Can you spot the flaws with this Trans Am?

[Eric]

I came across this on eBay/YouTube... it is being marketed as "correct/original" but I can tell you (as a '70s Trans-Am expert) there are several things (some major) not even remotely "correct/original" about this car. Can you spot' em?

[swamprat]

Did the 1976 TA have the T-tops?

I don't think that 5 speed transmissions were available in 1976.

How about the mudflaps around the fenders?

Is the radio original?

Did they really put screaming chickens on the hoods of T/A's in 1976? I thought 1977 was the first year for that.

It's too bad that that 94 Grand Marquis is in the frigging way. If it wasn't such a classic, I would have bumped that asshole into the ditch. lol

[Eric]

Did the 1976 TA have the T-tops?

I don't think that 5 speed transmissions were available in 1976.

How about the mudflaps around the fenders?

Is the radio original?

Did they really put screaming chickens on the hoods of T/A's in 1976? I thought 1977 was the first year for that.

It's too bad that that 94 Grand Marquis is in the frigging way. If it wasn't such a classic, I would have bumped that asshole into the ditch. lol

Very good!

The first Trans-Am to come with the (big) "screaming chicken" hood decal was the 1973 car. But this car has the wrong color decal for Carousel Red exterior paint. I therefore bet it has been repainted, because it's common to use a different (not factory) color scheme bird decal after a repaint.

The only '76 Trans-Ams that came with factory T-tops were the 50th Anniversary Limited Editions, all of which were black cars. This car's T-tops are aftermarket/dealer-installed (and these suck; they all leak and they fuck up the roof integrity of the car. The factory Fisher T-tops are much better done - and you can easily identify them because they are larger and don't have chrome trim.)

This car has the optional "custom" Horsecollar seats; but the door panels are the standard type - so I suspect someone added the optional seats to the car later on. Or the door panels were replaced with not-correct replacements.

Five-speed manual is not correct; the only manual transmission available in the second generation F-cars was a four-speed manual.

The engine has been modified with a not-stock camshaft. It sounds much more lumpy and aggressive than the factory 455 for 1976.

None of the above is bad - what annoys me is the way they market the car as "correct" and "stock" when it is very clearly not.

[Ken]

Did the 1976 TA have the T-tops?

I don't think that 5 speed transmissions were available in 1976.

To be fair, the sales guy did point out that the car was fitted with a later model transmission unit.

Ken.