What's it worth...?

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Colt2022

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www.ebay.com

1976 Pontiac Trans Am | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1976 Pontiac Trans Am at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
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Good looking car in pictures. Very radical engine build for street. Aftermarket 18" wheels. After speaking to seller I did a google search and found this car was sold at a Mecum auction within the last six months. Seller stated (2) reasons for selling. One, engine is just to radical for his liking. Second, said he doesn't have adequate storage space.

So, this doesn't line up...it would stand to reason he would have been the buyer at the auction whether it was in person or via phone bid. But, knowing of the hopped up engine build and not having room in his stable for yet another car why then would he have raised his hand in the first place?

Btw, if you copy and paste the VIN google search...and scroll down and find Mecum auto auction you will find a video of the car running at idle. And yes, it's sounds wicked...for sure. Not even sure it would run on pump gas!

You say....
 
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The car was built by someone thinking the bigger the number the better. 4.10 rear, 950 CFM carburetor on a 406, Victor intake, solid lifter high lift cam, etc. No mention of compression ratio which would dictate gasoline requirement. Not surprised it's Not streetable.
Price wise seems OK based on what they show here

Current Collector Car Value | 1976 PONTIAC FIREBIRD TRANS-AM Prices

Current value for 1976 PONTIAC FIREBIRD TRANS-AM collector cars.
www.collectorcarmarket.com
 
Thank you melsg5 for your input. I'm on the fence over this one. Like most considerations like this one it's a want way more than a need. Seller thought needed as well. So he bought this from a Mecum auction where he point out they don't let you test drive the cars your about to bid on. That just doesn't make sense at all. He goes on to say he doesn't like the lope of the cam and doesn't like the way it drives. That's two BIG strikes. What's left. Btw, FWIW the gentlemen (seller) stated he is now 81. That engine build is scratching at the heels of an official street fighter machine. I reside in SE TN... I'm thinking hard about having a third-party car inspector pay this seller a visit. Real curious with what it might disclose if anything.

Not real sure I can get the seller to budge off 28K. I do know that he doesn't have a place to keep it now that his son bought a new P/U truck. So, now it is sitting outside covered. I do know that no one has come a knock'in with cash in hand. Shipping fees from Phoenix to TN still need to be taken into consideration...etc. As always that's on the buyer, although I did sell a '69 Pro Street Camaro years ago to a guy out in Kennewick, WA. With one caveat...split the transportation costs or the deal was off.

IYHO: would this be a car worth having?
 
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You make no mention of what you intend to do with it. Drag race it? For any other purpose you will need to change rear end gearing and carburetor minimum. You need to also look up exactly what cam is installed and what the manufacturer says it's purpose is. You need to know the compression ratio since 110 Octane is about $15/gallon. Dollar wise it's correct for a 76 Trans Am based on the site I provided.
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Read the cam description
www.lunatipower.com

Drag Race Solid Flat Tappet Cam - Pontiac V8 292/302

Solid Flat Tappet Cam. Good cam for bracket racing applica- tions with 350-400 c.i. motors. Needs 4000-4500 RPM stall converter, headers, 10.5:1+ compression ratio and 4.10+ gearing. Rough idle. ;Advertised Duration (Int/Exh): 292/302 ;Duration @ .050
www.lunatipower.com www.lunatipower.com
 
I read you loud and clear...I'm 69 yrs. old there is NO drag racing in my future.

As far as value goes...there are no undercarriage pics...I have seen some real slick paint jobs in my time and some hiding a bunch of filler. I'm not berating what the numbering system is intended to do...yes it provides a (starting) place for values...but let's be honest...only a thorough onsite inspection will prove out its worth. I tend to believe the Collector Car Value estimater is geared more towards a bone stock factory car...not cobbled up with allot aftermarket components...otherwise it would be all over the place.

I do appreciate your assistance...as I have leaned on you...and you provided...thanks.

Unless a potential buyer has drag racing in mind this car just might be a tough sale.
 
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Colt2022 said:
I read you loud and clear...I'm 69 yrs. old there is NO drag racing in my future.

As far as value goes...there are no undercarriage pics...I have seen some real slick paint jobs in my time and some hiding a bunch of filler. I'm not berating what the numbering system is intended to do...yes it provides a (starting) place for values...but let's be honest...only a thorough onsite inspection will prove out its worth. I tend to believe the Collector Car Value estimater is geared more towards a bone stock factory car...not cobbled up with allot aftermarket components...otherwise it would be all over the place.

I do appreciate your assistance...as I have leaned on you...and you provided...thanks.

Unless a potential buyer has drag racing in mind this car will be a tough sale.
Click to expand...
I agree you cannt buy the car based on those pictures. So unless they can provide more detail or you have a third party inspection plus you want to invest more money to make it streetable, keep on looking.
 
I digress sir...until next time...
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Lunati Catalog -

30510910 40710 4000 - 7000 .550"/.571" 256/268 292/302 106/104 .024"/.026"Good cam for bracket racing applications with 350-400 c.i. motors. Needs4000-4500 RPM stall converter, headers,10.5:1+ compression ratio and 4.10+gearing. Rough idle

I believe this is the exact cam in question.
 
Colt2022 said:
Lunati Catalog -

30510910 40710 4000 - 7000 .550"/.571" 256/268 292/302 106/104 .024"/.026"Good cam for bracket racing applications with 350-400 c.i. motors. Needs4000-4500 RPM stall converter, headers,10.5:1+ compression ratio and 4.10+gearing. Rough idle

I believe this is the exact cam in question.
Click to expand...
Exactly, same link in post 5.
 
SOLD....but not to me(n) Just didn't feel right.

First time I've said that about buying a classic car, in the past I'm just...I want it and that's that. I suppose being retired my pockets aren't quite as deep as they once were. It's easy to lose sight of that...lol

Had 79 - 81 ground effects...as described by another Pontiac guru

Didn't like the aftermarket honeycomb wheels...very easy fix...although OEM period correct rims would be $$$$$$
 
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UPDATE :

This '76 T/A is back on the market...surprise surprise! Someone needs to latch on to this one. In the reposting on Ebay the seller states the apparent bidder backed out last minute. What's odd about that statement is the car is placed in a "Buy it Now" auction.

So, what is it about this car that makes buyers very cautious? Other that the radical engine build (correctable)...and ground effects...what are (potential buyers) seeing that the pictures aren't showing? What could be a turn-off?
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Colt2022 said:
UPDATE :

This '76 T/A is back on the market...surprise surprise! Someone needs to latch on to this one. In the reposting on Ebay the seller states the apparent bidder backed out last minute. What's odd about that statement is the car is placed in a "Buy it Now" auction.

So, what is about this car that makes people afraid of it? Other that the radical engine build (correctable)...what are (potential buyers) seeing that the pictures aren't showing? What could be a turn-off?
Click to expand...
You already know the answer, the engine. Buyers apparently don't want to start ripping apart a car they just bought.
 
www.mecum.com

1976 Pontiac Trans Am

1976 Pontiac Trans Am - Mecum Auctions - Discover the thrill of classic car auctions with Mecum Auctions. Watch videos of past auctions and see the world's most coveted cars up for bidding.
www.mecum.com www.mecum.com
 
melsg5 said:
You already know the answer, the engine. Buyers apparently don't want to start ripping apart a car they just bought.
Click to expand...
Yes, but if someone wanted what appears to be a solid car and the last year for the single headlamps @ 28K wouldn't swapping camshafts and a gear still be in the realm of a potentially good deal? But, then again the wrenching begins almost immediately.
 
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SOLD
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