Vehicle Description
1979 Pontiac Firebird 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 its 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.
For consignment, not as 'loud' as the Gold Special Edition Trans
Am, and not quite as menacing as the Black Special Edition Trans
Am, not as bedecked as the Silver 10th Anniversary car, this 72,531
title verified mile black nugget of a screamer combines a typical
Pontiac attitude with a refined look that was way ahead of its
time. Complete with the "screaming chicken" on the hood, not as
huge as the 10th Anniversary bird, and all nicely preserved, we
give you the numbers matching powerplant, build sheet included,
original metal, mostly original interior, rust free version of the
1979 Trans Am, and the last gasp of muscle car freedom for the
1970's.
Exterior
A single repaint of code 19, StarlightBlack bathes the all original
sheet metal exterior of this 72,531 title verified original mile
car. It will stand out in a crowd with the gray, white, and red
screaming chicken decal, blacked badging and silver 15-inch
snowflake wheels, we have a first-place winner. All fender flaring,
neoprene bumpers matching the body black and a rear spoiler look
fab with only a few inclusion in the single miles deep repaint. Up
top it we see a rarity for a Trans Am of this era, a non T-top
roof. All trimmings for the windows are in black and present as new
save for the stainless highlighting around the doors. A shaker
opening with the scoop looking out through the hole in the hood,
badged 6.6 Liter is a clue to what lurks beneath the long lean
hood. And bottoming it off are the silver snowflake style wheels
which are wrapped in BF Goodrich radial T/A's all around. A
survivor, original car except for paint, presenting just fab!
Interior
More menacing black is the color motif for the interior chosen and
in this writer's opinion, is the perfect match to the exterior.
Swinging the long doors and getting past the black colored vinyl
door panels showing 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 what else but more black vinyl,
now with puffy tuck and roll inserts that seamlessly melt into
black bolsters. The rear tubs for the buckets are black vinyl as
well and all of these seats save for the driver's upholstery are
original with the driver's seat being recovered. Between the
buckets, racing toward the dash, is a black plastic console housing
a storage compartment/armrest, the new power window switches and
the automatic shifter. Upfront a circle machined silver aluminum
dash houses black faced original gauges. Auxiliary gauges, all
factory, stretch across the dash and end dead center with the
heat/AC slides and the factory Delco AM/FM stereo below. Rich deep
pile black carpet floods the floors and is protected from the
tootsies by black carpeted mats. Hanging above is a tight black
perforated headliner and we can't forget to give a big shout out to
the black felt lined trunk with its original space saver spare and
inflator.
Drivetrain
A lift of the long bird dressed hood reveals a pleasant surprise in
the form of the numbers matching Oldsmobile 403ci V8 residing
between the fenders. This blue painted mill is topped with a
correct 4-barrel Quadrajet carburetor and requisite Shaker assembly
atop the fender ducted air cleaner. Bolted to the back of this mill
is a TH350 3-speed automatic, again numbers matching, which sends
power back to a Safe-T-Track equipped 10-bolt rear axle with 2.73
gears.
Undercarriage
With the underside looking very nice with slight surface rust on
the usual suspension subjects and drivetrain, but the floor pans
and seat tub looks like new. Power disc brakes are on the front and
for a nice surprise we note power disc brakes on the rear, yes
indeed this is a J65 car. An independent coil spring suspension
works with a leaf sprung rear arrangement to keep this wild bird on
the road. A stock dual to single to dual muffler and outlet 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 were
wonderfully working, including the air conditioning and the power
windows performed flawlessly. Of special note, nary a creak or
rattle was heard on our drive, a rarity for a 2nd generation F-body
car.
Wonderfully repainted and retaining all of its late 1970's charm,
this screaming chicken bedecked bit of black honey will have your
sweet tooth longing for the days of yore. It still looks great,
drives smoothly and is a great car to take to a show, or just go
for a Sunday drive, (remember those?).
2W87K9N168743
2-Pontiac
W-Trans AM
87-2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
K-403ci V8 4bbl 185hp
9-1979
N-Norwood, OH Assy Plant
168743-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
79-1979
04D-4th Week April
2FS87-Pontiac Firebird 2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
N187882-Norwood Body #
19N-Black Deluxe Vinyl
19L 19U-Starlight Black
A51-Bucket Seats
A31-Power Windows
WS4-Trans AM
BL2-Black Secondary Interior Color
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 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.
