Pontiac produced the second generation Trans Am from 1970 to 1981. For 1979, there were multiple color and engine combinations available. This black 1979 Trans Am with orange and red decals and red interior certainly stands out. It is equipped with the 301 cubic inch V8 and 4 speed transmission which was the only year for this engine and transmissions combination. The Trans Am is listed here on eBay with 7 days remaining in the auction. The car has only 13k miles and is bid to $25,600. It is located in Oak Ridge, North Carolina.
The L37 Pontiac 301 cubic inch V8 engine was the base engine in the Pontiac Formula and was available in the Trans Am as an option which came with a $50 credit on the invoice. When equipped with a 4 barrel carburetor, the engine was rated at a mere 155 horsepower. The base engine in the Trans Am was the L80 403 cubic inch V8 engine that was rated at 180 horsepower. It was only available with an automatic transmission. The top performing engine option was the W72 Pontiac 400 cubic inch V8 engine. This engine was only installed in 8,326 Trans Am in 1979 and was rated at 220 horsepower. The W72 engine was special because it was built with a 800 cfm 4 barrel Rochester carburetor, high capacity 60 psi oil pump, special cam, baffled oil pan, special piston rings, 8:1compression heads and dual turbo mufflers.
The bright red interior is stunning in this Trans Am. There have been some aftermarket items added but the stock deluxe hobnail cloth interior and pristine condition look amazing. This car was optioned with power windows, air conditioning and T-Tops. The car is riding on factory 15×7 aluminum snowflake wheels which indicates that it was not optioned with the WS6 performance handing suspension. The WS6 suspension in 1979-1981 came with 4 wheel disc brakes, special shocks, larger sway bars and a tighter power steering pump.
This car sure looks like it has been well maintained from the engine compartment to the interior to the exterior paint. Pontiac produced over 117,000 Trans Ams in 1979 and, if this is the color combination that you like, it is a very nice example.
I was 9 years old and obsessed with these cars then. Next door neighbor had a brand new one, gold in color. Not sure if it was a 400 or 403, but sure loved sitting in it and going for a ride. 40+ years later they still live next door to my parents, all in their 70’s. Should ask about it soon. On another note, I remember going to K-mart at that age just looking at “Hot Wheels” and “Matchbox” cars, looking for that Trans Am, many others. Hoping mom or dad could spare a buck and half or so to add to my collection. By the time I could drive I wound up with a 1979 Mercury Capri (fox mustang) and have been into them since. I would gladly take a Firebird, 70-81. Even Jim Rockford’s base brown one ! First choice 70 TA 455 muncie 4 speed in red…
If Spiderman had a car , this would be it . Or if Batman had a Trans Am , this would be it . It’s a nice car though . I’d love to own a car with red interior . Detroit needs to start making cars colorful again .
Wow, almost same exact asking price as the 11K Mile Formula!
Same engine, but in a much more desirable package. Still, I would hold out for a Pontiac 400.
I, too, lusted after these as a 9 year old boy in 1979. This one looks great, however all of the extra pinstriping is overkill. Leave it the way it rolled off the floor. Too much. Good luck.
Red bird is the best bird.
If the Bandit had drove a stick, I think I would have enjoyed the movie more.
Gorgeous car..I had a 79 cameo white with Baltic blue velour…403 auto at 16 ( 1989)… BUMMER SHE WAS BORN WITH A 301… gorgeous yes…but the 301 kills her…
I bought a new Cameo White WS6 Trans Am in 1979. My salesman and I were perusing the lot looking at different T/As when we ran across a silver one. He told me he could make me one hell of a deal on that particular car. I was dead set on buying a white car but I did ask why such a good deal on that one. He said that car had the 301. This was in August of ‘79 and he said that car had been there since February. Nobody wanted it once they found out the engine it had.
If it was true then, it would be true now. Run from the 301! 😲
301…laughable, at best. No thank you. W72 400/4-speed or nothing,
The seller removed it from Ebay due to what is described as an “error”. Whatever that is intended toward…..??
13k miles? Did you get a good look at those numbers on that odometer?
Besides that, it seems now all someone does is make a claim of low mileage and expect potential buyers to believe it. If you can’t prove it, I don’t believe it.
that is the original amount and pin stripe package from the factory.
@Nic69
This Trans Am did not come with those pinstripes from the factory. I bought a new T/A in ’79 and I know they didn’t.
Sun glasses required when entering vehicle.
Hey, Bruce,
“Special” camshaft? ‘Special” shocks?
Isn’t that kind of lazy writing?
You say the engine is special, and then go on to say why. And you include a lot of gearhead detail otherwise. You’re writing for car guys.
Please drop the word ‘special’ ( I never allowed my reporters to use it) and Instead, tell us why it’s special.
Thanks
Scott, Thanks for your input. When writing about the W72 400 engine, I think it is special because Pontiac built the blocks for the 1977-1979 cars late in 1976 and stockpiled the engines for 1979 to get around the CAFE requirements. I don’t think there were any other car makers doing this sort of thing in the late 1970’s. Here is an article that goes in to more detail for the car guys:
https://www.motortrend.com/features/is-the-1979-pontiac-firebird-formula-w72-the-last-muscle-car/
Would look much nicer without the Red on the wheels.
cool looking bird . I would be proud to drive it , till the engine blow. Then put a 400 in it & have A LOT MORE FUN !
Hi Larry.
I also got one new. Maybe in Canada they did it and not an option in the US if that’s possible.
Or maybe it was an option that I don’t remember. Back then mine was sitting in the dealership ready to drive away so you didn’t tick boxes if you wanted the showroom model.
@Nic69
All Firebirds and Camaros in 1979 were built either in Norwood, Ohio or in Van Nuys, California. None were built in Canada.
The pin stripes could possibly have been a dealer add-on but were never available from the factory.