1967-2002
Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
2012 Update
I cannot believe 2011 has come and gone. We even managed to finish off the year without buying any more cars. I cannot tell you how happy that makes my mom, she worries too much about me. The even better news is that we have no plans on buying any in the near future. My main goals in 2012 are to get better health wise, as 2011 was not the kindest of years. My pain is daily now, and even driving the cars at times has become painful and tiresome at times. I am hoping 2011 is my last full year of employment. By this time next year, I am hoping to be turning in my retirement papers, and then I can start getting paid every day for not working. I am hoping for a better economy, so my investments will grow this year, to allow me to continue my Pontiac Firebird passion, both in toys and real cars. My plans this year are to continue collecting parts, and finish the projects my son and I have started. Just last week we bought some nice GTA rims for my Bandit II car. After I retire, my hopes are to finish the 1977 Trans Am SE, and attend the Bandit Run in Florida. After that, I will be taking my 1979 Nocturne Blue Trans Am to the Trans Am Nationals. With part of my retirement investment, I am going to be buying a SUV and enclosed trailer to transport my cars to these events.
In the mean time please enjoy my site as I continue to update the pictures of the Firebirds and Trans Am cars in the history sections of my site. I am going to add thousands of new pictures, including rare pictures from the past. There are many dealer pictures coming as well.
And please continue to email me, and tell me your Pontiac Story
I hope many of you will remember me, my name is Gilbert. For many years, I tore up the eBay web site with winning bids on all kinds of Firebird and Trans Am items. I not only had the largest Firebird toy collection around, but I also collected all Pontiac memorabilia. I spoke with many fellow bird watchers, and enjoyed the hobby. Well, bad health hit me several years ago, and I sold all of my real cars, and only kept the toys. I dropped off the map as they say.
Then came the year 2004. Better health, and new medication came along. Then something happened that would change my life. Better than any drug, or money, or dream. I was having dinner with my parents, on my dad's birthday. We were talking old times, me of my old cars, and life with my first Trans Am. My father then started talking about his first car. Guess what. It turned out to be a Pontiac. A 1949 Pontiac he had bought after he got back from Korea. Then he paused in his speech, and said something that stopped me dead in my tracts. He said, "you know, there isn't a day that doesn't go by that I don't think about that car". The reason it hit me so hard, is that is what I felt every day also. As I looked at my dad, I knew what I had to do. I knew that I did not want to be sitting here twenty years from now, saying the same thing to my kids. It still ate at me that I had always been sorry that I had sold my 1979 Trans Am. That was my first new car, purchased in Anaheim, CA at Jack White Pontiac in 1978. I bought it the first week the new 1979 Trans Am cars came out. It was nocturnal blue, with light blue trim, and was my pride and joy. I joined several clubs, and went to several car shows and events, including what they called a Trans A Rama back in those days. Over a hundred Trans Ams went to the event, and I had some great times. Those were the best times of my life. The plates on my Trans Am read "TA DEVIL". But when the real life issues happened, and I had to sell all my Trans Am cars.
The very next day after my dad's birthday, I started looking for my lost years and begin to look for a 1979 Trans Am. Not just any Trans Am, but one that would bring back the joy and pride I had in my first Trans Am. I found a few that were close, but they were not in the best of shape, and the price of these cars had started to rise. I searched for just under six months looking for the right Trans Am to replace the legend. All the cars I saw left me feeling like I would never find the perfect one. I could settle for some of them, but I knew I would not be happy in the long run. So I had to face the facts. If I was going to find the car to replace my original one, only the best was going to work for me. And I knew I was going to pay what ever it took to get that car when I found it. Then one day, I saw the car that I wanted and had to have.
I found it on eBay, listed in Seattle WA. It was in mint shape, with only 45,000 miles. It had all the options, including the famous WS-6 package. The only non original item is the after market CD player, installed using the original radio face plate. Two additional speakers were added to the front, not causing any damage, and the rear speakers were also replaced with new speaker grills. All the new speaker grills were painted using the correct GM camel color, and look great. This was the one. It spoke to me, and I just knew this was the one from the pictures posted. I waited till the end of the auction, and bid ten thousand over the current bid. I was not going to lose out on this car. I won the bid, lucky for me not the full 10K over current I had bid, and got ready for Firebird Fever to set in. I bought a plane ticket, overcame my fear of flying for that day, and flew to Seattle. When I saw the car, life started over again. I drove it home, having the time of my life doing so. At every gas station, I had the attendant comment on the car. I had people come up to me to tell me stories of the car they had back in the 70's. I felt like Burt Reynolds. So radio blasting, and T-Tops off, I was south bound and down, coming home to Southern California.
