I am not generally given to making bold or rash statements, but I’m willing to stick out my neck and state that I doubt you will ever find a better and more original example of the 1979 Pontiac Trans Am than our feature car. Its condition comes courtesy of the fact that it has a genuine 37 miles showing on its odometer, which is the lowest I’ve ever seen. Its history is unclear, while the same will be true of its future once it goes under the hammer in Scottsdale, Arizona, on January 28th. You will find this Pontiac listed here at Barrett-Jackson with No Reserve.
We’ve previously seen some nicely preserved or restored Second Generation Trans Ams at Barn Finds, but this one appears in a league of its own. Its overall condition is in keeping with the odometer reading and suggests it has spent its life in climate-controlled storage. The Starlight Black paint is flawless, with not a mark or blemish in sight. It cloaks panels free from bumps and bruises, and the lack of visible corrosion across various aspects of the vehicle makes me believe it is rust-free. The seller doesn’t mention any issues, and none are visible in the supplied photos. It seems most Black Trans Ams of this era feature Gold stripes and graphics, making the Red and Orange vinyl on this car a refreshing change. It look crisp, with no signs of lifting or shrinkage. The flawless Snowflake wheels wear their original tires, and the glass is perfect. Adding to this Pontiac’s appeal is the original Window Sticker that occupies its rightful place on the passenger-side glass.
Lifting the Trans Am’s hood reveals the numbers-matching 403ci V8, which sends 185hp to the limited-slip rear end via a three-speed Hydramatic transmission. Power assistance for the steering and front disc brakes is also part of the package. If the driver pointed this classic at a ¼-mile, it would complete the journey in 16.6 seconds. That figure doesn’t sound startling, but it is worth noting that an auto-equipped Camaro Z28 took 17.2 seconds to cover the ¼, while the best a buyer could expect from a new-for-1979 Fox-Body Mustang was 16.7 seconds. Therefore, the Trans Am held its own against the competition. If I am critical of any aspect of the engine bay presentation, it is the evidence of peeling paint on the power steering pump. There is also the almost obligatory surface corrosion on the power booster bracket, but the pump is a surprise. Addressing that is possible, but that raises the question of whether doing so would compromise the car’s originality in some eyes. There is no information on how this classic runs or drives, which is unsurprising given its history. With thirty-seven miles on the clock, nobody has gone out of their way to wear out this beauty!
Considering this Pontiac’s odometer reading, it is no surprise that its interior condition is perfect. There is no sign of wear on the Carmine Red vinyl upholstery or carpet. The dash and pad are spotless, as is the distinctive engine-turned gauge fascia. The seller claims it retains the traditional new car smell, and I find that easy to believe. For those craving their comfort items, the original owner ordered the Trans Am with air conditioning, power locks, cruise control, a tilt wheel, and what I believe is an AM/FM radio.
It is probably safe to say that this 1981 Pontiac Trans Am is in a league of its own. Finding a forty-four-year-old car with a double-figure odometer reading is almost unheard of, which raises a couple of points to ponder. The first is what the bidding might reach before the hammer falls. I haven’t located a recent sale for a Trans Am of this caliber, and Hagerty suggests a ’79 model in Concours condition should command a value of $70,200. However, I believe the bidding on this car could go significantly higher. The more pressing question is what will happen once the auction ends and it heads to a new home. My heart says the new owner should drive and enjoy this classic as its creators intended. My head tells a different story because part of its intrinsic value rests in the odometer reading. Every additional mile will impact the car’s value. Unless the successful bidder is unconcerned about that, I believe it will spend its days in a museum or private collection. It will probably only emerge to be trailered to shows. If that happens, it will be a shame. Do you agree?
They do get serious looking in all black don’t they. Nice.
I hate to throw a wet blanket on the party but save a Trans Am with a Olds 403? Someone either didn’t know what they were doing or got this car by accident because no way would I spend huge money on a 403 !
That 185 hp 403 Olds is quite the night stalker of Vegas, Pintos and the Pacer notorious outlaw racers.
