1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

Description

Don't look now, but this is the biggest bargain in the showroom today. '70s Trans Ams are red hot, and this one packs its numbers-matching engine and 4-speed transmission, a first class interior, and great-looking Starlight Black paint. You wanted one when you were a kid, and at this price there's just no excuse not to own it today.

Is this car perfect? No, but it's a heck of a lot nicer than the price tag would suggest. The paint is quite nice, better than most of these cars got when they were freshened, but now with prices shooting up, it looks right at home on the show field. And regardless, it's still superior to whatever GM was spraying on cars in 1979. It's also nicely assembled, with urethane bumpers that fit well, big doors that close without needing a violent slam, and proper Trans Am graphics everywhere you look. Never designed to be a subtle machine, the deep Starlight Black is the perfect '70s color if you're looking to relive an era and it's hard to see this car without thinking of a certain favorite movie. The chin spoiler doesn't show any evidence of run-ins with steep driveways or parking curbs, making this a car that can hold its head high at car shows and still turn heads on the street. Honestly, driving one of these today is even more of an event than it was in 1979.

The black interior shows a lot of clean, well-maintained equipment, including seat covers that show some very minor wear but no signs of damage or neglect. Other stuff like the center console and carpets are in excellent shape and you can see that this car's always been well-maintained (the lack of T-tops undoubtedly helped this car's survival, since the sun can be murder on interiors). The gauges are original and show clear lenses and bright markings, all visible through one of the most handsome steering wheels of the period. The factory radio is long gone, replaced at some point by an AM/FM/cassette stereo head unit that fits in the dash just as if it was born there. The trunk is also nicely finished and includes an original-style space-saver spare that's never been used plus a full jack assembly. Nice!

When you checked the 4-speed manual transmission box on the order form for your new Trans Am, you not only got a heavy-duty Muncie gearbox, but also a genuine 400 cubic inch Pontiac V8 rated at a fairly stout 220 horsepower. And yes, this is the original, numbers-matching block, topped with a 4-barrel carburetor living under the hood scoop, which was more decoration than function, but who cares when it looks this cool? The engine has been properly maintained and it shows, with only the A/C compressor missing. A true dual exhaust system with long-tube headers and a pair of Flowmaster mufflers probably frees up a few ponies and sounds awesome. The undercarriage is original but there the car has clearly led an easy life, particularly most recently when it has been treated as a true collector's item. And seriously, there aren't many factory wheels better-looking than the Pontiac snowflakes, which have been wrapped in 235/60/15 BFGoodrich T/A radials.

Documented with the original window sticker, dealer invoice, warranty card, and owner's manual, this car could be called a smart investment the way prices are on the move. But there aren't many investments that are this much fun to drive. Call today!