[Judge273]

I hope you're right as the Burt clone cars are coming to market fast and furious....haha

Not sure on the 79-81 clones though?

[J GLASGO]

My 74 formula 400 with 30000 miles ran 14.4 never touched engine original gm transverse muffler. My 74 formula 455 ran 14.6 20000 mile car 3.08 gear. At least 10 LOW MILE 77-78 w72 ta,s. A good stock one was 15.20.

[rock]

Sad but true, the bandit made a big impact in pop culture. Only die hard Pontiac guys recognize a 72 trans am.

I have both, a 70 formula and an 80 turbo bandit

They are different but the same

[4birds]

Food for thought:
1971 Trans Am production-2116
1972 Trans Am production-1286
1973 Trans Am production-4802

1977 Trans Am production-68745
1978Trans Am production-93341
1979 Trans Am production-117108

Common sense would say the 71-72 values will always be worth more than say, 77-78's.

However in this automotive world, not much makes any sense anymore. There are no set values, desirability, rules, rhyme or reason.
Personally I would love to have a 78 Trans Am. But I think they are worth about 1/4 of what 71-72's are worth.

Just MY opinion.



.

[Judge273]

From the Pontiac guys...71-72 TAs are cool, fast and handle very well.

Non Pontiac next generation guys and gals are like The Bandit can leap over tall building do smokey burnouts like crazy, and look great!

The tide has turned as the old Pontiac's are forgotten, but The Bandit lives long and prospers...

[rock]

Originally Posted by 4birds

Food for thought:
1971 Trans Am production-2116
1972 Trans Am production-1286
1973 Trans Am production-4802

1977 Trans Am production-68745
1978Trans Am production-93341
1979 Trans Am production-117108

Common sense would say the 71-72 values will always be worth more than say, 77-78's.

However in this automotive world, not much makes any sense anymore. There are no set values, desirability, rules, rhyme or reason.
Personally I would love to have a 78 Trans Am. But I think they are worth about 1/4 of what 71-72's are worth.

Just MY opinion.



.

True, but the other side of the coin has the buyers. 70-73 fans are passing away and the 77-81 gang is coming of age. Many 77-81 fans are not financially prepared to buy a toy but when the money appears they will run out and buy a bandit.

Every twelve year old in 1980 wanted a cb radio, never mine the movie fans. Hollywood has a world wide influence.

To be honest both cars are poor cars to drive, it's a dream

[rock]

Originally Posted by Judge273

From the Pontiac guys...71-72 TAs are cool, fast and handle very well.

Non Pontiac next generation guys and gals are like The Bandit can leap over tall building do smokey burnouts like crazy, and look great!

The tide has turned as the old Pontiac's are forgotten, but The Bandit lives long and prospers...

I have the same train of thought

I have been buying up all the cars that were in the original Gumball rally movie.

Best car movie ever

[johnta1]

My 73 455 TA automatic ran 14 flat with 3.08's.

[73T/A]

Originally Posted by J GLASGO

My 74 formula 400 with 30000 miles ran 14.4 never touched engine original gm transverse muffler. My 74 formula 455 ran 14.6 20000 mile car 3.08 gear. At least 10 LOW MILE 77-78 w72 ta,s. A good stock one was 15.20.

Good to hear some real world numbers.What transmission and rear end ratio were you running in the 74 Formula 400?

[73T/A]

Originally Posted by johnta1

My 73 455 TA automatic ran 14 flat with 3.08's.

That's a great pass with the 3.08 rear!

[poncho-mike]

In my youth in the early 80s, we had a number of 1/8 mile tracks locally. At the time, I had a 71 Trans Am, automatic with no a/c and 3.42 gears. It wasn't completely stock but very close. I replaced the timing chain and used a split key to advance the cam slightly, replaced the stock distributor with an HEI, and replaced the transverse muffler with true duals. At that time, we also had a local tire recapper that sold Eagle GTs recapped with a very soft compound. These tires didn't last long, but they were cheap and sticky.

