Buy This Red-Dragon Before I Do (Too Late)

"M.T. Blake" (autohabit)
07/27/2018 at 16:05 • Filed to: the hunt, bring a trailer, pontiac trans am, red dragon, frank the tank, the dream it is alive

I have a quiet obsession with movie cars. I also have an obsession with Will Ferrell movies from the mid-2000s era ( mostly Old School and Step Brothers ). So when I saw this red ‘78 Pontiac Trans Am I couldn’t help but be extremely envious. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Oh and I do enjoy a cheap PBR from time to time too. The dream. It is alive. But what will it cost?

Iconic for me. Maybe not for you. You should start watching some higher class movies!

Anyone who owns a beauty like this is a hero to me. Then again, your neighbors will simply know you as the ‘ red fire chicken ’ owner, but what do they know? Do they know Old School? They should. It is a College movie classic. I put it up there with Animal House, American Pie ( series ), and Van Wilder ( with Animal House being the original and most iconic ).

Not only do I have an obsession with this Red Dragon, but many others. Mostly the attainable cars you and I could afford. I mean who has the money for an Eleanor from ‘Gone in 60 Seconds’... not me! After watching ‘Baby Driver’... a red WRX was on the list, those are attainable, just a little rare. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

My favorite rubber bumper from the 74-81 era F-Bodies.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! And at its current ( of writing this ) bid $17,500, with 3 hours left , it just sold for $22,277, it seems like a great deal. These weren’t always this collectible or expensive. They were very cheap only 10 years ago. I remember seeing cars nearly this clean for under 10 grand. I kick myself for not picking one up then, but I didn’t have a place to put one then.

Could you listen to any other music than White Snake while driving this? I think not.

The interiors of any 1970-81 Camaro or Firebird didn’t change too much. I do find this interior !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . The aluminum dash is unique and beautiful. I’ve always found these more attractive than the black plastic or !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! that were also available.

This Trans Am is also paired with the only transmission any enthusiast should ever be allowed to have, the manual. I’ve got one. The throw is comically long compared to anything newer. It is like driving a manual pickup truck. Does anyone ever talk about how far apart the pedals are? Heel-toe is impossible without bending the pedals closer together... or buying bigger pedals but that would be sacrilegious to put big aluminum pedals on a muscle car.

Shaker hood is the best hood.

I’d love to give more than my 2 cents on this engine but other than the shaker hood, I’m not too impressed. It looks clean with numerous new parts visible. I’ll just let the Bring A Trailer ad describe further:

The Pontiac V8 bears 400XX and WC block stampings as shown in the gallery, signifying it to be the correct W72 T/A 6.6 liter engine. It been bored and rebuilt with Butler Performance forged crankshaft, rods, and pistons resulting in 8.0 liters of displacement and higher compression ratio. A more aggressive camshaft was also installed along with new valves and springs in the factory heads. A Borg-Warner T-10 4-speed manual gearbox sends power to the rear axle through a 3.08 rear end. The exhaust system features Ram Air 3 exhaust manifolds, Spin Tech Sportsman mufflers, and an X pipe exiting through correct split chrome tips. The seller notes a small exhaust leak at the intake manifold heat crossover, and will provide a Felpro intake manifold gasket set. The original Quadrajet carburetor was also rebuilt, and an engine block heater is equipped.

Best front end of this generation too. Smokey and the Bandit got it right but I still prefer red.

Will one of you buy this Red Dragon before I do?! If I buy it, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . My wife can only take so many F-Body projects being revved up late into the night, by an intoxicated man, blasting classic rock. Any Stevie Ray Vaughn fans or should I stick to the 80s big hair bands?

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DISCUSSION (39)

CaptDale - is secretly British > M.T. Blake
07/27/2018 at 12:39

Fuck me that is beautiful!

Takuro Spirit > M.T. Blake
07/27/2018 at 13:03

Yeah but.... they used a red REAR sidemarker in the right front.

Kinja'd!!!

Should be amber.

dogisbadob > M.T. Blake
07/27/2018 at 13:05

why the fuck would I buy a Trans Am without T-tops? :p

Takuro Spirit > Takuro Spirit
07/27/2018 at 13:06

Also, fix the turn signals and headlights , they’re a bit cattywampus.

Kinja'd!!!

Takuro Spirit > dogisbadob
07/27/2018 at 13:07

Because you like dry pants?

M.T. Blake > Takuro Spirit
07/27/2018 at 13:11

Good eye!

