Offered for Only 3 Months: Rare 1978 Trans Am Y88 Hides Bad News Under the Hood

The next few years were concerning from a production perspective, as the Trans Am couldn't take off. Pontiac produced 2,116 units in 1971, followed by a nearly 50% drop to 1,286 Trans Ams in 1972.

The car finally gained traction a year later when the GM brand sold over 4,800 units. What happened next was a revolution for Pontiac, as sales nearly doubled every year. In 1978, the company sold 93,341 Trans Ams, with the 1979 model year witnessing the biggest number of Trans Ams ever produced – 117,108 units.

For Pontiac, it was the perfect way to celebrate the Trans Am's 10th anniversary. However, the 1978 model year also provided buyers with special-edition releases, including the highly desirable and very rare Y88 Gold Special Edition.

Most people seem to forget that the Y88 wasn't available for the entire 1978 model year. Pontiac indeed worked throughout the year to assemble the Y88, but dealerships only took orders for this special edition for approximately three months. Pontiac opened the order books in November 1977, but in February of the next year, it was already done with the Y88, so customers could only get a "regular" gold Trans Am edition.

The easiest way to tell this model apart from the other Trans Ams and determine if it's the real deal is to look for the Y88 tag on the cowl tag. Paint code 50, which refers to the gold finish, should also be included in the tag.

The Y88 Gold Special Edition was in some ways similar to the Black Special Edition, but instead of black, it came with gold in all the main places. Each Y88-coded Trans Am sported a Solar Gold finish, gold grilles and emblems, black taillamp housings, a Formula steering wheel with camel tan covers and gold spokes, and Gold aluminum wheels, among other goodies.

A 1978 Trans Am that recently landed on eBay thanks to seller 0806martin promises it's the real-deal Y88.

Photos revealing the cowl tag confirm this is indeed a Y88, but if you're a collector interested in buying this car for restoration, you should inspect every little detail before committing to a purchase.

Speaking of a restoration, that's precisely what this Trans Am needs. You don't have to be a mechanic or a real connoisseur to understand that this car is a project. It has likely been sitting for a long time, and we all know what a long hibernation does to a pile of metal. The vehicle requires a full overhaul, and you'll also spend much time doing the metalwork.

The one-year-old Y88 comes with the typical rust suspects, including the floors and the trunk pan. Put the car on a lift if possible, as this is the best way to inspect the undersides. If you can't see the vehicle in person, order a third-party inspection. This way, you'll know how much patching work you'll have to do despite the owner claiming that the lower trunk, the rockers, and the windshield are in good shape.

We don't get many specifics, but the seller says they purchased this Trans Am a long time ago as they want to restore it. However, the project never started, and the car is in the same shape as when it was purchased from the previous owner. It comes without a title and the original wheels, which is quite a shame considering the Y88 rolled off the assembly lines with special wheels.

The engine bay doesn't bring good news.

The car has already lost its engine and transmission, and while most people would probably be tempted to walk away at this point, a missing drivetrain is not the end of the world. 1978 Trans Am projects that could become donors for this rare Y88 are very common, so you should be able to find a correct engine without spending a fortune.

I agree that a complete Y88 would have been much more desirable, but considering how rare these cars are, this is one of the best models I've seen lately.

It's not an easy project, but above all, it's not the kind of project aimed at someone who just wants to restore a car. This Y88 deserves a diehard Trans Am fan who can appreciate the magic of the gold special edition, so fingers crossed that the right person finds and buys this car.

The selling price is unknown, as the owner posted the car on eBay with a reserve auction. This means that despite the battle starting at $3,000, Internet bidders must send higher offers to trigger the reserve and take the car home. The Y88 is parked in Lexington, North Carolina, and you still have enough time to contact the owner and discuss all details before the auction ends in five days.