Pontiac produced more Trans Ams in 1979 than any other year. One of my favorite colors was a 1979 only color of Nocturne Blue. This is example is located south of Portland, Oregon in McMinnville. It is listed for sale here on Craigslist for $25,000. This car was listed a week ago and represents a high-level driver that sits firmly in the “Survivor” category. While the ’79 model year saw record-breaking sales of over 117,000 units, finding one today with its original sheet metal and factory-born drivetrain is the real challenge for collectors.
The first thing you notice is the Code 29 Nocturne Blue exterior finish. It’s a sophisticated and, when polished, it has stunning depth and a metallic blue green color. The seller is honest about the patina; the paint is thinning on the roof and the hood’s “shaker” scoop, likely from decades in the sun and polishing. However, the body is remarkably dry and straight and the car is said to have been stored indoors for most of its life. It sits correctly on the hallmark of the WS6 Performance Package: the 15×8-inch “Snowflake” wheels. Unlike the standard 7-inch versions, these wider rollers give the car that aggressive, planted stance that defined the Trans Am’s final years of dominance.
Inside, the car is a time capsule of 1979 luxury-sport styling. It features the light blue Custom velour interior, with some fading. Pontiac referred to this cloth interior as hobnail. The dash appears to be uncracked—a rarity for these cars—and the engine-turned aluminum dash bezel still carries its distinctive swirl. Sitting in these high-back buckets, you’re surrounded by the “Cockpit” feel that Pontiac marketed so heavily. Everything from the factory AM/FM stereo to the deluxe trim panels remains intact, avoiding the common fate of being hacked up for modern speakers.
This Bird is powered by the L80 Oldsmobile 403 cubic inch V8 rated at 185 horsepower in stock form. While the purists often hunt for the W72 400 cubic inch V8, the Oldsmobile-sourced 403 cubic inch V8 was adequate for buyers wanting torque and reliability with an automatic transmission. It’s a numbers-matching unit here, appearing largely stock and unmolested. The engine bay shows its age but isn’t greasy or neglected. It’s paired with the Turbo Hydra-Matic 350 automatic transmission, a combination known for smooth cruising, though the real magic happens at the corners thanks to the WS6 suspension tuning and the factory-equipped four-wheel power disc brakes.
I know more about Camaros than I do Firebirds from this era but wouldn’t a T/A with gold decals and wheels have tan interior? On Z28s, your interior dictated your stripe color, and every Nocturne Blue Trans Am with blue interior that I’ve ever seen has always had blue decals.
The Trans Am decals were actually dependent on exterior color. Up until 1977 or 78, you got what the design team picked out to match the paint job. I’m fuzzy on the exact year, but sometime in the late 70’s Pontiac would let you choose the decal package color as well, Special Editions and pace cars and 10th anniversary aside…
IIRC the stripes were part of the Z28 package. The hood bird graphic was an option on Trans Am, possibly giving you a choice in the color.
Good question. For the 1979 nocturne blue Trans Am you had a choice of interior and the decal package. The decal package could be gold, silver, or light blue. Most people picked the light blue interior, but you could also choose black or camel (tan).
I did a little research because, well, I’m a car nerd and just had to know. It indeed wasn’t like Chevy where the combos were set. According to Tran-Zam.com, in 1979, you could order and color combinations of graphic and color you wanted.
There were various recommended combinations and then there was the D60 override option, where you could order very weird non-recommended combos such as Atlantis Blue and red, Heritage Brown and blue, and so on.
So this car could’ve been equipped like this from the factory. I’ve just never seen it. There was a Nocturne Blue/Gold car in our town back in the day but it had saddle interior. Nocturne Blue was very popular on T/As in 1979 and as I said, virtually all if them I’ve ever seen had light blue decals and light blue interior.
The Olds 403 was a good torque motor. I never considered these to be ‘slouches’.
I agree. I love the Olds 403 in my 79 TA
Decent clean survivor here with the 403 engine. Noticed it has power windows and it still has the original radio Nice!
Nice car, trim and colors. A set of pre 1973 350 (# 7 or such) 4 Bbl heads, and this 403 becomes a much more respectable power plant! Go Olds!
Good info there!
I am a long time follower of your site. I always enjoy the write ups and different cars.
I wanted to comment on this because I still own my 79 Trans Am in Nocturne Blue with Camel Interior. Our first Trans Am that we ordered was the L80 403 Olds motor since my wife did not want the stick. Color was Heritage Brown with no bird, black seat belts, vinyl seats as bare as you could order since that’s all we could afford. That car was hit on I 95 on the second day and totaled out. The dealer told us it was to late in the year to order another and it was the last year for the big motors. The dealer had 7 Blue Angle cars that were used at the Fort Lauderdale air show that the Blue Angles preformed at. The cars were L80 no WS6 package but deluxe interior Houndstooth cloth seats AM/FM CB radio exterior chrome package.
The car has been tag and on the road since new. We just had Jasper engines rebuild the original motor and trans, since after 152,000 miles they were getting tired. I have been to shows were people would tell me what has been changed in my car. I have a simple response. Bought it new and have done nothing but drive it and maintain it. What you see is what it has been since new. One of the best cars I have owned.
As far as the car here.
The Bird on the hood reflected the color of the interior, Gold Bird Camel interior, Blue interior Blue bird, Orange Bird Red interior. Pontiac never put brown seats with blue dash and door panels. The gas door is off a 1980 or later as 79 did not have one. The bird in the roof panel is from a later year as the 79 bird was a small one. This car looks like it is a no AC car since there are manual vents on the kick panels. I do find it annoying when people post all original car. This car is far from original.
Bruce this is no reflection on you as I do always enjoy the write ups.
i take a 403 over a 301 hands down
price has been reduced to $23,500, after 7 days on CL. Seller might be getting anxious to sell it.
this was the beginning of the end for GM . IMHO . people in the market for a Pontiac , werent wanting one powered by an Oldsmobile engine . this is why the true pontiac powered ones will always sell for more than these will .