Pontiac Power

Spotter's Guide
1976 Trans AM LE "Blackbird"

Based on the 1974 Chicago Auto Show Black and Gold show car, Pontiac offered a Limited Edition package for the Trans Am celebrating Pontiac's 50th year. The Trans Am featured a T-top roof, installed by Hurst, and gold accents and pin striping. It could be had with either the 400 or 455 V8 engines. Due to leakage and other design flaws the T-top roof was discontinued and as a result only 643 were made with the T-top roof.

The 1976 Trans Am LE featured:

Starlight Black - Paint

Gold Hood Bird (3 color - Black/Light Gold/Matte Gold)

Gold Accented Grille

Gold Accented Headlight bezels

Gold Bird on Front Bumper Crest

Gold Honeycomb Wheels

Gold tinted swirl dash

Steering Wheel with Gold Spokes and Gold Bird in Center Cap

Gold Bird on door panels (pwr. windows only)

Gold Bird on Shifter knob (Automatic only)

Gold Pin-striping

Gold 50th Anniversary decal

Gold bird decal on c-pilar

Black-out Window Trim

Black-chrome exhaust splitters

Since this was the first Black and Gold package for Pontiac, some options were discontinued part way through the year. The main option that was canceled was the T-top roof, as well as the special gold-lettered tires and the black-chrome exhaust splitters.

If there is any documentation with the car look for the LE option on it. It should be on the window sticker and invoice for the car. It will also be on the build sheet as well. The Build Sheet is most commonly found in the rear seat back between the springs. Other common places are under the carpet, drivers or passengers side. Behind the kick panels and even between the gas tank and the trunk floor but are usually are in poor condition.

If none of these items are present with the car, the only way to be 100% sure that the car is a true SE is to have it documented with Pontiac Historical Services (PHS). For a very small fee of $35 (or $45 for fax back) PHS will send you a copy of the original invoice or billing history, a letter decoding the car's options, a copy of a dealer order for that model year, a official photo of the year and model, and other miscellaneous info that may be available for that year and model. The information that PHS provides will show what options are on the car. Since the LE package is an extra-cost option it will show on the invoice and therefore provide the proof needed.

Production breaks down as follows:

Engine	Trans	Roof	Total
400	-	Coupe	1,628
400	-	T -Top	533
455	4-Speed	Coupe	319
455	4-speed	T -Top	110
		Total	2,057

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