Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Site
The Second Generation Trans Am Information Site

1978

Sales of the Trans Am jump by over 60% from the previous year.

Production Numbers

Model: Firebird
Manual: **
Automatic: **
Total: 32,671

Model: Esprit
Manual: **
Automatic: **
Total: 36,926

Model: Formula
Manual: **
Automatic: **
Total: 24,346

Model: Trans Am L78 400
Manual: 0
Automatic: 57,035
Total: **

Model: Trans Am L80 403
Manual: 0
Automatic: 8,969
Total: 8,969

Model: Trans Am W72 400
Manual: 10,889*
Automatic: 61,147*
Total: 72,081*

Model: Y82 Trans Am 400 (L78)
Manual: 0
Automatic: **
Total: **

Model: Y82 Trans Am 400 (W72)
Manual: 489
Automatic: 2,856
Total: 3,345

Model: Y84 Trans Am 400 (L78)
Manual: 0
Automatic: 68
Total: **

Model: Y84 Trans Am 403 (L80)
Manual: 0
Automatic: 210
Total: 210

Model: Y84 Trans Am 400 (W72)
Manual: 20
Automatic: 68
Total: 88

Model: Y88 Trans Am 400 (L78)
Manual: 0
Automatic: 6,519
Total: **

Model: Y88 Trans Am 403 (L80)
Manual: 0
Automatic: 880
Total: 880

Model: Y88 Trans Am 400 (W72)
Manual: 1,267
Automatic: 6,519
Total: 7,768

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Cowl Tag

ST - Style

78 - Model Year

2 - Division number
2 - Pontiac

F - Body Type
F - Firebird

S - Series
S - Firebird
T - Esprit
U - Formula
W - Trans Am

87 - Body Style

N - Assembly Plant
N - Norwood, OH
L - Van Nuys, CA

318609 - Fisher Body Unit Number

19B - Interior Trim Code
11N1 White Vinyl
19B1 Black Cloth
19N1 Black Vinyl
24B1 Blue Cloth
24N1 Blue Vinyl
62B1 Camel Cloth
62N1 Camel Vinyl
74B1 Carmine Cloth
74N1 Carmine Vinyl
11R1 White
19R1 Black
62R1 Camel
74R1 Carmine
Trim Appointments with Trims 11N1 and 11R1 white, colored carpet, dash, console.
24X Blue
67X Ember
62X Camel
74X Carmine

A51 - Bucket Seats

19L - Lower Body Paint Code
11 Cameo White
15 Platinum Poly

19 Starlight Black
22 Glacier Blue
24 Martinique Blue
42 Redbird Red
48 Berkshire Green
50 Solar Gold
51 Sundance Yellow
55 Gold (Accent Color)
58 Blue (Accent Color)
63 Laredo Brown
67 Ember Mist
69 Chesterfield Brown
75 Mayan Red
77 Carmine

19U - Upper Body Paint Code
11 Cameo White
15 Platinum Poly

19 Starlight Black
22 Glacier Blue
24 Martinique Blue
42 Redbird Red
48 Berkshire Green
50 Solar Gold
51 Sundance Yellow
55 Gold (Accent Color)
58 Blue (Accent Color)
63 Laredo Brown
67 Ember Mist
69 Chesterfield Brown
75 Mayan Red
77 Carmine

07B - Assembly Date
01 - January
02 - February
03 - March
04 - April
05 - May
06 - June
07 - July
08 - August
09 - September
10 - October
11 - November
12 - December
A - First Week
B - Second Week
C - Third Week
D - Fourth Week
E - Fifth Week

A31 - Power Windows

WS4 - Trans Am

BK1 - Secondary Interior Color (Black)

330839 - Fisher Time Date Code

Note: Some 1978 Special Edition cars may have the following UPC codes on the Cowl Date Plate.

Y82 - Black & Gold S/E Trans Am with UPC code WY9 Hurst T-Top
Y84 - Black & Gold S/E Trans Am with UPC code CC1 Fisher T-Top
Y88 - Gold S/E Trans Am with UPC code CC1 Fisher T-Top


Now this is just a sample of a 1978 Cowl Tag. Your cowl tag may differ and have some different codes listed on there. For a list of more codes, check out the RPO page.

VIN Number

Example: 2W87Z8100001

1st digit - GM Division
2 = Pontiac

 

2nd digit - Car Line Series
S = Firebird
T = Esprit
U = Formula
W = Trans Am (75 - 81)

 

3rd and 4th digit - Body Type
87 = 2 door Sport Coupe

 

5th digit - Engine Code
A = 231 c.i.d, 2-bbl V6 (1978 - 80)
K = 403 c.i.d, 4-bbl V8 (1977 - 79)
L = 350 c.i.d, 4-bbl V8 (1978)
U = 305 c.i.d, 2-bbl V8 (1978)
Z = 400 c.i.d, 4-bbl V8 (1977 - 79)

 

6th digit - Model Year
8 = 1978

 

7th digit - Assembly Plant
N = Norwood, Ohio
L = Van Nuys, California

 

Last 6 digits - Production Number
100001/up