Fire can do a lot of damage very quickly. This 1979 Pontiac Trans Am was located by Mitchell G. in Granite City, Illinois. It is being sold on a salvage title after a fire ravaged the interior of the car. The ad does not state what caused the fire but it may have been in a wreck due to some of the damage to the exterior body panels. The car looks like a restomod with a white exterior and blue interior. The seller is asking $10,900 and the car is listed for sale here on eBay. One note in the seller’s description states that the car cannot be driven on the road due to the salvage title. I would think the fire took care of that option but maybe the car actually runs.
While the Trans Am is a 1979, the front end and front spoiler has been switched to a 1973 look. The bird on the hood is also a 1973-1976 style bird. The side windows look blacked out but for sure the front windshield is blacked out by smoke damage. The front driver fender is damaged and the paint is burned on the roof of the car. This Trans Am rides on some insanely huge aftermarket wheels. Under the hood is a Chevrolet 350 cubic inch V8 engine.
While there is a modern engine under the hood, the fire damage looks contained to the interior. The car is missing its carburetor or fuel injection. In stock form, the 1979 Trans Am featured three engine options. The base L80 403 cubic inch V8, with an automatic transmission, produced 185 horsepower. The optional 301 cubic inch V8 offered 150 horsepower and came with either an automatic or manual transmission. The high-performance L78 W72 400 cubic inch V8, available only with a 4-speed manual transmission, delivered 220 horsepower.
The rear of the car looks to be in pretty good shape. Based on the interior, I would think this car would be scrapped and parted out but the exterior and engine compartment indicate that there might be hope to get this car back on the road. The 1979 Trans Am is not particularly rare since over 117,000 were built that year. The most ever for the second generation Trans Am in any one model year.
I wouldn’t have touched it before the fire – certainly not now. But to be emphatic, sorry it burned up!
Empathetic…although you are also emphatic.
I think the root of empathetic is just ‘pathetic’.
oops!
Nope hard pass..
How do you turn a Trans Am into a Firebird? Sorry, couldn’t hold it in.🤔
I was thinking Pontiac Phoenix….(if someone saves it)
10,900$ for an ashtray??? Yikes! It would take a second mortgage on my house and my entire 401k to put this humpty dumpty back together again
I’m not so sure that’s a 350.
I’m with you melton
What motor is it in there ?
Always thought this color scheme looked really sharp on these Ponchos.
That’s a big block chevy lurking under the hood.
Perhaps an L78???
I suppose TRANS AM might look like TESLA if it’s dark, and you’re high enough.
What are the odds that a guy named Melton is commenting on a car that was Meltin’?😀
@Guernsey- Now, that’s a burning question.
I’m sure this car looked hot back in it’s day.
If my late mother were still alive, she’d take out a butter knife, scrape off the burned part and then say, “See- there you go- good as new. Now quit complaining.”
Never, ever, toss your Swisher Sweet out of the window, at speed, with your 24 pack of toilet paper in the back seat. Without checking that it didn’t fly back in.
Actually, from the burn pattern it looks like the disco ball shorted out.
From a non-smoking home. The garage; now that’s a different story.
The gallery is in fine form today…lol. Pass on the car.
5.7 big block Chevy. Only one ever made. Why would this get posted here? Know it’s controversial enough to cause comments?
Junk!
The poster child for quitting smoking.
I agree with the one guy. $10,900 for an ashtray? All that scrap metal is worth at the auto wrecker then send to a smelter to finish the job. Nothing on it is worth saving.
Nothing worth saving? That’s a bit of a stretch. The BB Chev might just be a whole lot more than it appears. I see an hydraulic clutch reservoir, who knows what trans is in it, 4,5 or 6 speed? The front end sheet metal, minus the left front of course has good value, as well as the doors, mirrors, rear fender flares, deck lid, entire tail light/bumper assembly, as well as the bare body shell itself if it isn’t rusted. The endura bumpers alone are selling for $500, bumper brackets $250, grilles, fender extractors, hood, scoop, hood hinges, inner fenders, etc. Tons of small parts that quickly add up. I see Holley adjustable fuel pressure regulator, a good indication of an enhanced fuel delivery system, rear axle assembly, likely a positraction setup who knows what brakes are under the rather large wheels (ugly in my opinion) but all appear to be in good condition. The engine is the question mark, but if the engine is good, you could easily make money from this car.
Times have changed, it’s open season to put anything up for sale in any condition. I’m thinking that even after you redo the interior that it will still have a smoked smell to it. good luck
Give me a break.
To the seller: take your insurance money,if you have it,buy another bird,drop your motor in and go like hell again.good luck with this one!
Salvage title? Not sure that means it can’t be licensed to drive.
Now a Certificate of Destruction, its only purpose is to prove ownership, and can never get it lilcensed for the road. Many years ago here in FL, I did buy a 25k mileage XJS Jaguar convertible with *very* minor fire damage under the hood. It came with a Certificate of Destruction. I jumped through hoops to get at least a Salvage Title but the insurance company would not oblige me and I ended up parting it out. Note the burn spot on the hood.
Looks like it was a small quick fire confined to the seats no damage to paint on the roof pull the seats carpet and headliner, and most of the damage would be gone. At least that’s what it looks like to me.
Those smoked windows look great… Oh… Wait… How sad.
🎶Up in smoke, that’s where my money goes…🎶