The year 1979 was a watershed moment for American car design and a high-water mark for Pontiac. The second-generation F-body was the undisputed king of the boulevard, dripping with late-seventies swagger and featuring a dramatic, redesigned front end. Yet, underneath those muscular fenders, federal emissions regulations of the era throttled the life out of what should have been a fire-breathing street warrior. Enter the world of restomodding. This exceptionally clean, custom-built 1979 Trans Am currently listed here on Craigslist is located in Peabody, Massachusetts. It preserves all the nostalgic charisma of the era while packing a modern performance punch. The seller is asking $60,000 and it was listed last week. Many thanks to Tony Primo for sending us this listing.
To fully appreciate this custom restomod, you have to look back at what made the 1979 model year so historic. Pontiac was absolutely dominating the market, producing an all-time record-breaking 211,454 Firebirds, of which 117,109 were Trans Ams. The ’79 refresh brought a dramatic, no-grille urethane nose flanked by quad rectangular headlamps set into individual deep recesses, with horizontal louvers integrated into the front bumper. Out back, a seamless, full-width taillight panel gave the car a futuristic, blacked-out appearance. Buyers in 1979 could select from a vibrant palette of exterior colors, including white, silver, blue, red, black, yellow and gold. The interior of this car has been modified with aftermarket seats, Dakota Digital gauges and stereo.
Underneath the hood of standard Trans Ams lurked either the Oldsmobile-sourced 403-cubic-inch (6.6-liter) V8, producing a modest 185 horsepower, or the rare, final Pontiac-built W72 400 V8. For a credit, a buyer could also get the anemic 301 cubic inch V8. While the first two engines made great, torquey cruisers, these heavy-breathing second-generation machines were begging for the kind of serious horsepower and efficiency that modern engineering can provide. This particular Trans Am solves that problem with a modern LS engine swap. Nestled inside the engine bay is a 6.0-liter iron-block LS V8, a powerhouse famous throughout the automotive community for its bulletproof reliability and incredible torque. The power is fed through a modern 4L60E four-speed automatic transmission enhanced with a performance shift kit, delivering crisp, neck-snapping gear changes that keep the engine right in its powerband.
To ensure the car handles as well as it accelerates, the owner fitted an upgraded, lowered aftermarket suspension. This setup hunkers the low-slung F-body down over a gorgeous set of modernized, oversized aftermarket Firebird snowflake wheels, giving the coupe an aggressive, muscular stance. Braking is handled by front discs and rear drums, keeping a nod to the standard ’79 suspension layout while ensuring reliable, predictable stopping distances. This 1979 Trans Am is a show-ready performer that is said to sound incredible and is lightning-quick off the line. For any enthusiast wanting the timeless look of late-seventies Americana with the turn-key reliability of a modern LS drivetrain, this car might represent the absolute best of both worlds.
4 wheel disc pkg be even better, but the rear drums will do the job 👍
60k??? Is that a typo?
Unfortunately, no. No mention if the 6.0 liter engine is rebuilt, which often isn’t, especially if it’s a street car being built on a budget or for resale. The rear drum brakes is an odd choice, you’d expect a brake upgrade on a car done in this manner, with an LS upgrade. It’s also appears to be a pretty low option car, with manual windows and door locks.
Steve R