Barn Finds frequent submitter Pat L. suggested that we take a look at this unbelievable time capsule 1979 10th Anniversary Pontiac Trans Am that is listed for sale here on craigslist. The original owner is selling the car and as Pat suggested they want “top dollar” for it at $56,000. It’s located in Erie, Pennsylvania if you want to make your travel plans now.
The seller last drove the car in 1985, but it has been started periodically and the oil has been changed from time to time as well. It has been covered in a heated garage since new and the pictures showing the two layers of covering are convincing — along with that shiny original paint.
Note that the car is still wearing its original tires, which the seller says do not have cracks. I’d still be careful driving on rubber this old; maybe acquire a second set of wheels and tires when you aren’t showing the car? But that brings to light the dilemma with this car; when it’s this perfect and this low-mileage, is it “art” rather than a car to drive? Would you put miles on it at that price, thereby dramatically reducing it’s value?
Naturally, the interior looks new. I love the “turned metal” trim on these Trans Ams. While the automatic may be a disappointment to me, I think it’s very appropriate for the car and the time it was new. And, frankly, I’d love to have a radio with old fashioned knobs and buttons in my modern cars!
The seller paid extra for the leather interior, and it still looks mint. Even the t-top weatherstripping looks new!
As you might expect, apart from decades of cobwebs and dust, the underside of the car looks new as well.
Unfortunately, this is the Oldsmobile-sourced 403 cubic inch V8 that was rated at 185 horsepower and 315 lbs-ft of torque rather than the Pontiac 400 V8 rated at 220 horsepower and 320 lbs-ft. The Pontiac V8 was a holdover from 1978 and was only fitted to 8,326 Trans Ams.
I like it!
Price is steep but it’s what the market will 🐻 so goes the price !
I had a college friend that had one,
It was sweat then too!
Amazing.
But the guy was born a decade too late to really cash in. If he’d have done the exact same thing ten years earlier, he’d have a serious $$$ stash if it was the right car. But as far as I can tell, the 1979’s with the anti-smog engines have yet to really bring big prices. For the seller’s sake, I hope I am wrong there….
If I had the $$$$, I’d drive the wheels off of it. The return of my investment would be in miles, not dollar signs down the road.
Why not buy a low mileage 4spd car for 1/3rd the price to drive. Spending $56,000 on a 2,000 mile car, which is arguably above the top of the market, then using it as a driver would be a waste of hard earned cash.
Steve R
I never understand when someone says they would buy an ultra low mileage car in absolute mint shape, and ‘drive the wheels off it’. That’s the kind of thing I think Justin Bieber would do – a spoiled rich kid who only sees value in ‘me’ and ‘now’.
It’s Joe’s money, he can do with this car as he pleases. Get off your high horses, this car will never be a museum piece & it’s low miles don’t mean squat. Cars were meant to be driven, quite hard too. You go Joe.
Not a Bieber fan, but he did make his money. He’s not spoiled, just rich.
Does it come with the guy’s leisure suits and a lifetime haircut card to Supercuts?
Nice car but getting very close to big block Corvette C2 money,
I saw a ’79 (with 65 miles) advertised for $160,000.00 a while ago. “It never hurts to ask.”
Price seems just a little high for a 403 car – then again, you’d pay almost that for a comparably equipped 2018 Camaro SS . . .
The 2018 SS Camaro is infinitely better.
Steve R
2018 CAMARO 1SS $37,995 6.2L. 455HP BREMBO BRAKES
It’s faster, safer, reliable, confortable ……………………
With the rest $18,000 find a T/A in similar condition. You can find it if you do your homework.
Then you have a great Daily and a nice Saturday’s cars and coffee classic.
Beautiful shape and very cool car but..
Wrong year would rather have older SD who wouldn’t?
Wrong motor…doesn’t even have the good smogger motor
Wrong transmission …..this is ongoing on BF some guys like the auto but a stick will always bring more money.
Someone will buy it but it won’t be me.
good looking car but very pricey for the year and model. I wonder if they took the original $$ and invested it what it would be worth today.
Love it! I had a 79, black and gold. Loved that car. So did my wife (girlfriend at the time). To this day she gives me crap for selling it. I hope she doesn’t see what they are selling for now. She might divorce me! lol
Beautiful car, I love the fact that it’s practically brand new, and despite the fact that a new Camry would walk away from it.
