Taking the SD one step further, all 455 Super Duty engines were literally hand- built by two-person teams—matching part tolerances and weights—at the Milford plant as an off-assembly-line operation. Unheard of for production vehicles at the time (especially since other manufacturers were detuning engines to meet emission regulations), all 455 Super Duty engines were essentially detuned race engines, rated at an absurdly low 290 HP to keep insurance rates somewhat affordable. Once in Hot Rodders’ hands, a simple cam, intake and carb swap, plus a bump in timing, netted close to 600 HP and 600 lb-ft of twist. To get power to the ground, customers had the choice of a 4-speed manual (early cars getting Muncie HD and late-production ‘74s receiving the BorgWarner T-10) or a 3-speed TurboHydramatic 400, as found on this 1974 Buccaneer Red example to be offered this November in Las Vegas. Replete with “screaming chicken” graphic (a $55 option when new) on the hood, it’s one of a mere 943 SD-455s produced and one of 731 with the automatic gearbox. This Super Duty Trans Am has recently completed an extensive, nut-and-bolt concours restoration by famed builder Roger Dengel of Dengel Restorations in Lewistown, Montana. Between the frame rails rests the car’s correct, numbers- matching SD-455 mill, with only test miles on the clock since culminating the restoration. The front discs and rear drum brakes are power assisted, as is the recirculating ball steering. Pontiac’s in-house suspension experts Bill Delaney and Herb Adams worked their magic to make the Trans Am handle like it was on rails, maximizing the performance from the new radial tires. Up front, the TA received independent, unequal-length control arms, stiffer 330-pound coil springs, 125-pound semi- elliptic leaf springs out back and smaller sway bars. With heavy-duty-valved shocks and stiffer bushings, only the Corvette could top its handling prowess. The handling on this car is upped a touch further with BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires on its PMD Rally II wheels. The Trans Am took on a new, more aerodynamic shape for ’74; the deformable endura bumper was gone, replaced with an unfriendly fiberglass and rubber front end with 5 MPH bumpers. The look came off well, while other GM products took on an awkward, heavy look. The new front fascia included many of the older elements from the 1970-73 cars, even though the front had a laidback look. Parking lamps remained below the front bumper but lost their chrome surrounds. The grilles became less aggressive, now featuring fine vertical rows. The front spoiler was also shortened in an attempt at thwarting parking curbs. The unmistakable shaker hood scoop was standard fare on all Trans Ams that year, although the opening was sealed shut on SD-455s in order to meet emissions standards. Sliding into the restored white vinyl interior, the dual front buckets provide firm support as you grasp the Formula steering wheel, the engine turned instrument and control binnacle inset to the dash, making the black gauges pop and easy to read. Resting your arm on the storage door to the full-length console, the leather-wrapped shifter falls automatically to hand. While the SD-455 led the muscle car era out with a bang, you can still relive 1974. Just twist the key, insert Kool and the Gang’s “Wild and Peaceful” into the 8-track, throw the shifter into DRIVE, and let the SD-455 push you back into the seat. OFFERED NOVEMBER 14 AT LAS VEGAS 2020 42 • MECUM.COM
