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 handsome and period-perfect example is a relatively
unusual piece that's just a blast to drive.
Looking for all the world like a clean, well-maintained survivor,
this is one stylish 'Bird. Has it been painted? Yes, but it was
about eight years ago and there are obvious signs that this car has
been loved from day one. 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 with no warping or other issues.
Code 69 Heritage Brown was a very popular color in 1979, and it's
aged well, with the contrasting gold graphics popping off the dark
surface without looking as over-done 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 74 Doeskin vinyl
interior is sporting yet tasteful with the Heritage Brown bodywork.
The pleated vinyl seat covers are in fantastic condition for being
nearly 40 years old and are wrapped around supportive buckets that
hug you in place. Coordinated tan door panels provide continuity,
wrapping around into a matching dash with an engine-turned fascia.
It appears to be a mostly original interior with a few replacement
parts, and it's hard to know where the line is, which is a good
thing. All the gauges are crisp and well-marked (only the tach is
inoperable), there's a modern AM/FM/iPod stereo radio in the dash,
and the A/C blows ice cold. The trunk is also quite tidy with a
correct mat and no signs of trouble in the past.
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 Oldsmobile 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 a recent timing chain, 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 aggressive and probably adds a few horsepower at the same
time. 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
positively gorgeous "snowflake" alloy wheels are now fitted with
fat white-letter radials that are ideal for the car's
performance.
Very nicely preserved, this Trans Am is a sure-fire future
collectable that remains a ton of fun today. Don't wait, call
today!