With the clock beginning to wind down on the 2nd Generation Pontiac Firebird, the 1979 model year marked the 10th Anniversary of the Trans Am derivative. That marked the perfect time for the company to produce something special, and the Trans Am 10th Anniversary Limited Edition was the result. Pontiac produced 7,500 examples, and our feature car is one of them. The owner has decided that the time has come to part with the Pontiac, so he has listed it for sale here on craigslist. It is located in Charles Town, West Virginia, and the sale price is $26,995. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Jay L for referring the Trans Am to us.

The 10th Anniversary was offered in any color combination as long as it was Silver and Charcoal. That’s what this car wears, although its asking price is fairly indicative of its condition. The Pontiac isn’t horrendous, but it does have a few issues to consider. The rubbing strip is missing off the passenger door, and there are a couple of chips and marks in the paint. I also believe that a couple of small rust spots are developing in the lower rear quarter panels, so this classic could probably stand closer scrutiny. The glass looks to be in good order, but we don’t get a look at the panels for the T-Top. Probably the most obvious flaw is the distinctive “Turbine” wheels. These are free from physical damage, but they desperately need some work with a high-quality polish. It might even be worth the cost of having them professionally polished because their condition has a significant impact on the exterior presentation.

The Trans Am’s interior has me scratching my head because apart from the covers on the seats, it is said to be original. The covers are replacement leather items, but the fit looks loose and wrinkled. Once again, this is something that would need to be addressed if it is to present at its best. This would probably entail stretching and fitting new hog rings, which will take some time but won’t cost a lot of money. The rest of the interior presents nicely, with no problems or issues. There is no wear on the wheel, and all of the plastic is in good order. The Trans Am comes equipped with air conditioning, power windows, power locks, a leather-wrapped tilt wheel, and an AM/FM radio/8-track player for comfort and convenience.

The owner provides no engine photos, but we know that the Pontiac comes equipped with a 403ci Olds V8, which is hooked to a 3-speed automatic transmission. Pontiac was the shining light within General Motors when it came to providing excitement in the late 1970s, but even the Trans Am had to take a hit. The 403 was a compromise for the Californian market, and where Pontiac’s venerable 400 would punch out 220hp, the 403-equipped cars had to struggle with 185hp. There was no manual transmission option on the Olds-equipped cars, which dramatically impacted performance. Where a 400-equipped car could romp through the ¼ mile in 15.9 seconds, the 403 vehicles saw the time pushed out to 16.6 seconds. What made the situation all the more laughable was comparing the fuel consumption figures. The 400 could easily out-perform the 403 by more than 4mpg. It seems that the Californians were getting cheated on that one. The owner says that this Trans Am has a genuine 31,400 miles showing on its odometer. He doesn’t indicate whether he holds evidence to verify this, but he does hold documentation that includes the original Window Sticker. Surprisingly, he also doesn’t provide any information on how the Pontiac runs or drives.

This 1979 Pontiac Trans Am isn’t perfect, but when you consider the potential value for a pristine example, it is a classic that shows a lot of potential. If it proves to be essentially rust-free, none of its needs will cost the buyer a lot of money. Pristine examples will occasionally sell for $55,000, although higher figures are possible. This one is being offered for $26,995, and its odometer reading is well below average. If there isn’t significant rust present, it could be a good buy at the asking price.