There were over 117,000 Trans Ams built in 1979, more than any other year. This 1979 Pontiac Trans Am is reported to only have 10,280 miles on the odometer. Rocco B found this gem and we appreciate seeing such a low mileage car. This Trans Am is located near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is reported to still have its original tires. While it is not a highly optioned car (no air conditioning, power windows, tilt steering or T-Tops), it is a low mileage survivor. It is listed here on Craigslist for $35,000. The ad has been up for 3 days.
The base engine in the 1979 Trans Am was the L80 Oldsmobile 403 cubic inch V8 engine rated at 185 horsepower and 315 lb ft of torque. It was only available with the Turbo 350 automatic transmission. However, for a $195 credit, a buyer could opt for the L37 Pontiac 301 cubic inch V8 engine that was available with a 4 speed manual transmission or an automatic transmission. The performance engine option for 1979 was the W72 Pontiac 400 cubic inch V8 engine. The L37 301 cubic inch V8 engine that was rated at 150 horsepower in 1979 and equipped with a 4 barrel carburetor. The rarest engine in a 1979 Trans Am was the W72 Pontiac 400 cubic inch V8 engine which was rated at 220 horsepower.
This Trans Am does have the deluxe vinyl interior which had upgraded seats and door panels. The light blue interior matches the blue trim strips on the exterior of the Cameo White Trans Am. The interior looks brand new with no wear or UV damage. The dash pad, which commonly cracks, looks pristine. This is truly a time capsule, even though the car was under powered from the factory.
The car rides on factory Rally II wheels which were standard on the Trans Am. A buyer in 1979 could choose the optional 15×7 aluminum snow flake wheels or order the WS6 Performance Handling Package option and get beefier sway bars, tuned shocks, improved steering ratio and 15×8 aluminum wheels. So what do you think of this Trans Am? It was previously listed this summer for $39,000 and did not sell.
At least this go round the seller lowered the price by $4,000 and changed the pictures. Even with the low mileage, the 301 and white color aren’t big selling points at this price. Heading into winter and it’s 5th month on the market it’s not connecting with potential buyers.
Steve R
Well, with most commonly-seen creature-comforts absent, it would take a serious Pontiac enthusiast to pay that price, although its condition could be an argument to justify that price.
The tires will certainly have to go if they are actually original from the now-extinct factory. Rubber deteriorates with age as well as use, and it’s surprising that they can even hold air long enough for pictures to be taken.
All that said, it is in surprisingly nice-looking shape. Plus, despite it being an orphan now, there has to be a large-enough enthusiast’s network for a new owner to get the help they will need to give this car a new lease on life. But the owner should not get any thoughts of becoming a reincarnation of Burt Reynolds; in 1979 there was really no car made that could come even close to the speeds of cars made today. On the other hand, where can one really use speeds like 150+ mph, anyway? On the other hand, even a sustained 85 mph (the highest speed limit in the country) would make this engine break a sweat. Remember that there was a 55-mph mandated speed limit back then, which nobody thought would ever go away (although it eventually did). Its woeful inefficiency was par for that time, and considered easily adequate to trundle along at 55 mph.
Ideal to build a bad surprise: swap da 301 with a full tilt Big Block from Butler performance, painted with that nice blue factory engine color. And leave that gorgeous TA/4.9 sticker on the shaker scoop…..
The engine is hurting its sale. The 301 was and is a dog. I would also posit that GMs were/are easy to clock. Who knows what the mileage is. Could be right, might not be.
Judging from the photos, I have a tendency to believe that the mileage claim is legitimate, and as such, this thing is certainly well preserved. Problem is the price. Full disclosure, I am not a fan of the seventy’s era Trans Ams, so anyone that is attracted to them is probably not going to agree with me. I just don’t see the value due to how this car is optioned, (or rather not optioned) It wouldn’t be any fun to drive at all, and heating up the engine would take away its only selling point: originality. Perhaps the seller will find someone that has the burning desire to have an all original, low mileage ’79 Trans Am, and if that is the case, I wish them both all the best.
Another example of a car that someone merely wanted to be seen in. Most people know that these were wildly popular and naturally everyone wanted one. A car like this is and was a pleasure vehicle. Driven to make its original owner smile and feel warm inside. Maybe there’s a collector who feel the same for this car.
Seems a good candidate for an engine swap. Pontiac 400 or 455 would be ideal, or go the LS route and take some weight off the front end.
I never got the LS thing for non-chevy’s. Yes, the LS is a chevy creation. At one time marques made their own engines. At the very least keep it Pontiac or something it would have originally had an option for. One could keep the original engine for consistency if down the road they wanted to make it all original.
The appeal of the LS platform is easy. It is easily the the best engine design in a very long time. Not only are they nearly indestructible, just about all you have to do to get one to make more power is smile at it. (I’m just funnin’, so no need to disparage me)
If it was me, it would be Pontiac all the way, but I can see the logic of going LS as well, especially for someone who is not concerned about brand loyalty. Maybe sourcing the engine from a 4th generation Trans Am would appease the guilt of those on the fence? LOL.
The 4th gen trans am uses a chevy engine. Pontiac hasn’t made engines in many decades.
The LS is easy to mod, and a good design(the cast iron ones, without AFM), but I am purist with older cars. Some see those cars as brands skin deep. Such is a facile mind and I will leave it at that. It’s like ordering a tomahawk steak well done and putting ketchup on it.
Jim, I’m a purist as well, and well versed in Pontiac history. Purity is a matter of degree. Someone could undoubtedly feel that the Firebird itself was not purely Pontiac. The F-body wasn’t even a platform that Pontiac originally wanted. DeLorean wanted the XP-833 Banshee with OHC Six, but GM management told him no and he was given the Camaro with relatively little latitude, time, or budget to turn it into a Pontiac.
10,000 actual miles and it needed paint somewhere on the body. Looks like the rust proofing kid didn’t start the hole correctly to insert the wand to spray the goo inside the doors. I rustproofed hundreds of new Oldsmobiles in 1979 in central PA. In 79, GM did not know the word quality.
Never got the appeal. Butt ugly and underpowered.
A 45 year old car with only 10k miles? When the owner can’t…or won’t… explain that…or offer any documentation…logic tells me it’s bogus.
Missing the most important option of all:
T-TOPS! 🤘🏽
Just wanted to say a big “Thank you” to Barn Finds for once again showing the comment in the “New Comment” emails you send out.
Nice, but no T-Tops or AC, I can see why also it didn’t sell in the summer :)
Definitely underpowered but these cars handled like a slot car!! What wasn’t underpowered during this time period. Now the 400/4speed in this car is a different story.
This car is a 301 automatic, not a 400 4 speed.
Definitely underpowered but these cars handled like a slot car!