Vehicle Description
1979 Pontiac 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.
Here we have a gem! A dealer who was privy to some inside
information was told that the 400/4-speed combination was going to
be phased out, and the factory was stockpiling the last remaining
400's for the 10th anniversary Trans Ams. Since each dealership was
allotted 1 "sold order" anniversary car this astute son of the
owner decided to pull the trigger on his dream car, only do so in a
white gold combo, and the rest is history. Oh, did I mention she's
also loaded with options?
Exterior
Code 11 Cameo White bathes the exterior of this 26,106 original
mile car. It will stand out in a crowd, and with a gold screaming
chicken decal, gold badging and gold snowflake wheels we have a
first place winner. All fender flaring, neoprene bumpers matching
the body white and a rear spoiler look fab with no faults in the
gaps or paint. Up top it features gold smoked glass for the
removable "T" top and all trimmings for the windows are in black. A
shaker open hood with the scoop looking out through the hole in the
hood badged TA 6.6. And bottoming it off are the gold snowflake
style wheels which are wrapped in BF Goodrich radial T/A's all
around. A survivor, all original car except for paint, presenting
just fab!
Interior
Camel is the color motif for the interior chosen because it was
closest in keeping with the white/gold theme. Swinging the long
doors and getting past the camel colored vinyl door panels showing
power windows and 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 tan inserts with a dark brown small square pattern, which
seamlessly melt into light tan bolsters in clean velour with some
butterscotch colored piping as a highlighter. The rear tubs for the
buckets are butterscotch as well. Hurst provides the shifter, and
upfront a circle machined aluminum dash houses black faced original
gauges. This albino with gold accented car comes with the removable
hatch roof panels, air conditioning, remote deck lid release, power
door locks, power windows, tilt steering wheel, AM/FM/Cassette and
power antenna. The order finished, it showed up at the dealership
and immediately became named the "refrigerator".
Drivetrain
Since the L78/W72 400 4-speed option was not built in 1979, hoarded
extras were carried over and offered up as an option in '79. This
original, numbers matching engine has not been rebuilt, but the
block was repainted. It features its cast iron crank, connecting
rods, pistons, 6X heads, 2.11/1.66 valves and 402 cam. An A code
1103315 distributor sends spark, and fuel is fed through a 4-barrel
Q-jet carb, and cast iron and dual plate intake, original to this
car. The numbers matching 4-speed transmission is courtesy
Borg-Warner in Super T10 form, and in back a 10-bolt 3.23 posi rear
is attached.
Undercarriage
With the underside looking very nice with slight surface rust on
the usual suspension subjects and drivetrain, but the floorpan and
seat tub looks like new. A WS6 performance package has been added
on, and this car has 4-wheel disc brakes. 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 are
wonderfully working although the air conditioning will need to be
charged.
Star of magazine, and museum, a copy of the build sheet, and a copy
of the sales order, it has hopped through owners scattered across
the country, but has now made its way back to the East and plopped
firmly here in the hallowed halls of the Classic Auto Mall and
available to you! A low mileage, great backstory car, and somewhat
rare with a mere 8,326 produced sporting the 400/4-speed option,
and even fewer in white. What a great car dubbed "the refrigerator"
but don't be fooled, it is definitely keeping you looking cool!
VIN DECODE
2W87Z9N115980
2-Pontiac
W-Trans Am
87-2 Door Coupe
Z-400ci V8 4bbl 220hp
9-1979
N-Norwood, OH Assy Plant
115980-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
10D-4th Week October Build
ST 70 2FS87-1970 Firebird Coupe
BDY N031701-Norwood Body #
TR 62B-Camel Tan Hobnail Cloth
PNT 11-Cameo White
A51-Strato Bucket Seats
CC1-Panel Hatch Release
WS4-Trans Am Option
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.