1978 Trans Am & 1973 Formula 400 - Birds For All Reasons

Most of us would be elated to purchase our dream car just once. Others might add another if the opportunity presented itself, but few will ever hold title to three versions at the same time. George Berg is one of those few. He owns a '70 1/2 T/A, a '73 Formula 400, and a '78 W72 400 T/A, and we present the latter two here.

As you can see, George is into Second-Gens big time. So much so, in fact, that he travels to national Pontiac events each season, pulling two of his prized F-bodies in a 46-foot enclosed trailer his wife bought him for his birthday, and does it all by himself. You may think that's crazy, but George loves it. He gets to show off two of his three Pontiacs, collect trophies, and catch up with friends.

Ironically, while the '70 1/2 T/A he purchased in 2005 is a desirable Pontiac, the two we feature here are even more unique in their own ways. The '78 T/A was purchased in 2004, and though some may jump to the conclusion that it's an SE yet to have its stripes applied after a repaint, that is not the case. This non-SE is factory code-19 Starlight Black, and has a 220-horse W72 400; a four-speed and a 3.42 Safe-T-Track rear; Hurst Hatches, and little else option-wise. The interior is "standard" and the T/A doesn't even have A/C. It was definitely built to be quick on the back roads and look good doing it.

Then there is the '73 Navajo Orange Formula 400. Its color and factory accent stripe garner curious glances everywhere it goes. Unlike the T/A, this 230-horse L78 400, Turbo 400, 3.08 Safe-T-Track rear-equipped Formula is stuffed with comfort and appearance options, but like its stable mate, it too is without A/C. How did these two very different yet similar F-bodies come to share the same garage? That story begins back in the '70s.

"My first car was a '67 GTO," George tells HPP. "After that, I had a Carousel Red '69 Firebird 400. I was in the U.S. Air Force stationed in California when Smokey and the Bandit came out, but I couldn't afford a Trans Am." Given the lack of funds, George continued to live his life sans a Bandit. He progressed in his Air force career, he and his wife began raising a family, and he went though two bouts of cancer treatment. In what seemed like the blink of an eye, 28 years had passed-and still no Trans Am.

Enter The '78 Trans AM
"By 2004 I was retiring from the Air Force and the kids had finished college and were married," George recalls. "So when we purchased a new Pontiac Grand Am for my wife, I noticed the dealer had some classic cars for sale. He didn't have any T/As, but I knew what I wanted. I had dreamt of those Batmobile-nose Trans Ams for years, so I began a search for a black one.

"One day I ran across one on eBay. It had been well cared for and looked to be in great condition. After speaking several times with the owner, I waited for the last 10 seconds of the auction and put in my max bid. I won the Pontiac for $17,000, a lot less than I was willing to pay."

Once he got it home, George did some detailing and hit the road. "The T/A is very quick off the mark, has a strong top end, and handles the power with no problem," he beams. "The Shaker hood vibrating at idle is just awesome, and the exhaust isn't loud but has a nice rumble to it. I love getting on it in the many rolling hills and turns in our area of Maryland."

Impressed with its over-the-road performance, George was anxious to see the reaction at shows. "The T/A gets a lot of very positive attention," he says. "It seems everybody has either owned one or knows someone who has. It has won First Place at many shows from Michigan to Florida and everywhere in between, including First in Class at the '07 Ames Performance Pontiac Nationals in Norwalk. Among other awards, it's also won Best Paint at a local show with over 200 cars in attendance, and picked up several awards at the Trans Am Nationals at Dayton."