Original 400/4-Speed: 1969 Pontiac Trans Am

I have always struggled to pick my favorite classic from the 1960s. I consider the decade the high-water mark in automotive history, with a huge range of genuine icons emerging to tempt potential buyers, both then and now. Take this 1969 Pontiac Trans Am as an example. The styling is stunning, the presentation is excellent, and its numbers-matching 400ci V8 guarantees neck-snapping performance. It needs nothing but a new home, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Curvette for spotting a classic that has generated enormous interest. The seller listed the Trans Am here at Hemmings in Bakersfield, California. Bidding has raced to $90,000, but remains below the reserve.

General Motors was caught on the hop when Ford unveiled its Mustang in 1964. It had cornered the market in the muscle car segment, but didn’t possess a pony car to tackle Ford toe-to-toe. It responded in 1967 with the Chevrolet Camaro and the Pontiac Firebird cousins, with the First Generation remaining on sale until the end of 1969. I’ve always found the pair interesting because, while the Camaro and Firebird are closely related, I believe the Pontiac has an indefinable styling edge. The company viewed itself as the performance marque within the GM empire, releasing a Trans Am variant of the Firebird in 1969. This gem is one of those cars that presents superbly in sparkling Cameo Ivory. The contrasting Tyrol Blue stripes add to its visual appeal, with the seller stating that the car has no known accident history. They believe a previous owner repainted it in its original color combination, but they aren’t certain. The panels are straight, and this beauty is rust-free. The glass looks flawless, the trim is excellent, and the car rolls on what should be its original Rally II wheels.

If horsepower is what you crave, this Trans Am can deliver in abundance. It features the iconic 400ci Ram Air V8, placing 335hp and 430 ft/lbs of torque beneath the driver’s right foot. Those ponies find their way to Planet Earth via a four-speed M20 manual transmission and a 3.55 Safe-T-Track rear end, while power steering and power front disc brakes round out a pretty potent package. The first slice of good news for potential buyers is that this Pontiac remains numbers-matching, with that status extending to ancillary components like the carburetor. The seller believes that the odometer reading of  64,800 is genuine. There is no documentary evidence, but the large selection of paperwork will appeal to many potential buyers. The new owner received the original Owner’s Manual, Warranty Booklet, Dealer Invoice, Protect-O-Plate, PHS documentation, and a reproduction Window Sticker. The Trans Am is a turnkey proposition with no mechanical needs or shortcomings.

I’ve been scrolling through the listing images, trying to identify a genuine weakness with this Tran Am, but so far, it has me beat! The Blue vinyl interior upholstery looks amazing, with no wear or other issues. The carpet is equally impressive, and the pad is crack-free. The paint is excellent, and there is no wear on the beautiful timber wheel. The dash houses a sports gauge stack, including a factory tachometer. The factory AM radio is intact, and although the interior isn’t loaded with factory options, it scores huge points for its appearance.

When Pontiac introduced the Trans Am to its Firebird range in 1969, it could not have envisaged how popular that option would become. Only 689 examples in Coupe form left the line, while the Convertible tally of 8 makes it even rarer. A decade later, the sales tally hit 117,108, accounting for over 55% of total Firebird sales in 1979. This first-year example is a gem, making it easy to understand why the bidding has reached its current level. Recent successful sales suggest that the bidding could hit six-figure territory before the hammer falls. Do you think that will happen, or will it fall short of that mark?