Conventional wisdom says the muscle car era ended in 1971 with the coming of power-robbing unleaded gasoline and increasingly expensive insurance premiums levied on these performance machines. But Pontiac rarely hewed to conventional wisdom, and it extended the muscle era when it introduced the 455 CI Super Duty engines for 1973- 74 Firebirds. This handsome, Buccaneer Red Trans Am is one of 731 Super Duty T/As made in 1974 with the Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. Pontiac offered 455 CI V-8s for several years in the early 1970s, but the Super Duty engines were special, with a stronger, 4-bolt-main block, nodular iron crankshaft, forged steel connecting rods and forged aluminum pistons. Instead of the standard D-shaped exhaust ports in the cylinder heads, the SD ports were round for increased air flow, and the engine was fed via a 4-barrel carburetor beneath a rear-facing shaker hood scoop. The block’s undersquare bore-and-stroke dimensions made the SD 455 a torque monster: 395 lb-ft at its 3,200 RPM peak, and it produced a respectable (for the smog era) 290 HP. The Super Duty Trans Am was equipped with an extensive list of standard features, including power steering, power disc brakes, a Saf-T-Track differential with 3.42 gears, Rally II wheels, bucket seats, Rally gauges and a Formula steering wheel. The factory added a number of options to this car, including the SD 455 engine (a $578 addition), the iconic hood bird decal, a console between the bucket seats, AM radio, 8-track tape player, front and rear floor mats, Soft Ray windshield glass, and the Custom Trim Group, which included Deluxe bucket seats, Custom rear seat, door handle décor, trunk mat and pedal trim. One striking feature in this car’s interior is its white vinyl upholstery, which stands out against the red carpet, door panels and dashboard. This very special Trans Am is being sold with Pontiac Historic Services documentation and is listed in the SD 455 Registry.