Pictures of our eleven (11) cars in 2008!!!!
Click on the cars to see them all
"Where it really started for me, my dad and his first car, a 1949 Pontiac Chieftain"
Here is his car, back then, parked in front of his house.
I did something different this past Christmas. I sold one of my cars, and bought my dad the same car he had back when he returned from the Korea war. Click below for the info on my dad, his life as a Tank Driver, Police Officer, and now a new car owner.
A classic Pontiac makes an excellent addition to anyone’s classic car collection. There are many ways you can find classic cars for sale either online or in print to help you get the car of your dreams. Find great deals on Pontiacs at used cars dealerships, such as this used cars Brampton dealership.
Question or answers or comments, please email me.
Here is the car that jump started my life again. B
eautiful Nocturnal Blue, with tan trim and interior, I located this winner on eBay in October of 2004. In showroom condition, the miles are just over 45,000. I flew up to Seattle WA from Southern CA, and drove it home, with no issues. It has all the options, including the WS-6 performance package. It has all the power options, including the rare power antenna on the front fender. This was usually reserved for the 10th Anniversary cars only, and very few non Anniversary cars have them. The paint is all original, as is the hobnail interior. This is the first car I bought when I started getting back into buying and starting my mini collection. I am the second owner, and this car has never seen rain. I love it. Pontiac documentation was included.
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We now attend car shows and enjoy weekend drives only. The paint is like glass, and the interior is still like new. The best showings so far have been the Pontiac Oakland Western Regional events in 2005 and 2008. We took first place both years in the stock 1970-1981 Trans Am class.
Shortly after getting my 1979 T/A, I went after one of the old birds, and found this 1969 Firebird 400. The 1969 has always been my favorite early bird, so this was the one I really wanted. I found it on a classic car sale site on the internet in December of 2004. All stock, with many options, including some rare ones, it sports 88K original miles. I am the third owner, and was delivered new here in Southern California back in 1969. Pontiac documentation was included.
Next it was my son's turn to get his first real car. He found this 2000 NHRA Trans Am on eBay, and it was on the way in late December of 2004. Arriving December 24, 2004 from Texas, it is in great shape. All options, including T-Tops on this rare bird. He is the second owner of this car, and has added many upgrades on this car. Pontiac documentation was included.
A
s my daughter graduated college in January of 2005, it became her turn at her dream car. Showing that I raised my kids right, she went after a newer Pontiac, an Impulse Blue 2004 GTO. Found on eBay in April 2005, and belonging to a young actor from Hollywood, it came with only 4,000 miles, and all the options. We are the second owners of this car, and all Pontiac documentation was included.
On May 5 of 2005, I saw this car on eBay. Just like my first car, Dark Blue with light Blue trim. It looked like a nice daily driver, and I needed one, so I bought it. It was trucked in the last week of May 2005, arriving June 3, 2005. This car has just over 100K, but has T-Tops and the famous WS6 handling package. Not a show car, but you cant beat driving to work in a classic 1979 Trans Am like this.
Sold
My daughter and son wanted a second car they could share, so they wouldn't have to drive their T/A or GTO to work or school. Again turning to eBay, we found this mint, stock 1988 Fiero GT, with 53K. My kids flew up to Colorado in July of 2005, and drove it back home, with no problems. Everything works, including the A/C that they used driving back home. It was over 100 degrees in Las Vegas on the drive home. This car turned out so nice, that they don't use it as a daily driver. Car shows and events only now. Best showing so far is second place finish in a local Pontiac show.
I am not sure why, but I was still looking at cars on eBay in May of 2005, when this car caught my eye. It's a 1985 Trans Am roadster, made by Auto Form Corp. back in the 80's when Pontiac stopped making the Firebird convertibles. Sporting the classic black with gold trim design, the rear seat area is now covered with bullet like head backs, like the batmobile. In great shape with only 74K, it now becomes the 10th Pontiac we own here in our house. It arrived safe and sound in July 2005 after the Fiero arrived. We are the second owners, and Pontiac documentation was included.
I bought this car in December 2005 on eBay to be a daily driver. I really wanted a Firebird 400, but could not afford it at the time. I tried to be happy with it, but it just wasn't the same. I kept it and drive it once in a while, but I will be selling it this year. I might get that Classic Firebird driver, or just use it be buy gas for the other cars. I need loan money just to fill the cars up now!!
