Smokey and the Bandit, Knight Rider, The Rockford Files… the Pontiac Trans Am is a staple of pop culture and of some legendary American faces. But why wouldn’t it be? It was a long, low and mean machine that packed a V8 punch and was always willing to screech its tyres and rev its engine in the name of making for good footage. But of course, the Trans Am was more than just a screen star, it was also a massively successful model for the now defunct brand, Pontiac. 

Introduced in 1967, and built to slot into the pony car market, made so popular by Ford’s Mustang, the Firebird (on which the Trans Am model was based) remained in constant production until 2002. It went through four generations, of which the third is being offered here. And for many, the third-gen Trans Am is the one to have. Of course, there is the inescapable link to Knight Rider, but more than that, it’s just a solid, fast, comfortable and highly handsome machine. A definite product of the ‘80s, it featured pop-up lights, more internal button and controls than a jet fighter and of course, that all-important 5.7 V8. 

The car we have here is perhaps the rarest of them all. But why? First of all, there is the rear hatch. Unlike K.I.T.T, this car has a fibreglass ‘notchback’ arrangement that was designed, we kid you not, to resemble a Ferrari 280. It gives the car a unique and stand out look. Though people will have to be quick if they want to get a look, given that this car also features a dealer-fit Vortec supercharger. Make no mistake, this is a very special car indeed.

For the 1988 model year, Pontiac went a bit wild and took it upon itself to offer a new style of Trans Am. That new style would be the ‘notchback’. In reality, it was just one part that was changed, namely the rear ‘glass house’ hatch. Instead, a fibreglass hatch was fitted with a more vertical, smaller rear window. Made by Auto-Fab of Auburn Hills, MI, the ‘notchback’ trunk lid simply bolted on in place of the glass one. However, in doing so, it completely changed the look of the car. Pontiac had high hopes for the conversion, which also featured bespoke rear seating, but in the end just 718 were built. Of those, only a handful survive. The one you’re looking at here, which was imported in the ‘90s, is believed to be the only one in the UK, possibly Europe, too. 

But the special nature of this car doesn’t end there. The 1988 Trans Am was already something of a powerful machine, what with being fitted with a 5.7 litre V8. Dripping with contemporary cutting edge technology, there was electronic fuel injection and computer-controlled ignition. It generated some 225hp, which was sent to the rear wheels via an automatic transmission and limited-slip differential. 

This car, however, had some money spent on it at the dealership. Open the bonnet and you will indeed see the V8 mentioned above, but atop it you will also see a Vortec supercharger, which hikes the power up to some 300hp with a book 0-60 time of 6 seconds! 

The car arrived in the UK as an unrestored, survivor example and this has remained true over the years. The car has been under the custodianship of five enthusiasts and in that time has been fastidiously cared for and stands today as an original specification car. Other than service and wear and tear parts like tyres, this car is as it was in ‘88.

There is limited paperwork with the Trans Am. However, there is a small selection of information pertaining to the details of the conversion, the logbook is present and correct, and there is an MOT certificate stating a test is in place until June 2021.

Other documentation includes show boards used when exhibiting the car, the service book (though service work has of course largely been carried out by past enthusiast owners or specialists). However, as is often the case with classic cars, the true proof of the history pudding is the car’s current condition, and this one is excellent. Inspection of the car would suggest that the survivor status of this car is genuine, as there is no evidence of past repair or restoration. Remarkable considering the journey this iconic car has been on.

You may notice online that there is a discrepancy with the mileage on the previous MOT. This was an error by the testing garage, and confirmation of this can be found at the end of the gallery below.

Lots of leather and lots of buttons, that’s the order of the day in here. It’s a comfortable place to be, with deep, comfortable leather seats both front and back. The rear seats are unique to the ‘notchback’ model, with a more defined 50/50 split. Being bespoke, and as such, rare, it’s reassuring that they’re in great condition. So too is the rest of the interior. The carpets aren’t faded, and while there is some wear to the steering wheel, it is of no detriment. More a case of it being commensurate with the car’s age. The only slight flaw we could find was some slight coming away of the carpeting on the doors, but nothing some upholstery adhesive wouldn’t sort, and certainly not a hugely noticeable issue. (Please note, since this listing has been posted, the seller has advised that the carpet coming away is actually pockets for storage, not damage to the floor carpet!)

