I think this may be a case of optimism or the the misuse of the words “beautifully restored.” This 1979 Pontiac Trans Am is located in Oberlin, Ohio. It is listed here on eBay and after 34 bids has reached $9,900. So clearly, there is some interest in this car. There are 6 days remaining in the auction. The reserve has not been met. While the car is said to have 59,000 miles, it states that it has been restored. However, the ad states it has leather seats when they are clearly the base vinyl interior. The hood bird is wrong and is an aftermarket cheap version and the car does not have its original engine. The interior plastic panels are scratched, the dash is cracked and the front end is a different shade of gold. Most people would expect these issues to be resolved before calling it beautifully restored.

The interior looks serviceable and is all there. However, the cracked dash is covered by a warped dash cover. The car was originally equipped with air conditioning but it is no longer and the seller states that the compressor is included with the sale. There are not many creature comforts like power windows, power locks or tilt steering either. But who needs those things in a fun car anyway. What is nice is the original wimpy 301 cubic inch V8 engine has been replaced with an late 1960’s 400 cubic inch V8 (if the ad is to be believed). The camel interior has some sun fading and the plastic panels in the back are scratched up.

The VIN for this car shows a “W” in the engine code spot which would indicate that the car left the factory with a 301 cubic inch V8 engine. The L37 301 cid engine could be optioned in 1979 and the buyer would receive a $50 credit. The base engine for the Trans Am in 1979 was the L80 403 cubic inch V8 (K code in the VIN) that came only with an automatic transmission. The 301 cubic inch V8 rated at 150 horsepower and was available with an automatic or manual transmission. The high performance engine option in 1979 was the L78 W72 400 cubic inch V8 engine and was designated as a “Z” code in the VIN and only came with a 4 speed manual transmission. This car is advertised as a recently rebuilt HO 400 cubic inch V8 that would indicated that it was an engine used in late 1960’s Firebirds.

Many of the pictures in the ad are taken in the shade and the shadows from the trees make it hard to see the condition of this car. This Trans Am is equipped with 15×8 snowflake aluminum snowflake wheels which indicates that the car was equipped with the WS6 or WS7 suspension which came with bigger sway bars, tuned shocks, quicker steering ratio and wider tires. The paint looks shiny but the nose looks to be a different color. Hopefully, the bids will increase and the seller will get market value for this Trans Am which should be in the high teens based on its condition.