Sold to buy my dad's car
This car has always interested me. Pontiac has always been so far ahead of the curve when it comes to options on it's cars. This 1989 Grand Prix Turbo L/E follows this proud tradition. Powered by a McLaren Turbo Charger, it does 0 to 60 in about 5 seconds with very minor modifications. This car has that, so it becomes a daily driver for us in May of 2006. Found of eBay, the car was shipped in June 2006. We are the third owners, and has just over 100K miles.
Sold to buy the 2002 GTP below
When Pontiac brought back the ram air hoods with the 4th generation birds, I fell in love with them. It looks evil and powerful just parked. Once again on eBay, I saw this car in September of 2006. A 1996 Firebird Formula LT1 WS-6, with 6 speed. It had 116K miles, but the owner had kept the car up nice, and it had just been serviced. Always looking for a bargain, my kids and I drove up to Oregon November 4, 2006 and made the 1000 mile drive back with no issues. My plan is to use this car for small weekend trips, to the likes of Monterey, San Francisco, Palm Springs, San Diego, or any where we can drive with the T-Tops off, and radio blasting.
Sold to buy the 1999 Firehawk below
One of my original cars back in the late 70's and early 80's was a green 1969 Firebird 350 Convertible. I have some pictures of it here on my site, and was a very stock, very low optioned car. It had a manual top, base hub caps, and drum brakes. But I still liked that car, the way the engine smelled, the fresh air when driving, etc. So I found this car online in April of 2007, and called right away. Two days later I had paid for it, and 10 days later it was in my garage. This one is the top of the line, with the 400 Motor, Power disc brakes, power windows, power antenna, rally II rims, deluxe interior, working A/C and Power top. This will be a show car after we clean and polish, and replace a few trim items.
Still online, I found this site called Craig's List. A local want ad type service, I saw this 1
998 Firebird Formula LS1 in May of 2007. After talking to my son, we agreed to go share the cost of this car. He had been driving my older Bonneville SSEI supercharged car, but his Trans Am has the LS1 engine, and he loves that engine. This car has 88K original miles, and always dealer serviced. The owner spent over 3K on the car just before he sold it, changing all belts and hoses, and servicing all items like new brakes, air conditioner, and required maintenance items. My son has been driving it to school and word since then. Keep posted, cause even if my son says he is not going to change anything, I say that all the time, and I always do~!
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Still on Craig's List in April of 2008, this nice Firehawk called out to me.
This car has 60K original one owner miles, and always dealer serviced. The owner had this car as a company car!!. Man, am I working for the wrong company. I will keep this car original, but have some plans to upgrade a few items. I sold the 1996 Formula to get this car. Keep checking back, this car is going to be super nice in a few months when we are done with it.
Having just sold our 1996 Trans Sport Van with 117K miles, I ran across this one on Craig's list. I wasn't looking for a new van, but the miles, only 46K is what caught my attention. While only one year newer than the one I had just sold, 1997 was the year Pontiac redesigned this van. In only a few months with us, we have taken my daughter up north to college with her furniture, picked up three sets of chrome rims, two sets of tires, and one rear hatch for a Trans Am. And I see many more adventures in the near future for our new van.
Still online, still on Craig's List, this Grand Prix joined us in July of 2008.
This car has 56K original one owner miles, and always garaged. It comes with a long list of options, including moon roof, leather interior, chrome rims, and heads up display. It drives like a new car, and even smells new inside. The engine is the stock 3800. We sold our 1992 Bonneville SSEI and upgraded to this ride. I really enjoy the ride, and quality of the car. This becomes my daily driver for now.
Craig's List is going to break me. As I was enjoying my new 2002 Grand Prix GT, I ran across an ad for this 2002 Grand Prix GTP supercharged coupe the following month in August of 2008. Sure, it was nice, and a great price, but I figured it had high mileage or issues. Guess what?? It was a one owner, elderly couple, car with only 15K miles. That's right, they put just over 2K a year on it. I spent two days talking with Dan at Costa Mesa Pontiac and GMC before I decided I wanted it. I listed and sold my 2001 Bonneville SLE in one day, and one day later I was taking this car home to join his GT brother. I am so impressed with how these two Grand Prix cars drive.
Original owner, Southern California car, this documented Special Edition Smokey and The Bandit Trans Am is going to be a father and son project over the next few years. As time, work, school, and money permits, we are going to bring this car back to show room condition. Right now it just sits, and get driven a few miles every week. It's time will come soon.
