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OK, Now I Need Some Help!

Killain

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I've only been a member here for a little bit of time.

Since I'm finally able to afford the car of my dreams, a 1977 or 78 Trans Am, I'm faced with the prospect of finding a nice black Smoky & Bandit Trans Am along with 1/2 the countries population, and I need guidance on finding the right model.

I have been looking innocently, and I have made some mild observations.

A 1977 model Trans Am will have about 100.000 miles on it.

However, I see several cars with like 43K or so, and I'm a little afraid of that number and selling at say $25.000, which is my limit, any 44-year-old car with mileage like that is rolled over on the odometer, so a car with say 95K miles would more than likely be a real 95K miles.

If you see my point?

The second somewhat strange thing here is these cars, despite the shape, sell at about $25.000 and go to about $45.000, then nothing till you get to 69.000 dollars and one guy wanted 1.3 million dollars for his car, which to me is just another individual from "Crazytown" looking to hit the lottery in selling his family heirloom.

So I need your help in looking for a Bandit and not getting my head knocked off.

What can you advise me on and how to go about it.

I was definitely going to hire an appraiser and carfax, but I don't think a Carfax is of much use.

How should I go about my search?

What do I need in information, and how do I read a trim plate?

Is there a website that would teach me how to read it?

Thank you!
 
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Pontiac Trans Am

Smokey
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I've only been a member here for a little bit of time.

Since I'm finally able to afford the car of my dreams, a 1977 or 78 Trans Am, I'm faced with the prospect of finding a nice black Smoky & Bandit Trans Am along with 1/2 the countries population, and I need guidance on finding the right model.

I have been looking innocently, and I have made some mild observations.

A 1977 model Trans Am will have about 100.000 miles on it.

However, I see several cars with like 43K or so, and I'm a little afraid of that number and selling at say $25.000, which is my limit, any 44-year-old car with mileage like that is rolled over on the odometer, so a car with say 95K miles would more than likely be a real 95K miles.

If you see my point?

The second somewhat strange thing here is these cars, despite the shape, sell at about $25.000 and go to about $45.000, then nothing till you get to 69.000 dollars and one guy wanted 1.3 million dollars for his car, which to me is just another individual from "Crazytown" looking to hit the lottery in selling his family heirloom.

So I need your help in looking for a Bandit and not getting my head knocked off.

What can you advise me on and how to go about it.

I was definitely going to hire an appraiser and carfax, but I don't think a Carfax is of much use.

How should I go about my search?

What do I need in information, and how do I read a trim plate?

Is there a website that would teach me how to read it?

Thank you!

Friend that is one of the most sought after TA's and people pay big money for them.

All you can do is look and be in the right place at the right time for that TA.

Thank you,
PTA Staff
 

Killain

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Thank you, and I don't feel comfortable not having it looked over by a professional appraiser.

I don't want T-tops.

I had a 1979 Corvette with them, and I don't want to abuse myself again.

I want the 400 ci engine and the tan interior if possible, and I cannot go through another total repainting, so I need decent paint.

Another odd thing is mileage.

I see so many saying their Trans Am has 29.000 or 45000 miles on their car, but this or that Pontiac is close to 43 years old, that 29000 mileage car most likely has 129.000 miles, there is no way to document the car as Carfax doesn't go back that far, so I think I'd be better off with 80 or 90 thousand mile car,

What do I do?
 
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gregbert78

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Thank you, and I don't feel comfortable not having it looked over by a professional appraiser.

I don't want T-tops.

I had a 1979 corvette with them, and I don't want to abuse myself again.

I want the 400 ci engine and the tan interior if possible, and I cannot go through another total repainting, so I need decent paint.

Another odd thing is mileage.

I see so many saying their Trans Am has 29.000 or 45000 miles on their car, but this or that Pontiac is close to 43 years old, that 29000 mileage car most likely has 129.000 miles, there is no way to document the car as Carfax doesn't go back that far, so I think I'd be better off with 80 or 90 thousand mile car,

What do I do?
Did you find yourself a '78?

I have one I'm thinking of parting with.

The black-on-black Smoky style as you suggest.

Mine has no T-Tops.

Here's a link to a few photos I have on Google Photos.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KH2GGPFDViyBgCiH9

Let me know if you're still looking.
 
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