Vehicle Description
In 1979, the Trans Am was still an apex predator with nothing else
on the road able to match its combination of brute horsepower and
striking styling. These are the hot collector cars of the near
future as enthusiasts who grew up behind the wheel rediscover their
youth, and this gorgeous Atlantis Blue example is a relatively
unusual piece that's just a blast to drive.
Looking for a clean, well-maintained survivor, this is one stylish
'Bird. Has it been painted? Maybe, but there are obvious signs that
this car has been loved from day one and no evidence that it was
ever in need of cosmetic help beyond a repaint of the nose at some
point. The steel bodywork is straight, the doors fit like they did
on the showroom floor, and even ground effects and chin spoiler are
in good order. Code 24 Atlantis Blue was a relatively rare color in
1979 and the contrasting blue graphics pop off the bright surface
without looking as dated as some of the other combinations. It's
not perfect, but it's extremely nice with an honest look that has
nothing to hide, which I think I prefer to outright perfection. All
the other Trans Am styling cues look great 30 years later,
including the ducktail spoiler, chin spoiler, and blacked-out
taillights that stretch across the back of the car. Even the glass
still shows a proper light Soft-Ray tint of factory original
equipment.
For a car famous for wretched excess, the code 24B blue cloth
interior is the model of restraint and good taste. The patterned
cloth seat covers look a bit like the houndstooth upholstery of the
late-60s, wrapped around supportive buckets that hug you in place.
Blue door panels provide some nice contrast, wrapping around into a
matching dash with an engine-turned fascia. Everything appears to
be original except for the carpets, which were replaced not too
long ago with correct reproduction stuff. All the gauges are crisp
and well-marked, and this sucker's loaded with a bunch of options,
including A/C and a tilt column, so you get a bit of luxury with
your performance. There's a Sony AM/FM/cassette stereo radio in the
dash, which feeds a set of speakers neatly mounted on either side
of the console plus a pair on the rear package shelf to fill the
car with sound. The trunk is also quite original and features
factory mats and what appears to be an unused space-=saver spare
with inflator kit and jack. Nice!
You could still get your choice of engines in 1979, but the top
performer when linked with an automatic transmission was a 403
cubic inch V8. Effortless in everything it does, it makes great
muscle car sounds and still carries enough horsepower to be a
genuine thrill on the street. It's mostly stock save for routine
maintenance items, and it would be hard to tell anyway since
everything is pretty well buried under the air cleaner and hood
scoop. A replacement exhaust system sounds suitably muscular and
still uses a catalytic converter, so it should be good to go in all
50 states. With the quick-shifting TH350 3-speed automatic gearbox,
acceleration is only a gentle squeeze of the accelerator away and
the suspension is a good combination of sporting and comfortable.
The underside shows off a lifetime in a warm climate and the
color-matched Rally II wheels are now fitted with 225/70/15 BFG
radials all around.
Very nicely preserved, this Trans Am is a sure-fire future
collectable that remains a ton of fun today. Don't wait, call
today!