For Sale: 1980 Pontiac Firebird in Lithia Springs, Georgia

The V8-power, T-tops, V8, and desirable WS6 suspension make this 1980 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Pace Car instantly attractive. And as you take a closer look, you're going to see solid investment in a car that is likely one-of-a-kind.

We love these limited edition official pace car replicas. It's where the factory gets as close as it can to delivering the same car that sets the swiftness at the speedway. And when the T/A was chosen for the 1980 Indy 500 they already had something quite special to start with. After all, these coupes looked like they could own everything from the Brickyard to the boulevard with the factory body kit, three-piece rear spoiler, and quad exhaust tips. Plus, there's a lot of added distinction that goes with this car. For starters, the included factory buildsheet shows this was first delivered to Don Sisk Pontiac. This was the Indianapolis area dealer that was often in charge of the event cars in the years that Pontiac was the pace car. So while all of these X-code Pace Car replicas are special, the direct Indy 500 connection suggests (although unproven) that his car was also used in an official capacity surrounding the race. What also makes this one unique is its design. The pace cars were born turbo coupes. That means a specific hood and wheels. This one was converted later in life to be a larger V8 T/A, and so you have details like the shaker-style hood and iconic snowflake wheels that were never part of the pace car package. And because this one has its own unique style, they further modified the details like the singular color style and a more traditional hood bird with the head facing the correct direction. But you still get the right pace car details like the Cameo white base paint, an impressive pinstripe package, and Indy 500 decals in the rockers and rear. The result is a true pace car that also sets its own pace.

The overall feeling of this car is about being an attractive car that's also easy to cruise on a whim. And the interior really delivers on that feeling. You have plenty of cool and correct details, like the Oyster-colored hobnail cloth inserts in the bucket seats, as well as the gray and red Firebird logos stitched into the doors and rear seat. So you'll happily leave out the T-tops just so that people can get a better look inside. There are even nice classic details like the working horn and dome light. Being a true driver-ready car also means being loaded with great features like power windows, power locks, power steering, a three-speed automatic transmission, added cup holders, and an upgraded AM/FM/CD stereo with Bluetooth. This also has provisions for air conditioning (it will need servicing to blow cold again.) And your favorite driving features are still right where you want them. You'll grab the iconic three-spoke sports steering wheel, and the tilt column gives you a good view of the machine-turned aluminum dash panel with a large tach/clock combo.

We already mentioned how the motor makes this car quite distinct. In fact, we like what this represents. The 400 cubic-inch V8 wasn't available any longer in the pace car era, and so it's nice to see someone gives us a peek at what it would have looked like to have the legendary and larger powerhouse be the official leader at the Indy 500. And since they were already going for an upgrade with this motor, it has been further enhanced with an Edelbrock four-barrel carburetor, an Edelbrock intake, and headers feeding the dual exhaust. It's a strong powerhouse that's also part of a great all-around driver. The WS6 sports suspension and four-wheel power disc brakes make for a fine sports car experience. We even have recipes documenting thousands $$$$ invested within the last few years to keep the suspension feeling confident and tight on the road.

The sale comes complete with maintenance receipts and the important factory buildsheet. This is a rare pace car with a terrific history and great upgrades to make it truly a unique T-top machine. So don't miss this deal. Call today!!!