saved one from the crusher non-mopar

[ga66mopar]

A few weeks ago. I was driving past a local scrap metal yard when I saw the front end of a 77-78 trans am sitting in a line of cars. I thought surely that car hasn't been sent to the crusher. I whipped it in and asked one of the yard workers if I could look at the trans am. When I got closer I couldn't believe my eyes. It was a 78 trans am with the original paint which was faded with the bird on the hood. The car had very little rust and was loaded out and has the 8 inch alum wheels (ws6). The engine was missing but it has the auto trans still in the car. I went to talk to the owner of the scrap yard to find out how the car got there. He said the original owner gave the car to his son and the son ruined the engine. The son pulled the engine and never did anything with it. Ten yrs later the mother wanted it gone so the son took it to the scrap yard. We agreed on a price of $900. As I was leaving with the car a guy came running out of the office with the original uncut shaker scoop in his hand saying don't forget this. I didn't need another project but there's no way I could let a rust free 78 trans am get crushed. The owner said few more days and the car would have been crushed. So now it's sitting in my basement waiting to be restored.

 

[Budnicks]

Awh yes, the old white trash, in the Trans Am...LOL... I'm Just messing with you, we use to say that to each other all the time... I too have been guilty of saving a few my self, a decade or more ago, a 1970 TA 455 4spd, a 1975 TA 400 TH400 & a 1994 FireHawk 6spd 25th aniversary, also my step father was a die hard Pontiac guy too.... Good luck with the 78 Pontiac TA... "Class of 77 rules"

 

[YY1]

There was a black one at a local yard around here about a year ago.
Surprisingly it was'nt picked clean.

I almost turned around last month, when i saw a 76/77 Nova 2 door on a hook heading to the scrapper neighborhood. I was running real late though.

I did turn around a few years ago and flagged down an old guy towing a 66 Coronet 500 with a flatbed full of junk. He swore he was just moving it, and wasn't interested in selling. I even offerd $500 (double scrap price at the time).

 

[76 Doba]

People unfortunately scrap good cars. I've saved some including one of the Cordobas I had and am happy to hear about this one. Too bad it wasn't all there, but atleast it's a one owner. Find out if it had the Olds or Poncho motor?

 

[ga66mopar]

People unfortunately scrap good cars. I've saved some including one of the Cordobas I had and am happy to hear about this one. Too bad it wasn't all there, but atleast it's a one owner. Find out if it had the Olds or Poncho motor?

It came with pontiac 400. It has the original heads and intake in the trunk. As easy as craigslist is to list a car you would think people would try to sell it before they drag cars to the crusher. Most of the time they would easily get more money. I noticed my teenage son and his friends really like the t/a.

 

[YY1]

I think I saved my 73 from the crusher.
it had been on CL for almost a year, dropping an average of $100 a month in asking price. I got it plus a boat load of extra parts for $650. Scrap price would have been about $400. Maybe more on account of the extra doors hood, and front steering stuff.

 

[tpodwdog]

Im not a big fan of the "joe dirt" trans am....but thats in pretty good shape. I might have had to save it myself ! Nice score!

 

[zdillinger]

I'd make it look like the Trans Am from The Good Guys, one of my favorite 1 season wonder shows.

 

[76 Doba]

I think I saved my 73 from the crusher.
it had been on CL for almost a year, dropping an average of $100 a month in asking price. I got it plus a boat load of extra parts for $650. Scrap price would have been about $400. Maybe more on account of the extra doors hood, and front steering stuff.

Good deal. I like those SEs. Do the doors just fit on SEs though?

 

[Bruzilla]

I sense a "Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time" situation. Down here in FL, I see lots of nice old cars that are going nowhere, and I know I could make some $$$ buying them for a couple hundred bucks and parting them out, but I know what would really happen is they would sit around until my wife told me they have to go and then I would be spending my time looking for the next "Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time" buyer to come along.

If it's not a car I am super passionate about, I have to walk away for own good.

 

[YY1]

Doors should work on any 73/74 Charger.

There is debate about interchange to 71/72 cars, but no one seems to be able to provide photographic proof.

The drip rail on SE "opera window" tops is truncated right behind the door glass, and a filler panel and fixed window is bolted in. That's the difference.

 

[Ron 73]

That Trans Am looks to be in great shape and anyone who liked those cars, 900 bucks is a steal, I saved one from a crusher years back.. its on the road now but almost cost a divorce and oodles of money, im lucky to have had a understanding wife. still am.

 

[70Fish]

Congrats on saving that Firechicken from the crusher! I know the younger generations love those 70's T/A's...Smokey and da Bandit!

 

[76 Doba]

Are there production numbers for how many SEs were made? Were they more popular initially? Are they even popular now in comparsion to the hardtop? Anyone ever make SE style inserts for their hardtop?

Back on T/As, I love them. One of the better cars of the mid-late 70s besides 300 and Magnum. I like the SE T/As too.

 

[YY1]

Sorry to subjugate the crusher thread...

Most conversions of 73/74s I've seen are FROM SEs to regular or non-vinyl tops.
Some turn out OK, most don't.

I, for one LOVE the curve of the SE top molding from the bottom of the C pillar up over the roof. I also like the implied spoiler "kick" in the body line and the wheel well openings that IMO make the quarters more proportionate than 71/72.

Back to crusher mercy.....There's a /6 71 Dart about 45 min from me that's been on CL for a while. Not running but fairly solid looking body. Last week- $1200. This Week $800. That's getting pretty close to scrap price.

Shiny paint and a late model 5.2/5.9 would do wonders for that car.
...or a 85-91 318 roller and lock up 904. Those can be bought running and driving for $1000 or less, plus you get 80% of the disk brake conversion if needed.

 

[68sportsatelliteragtop]

Nice save, now its time to save yourself from yourself. Find a Poncho forum and off that turkey to someone who will feed it lots of dollars and restore it the way you would restore a Mopar. I couldn't justify spending the restoration costs on a car that I wasn't in love with. Sell it, hopefully make a couple bucks.

 

[ga66mopar]

Nice save, now its time to save yourself from yourself. Find a Poncho forum and off that turkey to someone who will feed it lots of dollars and restore it the way you would restore a Mopar. I couldn't justify spending the restoration costs on a car that I wasn't in love with. Sell it, hopefully make a couple bucks.

Yeah that's more likely what I will do. I would love to pass it on to someone that will restore it and have fun with it. I just couldn't bare to see a car that solid get crushed. It even has the original am-fm 8 track radio. Who knows I may even make a few bucks.

 

[Sixpack70]

Good save, I always have liked GM's cars other than Chevy. Good price too!

 

[Budnicks]

Poncho Forum

Nice save, now its time to save yourself from yourself. Find a Poncho forum and off that turkey to someone who will feed it lots of dollars and restore it the way you would restore a Mopar. I couldn't justify spending the restoration costs on a car that I wasn't in love with. Sell it, hopefully make a couple bucks.

Your right about finding a decent Poncho/Pontiac forum like , www.highperformancepontiac.com , He ga66mopar can find some great Poncho/Pontiac guys there & maybe even potential buyers/parts suppliers etc... There were some decent guys over there at one time, they can help you with allot of your parts needs & information, but I haven't been there in quite a while now... I'm with 68SportSatRag "if your not in love with it, the return isn't realy worth the time & hassle"... Good luck with the 78 T/A restoration if that is what you choose to do... Year One also has a ton of parts for them now, very pricey but parts are available...

 

[99ss]

I have 79 z28 I saved as well. Going to use the money from it ( when its done) to re-finish the mopar