February of 2010, my son was looking at Craig's list in Los Angeles when he came across this car. The ad said it was a 1982 MSE Trans Am. My son remembered my old MSE, and sent me the ad. I called the owner, and he gave me the following information on the car. It had 124K miles, but the engine and transmission had less than 15K miles on them since being rebuilt. The owner had owned the car for over ten years, and had also upgraded the suspension. We drive down that night, and one week later my son had bought himself a new car. I will help him a little, but this will be something he can fix up, and drive any time he wants.
The time has come for my youngest daughter to start driving. Always checking Craig's List, I saw this car in April of 2010. My son and I went to check this car out, and we liked what we saw. It came from CA with about 122K miles, and has every option, including leather interior, heads up display and a sunroof. Then Engine is the 3.4L, and is fast enough for her while she learns to drive. It also get great gas mileage, and has that great Pontiac Shark look.
The 1989 Turbo Trans Am has always been on my wanted since the day it came out. I remember seeing it at the dealership and reading all the magazines when this car came out. They all said the same thing. This was the fastest production Trans Am ever built. It was also the fastest car of the year. Only 1555 Turbo Trans Am cars were built that year. But by 1989, I was already ill, and had sold all my cars.
So fast forward to July 2010, when my son is checking out Craig's list looking for car parts. He came across this Turbo Trans Am, with 66K miles, and all original. The price peaked my interest, so a few days later we were driving to look at the car. The car comes from the factory with only two options. Leather interior, and the famous T-Top option. This car has both, which is my preference. The car is far from perfect, but my son and I will be fixing up the car over the next few months. The upside on this rare car, with low miles, was too great to pass up.
During the last few months of 2010, my son decided he wanted a bigger project to work on. He has been doing several small projects, by himself and with a mechanic friend, but he came up with an idea. We all know that the third generation cars are the slowest, most under powered cars under the F-body name. The idea, the project to to do? How about putting a 4th generation LS-1 in a 3rd generation car? Enter one blown engine, good interior, great bodied Firebird.
Ever since my dad's birthday a few years ago when he said that there wasn't a day that went by that he didn't think about his first car, I always wanted some day to change that for him. When ever I got the chance, I would tell him to find one like his old car, and buy it. Since I had done that, I tried to convince him that it would make him happy. But he always said no, he didn't need one. My thought was it's not a question of need, it's about wanting, and enjoying the things that make us happy. In August of 2010, I saw this car on ebay. A 1950 Chieftain, auto transmission, straight 8 engine, and same brown color as my dad's. It looked perfect, with 80k original miles, no rust, and all original. It had a reserve, and did not sell. I emailed the owner, asking about what it would take to sell me the car, and how much time I could have to pay him, since I didn't have the money after just buying the Turbo Trans Am. The rest is history, just click on the Pontiac for the full story.
Ever since I sold my Bonneville SLE to buy the Grand Prix GTP, we have been without a four (4) door car. I missed the convenience of the extra doors, and the better riding of a heavier car. We enjoy attending Laker and Clipper basketball games, concerts, and I enjoy weekend getaways. The two doors were just not cutting it. So in November and December, I started looking around for a nice used, low mileage Bonneville. Oh, and I wanted a really great price. Don't I always. I also heard good things about the Cadillac Deville, with its large trunk, and air ride suspension. So I started looking at them as well. After searching for two months, I found a nice 2003 Bonneville SLE with 49,000 miles, here in Southern California. I found it on Craig's list, and called the same day it was advertised, and was set to see it first thing in the morning. I called before heading out to see it, only to find out that the owner's next door neighbor jumped me on the car and bought it the night before. Then it happened. This car showed up on Autotrader.com. Listed as a one owner car, with just over 22,000 miles. How could that be??? And the price was even lower than I expected, and dealer certified. After some phone called and verification, my son and I were northbound to a city called Vacaville, in Northern California.
Over the past six months, my son has been dropping hints that he liked the Corvette, and would someday like to have one. After some thought, I decided not to kick him out of the house, and looked at the links and ads he would send me about cars he saw and liked. He wanted the new body style, with the LS1 engine and 6 speed manual.
