1974 Pontiac Trans Am Super Duty

The Trans Am was not without options, and one in particular made this Trans Am the king of the no-horsepower kingdom

by Dave Kinney

The year 1974 was a tough time for American automakers, with many legislated changes. The results were not good.

New emission regulations, which had gone into effect in 1968, gradually sapped horsepower by the early 1970s. They also added additional weight, further inhibiting performance. In addition. the government enacted Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards (CAFE) requiring incrementally higher mileage for all automakers across the entire passenger car line-up. Finally, the Arab oil embargo hit in 1973, and suddenly gas was expensive and national speed limits were imposed.

Cars were required to use unleaded fuel beginning with the 1972 model year, and cars that had sported a conservatively rated 400-plus horsepower in 1970 were neutered to the point of having only 250 horsepower two years later.

However, all was not bad in the performance car world. One exception was the 1973 and 1974 Pontiac Trans Am Super Duty. This little-known...