[bluebird455]

It's a trans am, all #'s matching engine components, with the gears changed to 3.42 by one of the previous owners. I tried the registry and nothing came up.

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by W72-Bandit

Bluebird is the blue/black SD a T/A or Formula?


Lloyd I think one of Ernie Z's SD T/As was a blue/black '74. This could be the one Bluebird is referring to.

By George, I believe that you're right, Paul!

EDIT: Here's a pic of Ernie's '74 SD at an Autorama back in the day, does this look familiar, bluebird?

[bluebird455]

Looks just like it. how long ago did he own it? and for how long that you know of?

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by bluebird455

Looks just like it. how long ago did he own it? and for how long that you know of?

Now the questions get tougher, eh?

As I recall, Ernie owned that car until the early 80's, when I believe he ran into some financial difficulties and had to sell. He owned quite the collection of rare and desirable Pontiacs at one time.

His full name was Ernest Zardenetta, if that rings any bells.

[bluebird455]

Was he the original owner of the car? I got the T/A summer of 99/2000 I think, out of Forney TX. The guy selling it was waiting to start restoring it but also had to sell due to financial issues. He had just finished restoring a white 74 trans am 455, that according to him was the car seen on Dazed and Confused. he had lots of paper work and plaques for that car showing that it was the actual car in the movie, which was a sd455 clone. I remember seen the car at showns around DFW, real nice! that car ended up being bought by a Pontiac dealer and was displayed in their showroom in the Houston area. When I bought the car, he had the sd455 and the white 455 in a big storage building in Forney.

[RicksGTO]

Originally Posted by bluebird455

Blue/ black deluxed interior, auto,a/c,rear defrost,am/fm cassette, pw,pl. I know one of the previous owners was from Arlington and had this car and a 74 sd455 formula, this was about 12-15 years ago.

I emailed a friend in Arlington that has been a long time resident and Pontiac guy. I'll let you know if he's heard about the car or knows who the owner might have been.
Also, if you have the VIN it should still show up in a Texas DMV records search assuming it wasn't sold out of state.

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by bluebird455

Was he the original owner of the car? I got the T/A summer of 99/2000 I think, out of Forney TX. The guy selling it was waiting to start restoring it but also had to sell due to financial issues. He had just finished restoring a white 74 trans am 455, that according to him was the car seen on Dazed and Confused. he had lots of paper work and plaques for that car showing that it was the actual car in the movie, which was a sd455 clone. I remember seen the car at showns around DFW, real nice! that car ended up being bought by a Pontiac dealer and was displayed in their showroom in the Houston area. When I bought the car, he had the sd455 and the white 455 in a big storage building in Forney.

Our own Larry Navarro knows a BUNCH more about Ernie's cars than myself. Larry, can you chime in?

[W72-Bandit]

Lloyd, on Ernie's '74, I think he owned it until the very early '90s, maybe.
I saw it at the Autorama in the auction section about then. Word was the seller (Ernie?) wanted 15k. I thought it was about a 10k car and always would be!

[Larry Navarro]

okay here's what i know about Ernie's cars.
Back in '95, Ernie was selling off his whole collection of rare cars. Four of them were SD trans ams, two '73 and two '74. I was getting very close to buying the blue car, since it was the least expensive of the four, even went to his warehouse for a test drive. If I remember correctly, it had around 30,000 miles and he said the car had a 3.73 rear gear.
As Paul stated, he wanted $15K for the car but I was of the same opinion hat it was a $10K "driver" car at best. The paint was "checked" in alot of places and would need to be completely repainted. The interior was in acceptable condition and the car would need quite a bit of detailing under the hood.
Nevertheless, I passed on the car as i really wanted a '73. The car was eventually sold but that's where it ends as far as my knowledge of it.

[Lloyd-TX]

Thanks, Larry.

[Lloyd-TX]

Just fo' fun, another pic I found of Ernie's ol' blue SD . . .

[Larry Navarro]

Another note on Ernie's SD's..........
Back in '99 Ernie had one of the four SD's, a '73, still in his possesion. Make a long story short, he wanted $20K for the car. I drove over to his place and what I found was pure disappointment.........for some reason he had the car repainted, and of all places MAACO!!
There was overspray, paint runs, orange peel, etc. I couldn't believe it. I had seen this car 4 years earlier and would have bought it in a heartbeat if I had the $20 grand back then!
Anyway, don't know whatever happened to that car.
I did however manage to aquire my elusive '73 SD t/a later that year out of the Dallas area.

[Lloyd-TX]

These were (obviously) shot in front of Ernie's Restaurant in Pasadena, at one of the car shows he used to sponsor.

The close-up shows three of Ernie's Trans Ams - the blue '74 SD, a Buc Red '73 and his '69.

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by Larry Navarro

Another note on Ernie's SD's..........
Back in '99 Ernie had one of the four SD's, a '73, still in his possesion. Make a long story short, he wanted $20K for the car. I drove over to his place and what I found was pure disappointment.........for some reason he had the car repainted, and of all places MAACO!!
There was overspray, paint runs, orange peel, etc. I couldn't believe it. I had seen this car 4 years earlier and would have bought it in a heartbeat if I had the $20 grand back then!
Anyway, don't know whatever happened to that car.

Damn - what a SHAME!

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by RicksGTO

I emailed a friend in Arlington that has been a long time resident and Pontiac guy. I'll let you know if he's heard about the car or knows who the owner might have been.
Also, if you have the VIN it should still show up in a Texas DMV records search assuming it wasn't sold out of state.

I was kinda hoping you'd chime in, Rick. You seem to have a good feel for a bunch of the rare Pontiacs up your way.

I'll bet some of the DAPA members know the car for sure . . .

[superdutybob]

If nothing else, it's a good color. Would really be sweet with a 4 speed and white guts! LOL

[The Boss]

Originally Posted by Lloyd-TX

These were (obviously) shot in front of Ernie's Restaurant in Pasadena, at one of the car shows he used to sponsor.

The close-up shows three of Ernie's Trans Ams - the blue '74 SD, a Buc Red '73 and his '69.

Nice birds!

[Brewster]

Cool pictures and thanks for posting.

[bluebird455]

Maybe it is, maybe it's not the same car, I remember it having the white/red pontiac plate up front like in the pics, also the condition is as stated by you guys, driver, checked paint etc. but when I got it, the previous 2 owners kept the car covered waiting to be restored, for at least a couple of years each. neither one changed the car title to their name. like I said, one guy was from Arlington and had a 74 sd455 formy, and the guy from Mesquite that I bought it from and kept it in a big storage building in Forney. I think the guy from Arlinton first name was mark.

[Lloyd-TX]

Originally Posted by bluebird455

Maybe it is, maybe it's not the same car, I remember it having the white/red pontiac plate up front like in the pics, also the condition is as stated by you guys, driver, checked paint etc. but when I got it, the previous 2 owners kept the car covered waiting to be restored, for at least a couple of years each. neither one changed the car title to their name. like I said, one guy was from Arlington and had a 74 sd455 formy, and the guy from Mesquite that I bought it from and kept it in a big storage building in Forney. I think the guy from Arlinton first name was mark.

That name wouldn't be Mark Hood, would it?

Mark purchased a White / Tuxedo gut '74 SD T/A from me a couple years back, and he currently resides in Wichita Falls.