Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Gunslinger on April 23, 2006, 06:22:59 PM
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So I see this sitting outside and today it really caught my eye. It's really clean and has new tires on it. Honestly that's about as much as I know about it. Before I even think about calling the guy what would you pay for it if it was in decent shape and had a good motor under the hood?
(http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/5618/dcp11216zu.th.jpg) (http://img126.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dcp11216zu.jpg)
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if its in good condition I'd pay about 15,000$-30,000$
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Originally posted by RAIDER14
if its in good condition I'd pay about 15,000$-30,000$
any Idea what year it is just by looking at it?
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Originally posted by RAIDER14
if its in good condition I'd pay about 15,000$-30,000$
:rolleyes:
It looks to be a '79 - '81 Trans Am or Formula. After-market hood, non original paint and wheels.
Depending on condition of interior and drivetrain I'd say no more than 3 grand.
If it's a POS turbo 4.9 (301) I'd say avoid at all costs..but that's just me. It could have an Olds 403, depending on year.
1979: 301 (Pontiac), 403 (Oldsmobile), W72 400 (Pontiac)
1980: 301 (Pontiac), 305 (4 speed only) (Chevrolet), 301 Turbo (Pontiac)
1981: 301 (Pontiac), 305 (4 speed only) (Chevrolet), 301 Turbo (Pontiac)
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Originally posted by Gunslinger
any Idea what year it is just by looking at it?
Not exactly a good picture to be guessing by... but looking at what you've got I'd say 79-81 TA.
What I would pay for it depends alot on what engine/tranny/gearing it has, what kinda shape the car is in, etc.
'Course anything after the '78s are ugly as sin anyway.
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$15 to $30K?!?!?! Are you the one selling it? :lol
This trantran ain't worth much, especially since it's far from looking original. IF you do like the style, is it the original turbo eng or was it swaped with a more powerfull one? What's up with the lower body? (driver door). And u missing the front spoiler.
Isn't the owner Mexican?
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Originally posted by CavemanJ
Not exactly a good picture to be guessing by... but looking at what you've got I'd say 79-81 TA.
What I would pay for it depends alot on what engine/tranny/gearing it has, what kinda shape the car is in, etc.
'Course anything after the '78s are ugly as sin anyway.
It's been parked accross my house and has been growing on me for some reason.
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Here : :)
5K
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Pontiac-Trans-Am-NO-RESERVE-1978-TRANS-AM-454-BIG-BLOCK-BLACK-TA-NO-RESERVE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6427QQitemZ4630890441QQrdZ1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Pontiac-Trans-Am-NO-RESERVE-1978-TRANS-AM-454-BIG-BLOCK-BLACK-TA-NO-RESERVE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6427QQitemZ4630890441QQrdZ1)
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Originally posted by SFRT - Frenchy
Here : :)
5K
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Pontiac-Trans-Am-NO-RESERVE-1978-TRANS-AM-454-BIG-BLOCK-BLACK-TA-NO-RESERVE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6427QQitemZ4630890441QQrdZ1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Pontiac-Trans-Am-NO-RESERVE-1978-TRANS-AM-454-BIG-BLOCK-BLACK-TA-NO-RESERVE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6427QQitemZ4630890441QQrdZ1)
Says no longer available.
What part of Houston Frenchy?
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Originally posted by Gunslinger
It's been parked accross my house and has been growing on me for some reason.
If that's you, jump on it Gun. But with your eyes wide open.
Check out some of the F body forums. Make sure ya carfax the car.
I used to have a '77 with the bigblock 400. Had a lot of fun with that car =)
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I'm thinking of parking the jeep for a while. The suspension is in sorry shape and I don't want to wear it out. If this guy wanted under 2K for it and it ran well/mechanically sound I'd probably cut him a check right now. I'm still mulling it over. Not even to the point yet where I want to call him and get the info.
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Check ebay :
$500
I'm in Webster ... kind of, I drove my firebird to Salt Lake City, UT, my furnitures are still in Houston for a couple of weeks.
