Hi. I've visited a 1985 Pontiac Trans Am modified into a KITT replica. The car looks very clean. The dash is functionally and obviously many functions of it are simply dummies. The engine is a 5.0 Liter TPI. I turned the ignition on, started immediately but the car shook a little for one or two minutes until the engine warmed up. Afterwards, the engine run smoothly. The transmission shifts smoothly. I checked the frame, I don't see any rust holes but the undercoating has been redone. The car sat 2 years inside a garage though. The real mileage is unknown to me as the KITT dash doesn't display it. The seller claims that it has 25k miles but I don't believe it. Should I buy this car as a weekend car?
Personally I would not purchase the vehicle.
The car has obvious mechanical issues along with hidden problems waiting for you to discover.
Per your own statement, the owner is clearly lying about the mileage. That is not someone to do business with in my opinion.
What may cause the engine to make such vibrations?
It could be a temporary lack of fuel due to a weak fuel pump, or it could be a vacuum/gasket leak since it straightens out after it's warmed up after a few minutes. It could also be a bad temperature sensor per the site below.
https://www.fixya.com/cars/t1233708-85_trans_am_305_mpfi_rough_idle_start
Thanks. What about the frame that has been repainted? It could have been patched up or filled up with bondo. How to find it out?
For me, repainted frames are a red flag. Whenever I've seen that performed, it's always hiding something. Typically rust. I think the only way to know for sure would be to visually inspect and scrape off the paint to see what is underneath. Remember, this is a business transaction for a vehicle. If you are looking at the vehicle with emotion, you will overlook and accept things you normally would not have.
I look at it emotionally but my bank account is not unlimited and his price may be too high then. Thanks for your help.
it's a novelty car ...
If you need to ask what other people think, then you're not in love with it.
And if you're not swept away by it, then no. It's terrible choice.
It was my dream car as a kid but I'm not a kid anymore. I want the car but I'm not an impulsive buyer either. I only wanted to know if the car sounds reasonable from a mechanical point of view.
Heck no. Like I said, practically speaking this is a terrible idea.
Go for it. It’s a cool car. It’s not a daily driver. But should be fun to own.
