"Engineering didn't want to include the large hood decal, just the striping, but Jim McDonald, Pontiac's general manager at the time, saw the show car and felt it should be included. That surely upset the plant workers in Norwood, Ohio, because the hood decal took a great deal of time to install correctly, and it wasn't done on the standard production line. The decal was actually installed in a dark corner of the plant."
Removable roof panels were a popular option with consumers, and Hurst Performance in Brighton, Michigan, was one such company that a few General Motors' divisions had contracted to install its Hurst Hatches into a few models.
"Assistant Chief Engineer Steve Malone went to Hurst Performance to view the modifications required to add Hurst Hatches to the Firebird," Schinella says. "The roof was literally cut apart with a saw and a structural plate added. It proved not enough, though. The cars leaked badly, and creaking indicated excessive body flex. Most of us in Design and Engineering didn't care for the idea, but Sales saw it as a moneymaker and chose to move forward with it."
Information
Initial news of a limited-edition Firebird arrived on February 5, 1976, when Pontiac released an interorganization letter to its zone managers explaining that a "Special Edition Black Trans Am" was forthcoming. It outlined the contents of sales code Y82, which included gold exterior and interior accents, gold-lettered GR70x15 tires, and Hurst Hatches. Package pricing hadn't been determined at the time of printing, but the letter clearly stated that interior color was limited to black or buckskin (in either standard or custom trim) and that neither Roof Drip- nor Window Sill-moldings were available options.
 |  Hurst's efforts at preventing...  Hurst's efforts at preventing water leakage on this original S/E T/A are evident. Notice the excessive use of body caulk in the corners where the existing roof panel intersects with the removable hatch and side glass. Also note the jagged edges on the internal roof panel left by the saw during the conversion process. |  Gold pinstripes bisect the...  Gold pinstripes bisect the roof and decklid and run across the rear spoiler and bumper. |
Sales Information Bulletin (SIB) No. 76-22 was released to dealership and media contacts on February 25, 1976, and it included a stunning photograph of the black-and-gold Trans Am (lead photo). The bulletin stated that package cost was approximately $1,100 and that production, which was limited to just 2,400 units, was scheduled to begin on April 1. It added that Hurst Hatches were planned as a regular-production option once S/E T/A buildout was complete.
At least one item dropped from the content list as production neared. Car Distribution Bulletin (CDB) No. 76-F-4 issued on March 4, 1976, stated that gold-lettered tires were a casualty, and that GR70-15 black-wall units were standard with white-lettered tires in the same size available at extra cost. SIB No. 76-26 released on March 25 revealed that production delays prevented Hurst Hatches from becoming a regular-production option, but that they were still planned for S/E models.
Production Begins
Through intense research and hand collating, and with help from its readers, to date HPP has gathered production information from nearly 100 different S/E T/As built during the '76 model year. While that number may seem miniscule, it represents nearly 4 percent of total S/E T/A production, and when combined with information from several hundred other '76 Trans Ams, production trends are very apparent.
According to recorded information, the S/E T/As were built in groups at the Norwood, Ohio, assembly plant. Production began during the last week of March 1976, or 03E as displayed on the third line of the cowl-mounted data plate. This coincides with a VIN containing the last six digits around 561000.
We know from S/E T/A buildsheets that the cars were shipped to Hurst Performance in Brighton, Michigan, for at least a portion of the conversion. In subsequent years, the bare body of Hurst Hatch-equipped Firebirds was first sent to a nearby facility for the roof conversion and then returned to Norwood for normal assembly. It's presently unclear if the '76 S/E T/As were handled in a similar manner, or if they were partially completed before being shipped to Hurst for the conversion. It's also unclear at which plant the gold accent striping was installed.
 It seems that many '76 S/E...  It seems that many '76 S/E T/As built during the first few months of production received black-chrome split-exhaust tips like these, while traditional chrome splitters were more common as the model year progressed. |  Though Y90 Custom Trim and...  Though Y90 Custom Trim and virtually any convenience option was available, interior color choice was limited to black or buckskin only in 1976. Information gathered from documented S/E T/As suggests that Black Custom was the most popular interior choice. |  Like the exterior, gold appointments...  Like the exterior, gold appointments are found on the S/E T/A's interior too. Most notable is the gold engine-turned dashplate and gold spokes of the Formula Steering Wheel. The Firebird emblems on the horn and shifter buttons are trimmed in gold as well. |