This 1979 Pontiac Trans Am was ordered with the Special Edition option. Some people call it the Smokey and the Bandit package but most Pontiac enthusiast call it a Y84 which is reference to the option code on the build sheet. The car has 2 days remaining in the auction and is listed for sale here on eBay. Currently, the car is bid to $20,100 after 11 bids. The car is being sold by a dealer in Winter Garden, Florida.
This car was ordered with the famous WS6 suspension which improved the handling so dramatically that Car & Driver named it the best handling US car in 1979. The WS6 handling package came with wider 15×8 aluminum snowflake wheels, bigger sway bars, shorter ratio steering box and specially tuned shocks. There were over 117,000 Trans Ams built in 1979 and most cars were built with the L80 403 cubic inch engine which was built by Oldsmobile. This engine had more horsepower than the wimpy 301 cubic inch V8 engine but not near the power of the W72 400 cubic inch V8 engine which was the highest engine performance option available. The L80 engine was factory rated at 185 horsepower and had over 300 lb ft of torque. Unfortunately, this engine only came with an automatic transmission and was usually mated with a 2.56 or 2.73 rear end so off the line performance was disappointing.
The car is loaded with options including tilt steering, power locks, custom hobnail velour interior, automatic transmission, cruise control and air conditioning. However, the car does not have T-Tops or power windows which is a little unusual. The odometer on this car has rolled over once so it has probably seen a lot of cruising. The selling dealer states that the car comes with Pontiac Historical Services (PHS) documentation to prove its authenticity. The interior looks very nice and the exterior is not too bad either. There are some chips and scrapes on the front grill inserts but otherwise this is a nice driver.
The car has probably been repainted and the scoop decal has been replaced with the “T/A 6.6” decal. From the factory, the decal should have read “6.6 Litre” which signified the Oldsmobile 403 cubic inch V8 engine. Pontiac did a great job with the Trans Am and it carried the performance torch well compared to its rivals throughout the 1970’s.
Actually the car that Car and Driver tested was a 301 V8 car with a 4 speed. I still have my 79 T-A with a 301 and the WS6 handling package. When it was new and I was auto-crossing it I didn’t have any trouble competing with the other cars in my class, including the 2 time SCCA national champion in the class. I even beat him occasionally Fun car that is why I still own it.
This car was sold new in NW Iowa; I used to visit the town (Storm Lake) when I was young. Population was around 10K back then. This was a customer order, I’ll bet someone now knows who ordered it new. Big classic car town then and today.
Only non stock item is the cassette radio, too new for the car.
That’s the stock Ac-Delco cassette player – had the same in my 1979 Z-28. Might have been the first year?
Oldsmobile motor, no power windows or t tops, not really desirable, 79 was a hard yr for Trans Ams it was 4 speed only w the 400 motor, I went to look at one new, other choice was the 301, or that anchor 403, I bought the 2 tone blue 301 Grand Prix next to it,
Great looking T/A. The 403 wasn’t fast but it was faster than a Z28 around that time.
…at least the Chevy had a 350 Chevy in it. I’d take that any day over a Pontimobile Delta T/A.
I would not even contemplate owning a T/A without the Pontiac 400 or 455 in it…dependent on the year, of course. A 403 Olds junk boat anchor? No thanks. What an embarrassment to Pontiac and, to the driver.
Why get Pontiac get rid of the ’78 Gothic T/A Lettering on the SE in ’79?
This car is one of the rarest muscle cars out there and noone knows about. In 79 the Special Editions all came with ttops, but there was a way customers could order the special edition hardtop (called the ttop delete option) but salesmen lost commission when ttops were deleted so they didnt bother mentioning it to customers. There are MAYBE 15-20 of these 1979 Y84 Special Editions that are ttop delete hardtops and this one is beautiful. Whoever ends up buying it, hit me up if u ever decide u want ttops, I’ve got a 79SE with ttops and I’ll trade u anytime!