If you are seeking a fresh classic to park in your garage but have a vehicle that you need to shift before this happens, this 1979 Pontiac Trans Am is worth a look. It is a tidy survivor that has avoided the rust issues that often plague these vehicles. Its engine has clocked a mere 1,500 miles since receiving a rebuild, but the best news is that the seller may consider trades. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Mitchell G. for spotting the Trans Am listed here on Craigslist in Jeannette, Pennsylvania. The seller set their price at $35,900, although that figure could come down substantially if you have a trade that they find irresistible.
Pontiac performed a fairly significant cosmetic upgrade to its Firebird range in 1979, and this Trans Am sports the new nose, fender flares, and other enhancements that gave the badge a fresh look. The seller describes the paint shade as Atlantis Blue, although Code 24 was actually known as Bright Blue for this model year. Its presentation is quite impressive, raising the question of whether the Pontiac has received a cosmetic refresh. The paint shines nicely, while the iconic Screaming Chicken and other graphics look crisp. This car scores additional points courtesy of the glass T-top. Rounding out the exterior are what are claimed to be new 8″ honeycomb wheels wrapped in raised-white letter Cooper Cobra tires.
Pontiac tried desperately to remain the performance marque within the General Motors empire during The Malaise Era, but it is fair to say that it was fighting with one arm tied behind its back. The 1979 Trans Am was a shadow of its former self, especially when equipped with the 301ci V8 found under the hood of our feature car. It sends a modest 150hp and 240 ft/lbs of torque to a Posi rear end via a three-speed automatic transmission. It would have been unthinkable for a Trans Am to fail to break the 18-second mark over the ¼-mile at the start of the decade, but this car will take 18.4 seconds to complete that journey. The engine bay doesn’t present well, but this seems to be a case where looks are deceptive. The seller says that this classic has only clocked 1,500 miles since receiving an engine rebuild and that the Pontiac runs and drives extremely well.
The “Blue” theme continues inside this Trans Am, with the interior trimmed in Blue “Hobnail” cloth and vinyl. I wouldn’t describe it as pristine, but the lack of holes and significant wear makes it comfortably acceptable for a survivor-grade vehicle. The dash top is discolored and the carpet has faded, but a cover would hide the dash and a replacement carpet set would only lighten the buyer’s wallet by around $220. With those items in place, this interior would look quite nice. The factory radio has made way for a CD player, while factory equipment includes cruise control, a tilt wheel, and a rear defogger.
The rust-free status and rebuilt engine are two of this 1979 Pontiac Trans Am’s strongest points. It has no apparent needs, allowing the new owner to enjoy this classic immediately. It may not offer the outright performance of earlier versions, but it is still an attractive classic produced by a manufacturer that has passed into the pages of history. Do you have a trade that you feel might tempt the seller? If so, would you consider reaching out to them?
Why in the world would anyone bother rebuilding a 301? Save it on a stand if you want. A 400 would drop in its place and it’s really one of the best street engines ever. Maybe not as legendary or as exotic as other engines, but run smoothly and build great power down low where you can use it. And would cost no more money to build
Looks really dirty in that engine compartment ! I doubt has been rebuilt, maybe 30 years ago, but back then someone would tried to drop a 455 in it.
Might be stock, but my eyes just are automatically drawn to the large gap between the fenders and the tires. It just looks like it is riding way too high. Car would look 100 times better with about 2-3 inches of drop.
Ugh, 301 is unfortunate.
So the engine was rebuilt 1500 miles ago, but whoever rebuilt it decided some paint, new spark plug wires, new vacuum hoses, and new heat wrap were not worthwhile? Also, in the Craigslist ad, look at the spark plugs on the passenger bank. Rusty. I find it VERY hard to believe this engine was rebuilt. Even if it was, $35k for a well-worn base model with fresh paint its only attribute to speak of is preposterous.
I have to agree, I never rebuilt an engine and didn’t detail the engine compartment and paint the engine so it looked as good as new.
If it was rebuilt I question the quality of the w
ork.
We were in the age of color key everything. This car really deserves a black steering wheel and column.
Waaay overpriced with that terrible 301
And no air conditioning, ever (right side kick panel has the vent pulls) so the T-tops can scorch your head while you drive in addition to burning up the interior. I think this one may be a flip and someone just told him it was rebuilt.