But speaking of time capsules, I read about a guy who owned a Hemi mopar of some sort in high school but sold it a year or two later… quite a few years on he located and bought back the car, and in the console was the half-roll of breath mints he’d been eating when he last owned the car. I like a story like that.
If I bought this car my wife would definitely divorce me. Several of these 10th Anniversary cars have surfaced in the past few years with little or no mileage and priced exorbitantly. While they are one of my top 3 fantasy cars I would be more inclined to find a good ’79-’81, repaint it and score some of the turbine wheels.
And, yes, put in an LS & 6-speed, coil-overs, and while I’m at it, afterburners. Because why not?
I would still enjoy seeing this car do a big smokey burn out rather than a brand new Camry!
A 1980 Firebird was my first love but at this price I would rather have a Chevy SS. My second problem is that I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from driving it. I’d hate to put it in a climate controlled room and see it once a month when I started it for five minutes.
Nah, better to buy a nice condition driver and enjoy the car as it was meant to be.
Yet another “special edition” car that everybody and their mother put away, sure that they’d have a gold mine. Bad part is, dozens and dozens of people had the same idea. I feel bad for the people who put away the ones that everybody put away. Unless the car is seen in a hit movie or TV show, there’s not primetime TV auction money here. And I say this as a guy who loves all Trans Ams.
Would spend the extra 6K and buy the 67 Camaro RS/SS.
A lot of people socked these away back in the day. A friend’s dad had one and he just kept it in the garage and seldom drove it.
These did much better in terms of value than the 1978 pace car Corvettes did but he’s going to have trouble getting anywhere near this amount, particularly with the 403/auto combo. If it was the 400/4-speed, maybe he’d push 50k on it.
I think if your going to buy a car that is this new it should be driven. It’s not impossible to drive it and keep it looking like new. Now you have a car you don’t dare drive for fear of devaluing it. If you want to make investment money then invest. Cars are a poor investment they take up space the still need to be maintained and there value is to speculative. You are basically getting a new old car, I would not pay more then 30k for it and then I’d drive it and enjoy it well keeping it maintained to a high standard. JMO
In 1985 I spent 5500.00 for a 1970 Mach 1 and today it is valued at 70-80 grand still original paint and all I think it was a good investment instead of the couch my wife wanted. By the way it’s a 428 SCJ and I will keep it till I can’t drive.
Is it me, or does anyone else find that the engine compartment appears a bit grungy for a pampered 2000 mile car?
After reading all the comments apparently it’s just me. I could never see what is so appealing about a big bird decal on the hood or a spoiler with really no function. It’s not just Firebirds but other cars by various makers. Prefer clean classy cars without the gaudiness. But then again, that’s just me.
A good buy at $18,000.The $63,000 1967 Camaro tells you all you need to know about “Optimistic” pricing on this example.
Dream Police…
Sorry guys, but if I had the kind of money to purchase it, I would make sure my credit cards were paid off and hit the dang road! It’s really not for collecting it would have to have the big engine to be one to keep tucked away! Just my opinion!
An absolutely stunning example of American faux performance. Yet, just knowing I can eat this with a Ford Crown Vic just puts a grin on my face.
2018 CAMARO 1SS $37,995 6.2L. 455HP BREMBO BRAKES
It’s faster, safer, reliable, confortable ……………………
With the rest $18,000 find a T/A in similar condition. You can find it if you do your homework.
Then you have a great Daily and a nice Saturday’s cars and coffee classic.
Trans Am’s like the ’69 this car was commemorating were special not only in looks but more in what they were capable of actually doing. Big difference, but real performance had been long gone on these shores by ’79.
This is low mile nondescript car with a number of detailing concerns. I had a hard time seeing $15k for it now. Put 20 K miles on it and it it just anther used car and it would have cost U $30+K.
unfortunately, this vehicle appears to have the “station wagon” motor. that being said, it looks great.
The 10th Anniversary T/A’s came with the silver leather; it wasn’t an extra-cost option.
I’d drive it once a month or so a few miles at a time and get it up to highway speeds and operating temperature and that’s it, just to keep everything tight. Unfortunately (IMO), the miles are too low to drive like a normal classic car.
Is this car still available?