1978 Pontiac Firebird

Miami, Florida

$41,000

Vehicle Details

Make

Pontiac

Model

Firebird

Year

1978

Drivetrain

RWD

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Engine

6.6L V8

Condition

Excellent

Description

This 1978 Pontiac Trans Am Bandit SE is a fully restored example of the golden age of American muscle cars. The iconic 6.6-liter Pontiac engine produces 350 horsepower and runs strong, delivering the performance these cars were built for. Original T-Tops frame a bright cockpit, while tinted windows add period-correct style.

The interior remains factory original and presents in excellent condition throughout. This is a show-quality restoration that respects the car's authentic details rather than reinventing them. You get the T-Top factory cover, original spare tire, and the kind of mechanical soundness that makes for confident driving.

The Y88 Bandit SE trim represents the Trans Am at its most celebrated, and this example captures that spirit without compromise. Ready for shows, cruises, or simply enjoying what made these cars legendary.

Classic Pontiac Firebird Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Mike Sullivan

Muscle Cars

1967–2002

~5 min read

Updated Apr 2026

Definitive buyer's guide for classic Pontiac Firebird 1967-2002. Generation breakdown, Trans Am identification, PHS documentation, frame inspection, and current market pricing.

This guide covers

✓ 10-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 5 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full Firebird Buyer's Guide

Pontiac Firebird Market Overview

Based on 105 Pontiac Firebird listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

105

Listed Now

$31,374

Avg. Asking Price

1967–1999

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site - Average Range

This car: $41,000

Low: $6,495 High: $77,900

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 68%

Manual 20%

Condition Distribution

Excellent 10% ◄

Good 8%

Fair 3%

Poor 5%

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 105 listings →

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Classic Pontiac Firebird Buyer's Guide

The Pontiac Firebird launched in February 1967 as Pontiac's F-body sister to the Chevrolet Camaro, and across thirty-five years of production it built one of the most loyal enthusiast followings in American automotive history. From the 1969 Trans Am (the launch of the iconic performance trim that would define Pontiac for decades) through the 1973-1974 SD-455 cars (the last truly raw muscle Pontiacs before federal emissions de-tuning), the 1977 Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am that kicked off second-generation pop-culture immortality, and the 1980s third-generation IROC-era cars, every Firebird era has its own buyer profile and its own pitfalls. This guide covers what every buyer should verify before paying premium money for any Firebird Trans Am or Formula variant.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Order PHS Documentation Report ($50-$80) , Pontiac Historic Services. Confirms original engine, transmission, axle ratio, paint, options, dealer destination.

✓

Verify VIN engine code against block casting , 5th digit of VIN (1968+) identifies engine. Cross-reference with casting number on rear of block and PHS report.

✓

For Trans Am claims, demand specialist authentication , Re-stamped blocks and cloned cowl tags well-documented. WS6 and SD-455 cars require expert verification.

✓

Inspect F-body frame at body mount points , Same chassis as Camaro. Body mount bushings collapse and water pools above. Frame rust = $1,500-$3,500 minimum.

✓

Probe perimeter frame at front kick-up , Behind front wheels. Solid steel resists; rotten metal flakes.

✓

Magnet test rear quarters and rocker panels , Body filler is non-magnetic. Driver-quality cars universally have filler, verify how much before purchase.

✓

Check rear window channel rust (1967-1969) , Hidden rust point. Ruins back of body when allowed to progress. Pop rear seat for inspection access.

✓

Examine third-gen T-tops and weatherstrips , T-tops on 1982-1992 cars commonly leak. Water rots floor pans and rear cargo area.

✓

Test all electrical and pop-up headlights , Vacuum-actuated (1967-1981) or electric (1982+) headlight systems commonly fail.

✓

Compression test all eight cylinders , Should read 145-185 PSI uniformly. Variance over 15% = head gasket or worn rings.

Common Issues

Firebird rust follows the F-body Camaro pattern. The first-generation cars (1967-1969) hide rust under the rear window, in the trunk pan, around the rear wheel arches, and at the cowl seam where the windshield meets the firewall. Second-generation cars (1970-1981) are notorious for rotten quarters, rocker panels, and floor pans. Third-generation cars (1982-1992) suffer from T-top water leaks that rot floor pans and rear cargo area. Mechanically, Pontiac V8 engines (326, 350, 400, 455) are bulletproof when maintained. From 1982 forward, Firebirds used shared GM engines (Chevrolet 305, 350, LT1, LS1). Common issues include broken motor mounts on big-block cars, worn timing chains on tired engines, leaky oil pan and valve cover gaskets, and tired Quadrajet carburetors. The Muncie M20/M21 four-speeds, Borg-Warner T-10, Saginaw three-speed, Turbo 350, and Turbo 400 transmissions are all robust. Electrical issues vary by era. First-generation cars have brittle 50+ year-old wiring harnesses. Second-generation cars add vacuum-actuated headlight failures (vacuum lines crack), Hood Tach failures (1971-1976 optional), and tail light circuit problems. Third-generation cars suffer from failing TPI sensors (TPI fuel injection 1985-1992), worn front coil-over-shock units, and sloppy T-tops that leak.