Sitting in the driver’s seat, the dash and steering wheel ahead of the driver are clearly products of the 1980s, though in the best possible way. The steering wheel centre is awash with neatly laid out buttons for the stereo. Behind that, there is the dash binnacle - digital in the case of this car - which lights up with a bong and beep once the key is turned. All the LCD elements seem to function, too. There is no sign of burns of blown bulbs. 

The centre console is again, awash with buttons. The most notable are part of the Delco stereo and graphic equaliser - all of which still works, though the radio does need to be de-coded. There are further buttons for the functional air-conditioning, then above all that there is a trip computer, and digital readout gauges for fuel, oil pressure, temp and so on. The car also features central locking, power windows and cruise control. Michael Knight would indeed feel very at home in this car!

Around the back, under that fibreglass notchback piece, the carpets are immaculate and the space-saver spare wheel is still present and correct, and looks to be unused. There is no issue with the notchback lid, though the gas struts could possibly benefit from being replaced. But other than that, it’s all pleasingly 1988.

As you can see from the pictures, this is a wonderfully presented Pontiac. The paint is in good order, though being black, there is some evidence of swirl marks from past polishing. However, this is thirty-two year-old paint, and as such, some age is to be expected. Being black, it is exceptionally unforgiving when it comes to showing imperfections, and we’re pleased to report that we saw nothing in the way of untoward dings, damage, ripples or flaws. It really is arrow straight. The only flaw, if you will, is that there is some surface rust coming through on the offside rear arch. This should be addressed before it gets the chance to develop into something more serious. 

The body is straight, as we mentioned, all the glass is clear and free of damage, the rubbers are all in excellent condition and show no signs of cracking or perishing and the all important rear ‘notchback’ panel is in excellent order. The black gloss still shines and there is no sign of warping in the fibreglass, nor is there any sign of spider cracks so often found in this material. 

The wheels, which are the original diamond pattern alloys, are all shod in recent Cooper rubber and the wheels themselves are free of curb rash or damage. That said, the silver outer rims are showing signs of age, and could perhaps benefit from refurbishment. 

Looking underneath the car, the floors, sills and inner arches are in excellent order, there is no sign of any damage or serious corrosion (though as to be expected, there is some surface corrosion here and there), nor has the car ever seen the hot end of a welder. It’s actually in remarkable condition. It’s been rust-proofed at some point, and this seems to have done its job well.

As you would expect of a car with so few miles (46k) this car is in excellent mechanical health. Pop that long bonnet and you’re greeted with an engine bay that is jam-packed with mechanical bits. The 5.7 V8 fills most of the space, while the supercharger and the associated electronic management boxes and so on fill the corners. There is a cone air-filter fitted, which draws air from behind the nearside front light. While no concours entrant, the engine bay is presentable and refreshingly honest. There is no sign of corrosion on the metalwork and the engine shows no signs of leaks or sub-par external repair. 

Firing the car into life, the V8 barks through a twin-exit large-bore exhaust system and it sounds, quite frankly, glorious. Imagine if you will, what a V8 should sound like, and that’s what you have here. It burbles menacingly, before howling as it pushes through the revs. The Vortec supercharger’s whine isn’t at all intrusive, and can in fact barely be heard. Which makes a change from other supercharged cars, where the noise can grate. 

The current owner enthusiastically explained that the power delivery is clean and progressive, thanks in part to there being no lag. Instead, the car just picks up and goes. The steering, while not Lotus-sharp, is still direct and responsive, but in a very assisted, American way. The brakes - disc all round - do a fine job of keeping the Trans Am’s mass under control, as does the factory lowered suspension which is still firm but not crashy. This is a GTA model, Gran Turismo Americano, and as such is a car for fast, long cruising. Not hunting apexes. 

It’s an icon. It has pop-up lights and it has a thumping great V8 with a supercharger bolted on top. It has leather, buttons galore, an actual digital dash and it’s really rather powerful. What’s not to like? How can a car like this not set the pulse racing? It’s a big, charismatic, loud brute of a car and for that, we love it. 

Of course, there are more grounded reasons to be motivated to bid. There is the survivor status of this car for one. It is hard to find any car of this vintage in this condition that hasn’t been fettled at some point. To find an American classic in that condition is a very rare thing indeed. Then there is the notchback feature. Remember, only 718 of these cars were built, and this one is believed to be the only one in the UK. It’s a rare, fun, exciting, songful car that will let you live out your American V8 fantasies. Cared for, low mileage and pretty much unique - you can’t beat it.