Everyone knows the 1979 Trans Am. It’s the year Pontiac sold over 117,000 of them, smashing sales records and cementing the second-gen Firebird as a pop culture icon. But if you are hunting for a project car, you usually run into a rust problem or high prices. Sellers want a fortune for beat-up Special Editions (Y84) or the high-output W72 cars. This 1979 Pontiac Trans Am is listed here on eBay by a dealer for $23,950. It is located outside of Fredericksburg, Texas at Sweet Dreams Classic Car. We appreciate Mitchell G. for sending us this listing. This is a “W-Code” car might present an opportunity. To a collector of survivors, it’s an oddity. To a builder, it is the perfect, guilt-free candidate for an engine swap. It has the look, but it lacks the one thing that makes the other cars expensive: a desirable engine.
Let’s be honest about what is under the hood. The fifth digit of the VIN is “W”, which designates the L37 301ci (4.9L) Pontiac V8. In 1979, this was Pontiac’s attempt to appease the EPA and fuel economy standards. While it is technically a Pontiac V8, it shares almost no performance DNA with the legendary 389s, 400s, or 455s of the past. The 301 features “siamesed” intake ports (restricting airflow), a weak lightweight crankshaft with fewer counterweights, and a thin-wall block casting. Rated at a meager 155 horsepower, this engine runs out of breath quickly. It wasn’t built for high RPMs or big power adders. In the enthusiast world, this engine is rarely rebuilt; it is usually removed and replaced.
Inside, the ’79 Trans Am is one of the best places to be. You’re looking for the trademark “Engine Turned” aluminum dash bezel—swirled aluminum that separates the real Trans Ams from the base Firebirds. This car has the standard vinyl buckets interior. The center console and Formula steering wheel are iconic. The interior looks clean which is another huge expense you don’t have to worry about. Total 1979 Trans Am Production was 117,108 and the Pontiac 301 (W-Code) Hardtop accounted for approximately 8,605 Trans Ams. While the W-Code is rarer than the Olds 403 cars, it does not command the high value of the Z-Code (400) or Y84 Special Editions. This means you can upgrade and modify this car without destroying an investment-grade asset.
Since this is a ’79, it sports the urethane nose and the blacked-out taillight panel that defined the late second-gen era. Without seeing the cowl tag, we can’t confirm the original paint, but this looks like a Code 75 Mayan Red exterior. I own one similar to this but it has the Olds 403 engine. The body looks good but it is a good idea to check the urethane nose for cracks and the rear frame rails for rust. If the body is straight, you are saving thousands compared to buying a factory 400 car, leaving you with a massive budget for the powertrain (if you don’t care about a numbers matching engine).
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