Absolutely beautiful car! Love the colour. WS6, TA6.6, 3.42 gear ratio, with super T10 transmission! Perfect storm.

Very few people realize how badass that car was. They handled better than anything else (American made) with the standard suspension. With the WS6 package, they were even better handling. That W72 motor was stouter than the 220 hp rating indicated. Quarter mile times for that car were in the mid 14 second range and on par with many of the muscle cars from the 60s and early 70s. With that package, it would walk off and leave the Z28, Corvette, or anything else in 78' and 79'. Nothing could touch it. It also looked better than anything else. I'd love to have one. I know exactly why that is your dream car. It's special. Good for you! That thing is righteous.

My Uncle Steve drove a 1978 Trans Am the same color off the the showroom floor and the difference was a blue color interior a 400 Oldsmobile engine. I remember washing it with him at night and that beautiful blue color turned into the most amazing color that I have ever seen a Purple Metallic Color.To me the 1978 Marquee Blue Trans Am is my favorite.

I graduated in 1978 and loved seeing these cars new. Also, thanks to Smokey and the Bandit I was hooked. $6 grand was a lot of money back then - lol. One day, I was looking at a new Gold Special Edition '78 WS6 4 speed. I talked cars with the salesman and he actually offered to let me take a test drive. I'm sure he knew I probably wasn't going to buy it but he was cool for a 30 minute ride. Wish I could have bought it. I only went home with a brochure. Went off to college, got married and the dream faded. I still think the '78 TransAms look modern for 45 years old and in '78 they were ahead of their time. Your car is awesome and that blue is stunning. Thanks for posting!

When these first came out with the Radial Tuned Suspension this was the best handling sports car in its day. The rear end can get sideways but when it straightens out, it locks in place. None of this fish tailing that cars back then did. Great Memories and love these birds

I had that car with t-tops. It was rotted from Chicago winters by the time I got it in ‘94. I kick myself every day for giving up on it. Beautiful car there! Thanks for sharing!

That is One of the cleanest Martinique Blue '78s I've ever seen. Looks like it belongs on the Pontiac Showroom Floor. I'm slowly restoring my '76 T/A 400. Getting all new parts for it. It's white outside with the red bird, and white seats, door panels, and sun visors with Dark blue dash, console, carpet & seat belts. All original as well, so it's going to stay original. It's easier to find one that's been modified to play around with than another bone stock car.

She's beautiful! My first car in high school was a '77 Firebird Esprit Sky bird edition. She was taken away from me by a drunk driver while I was waiting at a stop light, so I feel your pain losing yours. Enjoy the ride!

In 1979, for my 16th birthday, my dad bought me a 78 white with red velour interior with all the performance options. We put headers with true dual exhaust and better intake and carb. I had so much fun and I drove it till 1985 when some *(&^ stole it and destroyed. Still miss that car

Mate, I love that car. I live in Europe so the coolest thing we have here is a VW Golf, so in other words, we have nothing to dream about. Your car is beautiful.

Great drive through the rural countryside. Sweet and stock.

Absolutely beautiful! The color combination is just incredible. My Dad's first brand new car was a 1977 Pontiac TransAm. It was black with the gold trim and it had red velvet interior. Then when he married my Mom in 79, he got her the 10th anniversary silver TransAm. But, of course those cars are long gone in this world somewhere. He did buy the first of the newest generation which was a 1993 all black with leather with the T-tops and drove it off the showroom floor and ended up selling it in 2000 with 40,000 miles for $12,500. And that was the end of it untill Father's day of 2018 and my two older brothers and little sister surprised him with a 1980 Pontiac TransAm which is a dark brown that almost looks black. But, it sorta just sits in the garage because he said he just cant get in and out of it as easy from when he was younger...lol But, we all are huge fans of them. Which the 82-92 model year he didn't much care for. Which I love all of them...lol. it's so cool that your Father had alot to do with them. So, if he says to keep it, I'd do just that. It's a beautiful car you got there and very rare. I bet its worth a fortune.

Beautiful car, When I was a senior way back in 91 I had a 78 Silver anniversary edition that I traded for a beat up old ford truck, should have kept it in storage, Back then it was just an aging car now there getting to be worth something, hang onto that one

Really cool to get things back you had back in the day

I had that same car except it had T-Tops and a light blue interior. I put 4.11 gears in it, a Ram Air IV cam, Holley carb and Holley street dominator intake. I left the entire rest of the engine stock and boy, what a rocket! Drove the wheels off it - Literally: I beat it pretty bad. Sold it in 1985. I had lots of Trans Ams & a rare 1981 Formula Turbo but that car was my favorite. Oh how I wish I never sold it!

