There were 117,000 Trans Am built in 1979. One unique color that was produced was called Nocturne Blue. It was metallic dark blue and could be ordered with gold, silver or light blue decals. This particular example looks like it has been repainted once but is adorned with silver decals which is the least seen color combination. This 1979 Pontiac Trans Am is listed for sale here on eBay. While the reserve has not been met, the bids are up to $10,300 with 5 days remaining in the auction. The car is located in Mankato, Minnesota.
The odometer on this car shows 60,838 miles. Based on the VIN (K code) and the appearance of the engine, this car is equipped with an Oldsmobile 403 cubic inch V8 engine. This motor was rated at 185 horsepower and 320 lb ft of torque. It was the base engine in the Trans Am in 1979 and typically geared with a 2.56 or 2.73 rear end which made it hard to spin the gears off the line. The Oldsmobile 403 cubic inch engine was only produced with the GM Turbo 350 automatic transmission. A buyer could order also order a W72 400 cubic inch Pontiac engine which delivered 220 horsepower and only came with a 4 speed and the WS6 performance suspension in 1979. Approximately 10,000 Trans Ams and 367 Formulas were built with this engine in 1979. If you wanted better gas mileage, a buyer could order for the optional 301 cubic inch V8 Pontiac engine which came with either a 4 speed or automatic transmission and receive a $150 credit.
When we look at the interior is when some of the questions start to arise. The door panels are incorrect for this car in 1979 as the black hobnail seats indicate the car should have the optional deluxe interior. The steering wheel is light blue and, if the interior was black, the Formula steering wheel should be black and the horn button is incorrect. I formerly owned a 1979 W72 400 Trans Am in Nocturne Blue with a black interior. While the dash, console and door panels match, I think these are from another year Trans Am or Firebird.
The car presents nicely and has some decals added in different places that are not stock. The 15×7 snowflake wheels indicate that the car has a stock suspension and not the WS6 performance handling package. T-Tops were a popular option and still are today. This car should make a nice cruiser.
There was a stunning 4-speed 79 WS6/W72 in town in this color with gold decals and wheels that was a serious head turner back in the day.
I lusted over it and longed to catch random glimpses of it as a young teen.
love it!
That’s one sharp looking color.
Quite the listing for me. That’s my family’s hometown and my recently deceased father owned one in this color. My favorite car in our family. It wasn’t this one but it’s close enough for memories.
It’s with the 403 engine…the desirable ones are the 400 pontiac engine equipped… and none were sold in California… the 403 is very docile relatively.
Fake decals on the Shaker scoop…should read “6.6 LITER”, which is what all of the overweight slug 403 cars came with. The only cars to get the “T/A 6.6” decals were the actual Pontiac-engined W72 cars. You wouldn’t catch me dead in one of these with a p.o.s. Olds 403 in it.
Do they not make proper COLOR interior parts for this car? Or maybe
black seats & lite blue steering wheel were just handily layin around, or were cheap from a salvage yard?
Not sure why original seats would be in bad shape after just 60,838 miles.
& why were the back seats replaced too?! Maybe it was out in the sun a lot?
Quite clean – even under the hood – is a plus.
Amazing how many of these were sold, considering the same car basically – in ’74 with the much better(no extra charge!) turbo 400 auto trans cost a lot less.
Compare sales figures to
http://gmauthority.com/blog/gm/chevrolet/camaro/chevrolet-camaro-sales-numbers/
Repaint the entire car with 60,000 and then the interior with exception of steering wheel and maybe a painted dash has been replaced with wrong color. Listing says originally light blue interior, that much LOOKS true with the steering wheel. LOL
My ex-wife owned a ’79 W72 Y84 edition and while there were faster cars on the road, I can’t think of anything that was more fun to drive back then.
I cannot imagine how buyers who placed orders thinking they were going to receive a ’79 T/A with the W72 motor, reacted when they were told all GM was legally responsible for was supplying a motor of equal or larger displacement.
It is a great color. I think the black seats are a good upgrade. I would have put a new black carpet in when I had the seats out though to make it look less jarring…