M.T. Blake > Takuro Spirit
07/27/2018 at 13:11

Lol. Your house must be immaculate.

itschrome > M.T. Blake
07/27/2018 at 13:14

You forgot to add PCU to your list of classic college movies, there for this car is a TURD. way to go! you happy now?

M.T. Blake > dogisbadob
07/27/2018 at 13:15

The fixed roof version is always more reliable and sturdy. I’ve had t-top 300zxeses and it’s a pain in the ass taking them off and putting them back on. I mean who leaves the top off at the store? You’re liable to return to a milkshake spilled on the seats from that guy you cut off or saw you burn out in the neighborhood.

My bird IS the word > M.T. Blake
07/27/2018 at 13:15

Body looks in good shape, and that is all that really matters on these. I bet you those headlights just need new adjusting screws, the plastic retainer gets brittle.

M.T. Blake > itschrome
07/27/2018 at 13:15

I am never happy. The pursuit is ever lasting and persistent.

M.T. Blake > My bird IS the word
07/27/2018 at 13:16

Body work is the most expensive! ;)

Takuro Spirit > M.T. Blake
07/27/2018 at 13:17

No, but my Trans Am will be.

itschrome > M.T. Blake
07/27/2018 at 13:19

happiness is just the fleeting light you see on the horizon as your slowly sucked into a black hole as your body is compressed and pulled into a trillion little pieces .. keep chasing the light my friend, keep chasing the light..

M.T. Blake > Takuro Spirit
07/27/2018 at 13:21

Good man. Is your carpet steam cleaner more expensive than the house vacuum? I can’t be the only one.

M.T. Blake > itschrome
07/27/2018 at 13:22

Like a dog after a laser pointer, I will catch it!

dogisbadob > M.T. Blake
07/27/2018 at 13:36

The F- body T-tops are actually very easy to take off and put back on. Just one latch above the window and lift it.

To put it back on, line up the inside edge (towards the middle of the car), lower it, and then do the latch from inside.

About a minute each.

The early 90s T-tops were actually plastic, so they were very light and easy to handle with no problems. Unfortunately, they scratched so easy that people complained... and got a set of glass replacements for free if they complained during the warranty period.

The 4th gen hardtops are actually the same structurally as the T-top cars, but with an extra piece of sheetmetal welded on. So in terms of sturdiness., they are the same.

I know that wasn ’t the case with 2nd and 3rd gens, but so what? T-tops are awesome and thus still the better choice. And if you’re that worried about being sturdy, you shouldn’t be driving a car from the 70s anyway. Even the hardtop 2nd gens aren’ t as sturdy as a Geo Metro that’s 20 years newer, or even a fucking Mirage or Smart car of today.

dogisbadob > Takuro Spirit
07/27/2018 at 13:37

you don’t have to drive with them off in the rain, silly :p

M.T. Blake > dogisbadob
07/27/2018 at 13:40

As a secondary fun car it wouldn’t be bad. I lived for three years with t-tops as a daily driver. They rarely came off.

lone_liberal > M.T. Blake
07/27/2018 at 13:45

I agree that the T/A dash was better looking that the Camaro equivalent. I like that they increased the compression ratio but I probably would have added better heads while I was at it, but then it wouldn’t be original and people love original.

dogisbadob > M.T. Blake
07/27/2018 at 13:54

Right, but you said the 300ZX T-tops were rather difficult to come off.

The Firebird/Camaro/TA is much easier in the regard, so you’d be taking them off all the time

M.T. Blake > lone_liberal
07/27/2018 at 14:00

I don’t see why this one couldn’t have been modified further. To me it’s either very original with a mild rebuild, or go for gold with all the best parts to include a motor swap. They punched out the displacement. Too far from original for picky buyers.

M.T. Blake > dogisbadob
07/27/2018 at 14:01

Do they come with leatherette bags that have to be stacked in a particular manner to fit in the back... the memories are coming back.

dogisbadob > M.T. Blake
07/27/2018 at 14:04

They do

although the last one I was in, the bags were missing, but the T-tops were plastic (it was a late 3rd gen) , so no danger of breaking, so we just put them in the trunk

lone_liberal > M.T. Blake
07/27/2018 at 14:09

I fully agree. The guys who care about casting numbers on the heads probably aren’t in the market for a ‘78 T/A anyway. Dump the Q-Jet and the smog heads and let it breathe!