I had a '77 with the 403 Olds motor, automatic and 2.41 rear axle. Great highway cruiser, 18-19 mpg.

Nice! I've owned fourth gen Firebirds for 23 years, but I also love second gens.

Awesome car! I can relate... I had a 1973 Formula 400 while in the Navy in the mid-70's to '83.and regretted selling that car. This past month I purchased a 1971 Trans Am 455HO and it's a great feeling to own another!

My sister had one just like this, same color. She totaled it after leaving a bar, she was a party girl. 🥳

Beautiful car....you are blessed. I miss my 84. Hopefully get another soon.

Such a beauty! Man I would love one someday.

Cool car man don't sell it. I was born in 68 and that exact car was my dream car.

I was 5 in 1978 and my cousin in law worked at a Pontiac/Honda dealership so he took me out in all sorts of new cars, by my favorite was the gold Y88 Trans Am. I'd love to have that blue as well.

Beautiful. Love the Martinique blue! Nice that its a "true" Pontiac.

Most people didnt know the simple tuning tricks for the pontiac 400 for that car. You did 1 of them. Re'curve the distributor. Tune the carb/jets/metering rods and secondary airvalve adjustment. The 3rd is check for full throttle. Many came with only 85-90% throttle opening. I felt this was a gift from gm to keep hp down for emissions and or insurance.

Absolutely love ❤️ it. Love the color and the options.

Even with an automatic transmission these are an absolute HOOT to go for a ride in. A friend of mine way back in 1988 had a 1976 TA White with red interior with automatic transmission. What a BLAST! Gas mileage was laughably bad though. He used to say he could burn through a half tank just ripping around a corner and that was hardly an exaggeration. LMAO! 🤣

She's a beauty and you don't owe anyone an explanation for taking care of your car..she's your baby and I don't blame you a bit..the tire chirping are the clutches grabbing when you turn out but you already knew that..my 87 Monte Carlo SS does the same thing lol. It's that factory posi(limited slip) rear differential. She will turn around on a dime . Thanks for sharing this gorgeous car with us bro

love this video, thank you.

OMG. I had that exact car back in 1987, except my Chicken was gone for some reason. Sweet car.

I kept watching to see what that spot on the hood was. That bird sure made his spot!

Nicest one I've seen, keep it!

I had a 1973..455 automatic. Buccaneer red. Then I had a 1979 white TA with the WS6 package..403 t-tops. Loved them both

Now 69 i still own 1976 trans Am 4 spd , in 77 Smokey and the bandit came out, i was furious that new front end was gorgeous, so i change front clip and hood, the Car now has BBC 509 dyno 665hp 634 ft torque tremec 5 Speed, we move to a small lake town, im known as Trans Am, and the Attention it brings is unbelievable, i love the blue, was not option in 76, mine is going to my daughter she was two year old when i purchased, please keep car value is going up, and if you live in a small town at car meet Trans Am you can count on one hand👍🏿

Lookswise still my favourite car to this very day. They don't make em like this anymore. Happy you're so happy to have one! Just seeing it drive and hearing it is joy :)

Beautiful car brother, congrats!

antique cars sure have come a long way. I had a brand new 75 model and really enjoyed it.

I turned 18 in 1978 and got a 78 automatic 6.6 litter TA... I had a blast driving that car for 3 years... every time I drove it I seemed to have an adventure! I enrolled at Devry in 81 and decided to sell it and pick up a Jeep Renegade...also the Tran am cost $6100.00 purchased from a Oshawa Ontario Canada Pontiac dealer.

Just beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing and man when you stomped on the gas, man it gave me chills! This is the reason I enjoy KZfaq!

Just found your video Brian, congrats with your find here, this is a beauty and the exact combination of equipment that I would want myself. Enjoy!

Even 45 years on these cars are still among the best looking cars on the road. I ordered a '78 Trans Am while I was still in High School, pretty similar spec to yours, W72 4 speed, WS6 Solar Gold with the Tan velour interior option, no T-tops. I did a few minor mods on mine like cutting out the scoop, performance air filter, headers and removal of the catalytic converter. When I decided to order it, I was between a '78 Corvette L82 4 speed and the Trans Am, after driving both, the Trans Am would leave the Corvette far behind, handled better, rode better and in my opinion looked better as well. I had a guy that built racing engines do a good tune on it and thar really woke the car up, not that it needed much anyway, but with the tune and full exhaust mods the car was the quickest and fastest of the day. Still great cars today, I know where it is now and I'd like to buy it back if I could convince the guy to sell. I did convert to the '79 rear disc brakes too.

