Every now and again, you come across a car that looks like a very smart buy. This 1996 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am strikes me as such a vehicle, as it’s priced reasonably at $8,500, has reasonable mileage (133,500) and is equipped with the preferred manual transmission. It doesn’t appear to be heavily modified and the cosmetics look good for a driver. The seller notes some recent repairs and that it has an aftermarket exhaust that isn’t too loud. For a muscle car you can drive every day and likely won’t lose much in the way of value, this Firebird is worth a look here on craigslist,

Thanks to Barn Finds reader Pat L. for flagging this find. The rear end treatment on this era of the Firebird really was peak Pontiac. Every model, from the Bonneville to the Grand Prix, had some of these details woven in, whether it was the quad exhaust tips or the honeycomb treatment on the taillight panel. The paint work looks good, although the seller notes some scratches; still, that’s to be expected for any car that’s been used as a daily, as I suspect this one was at some point. The Firebird and Camaro of this vintage haven’t taken off price-wise, and I wonder why that is – it seems like a great platform with respectable performance.

The interior is certainly nothing to write home about in terms of luxury features, as it features lightly bolstered mouse-gray cloth upholstery. I’ve never been all that concerned whether my car had leather seats, but upon seeing some of the cockpits from mid-90s GM products that didn’t get the upscale treatment, I can see why some buyers may only want a vehicle equipped with upgraded materials. This really does scream cheap, and perhaps this is why the Camaro and Firebird of the late 90s hasn’t been more sought-after. Still, this is a performance car at the end of the day, and the cabin materials are secondary to the 5.7L V8 under the hood.

The engine doesn’t appear to show much in the way of cheesy aftermarket modifications, with the seller just noting the aforementioned exhaust. Recent work includes the replacement of the steering rack, which had a leak. The Firebird is said to have strong brakes, a recent oil change, and no lights illuminated on the dash. All told, it seems like the kind of purchase you can begin enjoying immediately, whether you plan to drive it while modifications are made or simply use it as-is, with likely no long-term penalty in terms of value. If you’re interested, the Pontiac is located in Largo, Florida.