When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
History / OriginalityGot a question about 1982-1992 Camaro or Firebird history? Have a question about original parts, options, RPO codes, when something was available, or how to document your car? Those questions, answers, and much more!
I was told by one of my Dad's friends today that 20 min away from me there is a brand new, never titled black Trans Am sitting in a guys garage. His family used to own a Pontiac dealership, and they evidently had it in their inventory when they sold the business, and they kept the Trans Am, and put it in a garage. He didn't know what year it was, but I asked if it was the same body style as my car and he said "Yes, I believe so". I asked if he knew the guy and if he could arrange me taking a look at the car and he is going to arrange it. So, hopefully by next weekend I can check it out and see what's there. I will share pics and info asap!!!!! It's in a small town close to me where I went to school, etc, and I am just now learning of the car, and it's been there the entire time...... STAY TUNED!!!!
I remember that particular dealership in the neighboring town being a different name in the late eighties, so it has to be earlier than that
I saw a black IROC convertible for sale when I was looking that had under 100 miles and it said it was never registered so you’d be the first owner.. it was a similar deal where it was in the private colllection of a guy who owned a dealership..
I think they wanted $40k at the time..
I wonder what a car like that would be like in person.. What a time capsule!
I am super excited to see what it is. The guy that told me about it has seen the car a few times. He said it looks like it needs a buff, but it's brand spanking new...
I would like to win a small amount in the lottery, and for you to PM me contact info for them because it happens to be an 86 L69 5 spd. But I will settle for pics.
Well, tonight I went to look at the brand new black Trans Am, and what a car. It is brand new. It has 31 miles on it. And, still on the MSO. Never titled. It is truly AMAZING to see a car like this in person. I was sad to see that it is not a third gen, but it is still a very special car. 1976 Trans Am, 50th Anniversary Special Edition. (Pontiac's 50th Anniversary ) 400, automatic.
I was sure hoping to see a brand new third gen in this garage, but this was pretty tough to beat. I'm sorry to get any hopes up.. Well, here it is....
Well, tonight I went to look at the brand new black Trans Am, and what a car. It is brand new. It has 31 miles on it. And, still on the MSO. Never titled. It is truly AMAZING to see a car like this in person. I was sad to see that it is not a third gen, but it is still a very special car. 1976 Trans Am, 50th Anniversary Special Edition. (Pontiac's 50th Anniversary ) 400, automatic.
I was sure hoping to see a brand new third gen in this garage, but this was pretty tough to beat. I'm sorry to get any hopes up.. Well, here it is....
I didn't get a definite number. He was talking crazy.....said he knew one one other one that hadn't been titled and they wanted $200,000 for that one. He said he didn't know if they ever got it (obviously not) I'm sure the car could maybe fetch $80,000 to $100,000 to the right person.
The thing has never even had an oil change or anything. It is absolutely 100% original. He said it hasn't been started in quite some time.
I didn't get a definite number. He was talking crazy.....said he knew one one other one that hadn't been titled and they wanted $200,000 for that one. He said he didn't know if they ever got it (obviously not) I'm sure the car could maybe fetch $80,000 to $100,000 to the right person.
The thing has never even had an oil change or anything. It is absolutely 100% original. He said it hasn't been started in quite some time.
What a beautiful original car. It just bothers me to see it in a open garage with building supplies laying all around it. To bad they didn't at least have a UV protected cover on it. I would suspect that car at Barret-Jackson or Mecums would fetch a big price. I also can't remember, but was surprised to see the speedo only goes to 100 MPH.
Everything looks like 31 miles except the engine. Did the paint really burn off that quick back then? It appears that blue paint is wore off the head, block and the intake looks rusty or filthy? What's going on there?
Everything looks like 31 miles except the engine. Did the paint really burn off that quick back then? It appears that blue paint is wore off the head, block and the intake looks rusty or filthy? What's going on there?
I was actually surprised when he opened the hood....I was expecting the engine paint to be perfect. My guess is that the car has RAN numerous times. Not driven, but at least started and ran for a while every now and then. That would actually be the best thing for it, anyways.
Everything looks like 31 miles except the engine. Did the paint really burn off that quick back then? It appears that blue paint is wore off the head, block and the intake looks rusty or filthy? What's going on there?
The heater box is cracked/broken also.
I don't know, if I had a car I expected to sell for $200,000, I'd have it hermetically sealed and well preserved.
My Dad bought this exact car brand new then sold it in 78 when I came along and went with an Oldsmobile Toronado. The 76 is a better looking car to me than the 77-81.
So the story is true about them selling the pontiac dealership and keeping this car. It was this guy's Dad, and uncle who owned the pontiac dealership. Then, THIS guy bought a dodge dealership in Wells, MN and put this car on his showroom floor in his dodge dealership for several years......and he put THAT dealership emblem on the trunk lid. Hopefully that can be removed without leaving any marks on the paint...
It's part of the car's story now. Best to leave it be.
Car needs a good detailing. Too bad it's not a 455, or a 4spd, but still, it's a cooler car than the later cars. The next body didn't bother me, but the 79 front end, WOOF! I don't know what they were thinking.
The engine bay seems right. This car has been parked in Iowa for 42 years of daily temp cycling across varied seasons. The top of the engine block is where condensation would collect; over time, even the best of paint will break down. A garage with stronger weather sealing may have better preserved it.