I ran a best of 8.58 in the 1/8 mile running the cheap recap tires on the rear. I found a chart on a website that estimates that would convert to a 13.40 1/4 mile run.

I also had a 70 T/A that was pretty heavily modified that would run 7.90 - 8.00 in the 1/8. That's a totally different story.

[Norwood]

Originally Posted by Judge273

From the Pontiac guys...71-72 TAs are cool, fast and handle very well.

Non Pontiac next generation guys and gals are like The Bandit can leap over tall building do smokey burnouts like crazy, and look great!

The tide has turned as the old Pontiac's are forgotten, but The Bandit lives long and prospers...

Are you drinking again? When you trade one of those 2 birds of yours for a Bandit I’ll believe you .

[J GLASGO]

3.42,s 400 turbo, no a.c..

[Formulajones]

When my 70 RAIII formy was original and 60k miles, smoked and was tired, it went mid 14's. Refreshed with PS rules in mind it ran solid 13.60's with a 3.31 gear in some crappy DA. Just went through it again with hopes of picking that time up a bit, hopefully some better air, and thinking about taking even more gear out of it.

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by rock

...
To be honest both cars are poor cars to drive, it's a dream

huh?!

Maybe I'm missing something in the traslation there..

I'd drive my Formula year round again in a heartbeat...
If not for it's cancer, and wanting to not get it to the point where it is again...

When my city was snowed in (it rarely happens; i think it was winter 1997 or so) my Formula was one of few cars that could drive out there (it was my daily driver at the time)...

I think the 1972 Formula 455 advertisement put it perfectly;
"Good dependable transportation"

[Formulajones]

We drive ours all the time, and it's always been primarily a driver first, and fun track car second. Wife loves driving it too. There are things I like about 1st gens better, but the Formy is a fantastic driving car that we've taken everywhere in and out of state as a family, including some vacation trips. Been reliable for us for over 20 years. I trust it more than I do a new car. In fact, we don't even drive new cars anymore.

[3tas4me]

Originally Posted by unruhjonny

huh?!

Maybe I'm missing something in the traslation there..

I'd drive my Formula year round again in a heartbeat...
If not for it's cancer, and wanting to not get it to the point where it is again...

When my city was snowed in (it rarely happens; i think it was winter 1997 or so) my Formula was one of few cars that could drive out there (it was my daily driver at the time)...

I think the 1972 Formula 455 advertisement put it perfectly;
"Good dependable transportation"

I see that I was not the only one who didn't understand that line. The second gen cars were truly ahead of their time. Driving any of mine today, they compare very nicely to modern cars in handling and performance. Even the ride quality isn't bad. Newer cars are quieter, get better MPG and have more toys, but I love driving my second gens.

[The Boss]

Mid 14's is stock 305 3rd gen territory.

Originally Posted by 4birds

Food for thought:
1971 Trans Am production-2116
1972 Trans Am production-1286
1973 Trans Am production-4802

1977 Trans Am production-68745
1978Trans Am production-93341
1979 Trans Am production-117108

Common sense would say the 71-72 values will always be worth more than say, 77-78's.

However in this automotive world, not much makes any sense anymore. There are no set values, desirability, rules, rhyme or reason.
Personally I would love to have a 78 Trans Am. But I think they are worth about 1/4 of what 71-72's are worth.

Just MY opinion.



.

To be fair, the values of most of the late 70's TA's isn't even close to the early 70's ones - just the SE's, and then only the occasional ones that roll through a major auction and get all the press.

[rock]

Stock 3rd gen 305's are closer to 16.0 quarter times. Better chassis, but the nails in General Motors coffin were being prepared.

[The Boss]

Originally Posted by rock

Stock 3rd gen 305's are closer to 16.0 quarter times. Better chassis, but the nails in General Motors coffin were being prepared.

I'll argue this....4 runs all in the 14's, best is 14.57, my car but not while I owned it.

88k miles showing but more likely over 100k due to disconnected speedo during warranty period.

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