Trans Am will 'always be a blast to drive'
“Whoa! Check out that teacher's car!”
High school senior Ken Brown shifted his books and turned to see what his friend had spotted in their school parking lot. His eyes landed on a gleaming-new, maroon 1978 Firebird Formula.
“It was the coolest car I had ever seen,” Brown said, thinking back to that crisp September morning in 1978. “With T-tops and rich, red velour interior, it just blew me away.”
The youngster was shocked to later learn this far-out Formula wasn't a staff member's ride, but rather a fellow classmate's. Making the assumption that such a sweet machine “must be affordable,” he swung by the local Pontiac dealership. There, he was doubly disappointed; not only was the showroom sold out of Firebirds, but they weren't as easy on his student-sized wallet as he previously believed.
What was more attainable — and what he ended up purchasing — was a used 1976 Pontiac Sunbird. However, it wasn't enjoyed long. Two months later, another student ran into it while leaving the school, forcing Brown back into his father's 1974 Chevy pickup.
Now on a mission, he saved all he could over the next six months. He was determined to purchase not just any Firebird, but a new Firebird Trans Am before the end of the school year.
May came and went and, despite not having landed a full-time job, he decided to go looking that July. After shopping 10 dealerships, he found two TAs that were just barely in his price range. He picked the cheaper model, a brown 1979 Trans Am equipped with a 301-cubic-inch V-8 engine.
“It had just come off the truck on Friday, I put a deposit down on it Saturday, then picked it up the following Monday,” Brown said.
Brown's father not only co-signed the loan but also traded in his truck so his son could have the dream machine. Brown put his “Bird” to good use, driving more than 20,000 miles in that first year. Wanting to keep his pride and joy looking like new, no one was allowed to smoke, eat or even drink in the car.
To keep the TA out of the winter weather, he bought a 1968 Impala beater to use during the slushy months. In 1980, Brown moved back home and his dad permitted the Pontiac to be parked in the garage while Brown attended machinist school.
In 1982, Brown came across a worn-out '77 Trans Am that was being parted out. Brown purchased the snowflake-style wheels and the more powerful, 400-cubic-inch engine that had the W72 factory performance option. He gave a pal his 301 and $100 to perform the swap.
“We thought the 400 should bolt right in and for the most part it did,” Brown said. “He got it in there and, while it ran OK, it was still never quite right.”
Finally, in 2009, Brown could finally afford to find a Pontiac engine rebuilder who made everything work properly.
Still with its original paint and interior today, the Trans Am's behind-the-wheel experience is still something that thrills Brown, an Aurora resident.
“It still looks and runs like new,” he said. “It'll always be a blast to drive.”
• Share your car's story with Matt Avery at auto@dailyherlad.com.