Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Forum
Trans Am Information => Trans Am Information => Topic started by: burtbook on August 28, 2009, 08:33:21 PM
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Hi, I'm new to the forum. I have the opportunity to purchase either a '77 or '78 SE. Both cars are #'s matching W72 auto cars with pretty much the same options except the '77 has cloth seats. Both cars are in about the same condition - rust in the rear quarters, the '77 interior is in a little better shape, both have Hurst T-Tops. Both are priced at $10k. Although I am buying the car to keep which year is more desireable to collectors if I decide to sell in the future.
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If you're wanting to sell it as a collector car in the future, get the PHS docs. People get burned and everyone seems to have the Trans Am used in Smokey & the Bandit - those cars are on craigslist every month!
There were apparently 3760 Y82 SE's in 77, 2856 Y82 SE's in 78 and 68 Y84's in 78. Those were the numbers on the 400/automatics. Not sure what 78's had fisher t-tops, perhaps the Y84?
So, the numbers, are they that important ...or real, probably not. The important thing is that you enjoy whatever you get. Drive it, get out to shows, have fun with it.
Post some pix of what you're considering and you'll get comments. Tell the seller to wait until you run it by some friends ...afterall, it's a buyer's market right now.
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They better have minimal rust for 10K unrestored.
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yer the Y84's had em cos our Y84 has the Fisher tops ;D
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yer the Y84's had em cos our Y84 has the Fisher tops ;D
This statement confuses me
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John wrote
Not sure what 78's had fisher t-tops, perhaps the Y84?
This is what my remarks were about
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Definitely post some pics. They sound overpriced at 10k if they have rust SE or not.
In terms of collectability the car used in Smokey & The Bandit was supposed to represent a stock 77 car so its a little more desireable than a 78 as the 77 is more accurate to the movie. To the casual buyer though, if you stuck a 77 and a 78 next to eachother with the same paint and options most probably wouldn't pick out the differences.
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I'd rather havethe 78 because the shaker is bigger.
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78 here too so the 8" snowflakes would be correct
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Yeah 78 also had the WS6 package on some models
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I looked at the PHS documents on the '78. It doesn't have a w72 engine like the owner thought. I at least want the W72, ideally I would like the WS6 pkg , Fisher tops and 4 speed also, but I'll take what I can get within my budget. I put a WTB in the for sale section
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if the car has the ws6 package then the w72 option will not show up on the phs but the cost option for the ws6 will be 324.00 if it is a w72.
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It's hard to believe how many of the SE's that I have come across don't have the original engines. I guess when the old ones wore out they just got another running motor and dropped it in instead of rebuilding. I have found 2 '77 Se's. One is disassembled and has only one small rust spot in the right quarter panel. It originally had the 403. It comes with an unassembled '72 400 with all of the machine work done and new TRW forged pistons. The Rear has been rebuilt with 3.55 gears and eaton posi and new springs and shocks. It also includes the full body gasket kit and graphite impregnated poly bushing kit. He wants $6k. The other needs floor pans and has a quarter size rust hole in the rear quarter. It is a W72 car but isn't #s matching and doesn't run. It's interior is disassembled and is missing a few parts -console and plastic. He wants $3,200.
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They're out there ... hold out for what you want. It will come across your path at some point. Then it's a questions about how long you've been looking relative to what you think it's worth. It's not a question of IF the car is out there ... it's a question of WHEN.
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I've been talking with the guy with one of the cars that I was looking at. Do you guys think that $4k is a fair price for a '77 SE with no engine. It is a very solid car with no rust in the floor pans, just a quarter size bubble in the rear lower quarter. He has the PHS docs - originally had a 403. It also includes the complete Prothane bushing kit and complete weatherstrip kit. I would appreciate any input.
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value is in the eye's of the purchaser. I have only came across 2 real y82's in my area since i started looking. 1. of which was super nice and the guy wanted 56k for it as it only had 23,000 miles on it and his ad actually said 5,600 (misprint) the other was for 4,800 with non original 400 that didnt run plenty of rust to repair so she went from this,
(http://www.78ta.com/gallery2/main.php/d/12512-2/y82+before+restore_.jpg) (http://www.78ta.com/gallery2/main.php/v/y88rick/y82+before+restore_.jpg.html)
to this currently
(http://www.78ta.com/gallery2/main.php/d/20107-2/77y82+ds+paint+3.JPG) (http://www.78ta.com/gallery2/main.php/v/y88rick/77y82+ds+paint+3.JPG.html)
I had alot of work infront of me. rust repair to the quarters, tail panel and one rocker to engin replacement as the other one wasnt even rebuildable. to changing the t-top frames and paint plus decales and glass along with needing new interior. I have near 10k total invested at this point doing it myself but these cars are out there if your willing to travel the value of the real y82's are crazy imo but would i do it all over again?
YOU BET I WOULD
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Yeah, Most of the ones that I have looked into have had alot of rot. A majority of them have been in the Southeast. Being from Florida originally, I know that if you let a nice car sit out in the weather for a few years, they'll rot to the ground. When I was a teen in South Florida, there were alot of SE's around. I'm leaning towards getting this one, it does come with alot of new parts. It also has a freshly built rear with 3.55 gears and Eaton Posi and new front and rear springs and shocks. I just wish it had the original drivetrain. If I do get it I'm thinking LS2 or LS3 since it won't be #s matching and only had the 403 anyways.
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if you feel the car is worth it to you, then it is. but if not, then its not.