWS:
78TA.COM has been re-designed from the ground up with more flexibility
to be viewed across any device or platform. The entire site and store
has recieved a make-over. >>
Updated: August 2016
I try to keep information fresh on this site, but with all the emails
and questions and orders it is hard to keep an updated page. It may
not look like anything is going on, but I am always here behind the
scenes. So this site is never dead or abandonded. >>
Updated: August 2016
If you have any questions or maybe you have some information that you
think should be added to the site, send me an email and I will look
into it and add it to the site. >>
Updated: August 2016
IS YOUR TRANS AM A SPECIAL EDITION?
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I always have quite a few people ask me if their car is a Special
Edition or not. So, I figured I would devote a section to help you
find out if your car is a "Special Edition" or not. The first thing to
look at is the Cowl Data on your Trans Am to see if it is stamped with
a Special Edition code or not. This is the first place to look. Now,
not all Special Editions had this code marked on it, but if it does,
then you can stop right here because you already know that you have a
Special Edition Trans Am. If there isn't a code marked, then continue
on to see the other signs of having a Special Edition car.
__ 1976 Y82 50TH ANNIVERSARY
In 1976, they came out with the first Special Edtion Trans Am. It was
labeled with the Y82 code to signify that it was a Special Edition
(Sometimes called Limited Edition). It did not matter if it had t-tops
or not, they were all Y82.
This Limited Edition would include the following:
* Black paint with Gold striping and trim
* Gold polycast Honeycomb wheels
* Gold grille and headlamp liners
* Gold anodized instrument panel
* Gold steering wheel spokes
* Gold bird emblems inside and out
* Special Gold 50th Anniversary emblems on the quarter panels
* Hurst Hatch T-tops
* L78 Pontiac 400 (455 was optional)
Click here for more information
__ 1977 - 1981 Y81, Y82, Y84 SPECIAL EDITION
In 1977, they came out again with the Y82 Black and Gold Special
Edition Trans Am. This was the year and the car that was immortalized
in the movie "Smokey and the Bandit" If anyone ever asks you if your
car is a "Bandit" Edition... this is the one to which they are
referring. This Special Edition theme carried all the way through
1981, albeit with a small gap in 1978 when the Y88 came out (you can
read more about that in the Y88 section).
This Special Edition would include the following:
* Black paint with Gold striping and trim
* Gold alluminum Snowflake wheels
* Gold grille liners
* Gold anodized instrument panel
* Gold steering wheel spokes
* Red bird emblems inside and out
* Hurst Hatch T-tops (for Y82, cars without T-tops were labeled Y81
Click here for more information
__ 1978 Y88 GOLD SPECIAL EDITION
The Y88 Gold Special Edition Trans Am was in 1978 only. So, if you
have any other year besides a 1978, then you automatically know you do
not have a Y88 Special Edition Trans Am.
This Special Edition would include the following:
* Solar Gold exterior with dark gold pin striping
* Gold grille liners, I.P. engine turn, and misc. interior and
exterior gold emblems
* Black tail lamp housing, and black windshield and backlite
moldings
* Gold glass in Fisher hatches (CC1) with black molding
* Interior trim restricted to base or custom camel tan vinyl or
cloth
* Formula steering wheel in camel tan with gold spokes
* Gold 15x7 cast aluminum wheels (15x8 if the WS6 was ordered with
it)
Click here for more information
__ 1979 Y89 10TH ANNIVERSARY
In 1979, Pontiac Released the 10th Anniversary Y89 Pontiac Trans Am to
commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the first Trans Am that rolled off
the line in 1969. This was a limited production run of only 7500 Trans
Ams. Really, the only options that were available on the 10th
Anniversary Trans Am was the powertrain options. You had your choice
of either the Pontiac 400 with the 4-Speed transmission, or the Olds
403 with the automatic transmission.
This 10th Anniversary would include the following:
* Custom two-tone silver and charcoal paint
* A special 5 color hood-bird which wings extended over the hood and
onto the side fenders
* Silver (mirror) glass in Fisher hatches (CC1)
* Custom Deluxe silver interior with embroidered birds and "shag"
carpet
* Special "Turbo" wheels seen on later Special Edition Turbo, Pace
Car, and other Turbo Trans Ams
* Special 10th Anniversary emblems on the quarter panels and rear
spoiler
* All of the 10th Anniversary cars were fully equipped with pretty
much every option available at the time
Click here for more information
__ 1980 - 1981 Y85 TURBO PACE CARS
The Indy 500 race choose the 1980 Turbo Trans Am to pace the race in
1980. This was the first year that the same car paced both the Indy
500 and the Daytona 500. Pontiac made 5,700 of these cars to replicate
the car used to pace The Indianapolis 500.
This Pace Car would include the following:
* Turbo-charged 301 motor and was standard with the WS6 handling
package set off but the 15x8 inch turbo rims finished in white
* Fully equipped with power windows, power locks, A/C, and more
* A Special ETR AM/FM Cassette
* Custom Oyster vinyl seats with hobnail inserts and the bird was
embroidered on the center of the rear seats and on the door panels
* "Indy 500 Pace Car" door decals or the "22nd Annual Daytona 500
Mile Race" door decals were an extra option
* The Indy 500 emblem was located on the side fenders and the rear
tail spoilers
Click here for more information
__ "BANDIT" TRANS AM
Now, there was never a Factory "Bandit Edition" Trans Am. But, to be
truthful, there WAS a Bandit Edition Trans Am. Below is an article
from Motor Trend Magazine in June 1981 about a company called Trans Am
Specialties who did make a "Bandit Edition" Trans Am. As you will se
below, the cost of a Trans Am in 1981 was around $8,700 and this
Bandit Edition cost around $30,000. Just to clarify one more
time......... There IS NO BANDIT EDITION TRANS AM BUILT BY PONTIAC OR
GM ! !