Its a beautiful car but lacking power is sad for the TA
6.6 T/A Pontiac wasn’t much faster, both way better than the 301 which came later.
Good thing you don’t have to buy it. Every car means something to someone. My late father had one of these new and the only time my mom smiles now is when she talks about that car. She doesn’t know anything about the 400 being quicker or being the only way to get the 4-speed. She just knows how much they loved their Trans Am. Similar situation for whoever preserved this example. To each his own.
A whopping 185 H.P .
My granny moves faster than that.
Reminds me of a tuner car. Makes alot of noise without going anywhere
BA, back in ‘76 I was working in a Olds dealership. A guy ordered a big Olds with a 403. Came in with a Chevy 350. He declined so we ordered another one. The 2nd one came in with a Olds 350. We lost the sale. That was when GM was substituting engines to meet production demands.
I had this TA with black interior. The 403 Olds was a limited edition with about 2000 produced. A great ride for a 21 year old.
yes, jeff I also had a 78 I totaled and couldn’t replace. but I did warm up to the 79 black on black T-top special exactly like the one I ruined. 3500 miles later I pulled it apart thru a 68 442 cam and a set of 5 angle ported heads on it, after tearing the 350th out, built trans better. holy crap 70mph in 1st, hit that ratchet shifter, 105 before you knew it.MISS THAT CAR!!! Don’t discount an OLDS.
Something for all of the Oldsmobile 403 haters to enjoy.
https://www.motortrend.com/features/hppp-0706-1979-pontiac-trans-am/amp/
Cool 403 T/A 👍🏁 😎
The USA was going through a horrible Arab gasoline embargo and gas at the pump was skyrocketing. A broke GM and their divisions were desperate and scrambled to knock out excess horsepower to increase fuel milage. Sticking with 400ci engines they already made, they attempted to modify these engines. In all another disaster. It underpowered the heavy car and the wear was twice the normal tear on the engines. Any collector should avoid all USA cars during this dismal period in auto manufacturing. JEV -Smash Palace
Is it difficult to undo the detuning of these cars so that they can fully realize their potential?
It’s not that they were de-tuned. It’s more that the parts used were of low horsepower potential, so you’ll never ‘tune’ your way to 300hp without changing parts.
There’s some “free horsepower” to be found, if you can find a Formula bird 400(or if u r lucky 455) saving hundreds of lbs – if it is a stripper: 4 speed, no a/c or p/w or p/s or p/b. Even the fact radio is heavy. It is the easiest on ’74-’75s to substiture the VERY heavy front bumper & brackets with a 7 lb fiberglass one(& retain the factory upper & lower valances. & of course substitute a true dual exh for the very restrictive ’70s factory pancake cat conv with single exhaust(if allowed in your loc). & lighter shorter 215-60r-15 tires, & numerically higher axle ratio.
& an (upgraded) cam change is probably overdue if car has high mileage.
Power locks but no power windows – strange, since the reach for either on the opposite side of the interior is the same!
You really can’t drive this much at all without reducing its value. More a conversation or museum piece. Too bad tho it’s not a 4 speed ’77 or ’78 black SE.
I wonder back in the day if anybody brought, for ex., an Olds engined Pontiac to an Olds dealer for engine work/maintenance.
If the R12 a/c was untouched/unserviced all those years, would the system still blow ice cold, or even would the compressor seize up from lack of monthly lubrication with such lack of use?
I wonder how many oil & filter changes this car has had. & coolant too, since back in the day coolant only lasted 2 yrs IIRC. Today’s Prestone lasts
10 yrs & a new recent version lasts 15 years! – supposedly.
I always thought the later ’70s hood birds were too big & somewhat cartoonish. My fav is the original red/orange one with black bird on red t/a’s in ’73 & ’74.
A blue one with 38 miles sold by Mecum in early 2022 for $118,000.