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Here's a closer pic
I don't want to look like a chester or anything as there's kids playing ball but this is the best my camera can do
(http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/4142/dcp11226pi.th.jpg) (http://img502.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dcp11226pi.jpg)
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Originally posted by SFRT - Frenchy
Check ebay :
$500
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Pontiac-Trans-Am-1978-trans-am-w-79-front-end-new-paint_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6427QQitemZ4632840627QQrdZ1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Pontiac-Trans-Am-1978-trans-am-w-79-front-end-new-paint_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6427QQitemZ4632840627QQrdZ1)
I'm in Webster ... kind of, I drove my firebird to Salt Lake City, UT, my furnitures are still in Houston for a couple of weeks.
Webster eh? Just moved from there to Kemah. Lived in Webster from '94 - '05. Salt Lake City? Won't ask why...HAS to be a job x-fer.
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Go ask the guy how much, and come back here. Compare with Ebay's Trans Ams, too give u an idea of how much people are willing to pay for a similar one.
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Originally posted by Gunslinger
Here's a closer pic
I don't want to look like a chester or anything as there's kids playing ball but this is the best my camera can do
(http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/4142/dcp11226pi.th.jpg) (http://img502.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dcp11226pi.jpg)
Hey Gunny, the cheesy aftermarket foglamps upfront say it all; the cars been butchered. I'd say avoid at all costs.
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Yep, flying cargo in Turbo Arrow, Seneca, Navaro there. Great place to raise kids it seems.
This car is probably a good example where the owner put a lot of money in aftermarket crap that pleased him, but ruined the resale value of an already cheap car. Except if he finds a guy with similar interests, he will hardly get his invested money back.
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Originally posted by DiabloTX
Hey Gunny, the cheesy aftermarket foglamps upfront say it all; the cars been butchered. I'd say avoid at all costs.
Yup I was thinking the same thing except that they are nice to have around here. Fog can be pretty bad in the mornings.
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In order to buy THAT particular Trans Am you have to look like this:
(http://www.firepolicemx.com/images/Joe%20Dirt.jpg)
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They stopped putting good engines in that car after 1973.
culero
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Originally posted by culero
They stopped putting good engines in that car after 1974.
culero
Fixed.
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see if the lug nuts will come off before yah buy it.
"it puts the lotion on...."
;)
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That car is for highschool kids. Sir, if your above the age of 18 Id say look into a better sports car.
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Originally posted by RAIDER14
if its in good condition I'd pay about 15,000$-30,000$
:eek:
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Raider I have a couple for sale, only $13,500 because u are an o'club buddy.:t
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Originally posted by BlueJ1
That car is for highschool kids. Sir, if your above the age of 18 Id say look into a better sports car.
I'm just looking for a cheap daily driver that won't turn into a major project.
With fuel prices climbing like they are I don't think...nay....I KNOW that car wont help me a bit. I did the math and with a civic or somthing that gets decent gas milage in the 20s the savings alone would pay for the car.
I got a look at the interior, it's clean as hell and it's an automatic.
Like I said, i'm not sure why but it just caught my eye.
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Mint condition, no miles, completely stock...$5,000-10,000.
You do know that's not a Lamborghini don't you Raider? It doesn't hold it's value for lamb chops.
I'd say look into a Fiat, Gunslinger:aok
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YOU might be a red neck if......
Originally posted by Gunslinger
Like I said, i'm not sure why but it just caught my eye.
:D
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Originally posted by Hangtime
YOU might be a red neck if......
:D
4 good tires CHECK
To include Lug Nuts CHECK
Air Conditioning CHECK
Lockable doors CHECK
well there's four things that my jeep doesn't have.
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Originally posted by nirvana
You do know that's not a Lamborghini don't you Raider? It doesn't hold it's value for lamb chops.
Actually, the second generation F-bodies, especially the Trans Ams, are seeing a resurgence in popularity with collectors. I'd pay 10 grand easily for a mint-condition '77 Smokey and the Bandit edition Trans Am like the one I had in high school;
(http://www.dreams-cars.net/images/Galerie/Pontiac/Pontiac_Trans_Am_1977/Pontiac_TransAm_1977_01.jpg)
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3 outta 4 the jeep doesn't need.