What to Look For

PHS Documentation is the gold-standard verification for any Firebird claimed as Trans Am, Formula, or SD-455. Pontiac Historic Services sells documentation reports for $50-$80 based on Pontiac factory production records. The report confirms the original equipment of the car: engine, transmission, axle ratio, paint, options, and dealer destination. For any Firebird priced over $35,000, PHS documentation is mandatory. Engine identification by casting numbers and stamping codes is essential. The 326 V8 (1967-1968), 350 V8 (1968-1981), 400 V8 (1967-1979), and 455 V8 (1970-1976) all have specific casting numbers and two-letter stamping codes that identify the specific engine type. Cross-reference against the VIN engine code (5th digit on 1968+ cars) and the PHS report. The most desirable codes for Trans Am cars: WS (1969 Ram Air III/IV), WW/YZ (1970 Ram Air IV), and the SD-455-specific codes (1973-1974). For 1969 Trans Am claims, demand specialist authentication. Only 697 Trans Ams were built for 1969, every chassis number is documented in the marque registry. Forgeries with cloned cowl tags and re-stamped engine blocks are well-documented in the muscle-car market. Frame inspection is the second non-negotiable. The F-body perimeter frame rusts at the body mount points and the front kick-up, same issues as Camaro. Crawl under the car with a flashlight and probe with a screwdriver. Solid steel resists; rotten metal flakes. Body mount replacement is $1,500-$3,500 if the frame is solid; full frame replacement is $8,000-$15,000. For third-generation cars (1982-1992), inspect T-top weatherstrips. Failed seals leak water that rots floor pans and rear cargo area. Replacement T-top seals are available but installation requires careful body alignment.

Price Guide

First-generation Firebirds (1967-1969) are the most desirable era. Driver-quality 1967-1968 cars run $32,000-$55,000. 1969 cars: driver-quality $38,000-$70,000. The 1969 Trans Am (only 697 built) is the high-water mark, documented numbers-matching cars: $130,000-$280,000. The 1969 Trans Am Convertible (only 8 built) is the rarest Firebird ever produced, $500,000-$1M+ for documented examples. Second-generation Firebirds (1970-1981) split into three sub-eras. 1970-1973 cars (split-bumper era): driver-quality Trans Am cars run $42,000-$75,000. Documented 1973-1974 SD-455 Trans Ams: $80,000-$180,000+. 1974-1976 Trans Ams with the 455 HO: $35,000-$65,000 documented. 1977-1979 Smokey and the Bandit-era Trans Ams: $32,000-$60,000 driver-quality, with documented Y82 Special Edition cars (the black-and-gold Bandit cars) at $45,000-$95,000. Third-generation Firebirds (1982-1992): driver-quality cars run $14,000-$28,000. The 1989 Turbo Trans Am Pace Car (only 1,555 built) commands $30,000-$55,000+. The 1985-1990 GTA models trade at $22,000-$42,000. Fourth-generation Firebirds (1993-2002): driver-quality cars run $12,000-$28,000. The 1998-2002 WS6 Trans Am with the LS1 produces 320-325 hp and represents the most powerful factory Firebird ever, clean WS6 cars trade at $22,000-$45,000. Project Firebirds start around $12,000-$25,000 across most generations. Stripped roller candidates: $5,000-$15,000.

Did You Know?

The Firebird was developed in just nine months as Pontiac's response to GM corporate executives canceling Pontiac's planned dedicated sports car project (the Banshee). When Chevrolet's Camaro F-body was approved for 1967 production, Pontiac was given six months to develop a Firebird variant on the same platform. The accelerated timeline forced the Firebird to share virtually all chassis and structural components with the Camaro, distinguished only by Pontiac-specific styling, dashboard, and engine options. The 1977 Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am (the black-and-gold Y82 Special Edition) is widely credited with saving the Pontiac brand. By 1976, Pontiac was struggling against the broader malaise era, and the dramatic visibility of the Trans Am as the hero car in the Burt Reynolds film drove dealer traffic dramatically. Y82 Special Edition production grew from a few thousand cars in 1976 to over 30,000 in 1977-1978, making the Trans Am the best-selling Pontiac performance car of the era. The 1973-1974 SD-455 (Super Duty 455) was Pontiac's last serious factory performance engine, produced specifically as a homologation package for SCCA Trans-Am racing. The SD-455 features four-bolt main bearings, forged crankshaft, special heads, and unique camshaft, producing 290 hp net (significantly under-rated by Pontiac to keep insurance companies off the buyer's back). Only 1,296 SD-455 Trans Ams were built across two model years, making them among the rarest American muscle cars ever produced.