1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 455 HO

Pony car powered by Pontiac 455 HO V8.

Stock-presenting 1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am exterior; representative 455 HO model appearance, not individual-car authentication.

Factory path 1971 Firebird Trans Am series 22887 with standard LS5 455 HO, shaker cold-air hood system, spoilers, fender extractors, F60-15 tires, and Trans Am identification.

Engine rating Captured 1971 Firebird engine table lists the LS5 455 HO at 335 hp at 4,800 rpm and 480 lb-ft at 3,600 rpm.

Reported production 2,116 Trans Am 455 HO cars reported: 885 manual and 1,231 automatic.

Paint and graphics Trans Am graphics were standard: blue stripes on Cameo White cars or white stripes on Lucerne Blue cars.

Story

1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 455 HO

The 1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 455 HO is the factory Trans Am path, not a Formula with added stripes. The page covers the 22887 Trans Am package with the LS5 455 HO listed as standard equipment, a shaker-style rear-facing cold-air hood system, spoilers, fender air extractors, Honeycomb wheel context, Rally gauges, Safe-T-Track, F60-15 tires, and Trans Am identification.

Reviewed 1971 Firebird references report 2,116 Trans Am 455 HO cars: 885 manual and 1,231 automatic. The same source family distinguishes the Trans Am from Formula 455 HO cars, which matters because the Formula could use a twin-scoop hood and optional 455 HO equipment but did not carry the full Trans Am body, stripe, and shaker package.

The best authentication path is paperwork first, then matching component evidence. A credible car should align around Trans Am model identity, LS5 455 HO engine evidence, carburetor and Ram Air hardware, M22 or Turbo Hydra-matic transmission path, Safe-T-Track axle context, two-color paint and stripe treatment, interior trim, and the 1971 rectangular-grille model-year cue.

**Stock-presenting 1971 Trans Am front detail showing the shaker, hood graphics, grille, lamps, and spoiler; restoration details remain car-specific.**sv1ambo via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Specs

Car type: Pony car
Body: 2-door coupe
Engine: Pontiac 455 cu in LS5 455 HO V8
Horsepower: 335 hp @ 4,800 rpm
Torque: 480 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm
Carburetion: Rochester four-barrel: Over-Drive lists 7041267 manual / 7041268 automatic for non-Ram Air LS5 HO, and 7041273 manual / 7041270 automatic for Ram Air LS5 HO

Equipment

Trans Am series 22887 factory performance and appearance package
LS5 455 HO listed as standard on Trans Am
Special air cleaner with rear-facing cold-air intake on hood controlled by throttle
Functional front fender air extractors, rear deck lid spoiler, and front/rear wheel-opening air spoilers
Rally gauges with clock and tachometer, Formula steering wheel, and concealed wipers listed as Trans Am equipment
Safe-T-Track differential, handling package, power steering, power front disc/rear drum brakes, and F60-15 white-letter tires listed as Trans Am equipment

Linked Parts

Price history

Values

Nominal dollars from original price sheets, auction archives, and approved value references.

Original Price

A verified original price is not yet available for this car.

Market Observations

Price guide value $41,200

Jul 1, 2026 · Hagerty Price Guide · Current guide point
1971 Trans Am two-door hardtop with the 455/335-hp four-barrel HO in #3 Good condition. · unknown · good Hagerty's July 2026 selected-configuration condition panel supplies the current #3 Good value. A stale $40,400 secondary summary on the same page is excluded.
1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 455 HO values
Auction sale $110,000

Jan 22, 2026 · Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale
Factory 455 HO four-speed Trans Am 228871N116882 in Cameo White over blue. · survivor · excellent Hagerty and Classic.com record the exact chassis, completed result, date, amount, 335-hp HO identity, four-speed, colors, and original/highly original classification with true mileage unknown.
1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am VIN 228871N116882 1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am VIN 228871N116882
Auction sale $148,500

Jan 23, 2025 · Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale
Factory 455 HO four-speed Trans Am 228871N102422 in Lucerne Blue over blue. · survivor · concours Hagerty records the exact chassis, completed result, transaction date, amount, drivetrain, colors, venue, lot, and #1 Concours condition. Classic.com independently classifies it as original/highly original.
1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am VIN 228871N102422 1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 455 HO VIN 228871N102422
Auction sale $135,000

Nov 25, 2024 · Bring a Trailer
Documented 455 HO Trans Am 228871L106262 with M22 four-speed, broadcast sheet, and PHS documentation. · restored · excellent BaT supplies the primary winning bid, exact chassis, date, drivetrain, documentation, rebuilt engine and transmission, refinish, and true-mileage-unknown disclosure. Hagerty's $141,750 normalized figure is not counted separately.
1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 455 HO four-speed, lot 171,919 1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am VIN 228871L106262
Auction sale $59,000

Oct 24, 2021 · Bring a Trailer
WS4 Trans Am 228871N103248 with sequence-matching 455, TH400 automatic, PHS, and GM Canada documentation. · modified · good BaT supplies the primary winning bid, exact chassis, date, drivetrain, documentation, refurbishment, replacement quarter panels, and reversible EFI, ignition, cooling, and exhaust updates. Hagerty's $61,950 normalized figure is not counted separately.
1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 455, lot 58,039 1971 Pontiac Firebird VIN 228871N103248
High bid $49,000

May 17, 2009 · Mecum Indianapolis
Exact 1971 Trans Am hardtop 228871N111860 with the configuration-specific 455/335-hp HO identity. · unknown · unknown Hagerty records the exact chassis, reserve-not-met result, date, amount, venue, lot, body, and Trans Am identity. The archive does not support a safe restoration-state or condition classification.
1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am VIN 228871N111860

Values move with paperwork, originality, options, condition, venue, and body style. High bids and guide values are labeled separately from completed sales.