Suck it up, Gunny. You don't need no damn A/C, door locks or a ghey burt mobile with foglights.
yer a marine.
in the airforce.
get a dark blue honda with a window tint job.
;)
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Originally posted by DiabloTX
(http://www.dreams-cars.net/images/Galerie/Pontiac/Pontiac_Trans_Am_1977/Pontiac_TransAm_1977_01.jpg)
Damn that's a nice car!
Edit: Found a few on eBay...this looks like a helluva fixer upper tho Special Edition '77 trans am (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/77-Trans-Am-Special-Edition-Bandit-4-Speed-Tops-NR_W0QQitemZ4633292889QQcategoryZ6427QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
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Guns, that car has cholo tattooed across it's forehead. Trust me, it's not the car for you. You want a work car? Go find a Vette. Lots more fun and much better looking.
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A friend of mine was into vintage ferarris... He said you could get one that actually runs, looks decent, and is halfway reliable for around $10k. Yea it's old but it's still a ferarri :)
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Think I'll stick with my F-bodies, thanks. lol
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Originally posted by RAIDER14
if its in good condition I'd pay about 15,000$-30,000$
let me expand on what I said it would be worth 30 grand if they fully restored it new paint job , new interior , new engine , etc.
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:lol Sure you did Raider, even THAT wouldn't put it at $30K though. Come on kid, this isn't a brand new spankin car and it isn't even one in high demand, no way someone is going to pay 30K unless they are flat out dumb or know something that no one else does. Perhaps it holds Al Capone's secret riches! GERALDO!
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maybe with a $27000 dollar stereo
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Originally posted by Pongo
maybe with a $27000 dollar stereo
:lol
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Those things are bones man. :(
Buy another, new(er) wrangler or if you are looking for a car stay away from the fireterds.
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Originally posted by LePaul
Damn that's a nice car!
Edit: Found a few on eBay...this looks like a helluva fixer upper tho Special Edition '77 trans am (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/77-Trans-Am-Special-Edition-Bandit-4-Speed-Tops-NR_W0QQitemZ4633292889QQcategoryZ6427QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
Nice find. I am through with fixer-uppers. I'd rather just pay the bucks and let someone else deal with the wrench-turning.
Oh yeah, headers on that 400 were a b****. Yeah, I'll let someone else do that!
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Originally posted by Morpheus
Those things are bones man. :(
Buy another, new(er) wrangler or if you are looking for a car stay away from the fireterds.
Nuts.
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I hate Fireterds. Sorry. :)
One of the fugliest cars ever built. New Or Old.
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Hmm. I like my '98 firetard. It's really fast and even though it's almost completely stock and is 7 years old, on the track it handles/performs better than any stock mustang ever built. Reliable, great price when new, and an awesome value for buyers right now as even the premium trans-am is going for only about $8k used right now.
Where else can you get a true 159mph car for $8k?
I dunno what everyone else does to their f-bodies to make them die early deaths, but I towed a 1500 lb trailer (full car inside too) up over the pass at Lake Tahoe at 80+ mph, I've raced the car for 3 full autox seasons, and with well over 100k miles it still doesn't burn a drop of oil and is in great mechanical condition. In the last 7 years I think I've spent less than $3,000 in maintenance and repairs, including the paint work needed after I scraped against a hidden fencepost and had to get the door repainted.
It's not a classic yet, but I can't replace it with anything that has nearly the same performance and usability for under $40,000. Maybe a GTO will carry 4 people and haul a trailer, but the stangs just don't have the performance and GTO production has halted. A BMW M3 will of course beat it but why should I buy a $50k car to replace something that still works just fine and still outperforms anything but a mustang cobra, GTO, M3, or vette?
