History Repeats Itself for This Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 455 HO

The early 1970s were a confusing period in the engine bays of America’s cars, which saw the introduction of power-sapping emissions equipment, low compression, and crazy new math to calculate horsepower. None of it quite added up to the free-for-all fun our cars had been having just a few years prior.

Thankfully, there was Pontiac, which had a fine reputation for stuffing huge engines into small cars, a practice as much appreciated by enthusiast collectors today as it was by enthusiast buyers back then. GM’s performance division did its best to stave off the unstoppable downward trajectory of output headed our way.

Pontiac’s Firebirds were a prime example of the “no replacement for displacement” mantra, and they put up a good fight. The 1971 Trans Am, with its high-output 455-cubic-inch V-8, “only” churned out 335 horses, compared with the 370 from the previous year’s 400-cid V-8. By 1973, some 455-equipped Trans Ams were cranking out a mere 250 hp, and let’s not even talk about 1975…

In 1972, however, things were still relatively sunny in Poncho engine bays (the 174-day UAW strike at Norwood Assembly notwithstanding). That year, Pontiac built just 1286 Firebird Trans Ams equipped with the 455 HO motor, which made an even 300 horsepower and hefty 415 lb-ft of torque. You could spec yours with either a three-speed automatic or a close-ratio M22 four-speed manual, and 458 TAs were ordered as such. That number includes our Sale of the Week car, which brought $102,375 with fees on Bring A Trailer when it sold on February 17.

This Trans Am was delivered from the factory in Cameo White over an Ivory vinyl interior to Al Ives Pontiac in Tonawanda, New York, and sold with a sticker price of $4651.32. Goodies included a Safe-T-Track limited-slip differential, a shaker hood, power front disc brakes, quick-ratio power steering, a Hurst shifter, a Formula steering wheel, Rally gauges, and an engine-turned dash.

The car was fully restored in 2014 using many of the original parts, along with new old stock (NOS) replacements when possible, and it appears that power windows, a period-correct AM/FM radio, and the gorgeous 15-inch honeycomb wheels were added at that time (Rally II wheels were standard). It still has its original engine and transmission and comes with documentation from Pontiac Historic Services.

The car was consigned to BaT by Nevada dealer Pulse Exotics on behalf of Pontiac collector George Pehanick. In all, Pulse is selling nine of Pehanick’s cars, including six stunning, highly optioned Pontiacs (a pair of ’67 GTO convertibles, a ’61 Ventura restomod, a numbers-matching 1970 GTO Ram Air IV, and a rare 1970 Trans Am Ram Air IV among them). It’s always nice to know that the car you’re bidding on came from someone who truly appreciated it.

Pehanick acquired this Trans Am in 2019, purchased for $96,250 at Mecum’s Kissimmee auction. At the time, the odometer reading was, according to that listing, “believed to be 36,200 miles.” In photos on BaT, the odometer shows 56,485 miles, “less than 1500 of which were added under current ownership. Total mileage is unknown.” The inconsistency was flagged by commenters and addressed by Pulse: “We believe the claimed original 36,000 miles by one of the major auction houses in their listing may have been a bit of hyperbole. Perhaps they meant to list 56,000. In any event, we can assure you the owner of the car for the last 5 years has put very little miles on the car.” The explanation is corroborated by a user claiming to be the handler for Pehanick’s cars.

Bidding opened at $22,222 and in 45 minutes had gone up to $60,000, fueling speculation in the comments that the selling price was going to reach the stratosphere. One commenter went so far as to claim these Ponchos “would be worth a million if they had a Ferrari or Maserati badge.” That’s likely true, but given the nature of the Ferrari market, so would a Ventura II, which is not an insult to Trans Ams, but merely a reflection on our wacky world.

This Trans Am did not sell for a million, of course, and in fact sold for nearly the exact same price it did five years ago in Florida. Back then, we likely would have considered it to be very well sold in #2 (Excellent) condition, when its approximate price guide value was $60,000. Today, a decade removed from its restoration, despite limited use, the car is likely closer to something between #2 and #3 (Good), which would peg its value around … $60,000. In that regard, we’d have to say, again, this car was very well sold.