Low mileage classics tend to attract their share of attention when they hit the market, and this 1981 Pontiac Trans Am should be no exception. It has just emerged from a barn where the original owner parked it in 1999. What makes this an extraordinary find is the odometer reading, which sits at a genuine 9,875 miles. All good things must come to an end, so the owner has decided to list this low-mile classic for sale here on eBay. It is located in North Collins, New York, and while the auction has been set to open at $30,000, there have been no bids to this point. There is also a BIN option of $55,000, so it will be interesting to see if anyone hits the button on that.
The Trans Am is finished in Baniff Blue, and while the paint might not be perfect, it still holds an impressive shine for original paint of this age. There are some imperfections in a couple of spots where a cover has been on the car for the past two decades, but the paint hasn’t lifted or cracked in these areas. It would be worth the effort to get this checked by a professional, as these areas might respond positively to some careful sanding and polishing. The panels are laser straight, and apart from a small crack in the nose just below the driver’s side headlights, the plastic trim is also in excellent order. The real winner with this car is its lack of rust problems. The owner doesn’t mention any issues, and there are none evident in the supplied photos. The distinctive graphics and decals look crisp and free from problems, while the same is true of the original wheels and the glass.
Turning our attention to the interior, and the original Blue cloth upholstery looks as impressive as you might hope to find in any car with less than 10,000 miles on the clock. There is no visible wear and no other significant flaws. The plastic pieces haven’t started to crumble, while the carpet is in excellent condition for its age. The owner admits that the glue started to “let go” on the headliner, but that this has been rectified. The original white shifter knob has been swapped for a Hurst-style handle, and there is a dealer-installed radio/cassette player in the dash. Otherwise, the interior remains original and unmolested. The car wasn’t ordered with a pile of optional extras, so there’s no air conditioning and no power windows.
Unfortunately, the owner supplies no engine photos, but we do know that he ordered the car with the 305ci Chevrolet V8 under the hood. The Trans Am also comes equipped with a 4-speed manual transmission, power steering, and power brakes. The 305 was not a powerhouse in 1981 and only managed to produce 145hp. The result was that the 3,633lb Trans Am would take 17.4 seconds to cover the ¼ mile. However, the key to this car is its originality. The owner has replaced the battery, but everything else under the hood, including all of the hoses and belts, is original. The shocks have been swapped, but the originals are boxed up to go with the car. Even the tires are the ones that the Trans Am wore when it rolled off the production line. These still look okay, but the owner suggests that changing them would be a wise move due to their age. Otherwise, the Pontiac is roadworthy and ready to be enjoyed by its second owner.
For the 1981 Pontiac Trans Am, the sales figures told a lot of this classic’s story. Potential buyers knew that an all-new car was waiting in the wings. That meant that while the company managed to sell 70,899 Trans Ams in that model year, it still represented the worst result since 1973. It also meant that the last of these 2nd Generation cars became lost in the hype that surrounded the release of each subsequent model. This car offers potential buyers the opportunity to own a Trans Am from this era with a four-figure reading on its odometer. That isn’t something that happens every day, so it will be interesting to see whether it catches someone’s imagination enough to hand over the cash and take this one home.
The 4bbl 305/4 speed makes this a fun combo for a gear rower….However, being that other big cube engines were available, and, just a few years before, with the 4 speed – this is kind of a sheep in wolf’s clothing…
The lack of A/C is a deal killer on this T/A, much less the price.
Sad that such junk 305/4 barrel was optioned. No AC and PW are killers.
A Stripped TA will not sell for that price.
He is looking for a FISH..and I… ain’t it
Holy carp what a poster child for the era of gutless cars wearing fancy clothes.
WAY too much money for a no option T.A. (no air, T-Tops, PW etc.). Especially for a 305. Correct me if I’m wrong, but the rear wheel flares where not offered by the factory.
Not the ones behind rear wheels. Wasn’t the 4.9 the Pontiac 301 version? 305 should be 5.0.
No Pontiac motor, No A/C, no options No Sale
It has a lot more miles 109,00 plus
Broke old man needing money. Ugliest color in 81, No options. And New York throws tons of salt every year on its already horrible roads. For $55,000 I can have a 71 455 HO.
And once again, that odometer has been messed with.
The 4 speed was only available with the 305 Chevrolet engine. They even used the exhaust from an 81 z28 instead of splitters. The good part is there are many engines that could be swapped in with no modifications.
Fortunately, since it’s an ’81, you can verify the mileage by using a service like CarFax.
Even if true, though, it seems WAY overpriced.
Had the same 4spd..305 Chevy motor because that was the only motor you could get if you wanted a 4spd in ’81 which is what we wanted.. The back flares weren’t on the 81s.. That motor choice chased most of the buyers away to other cars when they wanted the 4spd.. My wifes was that dark grey loaded with all the accessories.. Sold ours in ’97 with 11,000 miles to our neighbors brother.. Wish we kept it because new cars just don’t cut it with us Old Schoolers!!