A total of 68,745 Trans Ams...
A total of 68,745 Trans Ams were produced during the '77 model year. This Goldenrod Yellow example is one of just 10,466 units assembled with the optional T/A 6.6 engine backed by an automatic transmission. It is back in the possession of its original owner, Randy Nilges of Cuba, Missouri.
Regardless of age, there are certain occurrences that can take us back to a better time and place. Whether it's recalling the names of those who lived in the houses you pass while strolling through the old neighborhood, or standing in the batter's box or on the goal line of the ball field that you played on during high school, physical locations can cause us to reminisce about a particular time in our lives.
A vintage automobile is another mnemonic device that can mentally transport us back to a certain time and place. Be it the dashboard layout, the smell of an original interior, or the distinct sound of a particular V-8 idling though stock-type exhaust, an old car can evoke fond memories of the people who owned them or the times we spent in them. Most often it generates a warm feeling inside, and it's that exact sensation many hobbyists seek when purchasing a model familiar to their youth.
A small number of hobbyists are fortunate enough to own the actual vehicle that their personal memories were made in. Randy Nilges of Cuba, Missouri, is among them. The 54-year-old architectural draftsman purchased a new '77 Trans Am when he was just 20 years old. As life progressed, the two briefly parted ways, but the Trans Am's homecoming was a welcome reception, and it happened twice in past years.
With 107,000 miles on the...
With 107,000 miles on the odometer, the Y6-code T/A 6.6 has never been disassembled since the day it left Pontiac. The 400-inch mill boasts of 8:1 compression, a 274/298-degree cam, and a specific Rochester Quadrajet carburetor and HEI distributor. The effort produced 200 hp at 3,600 rpm and 325 lb-ft of torque at 2,200 rpm.
Randy was raised in a Pontiac family. His great-uncle Joe owned Nilges Motor Company, a Pontiac dealership in his hometown of Linn, Missouri, for several years. As a teenager, his uncle Bill would take him for rides in his muscle car. "I was hooked on performance ever since," Randy adds. "A few months before graduating college in 1977, I secured a job in a town about 50 miles away and began searching for a used performance car for the commute. My dad suggested that I buy a new car instead."
Based on his family's history, Randy's new vehicle was going to be a Pontiac. And what young red-blooded American didn't want a Trans Am at that time? He visited the sales staff at Selden Motorcar Corporation, Linn's new Pontiac dealership, on a number of occasions to inquire about a new Trans Am. At first he wasn't taken seriously, but the staff soon realized that Randy was in fact a bona fide customer looking to buy. In March 1977, he went through the option list and ordered the Firebird of his dreams.
Randy was just 20 years old...
Randy was just 20 years old when he purchased his '77 Trans Am. A member of the dealership sales staff snapped this picture of Randy signing the final paperwork just before taking delivery of it. Randy kept the pink copy, which is shown on page 51.
Randy wanted a black interior and he knew that his work commute meant being in the driver's seat for extended periods, so he opted for the extra-cost Custom Velour Interior for the most comfort. "The salesmen tried to sell me on power windows, but I wanted manual windows for the 'old school' effect. I purposely left off cruise control because I wanted to maximize the driving experience," he adds.
When it came to performance options, Randy states, "I considered a four-speed manual transmission, but opted for an automatic, simply for the convenience of daily driving. I also thought about the T/A 6.6 engine. It was only $50, but I thought it would raise my insurance rates. I decided that the base 180-horse 400 four-barrel was plenty for me."
The last decision Randy made was the exterior treatment. "I wanted my car to be the ultimate attention getter. I felt the large hood bird was an important part of the Trans Am package and was something I had to have. As far as the exterior color, I really liked Sterling Silver but knew of two others in a neighboring city. I wanted my Trans Am to be very unique, and though I had never seen the color in person, I ultimately decided upon Goldenrod Yellow."