Vehicle Description
Remember when these were the kings of the street back in the '80s?
Nightly duels between F-bodies and the Mustang 5.0 were the
beginning of a new muscle car era, and cars like this 1985 Pontiac
Firebird Trans Am were almost universally respected for not only
their performance, but for their good looks, too.
There was also a brief period when the fourth-generation Firebird
was the most aerodynamic car made in America, but that's kind of
beside the point. The truth is, the sucker just looked great, with
an aggressive long, low profile and hidden headlights that gave all
of us who grew up in the '80s a dream that we could afford. This
one is a shockingly unmodified 40,000-mile survivor that is very
nicely preserved in its original two tone gray color scheme. The
Trans Am got more aggressive lower body cladding, a deeper chin
spoiler, and a modest rear wing, all of which remain in excellent
condition with no signs of accidents or even curb damage on the
chin. GM's paint quality was spotty at best in the '80s, but this
one still wears its factory-applied paint and it looks quite good
for being 25 years old and the decals in particular are especially
well-preserved. There's no giant chicken on the hood, which is kind
of a relief, but it does have functional louvers that look cool
without being too obvious. Folding headlights give it a clean
profile and the special Trans Am taillights are crystal clear.
The Trans Am was GM's way of taking the F-body a little up-market,
and the handsome two-tone gray cloth interior is full of comfort
and convenience options, not to mention a set of comfortable bucket
seats. The light fabric is great for cruising because it doesn't
get hot like leather does, and it's grippy, so the seats hold you
in place during aggressive driving. There's minimal wear,
especially considering the age and mileage, and even the door
panels and carpets remain in very good condition. All the gauges
work properly, the A/C blows cold, and the original stereo still
offers an auto-reverse cassette deck (remember those?) and a
graphic equalizer, and honestly, it sounds decent. It's also
outfitted with power windows and locks, cruise control, a rear
defroster, and a tilt steering column, making it one of the most
heavily optioned T/As we've seen in a long time. And it's so
well-preserved that even the hatch area's carpets are completely
unmarked. Nice!
Power for this one comes from GM's venerable 5.0 liter V8, one of
the first to be fitted with GM's famous Tuned Port Injection
system. Since more horsepower was little more than a phone call
away, it's remarkable that this one is still 100% stock. It runs
beautifully, with a crisp burble from the exhaust and the torque
that made these engines famous. It's a bit grumpy when it's cold,
which is a common trait in the TPI motors, but it sure looks right
down there in the Pontiac's engine bay. It's backed by a 4-speed
automatic and a set of highway-friendly 2.73 gears, so it is a very
pleasant cruiser with a great snap of acceleration when you bury
your foot. The factory exhaust has been upgraded with a straight
pipe and the deletion of the catalytic converter, but otherwise the
underside is very stock and extremely clean. 15-inch alloys are
uniquely Pontiac and carry 235/60/15 Goodyear Eagle performance
tires with a lot of life left in them.
Untouched F-bodies this nice are either 0-mile museum pieces,
abused rattle traps, or have already turned into something else.
Consider this one a blank canvas or an investment in your past, and
let your imagination roam. Call today!