Great video! Have always loved the trans am! Used to have my mom drive me to the Pontiac Dealership when I was a kid so I could look at Rows and rows of 77/78 trans ams! Have fun!

Beautiful car, beautiful memories. ❤

Had this same car back in the day mine was blue ws6 with slapstick auto, mine was black interior. Thanks for sharing

Beautiful. I bought that car new in 78.

Had a auto martique back in the early 80s.Yours is Beautiful!!

It's cool to own a car that you know your father personally helped make. It just seems really cool.

My dream car!!!!!!!

Great video! I have a firebird still that I bought 42 years ago, and I feel like my first time driving it still. Love it . Looks like we have the bird fever

Looks like someone took very good care of it. I had black 78 but not a 4sd. New black paint and I probably washed it twice a week.

Good job. Keep up the good work.

Very nice car. Looks great and sounds like it's a nice driver too.

Awesome.... I ve never seen one in that color. Epic.

My friend bought it from the Pontiac dealer in Covington Kentucky 1979 Silver with red interior it was fast and we picked up a lot of girls with that car

Nice TA Brian as in REALLY REALLY NICE! I have the almost identical twin. Mine has power windows, blue cloth seats and no AC. Bought it from the original owner last October. Mods to the engine from original are #13 heads, ram air 3 cam, headers, performer intake and a rare edelbrock performer rpm quadrajet carb. While not a fast car I can tell that mine is a little bit quicker than yours with those bolt ons added. Car is really minty but the paint is original and Im getting it re done soon. I have a tremec TKX 5 speed for it that will go in later this year when i get some time. Love the 1 year only Martinique blue color. Besides this one I have 4 other TAs I have collected over the years, a white 77, A Y88 gold 78, a black SE Y82 w72 400 4 speed 77, and a black/gold 79 I'm almost finished restoring and tweaking a little bit. Love looking over the hoods of my TAs when we're going down the road!

Love it! Hoping to get mine that nice someday

What a beauty!

My 78 had those same snowflake rims. Best looking rims I’ve ever seen. GM really f’d up shutting down Pontiac division.

Love the car! That would be almost exactly what my car would have looked like when it rolled off the line. Needed a full on restoration that has taken me almost 8 years to complete. Only need center caps now and im done, but all the repos are junk.

Nice > Best handling American car of the 70's - in 1979 A WS6 T/A Won Best handling car - Car and Driver Magazine test vs Corvette etc. W72 400 Best Pontiac engine since the 74 SD-455 - Hatari Racing did Win 4 NHRA Super Stock Championships with The W72 400 6X engine in 3rd and 4th Gen. T/A's 🏁🏆🏆🏆🏆😎👍

Gorgeous. 🥰🥰

I drove a new black one off the showroom floor in England, AR in 77, 5,500..wish I still ad it..

Good choice going to a 5 speed in todays world you need that extra gear..plus upgrade to a 373 gear and that thing will wake right up..and cruise on the hiway at lower rpm.

Very nice

Beautiful. Tasteful. Class. And yes even gangsterish.

Enjoy she is truly beautiful 🚙⛽️

What a beauty. I actually saw an 86 Trans Am at Walmart today when i came out it was parked next to me. It was beaten to hell and in very rough shape but it was nice to see one, you just dont see them anymore on the roads.

Love the car by the way

Brother purchased a new 1978 auto in Chesterfield brown. Mom worked at a bank and a young man drove the same 4 speed in blue, I always liked to look at that car.

My best friend bought a brand new one. In nineteen seventy nine silver with red interior

I had a '78 with WS6, It was like it was on rails. I also recently picked up a Grail car. Congrats!

Had the exact same T/A as my first car in high school.

Absolutely Stunning! Exact same car as my very 1st new car! I bot a Blue 78 TA in 1978 for, you guessed it, $7800 ! Mine had T tops tho! The Blue is the most gorgeous color! Wish I had never let go of it ! Lucky!

