Custom 1975 Pontiac Trans Am Is One Cool, Period Street Machine
In a time when performance was hard to come by, this 1975 Pontiac Trans Am was a rare shining star on the streets.
Hot rodding has evolved tremendously over the decades that hobby has been in existence, and many styles have obviously come and gone. In fact, we can point to every decade and tell you all about what particular type of custom vehicle was cool at that time, whether it be the street truck, pro street, street rod, or any other myriad number of styles. When it comes to the 1970s and performance, things were a bit more suppressed, however, as this was a tumultuous time thanks to an energy crisis and other macroeconomic events, but that didn’t stop folks like Steve Brattesani from building cool street machines like this 1975 Pontiac Trans Am, which was featured in the August 1979 issue of Hot Rod magazine.
As we enthusiasts are well aware, cars from this era didn’t have much to offer in terms of performance, even a car like the Trans Am, which became rather famous thanks to its appearance in Smokey and the Bandit. In fact, the most powerful 1975 Pontiac Trans Am engine one could get from the factory was the massive 455 cubic-inch H.O. V8, which generated a mere 200 horsepower – and that was a late year option.
Thus, Brattesani – like many in this era – looked to fulfill his need for speed by adding some aftermarket upgrades to this bird, including a Crane Blazer hydraulic cam and lifters, a Cloyes double roller timing chain, an Edelbrock intake manifold, a Holley 650 cfm double-pumper carb, Hooker headers, and Corvair turbo mufflers. Underneath, a set of Koni adjustable shocks help the Trans Am scoot around corners a bit quicker, to boot.
Of course, speed was nothing without style in the 1970s, and this 1975 Pontiac Trans Am looks the part thanks to its unique multi-colored Candy striping that adorns the factory red paint. The only other upgrade present here are a set of American Racing Vector wheels wrapped with BFGoodrich T/A tires, which feature white letters, as was the style back then. Peek inside, and one will find an appropriate-for-the-era Clarion AM/FM/cassette radio with a CB, too.
It may not light anyone’s hair on fire today, but this 1975 Pontiac Trans Am was certainly magazine feature-worthy back in the late ’70s, that’s for sure. However, to us at least, this cool machine is a nice reminder that even amid plenty of uncertainties in the world today, we car enthusiasts still have it made, at least compared to the way things were just a few decades ago.
Photos: Hot Rod
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