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1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Macho T/A Heads to Auction
A rare 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Macho T/A, number 140 of a reported 202 modified by Dennis and Kyle Mecham, is offered for sale with a 468ci Butler Performance V8 and a Tremec five-speed manual.
By George Kensington · 5 min read
A rare 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Macho T/A has been offered for sale, carrying a documented build number and a heavily reworked drivetrain that sets it apart from standard production models. The car is reported as number 140 of approximately 202 Macho Trans Ams modified by Dennis and Kyle Mecham for the 1978 model year, and it was originally delivered to Mecham Pontiac in Glendale, Arizona.
The Macho T/A was a dealer-authorized performance conversion rather than a factory option, and surviving examples are prized by collectors for their documented provenance and period-correct upgrades. This car retains Mecham Design Performance documentation dated August 13, 2010, confirming its identity as a 1978 DKM Macho T/A, alongside Pontiac Historic Services paperwork and a seller-provided list of modifications.
Under the shaker hood, the original L78 V8 was rebuilt by Butler Performance under prior ownership to displace 468 cubic inches. The build includes a 4.250-stroke forged crankshaft, Ross Racing forged aluminium pistons, Eagle H-beam rods, moly piston rings, a COMP Cams camshaft with matching lifters and springs, stainless roller rockers, stainless valves and bronze guides. Induction is handled by a Rochester Quadra-Jet carburettor rebuilt by Carb Junkies, with an HEI ignition coil and a four-core aluminium radiator. Exhaust gases exit through Hooker Super Comp headers, Flowmaster three-inch ball and flange collectors, a Pypes X-pipe and Borla mufflers.
Power reaches the rear wheels through a Tremec five-speed manual transmission, a Centreforce clutch and throwout bearing, and an Inland Empire driveshaft. The rear end uses an Eaton differential with a 3.73:1 gear set and Moser 30-spline axles. The braking system has been upgraded with Baer 6S one-piece aluminium calipers, 14-inch two-piece rotors, a 10-inch dual-diaphragm Detroit Speed brake booster, a Wilwood proportioning valve and a Detroit Speed master cylinder.
Suspension work includes Global West tubular upper and lower control arms, QA1 adjustable front coil-overs and rear shocks, Global West 500-lb springs and reverse-eye rear leaf springs, Del-A-Lum bushings and a Hotchkis Sport Suspension front sway bar. A revised power steering gearbox complements the factory WS6 Special Performance Package and power steering. The car rides on three-piece 18-inch powder-coated ROH wheels fitted with 245/45 front and 285/40 rear Toyo Proxes tyres.
Finished in Starlight Black with red accents, the exterior carries Macho T/A and 140 DKM graphics, a shaker hood, a Pontiac windshield banner and quad exhaust outlets. Noted flaws include paint chips, dings and cracked weatherstripping. The cabin is trimmed in red leather with black inserts, bolstered front bucket seats and embroidered black Trans Am logos on the headrests. Equipment includes power windows and locks, air conditioning, a short-throw shifter and a Pioneer head unit linked to aftermarket speakers. A Macho T/A plaque on the centre console identifies the car as number 140 for 1978. The Formula steering wheel wears a DKM centre cap and sits ahead of a 100-mph speedometer, a 6k-rpm tachometer, an analogue clock and a fuel-level gauge. The five-digit odometer shows 57,000 miles, around 300 of which were added under current ownership.
The seller acquired the car in 2013 and reports that a leak in the braking system was discovered while preparing it for sale. The leak has not been diagnosed, and the seller recommends that the car be transported rather than driven. The vehicle is currently registered as Planned Non-Operational in California, and the seller states that it cannot pass a California emissions test, meaning it cannot be sold to an in-state private party buyer. It is offered with a clean California title in the seller’s name.
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