The "Bandit" Trans Am could include the following (maybe):
* Universal Studios granted rights to the name for that limited run
to Trans Am Specialties, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, where new Pontiacs
become Burt Reynolds signature models
* 455 Pontiac V-8
* Doug Nash 5-speed gearbox
* Blaupunkt 3001 4-speaker stereo, an Escort radar detector, a
motion-sensitive theft alarm and the inevitable CB radio
Click here for more information
__ "BANDIT II" FIREBIRD
The Bandit II Firebirds were produced by a company called "Choo Choo
Customs" (sometimes referred to as "Chattanooga Customs" or "The
Custom Center") out of Tennessee. This Bandit II was strictly an
Appearance Package that was performed on Firebirds from 1987 to 1992
and consisted of a "mock" shaker scoop on the hood, custom gold decals
and striping reminiscent of the Special Edition Trans Ams, gold
snowflake type rims, special ground effects, and custom embroidery on
the front seat head rest signifying the "Bandit II", and a plaque on
the dash signifying the serial number of the car such as #143 out of
500.
The "Bandit II" Trans Am would include the following:
* "Mock" shaker scoop on the hood
* Custom gold decals and striping reminiscent of the Special Edition
Trans Ams
* Custom embroidery on the front seat head rest signifying the
"Bandit II"
* Plaque on the dash signifying the serial number of the car
Click here for more information
__ MACHO TRANS AM
The Macho Trans Am from DKM Design and Performance. Here is a little
of what I know about the DKM Macho Trans Am. Dennis and Kyle Mecham
back in 1977 wanted to improve the breed of Trans Am that were coming
out of the Pontiac Factory. They turned out a limited number of Macho
TA's in 1977 and were sold through their father's Pontiac dealership
and moved very quickly out the door. Due to their tremendous success,
they formed DKM Design and Performance, Inc. in 1978.
The Macho Trans Am would include the following:
* Macho Name decals and badges inside and out
* Plaque in the center console to signify the car was modified by
DKM
* DKM Logo on the center steering wheel button
* Each Macho Trans Am was numbered from the year
Click here for more information
__ 1977 SKYBIRD
I always have quite a few people ask me about the SkyBird Edition
Firebird Esprit. So, I figured I would devote yet another page about
the SkyBird Edition Esprit that was introduced in 1977. Here is a
little of what I know about the SkyBird. Unfortunately, there wasn't
any production numbers of how many of these cars were produced.
Pontiac had a hard time keeping track of cars in 1977 let alone what
color the cars were..
"SkyBird" Edition Firebird had for options:
* LOMBARD BLUE EXTERIOR (COLOR 21)
* LOWER ACCENT STRIPES
* LOMBARD BLUE GRILLE LINER
* DARK BLUE SKY BIRD GRAPHICS, FRONT, REAR AND SAIL PANEL
* LOMBARD BLUE CAST ALUMINUM WHEELS
Click here for more information
__ 1978 - 1979 REDBIRD
Here is a little of what I know about the RedBird. The RedBird Edition
Firebird Esprit was released in 1978. It replaced the SkyBird Edition
Firebird from 1977. Unfortunately, there was any production numbers of
how many of these cars were produced.
"RedBird" Edition Firebird had for options:
* ROMAN RED EXTERIOR (COLOR 72)
* RED BIRD RED LOWER ACCENT
* ROMAN RED GRILLE LINER WITH RED BIRD GRILLE TEXTURE
* BRIGHT GOLD RED BIRD GRAPHICS, FRONT, REAR AND SAIL PANEL
* GOLD FRONT END PANEL V CREST
Click here for more information
__ 1980 YELLOWBIRD
The YellowBird Edition Esprit that replaced the RedBird Edition from
1978 and 1979. Here is a little of what I know about the YellowBird.
The YellowBird Edition Firebird Esprit (Code W73) was released in 1980
and was the last of three color schemes for the Esprit.
"YellowBird" Edition Firebird had for options:
* YELLOWBIRD YELLOW EXTERIOR UPPER (COLOR 56)
* YELLOW ACCENT LOWER (COLOR 37)
* BLACK LENS TAILLAMPS W/ YELLOW HORIZONTAL RIBS
* BRIGHT GOLD YELLOW BIRD GRAPHICS, FRONT, REAR AND SAIL PANEL
* YELLOWBIRD CAST ALUMINUM WHEELS
Click here for more information
QUOTES TO LIVE BY
"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it
has taken place."
– George Bernard Shaw
"Nothing fixes a thing so intensely in the memory as the wish to
forget it."
–Michel de Montaigne
"For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don’t
believe, no proof is possible."
–Stuart Chase
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared
to what lies within us."
–Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Don't bother
just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be
better than yourself."
–William Faulkner
"The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your
own riches but to reveal to him his own."
–Benjamin Disraeli
__ ABOUT 78TA.COM, LLC
Started back in 2000 gathering information about the Second Generation
Pontiac Trans Am. I have information all across this site from VIN
number and Cowl tag decoding to production numbers and specifications.
Pages highlighting differences in decals, rims, interiors and more.
Also check out the store to save some money on your restoration
project.
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__ RECENT UPDATES
* __ Currently rebuilding website for the next generation.
* __ Stay tuned for more updates.
__ HELPFUL LINKS
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__ CONTACT INFO
Address:
P.O. Box 5111, Mentor, OH 44061-5111
Phone Number:
440-701-6550
E-mail: info@78ta.com
Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Site
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