Here’s a rare bird indeed, on eBay, this 1984 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am fifteenth anniversary edition, bid to $13,500, reserve not met, with a buy-it-now option at $19,500. The Firebird was produced in four generations from 1967 through 2002, with the Trans Am trim and performance package arriving in 1969. This car belongs to the restyled third-gen running from 1982 through 1992. The steeply raked windshield, large glass hatch and pop-up headlights were new. The anniversary edition arrived as a Trans Am and included the “Turbo” hood with blue fade graphics, white wheels, white paint, T-tops, the W62 ground effects package, a special suspension set-up, four-wheel disc brakes, and the pièce de résistance, Pontiac’s 5.0 liter high-output V8. Only 1500 were made and one-third arrived with a five-speed manual; the rest were automatics.
The L69 5.0 liter HO V8 generates 190 hp, makes it to 60 mph in under eight seconds, tops out at over 125 mph, and was at least partially responsible for setting off the horsepower wars again- a welcome show of spirit after the malaise of the ’70s. This car’s odometer reads only 28,296 miles. The AutoCheck report supports the mileage as original but no other documentation is offered. It is one of 1000 anniversary cars with the 700-R4 automatic. The engine bay is exceptionally clean, particularly in tough areas like the hood latch real estate and the underhood insulation. The seller notes that the car has a new carburetor.
Anniversary interiors are all off-white. The Recaro seats are leather with grey cloth inserts imprinted with “Trans Am”; the steering wheel is leather-wrapped as is the shift knob. Other than some bolster wear on the driver’s seat, the cabin acquits itself well. The cargo area is clean, too. One tiny detail: the badge on the driver’s sail panel is missing. That might make me ask if the car has been repainted.
The “Turbo” hood was created for Pontiac’s 1980/81 Trans Am turbo. Made for only two years, the model proved unpopular. The factory must have had a few unused hoods lying around. It’s easy to see in this photo the imperfections that accumulate in the plastic ground effects panels. This car comes with some documentation including the owner’s manual and original keys. In terms of value, despite its rarity, collectors pay no more for an anniversary edition than any other 1984 HO V8 Firebird. As always, low mileage and excellent condition will bring top dollar. but most third-gen Trans Ams sell in the mid-teens, with a substantial deduction for the automatic. How much do you think it will take to bring this one home?
No. It’s worth more because I own it. 🤣
Didn’t Pontiac stop making their own engines in ’82? From then on I thought it was the same engines in all GM cars, their “Corporate” engines.
At any rate this is a beautiful example of Trans Am.
in one’s life there is always one special car or truck that captured your heart and this is it. I saw one in my youth in 86 and from that day love at first site.
In my book Pontiac hit a home run with that one.
Didn’t BF profile that just a few weeks ago?
I don’t care what anyone thinks, the 80’s were when the revival of American performance got rolling in earnest and this Trans Am is proof. The Camaro and Firebird were a few hundred pounds lighter than their predecessors and they had equal or superior horsepower and performance, and the handling and braking was worlds better than the malaise era cars.
I love the way this T/A looks, the color matched wheels really set off the white paint with blue graphics, and the Recaro seats are the equal of anything from Europe. The only thing holding this one back is the darned slushbox! If I were in the market for a 15th anniversary Trans Am I’d hold out for one with the 5 speed, because the performance is substantially better than the automatic. But other than that, this car is 80’s style at its best!
Lovely T/A. Just a personal beef, i never cared for the shifter that is canted towards the driver. Doesn’t look right to the eye.
This same car was featured here on Oct. 28. Thought it looked familiar. https://barnfinds.com/28k-original-miles-1984-pontiac-trans-am-15th-anniversary/
A small clarification: The article jokes that the hood may be a left-over 1980/1981 Trans Am Turbo hood. The 1980/1981 Trans Am was a different generation car, and the hood from that generation would not fit onto a 1984 model.
1984 was the first year for those 16″ rims on a Trans Am, and this one has the L69 190 hp engine. It looks to be in nice shape but I’d still prefer the manual transmission version.