Earlier, we posted a listing of a 1979 Pontiac Trans Am painted in Code 69 Heritage Brown. Pontiac started offering different tones of brown on the Trans Am starting in 1977. I mentioned that my favorite variant of brown was offered in 1978 and called Chesterfield Brown. PRA4SNW promptly sent in this listing of this 1978 Pontiac Trans Am that is for sale here on Facebook Marketplace for $17,500. The listing has been up only a week and it looks like a deal may be pending. The car is located in Canton, Ohio. Many thanks to PRA4SNW for sending us this car.
In 1978, the Pontiac Trans Am could be ordered with one of three engine options depending on location and order: the standard L78 400 V8 (180 hp, GM Turbo Hydramatic 350 automatic transmission), the California-only L80 403 V8 (185 hp, GM Turbo Hydramatic 350 automatic transmission), and the performance-focused W72 400 V8 (220 hp, GM Turbo Hydramatic 350 automatic transmission or Borg Warner T-10 manual transmission). This car appears to have the base engine. The W72, with dual exhausts, increased to 220 hp from the previous year’s 200 hp, and came with either an automatic or Borg Warner T-10 4-speed manual transmission. Midyear, Pontiac limited the W72 to the 4-speed manual only; thus, a W72 paired with an automatic marks an early 1978 model.
This car was ordered with the base interior. The dash looks good but the seats and door panels are sun faded. The seats are splitting at the seams and the console lid is damaged. All common wear problems and one of the reasons this car is priced where it is. The car is missing its carpet and it appears that the column has been replaced because it should be color coded tan or camel. This car has remote mirrors, power windows and air conditioning.
Pontiac offered 8 different color options for the Trans Am model in 1978. The Chesterfield Brown had metallic flake and was more copper in color than brown. This Trans Am has some paint problems but rides on 15×8 aluminum snowflake wheels. If these wheels are original to the car, this suggests it is equipped with the WS6 handling package. I am also the owner of a Chesterfield Brown Trans Am, although my model is a four-speed. Maybe, just maybe, that is why I like this car so much!
Don’t you have a nice Formula too BJ ?
And you have 220hp, 4sp. Chesterfield Brown T/A ? 🙌🏁 👍 😎
Very nice TA here. I have to admit, certain shades of brown look a little nicer to me than others. And this Chesterfield Brown is definitely one of them. My sister graduatrd with a girl in ’79, her parents bought her a brand new Heritage Brown (?) ’79 TA. She kept it immaculate for years. Nice write up Bruce.
Pretty color and wheels. But in this case, I feel that the puking chicken on the hood, detracts from the car’s appearance.
I really like this car. If I was to buy it I’d put the air conditioning system back in order and drive it on Route 66 One hundred Birthday celebration next year.