M.T. Blake > lone_liberal
07/27/2018 at 14:19

Red Dragon isn’t exactly legal but keep that on the down low.

crowmolly > lone_liberal
07/27/2018 at 14:48

I dunno. The 6x heads seem to be pretty decent and it’s not like somebody’s going to break out equipment to measure your displacement. Looks like a nice stock looking rebuild.

lone_liberal > crowmolly
07/27/2018 at 14:57

It does look like a nice stock rebuild and a lot of people go for that but if it was mine and I put in higher compression pistons and a bigger cam like he did I think I’d want heads and an intake/carb combo to match. But then I’m not a stickler for originality, especially in smog-era cars. I’d rather do a “Day 2" type of build.

crowmolly > lone_liberal
07/27/2018 at 15:00

Yeah, having to stick with the stock intake and carb pretty much sucks. I’d have gone for much more of a monster engine, given 8L to play with.

But from what I recall, if you want to keep that shaker your intake and carb options are very limited. Oh, and that ST-10 is probably already short on this world.

EngineerWithTools > M.T. Blake
07/27/2018 at 15:16

I love it when I see 78 TAs on Oppo. I learned to drive a manual on a 78 TA, in high school. Just seeing a Firebird or Trans Am , regardless of year, is a rarity here in the upper midwest. The rear ends have all rusted their way into the trunks, sending them to the great Poncho lot in the sky(blue) .

Takuro Spirit > dogisbadob
07/27/2018 at 15:49

The joke is that they leak. Always.

Takuro Spirit > My bird IS the word
07/27/2018 at 16:10

Headlights, signals, that one red sidemarker on the right front....

(its little details like this that make me wonder what else people skipped/skimped/cheaped out on when restoring a car )

JeepJeremy > M.T. Blake
07/27/2018 at 16:25

Hhhhhhhhhhnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggg!!!!!!!!

That car is unreal!!

Pickup_man > M.T. Blake
07/27/2018 at 16:50

I’ve always loved this generation Camaro/Firebird, but I sat in one for the first time the other weekend and the ergonomics kinda sucked. I know that stuff can be adjusted pretty easily but it was still a pretty big disappointment . My 924, which is much smaller, actually fit me better.

M.T. Blake > Pickup_man
07/27/2018 at 16:57

The Porsche would be. The Germans are always a little ahead of everyone and the 924 is 6 years newer than when the second gen F-Body came out. In automotive terms, comparing the two is like comparing a budding young college age man to one beat down by 30+ years at the shovel factory .

Pickup_man > M.T. Blake
07/27/2018 at 17:11

IDK, I just figured that a physically larger car would be well, bigger. Instead my head was pressing into the roof, hard, the steering wheel felt like it was in the wrong place, the non adjustable seat angle was super uncomfortable for me , and in general things just weren’t where I expected them to be I guess. I’m not trying to compare the two to say that one is objectively better than the other, just providing a point of reference based on experience. I still love the F-body, it just wasn’t what I expected. I also sat in a tri-five Chevy which was way smaller than I ever imagined as well.

M.T. Blake > Pickup_man
07/27/2018 at 17:29

It’s all true. The interior plastics are held on by what looks to be self tapping coarse thread screws. My Camaro seat is completely rebuilt. Still feels like a flat rock.

dogisbadob > Takuro Spirit
07/27/2018 at 18:14

That’s actually not true

FLmanisback > Pickup_man
07/27/2018 at 23:30

It’s a good point about the ergonomics . I’ve driven probably hundreds of these dating back to when I worked at a dealer. We were near the Hurst factory in Warminster PA, and all the leaky Hurst hatch (t top) cars were driven t here for leak repair. Many by me personally. I don’t quite remember the year that GM started doing t heir own t tops, but they were an improvement. I digress...

You sit a seat cushion height above the floor and most of the mid 70s models did not have the tilt wheel, because it was an option back then. The doors are comically large and heavy. Decent visibility unless you jack the rear up with air shocks, which about 50percent of the owners did.

That said, the second gen was a car that debuted in 1970, and was long in the tooth by 78, popularity aside. But if you compare it to what was around, it was a brutal, fast, fun driver, especially with the manual. It’s defintely a bucket list car for people who like American iron. I’m still looking for one of the ASC convertible conversions. Almost got one a few years ago on eBay but got scooped by a local. GM would have made a mint if they could have figured out a factory convertible .

The 82 firebird/Camaro were, by far, much improved. They simply didn’t have the swagger of the second gen.