Reference records

Options, Colors & Components

Source-backed details for trim, chassis, production, and authenticity.

Transmission

Factory transmission Heavy-duty 3-speed manual floor-shift gearbox listed as standard Trans Am equipment in the fact sheet, while the option table marks M13 not available on Trans Am.
Factory transmission M22 close-ratio 4-speed manual listed as standard on Trans Am in the option table; production reference reports 885 manual Trans Am 455 HO cars.
Factory transmission M40 Turbo Hydra-matic automatic listed as available on Trans Am with no charge; production reference reports 1,231 automatic Trans Am 455 HO cars.

Options

Reference graphic summarizing 1971 pontiac firebird trans am 455 ho identity reference.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

Trans Am / 22887 Firebird Trans Am model equipment factory · performance · Trans Am standard equipment includes vinyl buckets, Rally gauges with clock and tachometer, Endura front bumper, Formula steering wheel, body-color mirrors, Honeycomb wheels, fender air extractors, rear deck spoiler, black grille insert, front/rear wheel-opening air spoilers, concealed wipers, Trans Am identification, dual exhaust, cold-air hood system, power flex cooling fan, power steering, Safe-T-Track, handling package, dual horns, power front discs/rear drums, F60-15 white-letter tires, 455 HO, and manual floor-shift context.
34U / LS5 455 ci HO V-8 4BBL standard · performance · Option list marks LS5 as standard on Trans Am; captured fact sheet lists LS5 455 HO as standard on Trans Am.
35G / M22 Close-ratio 4-speed manual transmission standard · performance · Option list marks M22 as standard on Trans Am; production reference reports 885 manual Trans Am 455 HO cars.
35L / M40 3-speed Turbo Hydra-matic transmission optional · performance · Option list marks M40 available on Trans Am with no charge; production reference reports 1,231 automatic Trans Am 455 HO cars.
361 / G80 Safe-T-Track differential standard · performance · Option list marks Safe-T-Track as standard on Trans Am; fact sheet also lists Safe-T-Track differential as Trans Am equipment.
478 / P05 Honeycomb wheels factory · appearance · Fact sheet lists special cast Honeycomb wheels as Trans Am equipment; option list marks Honeycomb wheels available on Trans Am with 15-inch context.
PM7 F60 x 15 raised-white-letter tire package standard · chassis · Fact sheet and option table list F60 x 15 tire context for Trans Am, with 15 x 7 JJ rim mandatory in the specification note.
572 / D80 Deck lid spoiler standard · appearance · Fact sheet lists rear deck lid spoiler and wheel-opening air spoilers as Trans Am equipment; option list marks deck lid spoiler standard on Trans Am.
714 / U30 Rally gauge cluster with tachometer standard · interior · Fact sheet lists Rally gauges with clock and tachometer as Trans Am equipment; option list marks Rally gauge cluster with tach standard on Trans Am.

Paint

Exact-year Trans Am rear view showing the Cameo White finish, blue deck stripe, Trans Am lettering, spoiler, lamps, and bumper trim; it documents model appearance, not original paint on an individual car.sv1ambo via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

11 Cameo White factory · solid
26 Lucerne Blue factory · solid

Production

Reference graphic summarizing 1971 trans am ls5 455 ho engine reference.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

1971 Firebird Trans Am 455 HO total total · 2,116 · reported
1971 Firebird Trans Am 455 HO manual transmission total by transmission · 885 · reported
1971 Firebird Trans Am 455 HO automatic transmission total by transmission · 1,231 · reported

Authenticity

Reference graphic summarizing 1971 trans am production reference.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

Trans Am model identity Factory billing or PHS documentation should identify a 1971 Firebird Trans Am series 22887 with LS5 455 HO context · PHS documentation, factory billing, VIN/body evidence, trim tag, order records, window sticker, restoration files, and inspection binder · fraud detection
LS5 455 HO engine identity 455 CID LS5 HO V8 with source-consistent engine code, carburetor, round-port hardware, dates, castings, Ram Air path, and paperwork · Engine code pad, block/head/intake/carburetor casting and date evidence, shaker and air-cleaner hardware, service records, and factory billing · numbers matching
Shaker and cold-air system Trans Am cold-air hood system should agree with shaker assembly, special air cleaner, carburetor path, linkage, and paperwork · Shaker assembly, air cleaner, carburetor number, throttle-control hardware, body/hood evidence, order paperwork, and period inspection notes · numbers matching
Paint and graphics Cameo White with blue stripes or Lucerne Blue with white stripes, with Trans Am graphics as standard equipment · Body plate, paint traces, stripe evidence, Pontiac paint/trim tables, PHS/factory billing, and period photos · trim correctness
Transmission and axle agreement M22 or Turbo Hydra-matic path, axle ratio, Safe-T-Track status, and dates should agree with stamps, tags, and paperwork · Transmission stamp/tag, axle tube stamp/date code, differential tags, billing records, and inspection notes · date correctness
1971 body and trim cues Fine rectangular grille, Trans Am identification, fender air extractors, spoilers, Honeycomb/Rally II wheel evidence, Rally gauges, and interior trim should agree with documentation · Body panels, grille, spoiler and extractor hardware, interior trim tags, gauge cluster, wheel evidence, restoration photos, and source references · trim correctness

Still Researching

production Reviewed sources provide a reported 2,116 Trans Am 455 HO total and manual/automatic split, but the table is secondary and should be backed by Pontiac/PHS statistical documentation before being treated as factory-primary.

Codes & names