For everyone looking for that dusty barn find, this one is for you. It is a 1979 Pontiac Trans Am and while over 117,000 Trans Ams were produced in 1979, this car is a limited production 10th Anniversary edition. In Pontiac circles, this car is called a TATA (Tenth Anniversary Trans Am). The car is located in Fort Worth, Texas and the seller is asking $10,000. You can see more information here on Craigslist. The car has been listed for about 5 days.
There were three engine options in 1979 as Pontiac offered the 403 cubic inch V8 engine as the base engine and you could move up or down from there. If you took a $50 credit, you could get the 301 cubic inch V8 engine which was only rated at 155 horsepower. If you optioned up, your could get the W72 400 cubic inch V8 engine rated at 220 horsepower. The W72 400 cubic inch V8 was only available with a Borg Warner T-10 4 speed manual transmission, 3.23 rear gears, WS6 suspension and dual turbo mufflers. The W72 engine was built with a 800 cfm 4 barrel Rochester carburetor, high capacity 60 psi oil pump, special cam, baffled oil pan, special piston rings, and 8:1 compression heads. The TATA only came with the 403 cubic inch V8 with an automatic transmission or the W72 400 cubic inch V8 engine with a 4 speed.
This car has an automatic transmission so it has the Oldsmobile 403 cubic inch V8 engine that was rated at 185 horsepower and 320 lb ft of torque. Most people considered this car slow but its performance was hindered by a 2.56 or 2.73 rear gear ratio. It was more horsepower than the Mustang (139 horsepower) of that year and almost as much as the Camaro Z28 (190 horsepower). The seller states that the interior of this car has been ravaged by rats and squirrels. That is too bad because the silver leather interior on these cars is expensive. At least it is still reproduced.
The seller’s ad reveals that the car will start and run. The TATA was fully loaded with T-Tops and the digital ETR radio. The seller states that one window is missing and that it will come with new wheels and tires. Viewing is by appointment only but restored this car could be a $30,000 mile car depending on the condition of the body and undercarriage.
That’s NOT a $10,000 car……I bought a 2 owner 1979 that was my best friend’s in high school we ran in the mid 80’s for $10,000 that is show quality vs this thing. Their video of the engine start up is in the dark & revs up on a cold engine……I’d give them maybe $4,000….the interior has to be a basket case.
Having owned the W72 Anniversary Trans Am this really breaks my heart to see even one that is NOT like mine was in this horrible condition. I just don’t understand people letting these awesome rides rot 🤦♂️
Did anyone else’s tush clench up when, in the video, you hear the engine being revved up and held at high idle (plus)?
Yikes! Fresh oil, I hope! And, whomever comnented on another car, and said to drop the oil pan, in these situations, I remember that one…
Let me know when you learn how to take valuable pictures that a buyer would find useful. And let me introduce to a thing called a garden hose – it’s used to deliver water to a dirty car.
Don’t you DARE wash off that valuable patina of dirt! It’s there to show that it’s been sitting undisturbed for years waiting for someone to discover it like a missing Faberge egg.
5,4,3,2,1…ok, let’s hear the boat anchor comments!
There is an almost identical car on Eb@y right now for $37K. Unfortunately I don’t think $27K will get this car to the same condition. Plus a gold WS6 with the magical 400/4barrel/4spd at $34,500 but no T-tops. That would be the car for me.
This car would be fun if you wanted to buy a drive and didn’t know how to shift your own. I had a ’75 and the automatics are such slush boxes.