(http://www.mindspring.com/~seanlong/images/firebirdrace1.jpg)
(http://www.mindspring.com/~seanlong/images/firebirdrace2.jpg)
This last one is me lapping around texas motor speedway at about 120mph with all my race gear, including 60 lbs of tools and 4 tires, in the back of the car. That's why the rear springs look a bit low in this last pic, plus I think at that point I still had it floored just prior to catching back up to the pace car which was holding us to 80mph :)
(http://www.mindspring.com/~seanlong/images/firebirdspeedway3.jpg)
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Hell yeah, that's what I'm talking about!!
You had 4 tires stuffed into the back of that 'bird? Do tell, how'd you manage that?
I've got a '96 Camaro with the 3.8 w/5-speed manual, KnN F.I.P.K and Borla single in/dual out muffler. Drove it off the lot in June of '96 with 7 miles on the odo and it now has 82k and is in great shape.
I could care less what people think of these cars, I have been a fan of them since I was a kid and will continue to own them.
Gotta ask, what was it like hot lapping at TMS? Always wanted to do that.
Also just noticed the Camaro rims. They look better than what came with the TA's, nice touch. What mod's have you done to it?
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The TMS laps were great. We were all autox racers so being paced at 80 was disappointing, but we'd probably have killed ourselves if we could go flat out :) I think my car has enough grip that it felt like I could have taken it to at least 140 with reasonable safety but my car has that big spoiler and the trans-am body is actually pretty decent for aero.
The only mods I've done is adjustable race shocks, K&N air filter, iridium plugs because swapping out f-body plugs sucks, and a high performance muffler. Within the stock category, I'm allowed to also upgrade the front swaybar and use any cat-back exhaust as long as I use "stock" style cats. LS1 F-bodies are deliberately intake and exhaust restricted to ensure that from the factory they didn't compete with the vette, so you can get back nearly 20hp with a simple free flowing air filter and cat-back exhaust. No intake work is allowed, so I just have the filter and it noticeably improved throttle response.
I like the white camaro rims :) It sets off the red paint and gives it a bit more of a race-car look. They have identical geometry to the stock rims and they're really cheap ($60 each if I recall correctly) so they're an obvious choice to use as my race set.
4 full size tires in an F-body...
Slide passenger seat full fwd and tilt forward.
Slide drivers seat fwd about 6 inches.
Fold down rear seatback.
Place down old blanket to protect interior.
Stack 2 tires, level, behind the passenger seat. The top tire can go slightly farther outboard than the lower tire. Place towel between tire and ceiling to avoid black scuff on ceiling liner.
Using another towel to protect the passenger seatback, fold it back upright and slide it back until it touches the tires, holding them from sliding around.
Behind drivers seat, place one tire angled up so it's leaning on the two tires behind the passenger seat.
Protect driver seatback with towel, and move drivers seat until it also touches the tire, holding it into place.
Open liftgate.
Place tools in rear covered cargo compartment. Do this BEFORE putting last tire in otherwise you can't open the covered compartment very far.
Place last tire on center of raised rear deck, touching the tires up in the rear seat area.
Carefully close deck lid making sure tire doesn't hit glass. If you pop the glass out by slamming the lid shut on the tire, it's your fault not mine :)
This works with the standard 8.5" wide tires. I know it works with the biggest tires you can reasonably put on 16" rims, and it should also work just fine with the 17" firehawk or older vette rims, but the clearances might be a bit tighter. Worst case, you can put one tire up on the front passenger seat but I never had to do that.
I worked this out so I wouldn't have to tow a trailer to and from events since it was at least a 3 hour drive each way. On the other hand, if I had a trailer I could just keep all the crap in the trailer and loading/unloading before and after events would be a lot easier. I think I may end up just getting a small trailer kit and customizing it for my race equipment. That way I can keep other stuff like replacement brake discs and more tools/parts in there just in case I break something on race day.
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I guess calling the paced TMS laps "hot" is a bit of an exaggeration, but still 80 mph on the high bank oval is pretty cool. I was second to last in line so I lagged waaay off on the last lap and took it up to 120 entering turn 3 while catching up. That's both freaky and cool, driving straight at a wall at 120 and also seeing the road twist up and to the left. You know you just HAVE to gut it out and turn, because your other options of going straight, braking, or even turning and lifting off the throttle will all result in you wrecking into the wall at the top and then flipping all the way down the banking to the bottom where you'll get another nasty bump as you hit the level infield again.