I’m more a fan of this look though.. first time I ever saw one it was the coolest car I ever saw until I saw my first IROC:
And not a fan of these:
My parents had a 79 just like that second picture, same color, wrecked it (with me in it) and later bought a gold t-top 79. I grew up with those, so I like them, but I prefer this over all 2nd gens and hope to have one someday:
The engine bay seems right. This car has been parked in Iowa for 42 years of daily temp cycling across varied seasons. The top of the engine block is where condensation would collect; over time, even the best of paint will break down. A garage with stronger weather sealing may have better preserved it.
I suppose I could buy that. I think a weekly or even monthly detail/wipe down would have preserved it better. Due to that much wear and tear, my first impression when looking at that is that someone replaced the engine and broke the air box during the process.
When I originally posted this topic.....I was under the assumption that I was going to look at a brand new third gen. The guy that knew the cars owner didn't know the year of the car, but thought it was the same body style as my car. Otherwise, I wouldn't have posted it
Spoke with a few of my friends about the car yesterday and it seems to be one of the worst kept secrets out there in the Pontiac World. Seems they've been fishing with it for years.
My first experience with one of those was my girlfriend senior year in college, she was a cross between Sally Fields and Kristy McNicol and had 1 of the 110 455/4spd/T-top 50th's. The relationship was short and I miss that car.
Spoke with a few of my friends about the car yesterday and it seems to be one of the worst kept secrets out there in the Pontiac World. Seems they've been fishing with it for years.
My first experience with one of those was my girlfriend senior year in college, she was a cross between Sally Fields and Kristy McNicol and had 1 of the 110 455/4spd/T-top 50th's. The relationship was short and I miss that car.
My current 2nd gen - 14,000 mile day 2 - 73 TA...
Cool car!
So, do you think $200,000 is a real number for this car??? Or what would a real value be??
Spoke with a few of my friends about the car yesterday and it seems to be one of the worst kept secrets out there in the Pontiac World. Seems they've been fishing with it for years.
My first experience with one of those was my girlfriend senior year in college, she was a cross between Sally Fields and Kristy McNicol and had 1 of the 110 455/4spd/T-top 50th's. The relationship was short and I miss that car.
My current 2nd gen - 14,000 mile day 2 - 73 TA...
Love that body style. The early 2nd gens. Great car PMD!
NADA high retail with the options listed is $98k
High retail is for a car that needs nothing. 10 out of 10.
I don’t think we can say that about this car. It would need some help to be presentable and maybe even driveable. I don’t think it’s great for a 42 year old car to only have 31 miles and be covered in dust with an engine looking like that. Looks like the car was ignored for at least two decades..
It could be $80-90k car if:
-it gets a high end professional reconditioning ($1500-2000)
-goes through a mechanical inspection to get running and driving
-may need a partial restoration from how it was kept
Hopefully the car was started and oil was changed at least every year if not twice/ year.
As it sits, I’m thinking it’s a $50-60k car..
There’s a mint condition one owner 6900 mile 1976 T/A for sale that is in showroom condition with a 455 and 4spd manual for $70K and that car runs and drives and is ready to show.
The highest price I could find was a nut and bolt restored 76 with some rare/desireable options and 30k miles.. also 455/ 4spd. That one was $89k.
Had one of these in the mid eighty's, '78, Same paint scheme with black interior and different rims The funny thing is it had a big block 350, not the 400. I wish I still had it but it got t-boned by a Karmon Gia going 60 and it got totaled.
Had one of these in the mid eighty's, '78, Same paint scheme with black interior and different rims The funny thing is it had a big block 350, not the 400. I wish I still had it but it got t-boned by a Karmon Gia going 60 and it got totaled.
To be fair the original poster got bait and switched when thinking he was going to see a thirdgen..
We shouldn’t devote too much time to second gens because those guys tend to be anti-social whenever I try to compliment them at shows/cruise nights..
Gen 1 guys think they’re the top dog (and get annoyed when people pass them up to see the IROC). They only socialize with other 50s and 60s car owners.
Gen 2 guys tend to have heavily modded cars and see third gens as boring and slow.. usually 1 in 5 will have wheelie bars. A little anti social.
Gen 3 guys are passionate about third gens in particular, humble and usually excited to see other Firebirds and Camaros. If I see a thirdgen they are usually pretty stock. Third gen owners will check out a lot of the more unique and modern cars skipping the rows of 50s and 60s Restos and corvettes.
Gen 4 guys are similar to Gen 3 owners and optimistic that they will be the next gen to go up in value. They are humble to the fact people don’t view 4th gens as classics yet.
Gen 5 guys are very welcoming and will try and get you to park with them and be part of the “Camaro club.” They are usually really excited and interested in Third Gens even though they probably have the fastest Camaro at the show.
That’s my stereotyping of Camaro generations based on observation in the wild
So yeah.. let’s not give Gen 2 too much thought.. ha ha
I like that observation of yours 88IROCvertZ!!
I guess I'm a little Gen II, Gen III, and Gen IV. I like them all. ANYBODY that can put up with the issues of a F-Body, my hats off to them!!!
If you own multiple generations.. there’s just no telling what kind of owner you are.. ha ha
I met a guy that has about 20 Camaros from every generation except the latest.. cool guy and really appreciates the Third Gens even though he has some mint show winning Gen 1 and 2 cars.. He just bought a 6k mile IROC and loves it..
06-24-2018, 07:06 PM
And this right here , my friends , is the exact reason I no longer post to the History/originality subforum ..... 