That TA is exactly what he says it is..the real deal

Wow! Fantastic! Reminds me of junior high when there was this kid who would be dropped off every day by his smokin' hot mom in a Martinique Blue 78 T/A! Hated that kid!! ;-)

When I was a kid… like 4, I had this neighbor Steve. I’d guess he was in his mid to late 20s. He had a late 70’s (I believe) Formula. In a blue identical or similar to this. It’s the first time I remember a car grabbing my attention. I was a shy kid, but I remember going over and asking him about it when he was washing it one day. And this guy was cool, moustache (everything you’d expect in the mid 80s), nice little bungalow, and always washing this badass car. I just went right up and started asking him about it. A few years later, he and his young family moved. A few years later, I’d make a friend in school (also named Steve… not nearly as cool, lol… no moustache at least, but a great friend). I remember going to his house and his mom had a mid 80’s Camaro and his sister (who I had the biggest crush on) had a mid 80’s Firebird. And I fell in love with these cars all over again, I just loved them, and this was the first time I actually got a ride in them. Eventually when I was around 19, I started looking for my first car and I was able to get a great deal on a 95 Z28, and I absolutely loved it. Not long after that, I ran into Steve (my old neighbor) and asked him about his Firebird, which is when he said “it was a Formula actually”, lol. He still had the car, and I believe he eventually gave it to his son. We talked about it a bit, but I never really got the chance to tell him the true effect that car had on me. A few years later, I read his obituary. He died very young, and it made me very sad. To see someone who I thought was so cool be taken was a real eye opener. He definitely was the instigator of an interest that became a big passion of mine. My Camaro eventually was written off because it caught fire (something broke off in the engine bay and was transferring heat to the gas line)… and I eventually got a 2010 SS when they came out. I just recently got an 85 IROC Z28, and I love it. It’s not fast… especially compared to my SS, but it’s so fun to drive. Watching you talk about this car is exactly how I would explain it. Your car reminds me of Steve’s a lot. At least how I remember it as a four year old. I can hear the emotional ties to the car in your voice, and it brings me back to those days of discovering these cars that have become such a part of who I am. My cousin has a beautiful 1978 Z28 that I hope to maybe buy off him one day. I love these cars so much, and I loved watching this video. Thanks!

That's an incredible find!..T/A 6.6 W72 WS6 4 speed??..in that blue?..beautiful car dude enjoy!!

Just toss me the keys please!! MY DREAM CAR!! 😍🔥🤟🏾🥳👍🏾😎

In 1978 test drove a blue 400 formula,ended up buying a 78 camaro z28 loved that car but will admit the Pontiacs looked better.

Poncho Power! 🌊🏁😎

Just subscribed to your channel nice car

😊 beautiful

Nice car Brian , I am restoring a 78 4spd Trans am right now. Hope it turns out as nice as yours.

My first car as a teenager was a 1979 Firebird. Still wish I had it but I foolishly traded it in. Still have a soft spot for the 2nd Gen Firebirds though especially the Trans Ams. 😁

Not a huge Trans Am fan but this is a beautiful car ! The colour is very close to my 18 Mustang G.T. Lightning Blue Metallic, this is the sweet spot year I think . The front end is the prettiest or the mid year cars, I guess if I was being picky I’d want t -tops but this is a very sweet ride.

I had a 78 Martinique Blue T/A with velour interior and T-Tops with the automatic....so it came with an Olds engine in it.......OUCH, so I ended up selling it.....pretty car though

Bring it to the Trans Am Nationals in Dayton. Would love to see it there! Hopefully mine will be ready to bring as well.

It has the same power as a 1971 400 4bbl with high flow duels ( factory) 220 net is 295 -300 gross .The 71 400 4bbl. Was rated at 300 gross.

Sexy looking car. I've always thought that these look much better than the late 70s Camaro or terrible pinto based mustang 2. Also with the Pontiac or Olds 400 V8s it was the only real muscle cars being built at the time.

If God had a car it would be a Firebird. Im biased though , got a 73 250 3 speed man with only 32,000 on it

Do you by chance have the part number for the K&N air cleaner lid and the element? I would like to increase the air flow on my 78 T/A as well. Awesome car!

That's bad ass

Is there still any of the original smog equipment still on? I think these had a pump and cat from the factory. The 3.42 lets you still drive with reasonable mileage on highway. Be interesting to dyno it now! Great Friday night cruise to Sonic with a couple stop light to stop light races!

Yep 280 hp 350+ tq through pos,i t10 supper 4spd you would be surprised what that thing will do in the right hands

Beautiful. Is it for sale

Saturday im suppsoed to be trading my 1996 7.3 diesel for a '78 trans am. Its my dream car and im super stoked. Ill let ya know how it goes

Great cars. But definitely not in the snow and rain. It's funny how Americas best handling car of the 70s is the absolute worst handling car in wet conditions. But I still love them.

Did the car have blacked out chrome trim around the windows when new or did it flake off?

Oh man! You should have cleaned that glaring bird shit off the hood!…lol Beautiful T/A.

oh the days when GM actually produced something decent