It seems that the classic world is full of unfinished project vehicles, but this 1985 Pontiac Trans Am could be a cut above the rest. The owner purchased it as a father/son project, but the son has decided to go a different way with a four-wheel drive. Much of the mechanical work has been completed, and the car now only has minor cosmetic needs. If you feel up to the challenge, you will find the Trans Am located in Prescott, Arizona, and listed for sale here on Craigslist. The owner has set a sale price of $8,000, and when you see the seller’s work, it seems to represent good value for money. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder rex m for referring this beauty to us.

At first glance, this Trans-Am isn’t a bad looking vehicle. Its original Light Chestnut paint holds a respectable shine, but the Arizona sun has taken a toll on some painted surfaces. There’s no doubt that it would respond positively to a repaint, and it would seem to be worth the effort. The panels look extremely straight for a classic of this age, and even the plastic has managed to survive the rigors of the Arizona sun. There are no signs of previous accident damage and no significant bumps or bruises in the panels. Having spent its life in a dryer climate, I’m not surprised that this classic is rust-free. The original alloy wheels are okay, but they would benefit from attention with a cloth and some high-quality polish. I find it interesting that given its location, the original owner didn’t order this Pontiac with a T-Top. Still, there are ways around keeping cool on a hot day if that option isn’t available. Overall, this Trans Am makes a positive first impression.

Turning our attention to the interior, we’re confronted with an area that is not showroom fresh but is in reasonable condition for a survivor. It has a few flaws, including a badly cracked pad and the lid missing from the console. Otherwise, the interior is complete with no significant faults. The upholstered surfaces have withstood the rigors of the Arizona sun and thirty-seven years of use with no major rips, tears, or wear. There is some slight stretching and discoloration on the driver’s seat, but the buyer will need to choose how much money they are willing to sink into this project. For example, the console lid adds $180 to the restoration, while the dash pad will cost the buyer $650. This is a case where the next owner will probably have to keep one eye on the concept of return-versus-investment to remain financially viable. The additional $660 for new seat upholstery might be stretching the friendship in this case. The carpet is in good condition, as is most of the plastic. I previously mentioned the lack of a T-Top, which isn’t an issue in the case of this car. The current owner has recently replaced the entire air conditioning system. It now blows ice-cold, making this a comfortable place to spend time on a warm day. The buyer will also receive an aftermarket CD player in place of the factory radio, power windows, power locks, cruise control, and a tilt wheel.

The drivetrain of the 1985 Trans-Am produced an interesting anomaly when it came to the question of performance potential. The company introduced a Tuned Port Injection (TPI) version of the 305ci V8 for this model year, producing 205hp. However, Pontiac’s decision to offer it with only a four-speed automatic transmission meant that it didn’t provide the best acceleration or top speed figures. That honor fell to the “HO” version of the 305 that produced 190hp. With a five-speed manual bolted to that motor, the Trans Am could launch through the ¼ mile in 15.6 seconds. The best that a buyer could expect from a TPI-equipped Trans Am was an ET of 15.9 seconds. That’s not a huge difference but does demonstrate that how a car uses its available power is as important as the power figure itself. All of that is academic in this case. The original motor is now consigned to the pages of history, and its place is being taken by a 350ci small-block V8 that features four-bolt mains. It is bolted to the original five-speed manual transmission and should offer vastly improved performance potential. The owner purchased the vehicle with this engine in place but has performed a significant amount of work on it since. He pulled it due to noisy timing gears and swapped in a dual-row roller timing chain. While the motor was out, he added a high-volume oil pump, a new water pump, gaskets, oil pan, and HEI ignition system. Cooling duties fall to a new aluminum radiator while he rebuilt the front end and replaced the exhaust. The owner suggests that the rear suspension could use some new bushings, but otherwise, there is nothing left to do. The car runs and drives extremely well and is a turnkey proposition for its next owner.

If potential buyers looked closely at this 1985 Trans-Am, it has a lot of positive points. It appears to be a rust-free and complete classic representing a straightforward cosmetic restoration. The upgraded drivetrain should also make it an entertaining vehicle when the pedal meets the metal. Determining a value on a car like this is difficult because once changes have been made, the rules also change. That makes the vehicle worth what somebody is willing to pay, but a good standard Trans-Am of this era will generally sell for around $13,000. Given all that it has to offer, I believe that the sale price of this car looks very competitive. I’ll be interested to see if we have any readers who are tempted to pursue this one further.