1979 Pontiac

Firebird Trans Am SOLD

SOLD

1979 Pontiac

Firebird Trans Am

Description

1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

The sporty Firebird was Pontiac's answer to the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro. The car combined an available big V-8 with aggressive, attention-grabbing styling and delivered it in a relatively practical four-passenger package. Like it's pony-car competitors, the rear-wheel-drive Firebird offered tire-smoking power and impressive acceleration. The F-body platform on which it and the Camaro were based, however, was arguably well past its prime by the early 2000s. 2002 was the final year of production for Pontiac's iconic but dated speed machine. The Trans Am was the pumped-up, V8 powered model.

For consignment not as 'loud' as the Gold Special Edition Trans Am, and not quite as menacing as the Black Special Edition Trans Am, not as bedecked as the Silver 10th Anniversary car, this 71,000 title verified mile silver ingot combines a typical Pontiac attitude with a refined look that was way ahead of its time. Complete with the “screaming chicken” on the hood, not as huge as the 10th Anniversary bird, and all nicely preserved, we give you an updated power plant, original interior, rust free version of the 1979 Trans Am, and the last gasp of muscle car freedom for the 1970's.

Exterior
A single repaint of code 15, Platinum Poly bathes the exterior of this 71,620 original mile car. It will stand out in a crowd, and with the black, gray and red screaming chicken decal, blacked badging and silver snowflake wheels we have a first-place winner. All fender flaring, neoprene bumpers matching the body Platinum and a rear spoiler look fab with only a few dings, bubbles, scuffs and runs. Up top it we see a rarity for a Trans Am of this era, a non T-top roof. All trimmings for the windows are in black and present as new. A shaker opening with the scoop looking out through the hole in the hood, badged TA 6.6, a clue to what lurks beneath the long lean hood. And bottoming it off are the silver snowflake style wheels which are wrapped in BF Goodrich radial T/A's all around. A survivor, original car except for paint, presenting just fab!

Interior
Carmine, deep ruby red, is the color motif for the interior chosen and in this writer's, opinion is a wonderful compliment to the silver exterior. Swinging the long doors and getting past the Carmine colored vinyl door panels showing a side view mirror toggle, we are greeted with high back buckets in front and a 2 plus 2 bench for the back. These seats are all excellent and show in Hobnail cloth with slightly darker red inserts with a dark red small square pattern, which seamlessly melt into Carmine bolsters in clean velour with some deep red colored piping as a highlighter. The rear tubs for the buckets are Carmine as well. Between the buckets, racing toward the dash, is a red plastic console housing a storage compartment/armrest, the new power window switches and the automatic shifter. Upfront a circle machined aluminum dash houses black faced original gauges. Auxiliary gauges, all factory, stretch across the dash and end dead center with the heat/AC slides and modern AM/FM stereo below. Rich deep pile red carpet floods the floors and is protected from the tootsies by red rubber mats. Hanging above is a tight red felted headliner.

Drivetrain
A lift of the long bird dressed hood reveals a pleasant surprise, long gone is the original 301ci V8 and now a much more potent and muscly 400ci Pontiac powerplant circa 1977 resides between the fenders. This blue painted mill is topped with a 4bbl carburetor and requisite Shaker assembly atop the fender ducted air cleaner. Bolted to the back of this mill is a TH350 3-speed automatic which sends power back to a Safe-T-Track equipped 10-bolt rear axle with 3.23 gears.

Undercarriage
With the underside looking very nice with slight surface rust on the usual suspension subjects and drivetrain, but the floor pans and seat tub looks like new. Power disc brakes are on the front and in the rear we see standard power drum brakes. An independent coil spring suspension works with a leaf sprung rear arrangement to keep this wild bird on the road. A stock dual exhaust remains and presents well.

Drive-Ability
Slipping into this car was a time capsule ride harkening back to the Smokey and the Bandit days of the late 70's. She fired right up and performed swimmingly on our test track. All functions save for a finicky horn button and fuel gauge that reads 1/4 tank when empty, were wonderfully working including the air conditioning and thanks to new motors, the power windows perform flawlessly. Of special note, nary a creak or rattle was heard on our drive, a rarity for a 2nd generation F-body car.

Updated on the performance front and retaining all of its late 1970's charm, this screaming chicken bedecked ingot of silver will have you longing for the days of yore. It still looks great, drives smoothly and is a great car to take to a show, or just go for a Sunday drive (remember those?).

VIN DECODE
2W87W9N196041
2-Pontiac
W-Trans Am
87-2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
W-301ci 4bbl V8
9-1979
196041-Sequential Unit Number

TRIM TAG
07D-4th Week July Build
ST 79 2FS87-1979 Trans Am 2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
BDY N25594-Norwood Body #
TR Illegible
PNT 15L15U-Platinum Poly
A51-Bucket Seats
A31-Power Windows
WS4-Trans AM

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Specs

Basic

Year
1979
Make
Pontiac
Model
Firebird
Sub Model
Trans Am
Miles
71,600
Vin
2W87W9N196041
Stock
4014

Engine

Engine Size
400 V8
Fuel Specification
91 Octane or below
Engine Type
Gasoline
Transmission Type
3 Speed Automatic
Drivetrain
RWD

Body

Body Color
Platinum Poly
Body Style
Hardtop
Doors
2

Interior

Interior Color
Carmine
Seating Type
Buckets With Console
Seat Material
Cloth
Shifter Type
Floor

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