Some vehicle manufacturers will find any excuse to release a special edition of one of their models, and some reasons are dubious. However, some milestones deserve recognition. Pontiac faced that situation in 1979 as its iconic Trans Am celebrated a decade of production. The company marked the achievement by releasing a 10th Anniversary Edition with distinctive paint and decals. Our feature car is one of those vehicles and is a well-documented survivor. It isn’t perfect, but lifting its presentation to a higher level would not be difficult. The Trans Am has generated significant interest since the seller listed it here on eBay in Clermont, Florida. Bidding has raced to $16,400 in a No Reserve auction, and there is still time for interested parties to throw their hats into the ring.
The fact that the Trans Am reached the ten-year milestone was a considerable achievement because there were moves within company management to drop the entire Firebird range earlier in the decade. Deciding to grant it a stay of execution proved wise because it sold strongly until replaced by the Third Generation in 1982. Pontiac released 7,500 examples of the 10th Anniversary Edition in 1979, and this car is 1-of-5,683 built with the 403ci “Olds” V8. It is an original one-owner classic that has never undergone repairs or restoration. Its two-tone Platinum and Gray paint shows age in some areas, but it retains a respectable shine. A skilled enthusiast or a paint shop could address its minor imperfections without costing a fortune. Rust can be the mortal enemy of the Second Generation Firebird, but that doesn’t appear to be a problem with this beauty. The exterior is clean, and the underside shots reveal nothing beyond surface corrosion. There is no sign of steel penetration, although only an in-person inspection would prove this conclusively. The car features a T-Top with mirrored glass panels, and there are no signs of water leaks that might indicate tired seals. The remaining glass and trim are pretty respectable for a survivor-grade classic, and the distinctive Turbo wheels are free from stains.
Pontiac adopted a “one-size-fits-all” approach to paint and trim for the 10th Anniversary Trans Am. All cars featured interiors trimmed in Silver, with the seats wrapped in leather. It created a luxurious feel, making every journey seem like a special occasion. Sadly, this Pontiac’s interior has seen better days. The front seats sport splits and tears, and I believe the back seat may be headed in the same direction. Slipcovers would hide the problem without costing a fortune, but a car of this caliber probably deserves new leather. The new owner must dig deep into their wallet because a complete seatcover set retails for around $2,000. The door trims display stretching and marks, and if the buyer adds a set of replacement trims to the shopping list, that raises the cost to $2,900. That’s a lot of money, but replacing such items can be considered a sound long-term investment. The rest of the interior looks respectable, but a close inspection is almost guaranteed to reveal minor problems. The interior is nicely appointed, with the first owner equipping it with air conditioning, power windows, power locks, a power antenna, remote trunk release, rear defogger, cruise controls, a tilt wheel, and an AM/FM radio/8-track player.
Two engine choices were available when ordering a 10th Anniversary Trans Am. This car’s owner selected the 403ci “Olds” V8, which was chosen by 5,683 buyers. This powerplant came with a three-speed automatic as the default transmission, with Pontiac not offering a manual option. However, this Trans Am scores additional points, courtesy of its power steering and four-wheel power disc brakes. The 403 was anything but potent, producing 185hp and 315 ft/lbs of torque. Performance was far more leisurely than when the first Trans Ams rolled off the line, with the ¼-mile journey taking 16.6 seconds. Potential buyers seeking a 10th Anniversary Edition as an investment will find much to like about this car. It is a numbers-matching survivor with 53,000 miles on the clock. The mileage claim isn’t an idle boast, with the seller holding comprehensive service records in the included collection of documentation. The winning bidder also receives the Owner’s Manual, Build Sheet, and Window Sticker. The Trans Am is a turnkey classic that runs and drives perfectly. The seller includes an embedded video featuring the car in action in their listing. I have watched it several times and can find nothing that causes concern.
The seller’s listing for this 1979 Pontiac Trans Am 10th Anniversary Edition mentions the growing popularity of these classics, and the bidding history on this car graphically reflects that. It has received fifty-one bids, suggesting people like what they see. Auction action typically intensifies as the end draws near, and it will be fascinating to see how many bids are eventually submitted. Of course, you may decide to be more “hands-on” by joining the battle. We wish you luck if you do.
IDK. Wrong engine. Wrong transmission. That body side molding looks suspect. Tsk, tsk. I kid. Fix the interior and go for a drive.
What was the other engine option? The Pontiac 301?
Pontiac 400 with a 4 speed transmission. That’s the way I’d want it. Last year for the 400.
Those are the bolt on side moldings they got fascinated with in the 70’s that require bodywork if you remove them. The rivet-on “tracks” would hold any color vinyl molding you wanted, and it was replaceable. I remember you tried to cut it a little long and force it in because old age made it draw up.
The owner didn’t select any of the equipment on this car. It was all standard on the Tenth Anniversary model. Mirrored T-tops, power everything, AM/FM/8 track, silver leather, etc, etc, etc, all standard. These cars were so completely equipped that if the manual transmission was selected, the buyer received a credit for the standard cruise control, which didn’t work with the self-shifter. Check out the window sticker in the eBay listing. Everything is listed as “NO CHARGE”.
I like his car and if I had the garage space it would be interesting to check out, but the interior and exterior conditions don’t match for a car that’s supposed to have those original miles though even his Ebay ad doesn’t claim it was always garaged. The hood, shaker, and decals just look way too slick IMO and I know what that can be worth :).
Curious what is going on with the back seat on the drivers side. Missing the whole plastic piece up too and including the going too the roof.
The olds motor is the way to go you can put 455 heads and intake on it from a performance 455 olds motor and those Olds big blocks have globs of torque in them just got to do a little bit of work to them and that car will really rip!