49k Original Miles: 1981 Pontiac Trans Am Special Edition

The subject of rarity is always going to ignite debate amongst enthusiasts. Some will claim that the relative rarity of a particular vehicle will have little impact on its value, while others will see this impact as profound. That brings us to the subject of this 1981 Pontiac Trans Am Special Edition. When you consider its combination of options, this car is 1-of-932 built during the final year of Second Generation Trans Am production. It has recently come off the back of a total restoration, and it presents superbly. All it needs now is a new home. Located in Brooklyn, New York, you will find the Trans Am listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set a BIN of $38,000, although he will entertain offers.

Starlight Black rates as the most iconic color to grace the panels of later Second Generation Trans Ams, and that’s the shade that we find on our feature car. The seller indicates that this one-owner classic was recently restored, so its spotless presentation is no surprise. The paint shines richly, with no visible flaws or defects. The fresh Gold graphics, including the iconic Screaming Chicken, seem as perfect as the paint. The panels are laser straight, and both the exterior and underside shots reveal that this classic is rust-free. There are a couple of areas of surface corrosion underneath, but nothing that is likely to cause sleepless nights. The glass and T-Top appear flawless, while the snowflake wheels are in a similar state. I’m sure that when you look at its overall condition, you would have to agree that the Trans Am would garner plenty of positive comments on the street or at a Cars & Coffee.

Okay, I am willing to admit that the 1981 Trans Am was a bit of a performance wimp when compared to examples from a decade earlier, but they could still prove rewarding with the right drivetrain combination. The turbocharged 301ci V8 offered buyers the most power and best performance figures, but the company only offered this motor with an automatic transmission. If buyers wanted to perform shifting duties themselves, they had to opt for the 145hp 305ci V8. That is what the owner of this Trans Am selected, while it also comes equipped with power steering and power front disc brakes. If they pointed this classic at a ¼ mile, it would complete the journey in a leisurely 17.4 seconds. This saw the Pontiac level-pegging with the 2.3-liter turbocharged Mustang but lagging behind the Camaro Z28 that completed the journey in 16.7 seconds. For potential buyers, the news looks pretty positive. The Trans Am runs and drives perfectly, and the seller claims that it has a genuine 49,000 miles on the clock. Given its ownership history, there may be evidence to verify the claim. It is also worth considering the relative rarity of this Trans Am. While 33,523 examples rolled off the line during that final production year, a mere 932 were Special Edition vehicles that featured a four-speed transmission and a T-Top. There were rarer variants, but this car is up there with the best of them.

I admit that I was tempted to describe this Trans Am’s interior as factory-fresh, and while that may be a mild exaggeration, it is in excellent condition for a vehicle of this age. It seems that this is one aspect of the car that escaped any restoration work, although it hardly needed it. There is no evidence of significant wear or marks on the cloth seat upholstery, while the dash, pad, and machine-turned gauge cluster appear perfect. I can’t spot any deteriorating or crumbling plastic, and there are no aftermarket additions. The seller indicates that everything works as it should, including the trouble-prone factory clock. While it isn’t loaded with luxury features, the combination of air conditioning, power windows, an AM/FM radio and a tilt wheel should help make life on the road a pleasant experience.

It seems that most cars that emerged during The Malaise Era have disappeared into the pages of time and remain largely unloved or forgotten. However, the 1981 Pontiac Trans Am Special Edition has avoided that fate. While the Trans Am no longer offered the performance levels seen a decade earlier, it still maintained a sense of presence lacking in its rivals. This Special Edition presents superbly, but the BIN sits right near the top of what someone might pay for a perfect example. However, with twenty-eight people watching the listing, that suggests that a few people like what they see. It will be interesting to watch the listing to see if anyone will hit the button. Do you think they will, or will you beat them to the punch?