Thinking our car buying days were done for a while, I was looking on Craig's in June 2011, just to keep up on current trends and prices. And this car caught my eye. I have always liked the 1991 1992 front and rear end covers, and the whale tail from the Formula. The fact that this car claimed to have Paxton supercharger at one time, was very interesting to me. It had 82K, lots of power options, including the power bulge hood, rear spoiler, and nice rims. So off my son and I went to check it out. It ran well, and we both liked it, but we felt it was a little high price wise, with the work that needed to be done. We made an offer, but the seller felt it was to low. I upped our offer, but still not enough. So we walked away, but left our offer on the table, and left in good terms with the seller. About two weeks later, the seller called us back. He lowered his price to almost matched ours. How could I say no at that point?
While checking Craigslist in July of 2011, looking for the Supercharger blower unit for our new 1991 Formula, I saw this car listed in San Jose CA. It was called a "Bandit II Limited Edition". I spent the better part of the night on the internet trying to research information on these cars. What I found was that they were made by a company called Choo Choo Customs, out of Tennessee.
Just for fun, I called the owner to see what information he could give me, knowing that I really shouldn't get this car, after just getting the 1991 Formula two months prior. He had a lot of information on it, being the second owner of the car. He bought it in 1993 with 1800 miles. It is in original condition, having had one repaint many years ago. It now shows 124K, with automatic transmission, power windows, door locks and rear hatch. It has A/C, and the T-Tops that made Trans Am cars famous. The engine is the 5.0 injected V8.
The exterior is very straight, no dings, and only one dent, that I am confident will come out with a dent removal service. The paint is not show quality, with minor issues my son and I can fix with power cleaning and detailing. The interior is also in nice shape, needing a dash cover, center console lid, headliner, etc. The price was still an issue, being more than I was comfortable with paying. The owner and I hit it off well, and he liked the idea of my son and me taking the car home to be kept original, and well taken care of. He dropped the price to the point that I could not pass it up. With that in mind, we agreed on his new price, and I cashed out my vacation time for money, and the car was mine. I just returned from San Jose with the car, and we made it home without issue.
And the really bad news, I still look for cars on eBay every day. What will be next?
Maybe one of these, I like these cars!!!
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1973 Trans Am 455 Pontiac Motor, some are SD, but very expensive. Not sure I can afford the SD, but I liked the new colors, and the first year of the Bird on the hood. |
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1977 L/E Can Am with Shaker Scoop 400 Pontiac Motor, one year only muscle car. Would look great next to all the Trans Am cars we have. |
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2006 G6 Hardtop Convertible Not sure on the color, but I really like the idea of a convertible with a hard top. |
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2009 G8 GXP Not sure on the color, but I think I will have one of these in a few years, then prices come down and I am ready to retire. I like the look, and the power of the V8. |
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Feel free to ask us any questions about any of our cars!
2012 Car Shows
12th Annual Show N Shine
Saturday January 28, 2012
Lake Forest, CA
(New Location!!!)
All Pontiac GM Show
Pontiacs of Central California
Saturday April 29, 2012
Madera, CA
(New Location!!!)
Weekly Car Gatherings in our Area
You never know who you might see~~
Past car shows we have attended
Click on the picture below
Click below for pictures of my past Trans Am and Firebird cars.
Trans Am Club and Trans A Rama
I have also been collecting Firebird and Trans Am toys since 1979. I was credited by several toys publications several years ago with having the largest Firebird Trans Am toy collection in the world. So I am adding pictures of my toys, so you can see what is out there. Please feel to ask question, or make any comments. Please enjoy the pictures, and check back, I will be adding sections weekly.
Visit my toy website below
The most complete toy history of the firebird Trans Am in the world~~~~
If they had brought it back, we would have bought them.
How sad
2011 Trans Am
Trans Am Depot in Tallahassee, Florida
2011 Trans Am
Heide Performance Products
2011 Trans Am
ASC Global
2011 Trans Am
Lingenfelter
2011 Firebreather
Site Update~~
I am going to add a new page to my site, called
If you want to see your Pontiac car on the web, send me some pictures, and I will add them here
News Update~~
If you are a regular to my site, or just visiting and read the story of my first new car, my 1979 Trans Am, listen to this. I received a package today, from Australia, with some pictures, and several post cards. Why is this important enough for my to include on this website? Well, the package was from a Mr. Paul Morey. The same Mr. Morey that I had sold my Trans Am to back in 1988. I didn't have his name, or address, but he found me on the internet, and heard of my sorrow in selling my car. He read that I missed the car, and often wondered what ever became of my TA Devil. Well, here is the story of "What ever happened to my first car".
Question or answers or comments,
please email me
Site Updated on:
Sunday, January 22, 2012
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Question or answers or comments, please email me