Another rare find '74 455 Trans Am Vinyl Roof

[WILDCAT_65]

A year ago, I noticed an ad on a german website, like Craigslist, for a Trans Am, with little text and no price, but a picture of it sitting in a garage with old stuff around it. Beeing a Pontiac lover, and a car hunter gy nature, I was very excited. I left a message, and a guy called me back, said it belonges to a older gentleman (85), and has been sitting for a long time. And he decided it is time that he has to let it go. He told me the price which was offered, or more liiely what they wanted, and I said, I can live with that.

After looking at it a deal was made, and I came back with ny Dodge and trailer. It is running, driving and has zero rust. Except for a little bubble left front fender. He used the TA to trailer his boat from Munich to Croatia every year! See the old picture.
It has a lot of options A/C tilt steering, 8 track(he gave me a little box with old 8 tracks from the 70's! How cool!) Power door locks, 455 engine, and a

VINYL ROOF!

Here is my question. Does anybody know how many Trans Ams with vinyl were made? I only have found one picture (also a white one , but S.D.) on the net.

When we jade the deal at the man's house, I noticed he was a collector. Had old nutcrackers, old clocks and a few model cars and other stuff decorated in the rooms. So when picking up his old car, which he bought in the 70's at a Opel/GM dealer in Munich as a used car (probably 1st hand) I gave him the Ertl 1:18 '73 model as a little gift. He was near tears, but said, he can now still see it when he is sitting on his couch, and that is fine!

[WILDCAT_65]

Here's some pictures...

The first is from '84. Must have been a crazy sighting here in Europe back then

[WILDCAT_65]

First drives...

[StealthBird]

Vinyl tops were popular in Europe. I don't have the breakdown for Trans Ams, but in 1974 they produced 14,108 Firebirds with vinyl tops.

Was this car built in Europe, or was it imported? A photo of the trim tag would be interesting to see.

Mike

[Burd]

Nice TA. I got a buddy with a Green on Green 70 Z with a vinyl top

[Dave Rifkin]

looks like someone cut the rear spoiler down a bit. Wonder why it has blue decals except for the bird on the hood.

[StealthBird]

From Sweden....

[WILDCAT_65]

Hi, I think it is a U.S. built car. They stopped building Antwerp cars in late 60's.

It has a mp/h speedo, so I think it was a import, or maybe from an american soldier, who might had sold it over here.
I will snap a pic of the cowl tag these days! I will do the PHS documentation soon.


The cut down spoiler was some stupid german "law". They said it is too sharp on the edges.
The old guy told me, that he was pulled over by a motorcycle cop, and he gave him a ticket. So he had to cut it down.

A few years earlier I found and bought a '77 SE T Top Trans Am, black 4 Speed, "Bandit" sitting at a old tire shop here in the countryside. I asked what's up with it, and the guy gave me the number of an ex G.I. who was a helicopter pilot over here in Stuttgart.
He had the TA registered with army plates, and everything was fine. Then he got married, and stayed in Germany and the car was registered here. Also in Munich. He told me, damn motorcycke cop pulled him over, and he had to cut down the spoiler.
It was repainted once. The blue Stickers are not the original ones.

Wonder if it was the same cop.... now we do not have that anymore. Classic cars should ge original.

[WILDCAT_65]

Haha, cool Street Freak from Sweden. They have everything over there! Totally crazy!

[StealthBird]

I have an export tag for a 1979 Pontiac tagged as General Motors Suisse S.A. Bienne.