At the moment, being Thanksgiving right here within the U.S., most of us are enthusiastic about one type of chicken: the turkey. I’ll give you an alternate: the screaming rooster on the hood of as we speak’s Good Value or No Cube traditional Trans Am. Between consuming, watching soccer, and naps, let’s resolve what this chicken could be price.
In I Sing the Physique Electrical, Walt Whitman celebrates the human physique as nothing in need of a miracle. Whereas not fairly miraculous, the wagon physique on yesterday’s 2021 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo 4 proved fairly handsome. The Taycan is also absolutely electrical. All of us celebrated the automobile’s $67,000 asking value by giving it a strong 65 % Good Value win.
The story that Benjamin Franklin advocated for the turkey to be America’s nationwide chicken over the eagle is well-known however finally unfaithful. Franklin did reward the turkey as a “Chook of Braveness,” however fortunately, all of us take pleasure in them on the eating room desk and never as a logo of nationwide satisfaction.
One other chicken all of us may take satisfaction in proudly owning is the flaming phoenix that historically adorns the hood of Pontiac’s traditional pony automobile, the Firebird Trans Am. Launched within the Seventies as a strategy to spruce up efficiency vehicles that have been sorely missing in precise efficiency on account of emissions and gasoline financial system requirements, this type of tape and decal remedy is a pastiche of the period. As soon as producers found out tips on how to make vehicles muscular whereas on the identical time clear and environment friendly, such remedies largely fell by the wayside.
This 1975 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am is then a real denizen of its decade, because it has each the well-known “Screaming Rooster” decal and, as was par for the course on the time, an enormous V8 that places out comparatively few ponies.
On this automobile’s case, that’s a 400 CID Pontiac V8 with a four-barrel Quadrajet carb sitting fairly below a shaker scoop. As fitted, the smog-strangled engine managed 185 horsepower and a extra significant 310 lb-ft of torque. On the plus facet, that is apparently the sooner block which is stronger than these launched later in ’75, and there are many hop-up elements obtainable to offer the Pontiac mill extra poop. Based on the advert, the TH350 mated to the engine (the TH400 gained’t match within the automobile with cats) has a shift package put in.
Different factors of word on this automobile embody a recent paint job, new decals, and a totally redone inside. That is additionally the primary 12 months with the wrap-over rear window, so the again seats, whereas cramped, aren’t the previous darkish holes of despair.
Mechanically, the automobile has been gone via and options rebuilt suspension and brake parts, new seals and consumables, and wears new Cooper tires on its good-looking Rally II wheels. Total, the automobile presents as good-looking and clear. Per the advert, the mileage is 84,937, however a changed odo reads 48K. Much less complicated is the title, which the vendor says is clear.
It’s not all turkey and gravy, although. Per the advert, the A/C is lacking the engine bay parts, which have to be sourced and put in. That lack of A/C means this automobile in all probability acquired little use over the previous few months because it resides in Phoenix, Arizona, which masqueraded as a pizza oven for a lot of the summer season.
There are additionally a few minor leaks (gasoline pump, oil pan) that ought to be addressed. Then there’s the fiddly stuff inherent to proudly owning an outdated automobile, resembling a misaligned door and the specter of folks speaking to you on the fuel station. Maybe most egregiously, there’s a CD caught within the stereo. Nevertheless, nothing within the advert’s “Cons” listing ought to show a deal-killer.
What may, although, is the automobile’s $24,500 asking value. That’s a number of inexperienced to go along with our darkish and chicken as we speak. It’s within the vary for such vehicles of this age and situation, however is it a deal?
The place do you land on this Trans Am at that $24,500 value? Does that really feel like an excellent deal? Or does that asking make this Firebird a turkey?
You resolve!
Phoenix, Arizona, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
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