1978 Pontiac Firebird

The second-generation Firebird Trans Am reached the height of its cultural moment in 1978 — the year after Smokey and the Bandit put the black-and-gold car on every movie screen in America. Beneath the pop culture phenomenon was a genuinely capable performance machine.

The W72 high-output 400ci V8 was the most powerful engine available in the Trans Am lineup in 1978, and combined with the WS6 Special Performance Package's specific spring rates, heavy-duty sway bars, and performance shock valving, it delivered a driving experience that backed up the car's dramatic appearance. The Screaming Chicken hood decal, Hurst T-tops, and Solar Gold Metallic paint made this particular configuration one of the most visually assertive factory combinations available in the American market at the time.

This Trans Am is finished in Solar Gold Metallic over a Camel Tan vinyl interior and was originally sold through Jim Fresard Pontiac in Royal Oak, Michigan, shipping on May 20, 1978. Acquired by the seller in 2016, the car is supported by PHS documentation.

Ordered to a high level of specification, this Trans Am was came with the W72 high-output 400ci V8, WS6 Special Performance Package, 4-speed manual transmission, Hurst T-tops, and the Screaming Chicken hood decal — the combination most associated with the peak Trans Am experience of the era. Additional factory options included power steering, power brakes, power windows, power door locks, tilt steering, a Delco AM/FM stereo, electric rear defroster, Soft-Ray tinted glass, body side moldings, and custom color-keyed seat belts.