With the Special Edition, the W72 400, and the Tenth Anniversary cars, it seems odd someone would preserve a low-spec, 403 car to this level. It would be interesting to learn how and why this car survived 44 years with only 37 miles. This car serves as a reminder that of the 117,108 Trans Ams built for 1979, only ~11,000 SEs and ~7500 Tenth Anniversary cars were built, so this car represents a very typical 1979 Trans Am.
Somehow Pontiac pulled off the screaming chicken better than Ford did with the cartoonish cobra knock-off.
I wonder how you keep the gasoline fresh over 42 years while traveling an average of 4200 feet (15 football fields) per year? A heck of a lot of idling?
starting in 1976 GM started corporate engines window sticker. Vehical equipped with engine manufactured in General Motors Plant operated by (in this case) Oldsmobile. We got GM models equipped with engines from all different plants. One of my 77 Firebirds had the 231 V6 with was a Buick engine, for example.
People dog on GM for the corporate engine deal, and honestly I liked the different divisions engine varieties. Buick, Olds, Pontiac, Chevy all had 350 engines and all were completely different. But seriously GM was the only one of the big 3 with different divisions having their own engines. All Chrysler and Ford divisions used the same engine families. Didn’t make economic sense to have 5 different sets of engine development engineers, factories, or parts divisions.
How can someone own a car this cool and only drive it 37 miles??
Maybe they bought two, one to drive and one to make Big money!!
No doubt about it, this is a great vehicle. Would like to know what it will go for at the auction. Have a large checking account/
I’m glad cars like this exist and that there are a group of enthusiasts that covet and value vehicles with such low miles. There are so many aspects of the hobby, and while museum pieces like this aren’t for me, it is only through all the various subsets of the hobby joined together that we achieve the strength of numbers needed to protect the free expression of our common passion for motor vehicles from the overzealous regulators and self-anointed saviors and their desire to wipe our passion from the face of the earth. I hope it brings big money and helps to spark passion in more people.
If I had the cash to blow, I’d buy it to DRIVE it.
They say a 79 and again list it as a 81. What is it for sure.??
It would have to be a ’79. There was no Pontiac 400 or Oldsmobile 403 available in any Trans Am in ’81, just 301 Pontiacs.
I bought 2 new Trans Ams in 1979. First was like this with the Olds 403 but I also ordered the T tops and power windows. Paid 8200 for it and also ordered the Tenth Anniversary TA with the 400 and 4 speed. That Silver TA turned out to be a lemon using a quart of oil every 600 miles. I couldn’t stand this lemon. Sold it and lost my shirt. The 403 is surely the best engine.
Mecum recently had a older Trans Am with the miles under 50, it went for $400k.
The 403 wouldn’t be a deal breaker for me, the 403 has tons of potential for not a lot of money. The restrictive heads are the worst part, older 350 heads with the big valves and a cam will make a 403 sing.
Quiet Steve, only us Olds enthusiasts know the potential locked away in that 403. Older heads, a good cam, higher compression pistons, a nice intake, an older Quadrajet and a recurved distributor will have this car into the 14’s easy and it will still appear stock from the outside.
Is Burt Reynolds still around ?
The Bandit should own it. lol
The Bandit wouldn’t be caught dead in this turd. This lame 403 Olds powered dog wouldn’t spin the tires on an oil slick.
Burt passed away and probably was his with that mileage sitting in a warehouse someplace! Pontiac had some kinda deal with him and supposedly gave him a new TA every year,but at some point it stopped! Only know what I had read at some point!
Perhaps it stopped when they produced the last T/A a million years ago.
I believe if you bought a late 70’s t/a in CA it only came with the 403 due to emmisions. Nice car, like the red bird on the hood instead of gold .I’d drive it like it was meant to be imo.
Junk anchor 403 motor, roll up windows, don’t like the color combo, someone saved the ugly duckling of the bunch
The short-deck Pontiac 301 V-8, with its 150 horsepower, was the base Trans Am engine and came with manual and automatic options.
I bought this exact color combo in 79, except it had premium cloth, and power windows. Paid $8200. Love the black and red.
SOLD for 220K!
Not too surprising if you are watching the BJ auction. EVERYTHING is going for big bucks.