So yea it wasn't a true "hot" lap but it was fast enough under the circumstances. I'd love to do it again without the crap in the back of the car but it's not really race prepped so it just wouldn't be safe. I may shell out the big bucks for one of those race weekends though, where you go through a day of academics and then get a true day of hot laps with an instructor in a fully prepped race car. Expensive, but I really want to do it before I get too old.
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You anywhere close to Houston?
I am amazed you could get those tires in there. I have hard enough time with just groceries!
The ONE thing that most disappointed me about the 4th Gen F-body's is that GM chose to go with a solid rear-axle. What a crappy decision that was.
Think we 'jacked this thread pretty good.
:aok
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I'm in Korea right now but in a year I'll be in Wichita Falls, 100 miles NW of Dallas. I did most of my racing in Dallas and Mineral Wells.
The solid rear axle makes the car handling a bit more old-skool, but it does have a very real traction advantage on the track. In test after test, LS1 F-bodies with only about 300hp have proven to be faster on road courses than 300+ hp mustang cobras, with both solid and independent rear axles. The solid axle isn't as easy to drive especially on an uneven surface, but in this types of car it's definately faster around the track due to a higher ultimate grip. Remember these cars were not really designed for ultimate track performance and handling... They're not going to be as fast as a vette or as nimble as a miata but they're suprisingly good for a 4 passenger car.
The solid rear axle also makes drag racing setup fairly straightforward. Anyone can bolt on some suspension mods in a single weekend that will enable any F-body to consistently put 500+hp to the ground. The F-body driveline is one of the most efficient drivetrains GM has ever produced, so I guess they figured that to truly replace the rear suspension setup with an independent setup that had the same level of performance, they'd have to go through a hideously expensive R&D process that would never pay off.
Yea every time I hit a bump when I'm on the gas and turning even a tiny bit, I nearly have a heart attack because the car jumps about 4 ft sideways. But I wouldn't be willing to spend 10k more on the same car just to get an independent rear suspension. At that point I may as well go for a vette or M3.
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Originally posted by eagl
Yea every time I hit a bump when I'm on the gas and turning even a tiny bit, I nearly have a heart attack because the car jumps about 4 ft sideways.
That's what I'm talking about. I don't road race or drag race my car and even with the 3.8 and getting on it if I hit an uneven patch of road it gets real twitchy.
And of course they beat a Mustang Cobra...it's a Mustang.
Good stuff you posted, thanks!
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Originally posted by DiabloTX
Actually, the second generation F-bodies, especially the Trans Ams, are seeing a resurgence in popularity with collectors. I'd pay 10 grand easily for a mint-condition '77 Smokey and the Bandit edition Trans Am like the one I had in high school;
(http://www.dreams-cars.net/images/Galerie/Pontiac/Pontiac_Trans_Am_1977/Pontiac_TransAm_1977_01.jpg)
I'm not ashamed to admit that that is my dream car.
I had a '75 Buccaneer Red Firebird with a spoiler and Hurst 4-speed, twin pipes, honeycomb rims, white leatherette interior. I bought it second-hand in college and put A LOT of bodywork effort into it. I ended up selling it when the body started to rot again and I knew there was more bondo than metal on it.
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$.50 is what I would pay for that.
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Originally posted by RAIDER14
let me expand on what I said it would be worth 30 grand if they fully restored it new paint job , new interior , new engine , etc.
Maybe you should bow out of this thread before you look like Nash.:D
Those transams may be worth 30 grand in 20 years when the rest of the good Musclecars are going for 70grand or more.
The late 70s firebirds sucked ass, the 301 is ****ty motor, the 305 is a gutless motor and the 301 turbo is one of the worst motors ever.
73 was the last good looking year and 74 was the last year a decent motor was around.
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Nice Pics Eagl!
I like the rims as well.
I have a softspot for solid axles myself, independant is overated.
Course you want handling quirks, try solid axles front and real lol. But no sane person tries to corner in a jeep.