This 1979 Pontiac Firebird is a prior owner’s dream car and has at least one personal preference in that it has a very unique steering wheel. It is being sold by his nephew here on eBay. The Firebird has been modified with several “Trans Am” appearance options to create a clone. There were 117,000 Trans Ams built out of over 200,000 Firebirds in 1979. I am not sure why you would clone a 1979 Trans Am when so many were built but “to each his own!” The car is located in Cheney, Washington. The seller has a $20,000 Buy It Now Price and an option to make an offer. There are 25 days remaining in the auction.
The overall condition of this Trans Am clone looks pretty good. The owner obviously customized the car to his own tastes. This includes the wrong year hood bird, side pipes and Crager SS aftermarket wheels. The car is said to be built from scratch and has been owned for the past 15 years by his uncle. The Firebird states that the car is not finished and needs about 5% more done to be complete. That made me think, “When is a restoration or modified car ever complete?” My cars always have needs but that is part of the fun of it.
The drivetrain includes a built and blueprinted 400 cubic inch Chevrolet small block built by Westberg Advanced Engines. The engine reportedly generates 505 horsepower. The seller reveals that at least $10,000 was spent on the engine build itself. The engine is backed by a GM 700R 4 speed automatic transmission and a Ford 9 inch rear end. Four wheel disc brakes were added along with a shift kit for the transmission.
The interior has been modified too. In addition to the funky Star Wars steering wheel, aftermarket front bucket seats have been added along with aftermarket gauges. The car has manual windows and locks and a large B&M shifter installed in the console. If this is your cup of tea, a lot of the work has been done for you. If not, you have to admit that the car has a lot of great parts.
Nothing rare whatsoever about the steering wheel. It, along with other ridiculous designs (including accompanying wheels) were common during the “Boyd” craze.
Wow! They must have gotten an Autozone gift card for Christmas. They installed the entire redneck starter pack accessory known to man.
Back in the DAY,80,s i guess that was rad! Now ,nice car, but that steering wheel would be the first to go. I still like crager ss wheels, the side pipes arnt tcool on a firebird anymore-maybe in another 30 years,lol. Nice condition car though,just dated!
The steering wheel is helpful. It keeps your hands at 10 & 2.
That steering wheel is just the thing for my Aero 8.
“….700r4….has to be babied between shifts?…..”
So is it worn out? Or set up incorrectly?
That steering wheel is actually bird wings. Which I suppose is fitting to the theme.
Ugliest… steering wheel… EVER!!!
I can taste the vomit in the back of my mouth…..
I don’t see Star Wars, but I do see the album cover for Journey’s Greatest Hits 1 album cover, which also fits the time period of this car…
I saw that steering wheel too. They were slicing my lunch meat at Kroger deli with it! Yeah…truly awful.
You can go to eBay and get that wheel shipped your door directly from China in a week!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/14-Street-Hot-Rod-Chrome-Aluminum-Leather-Bat-Wing-Steering-Wheel-Kit-DISPLAY-/192117164467?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0
What a waste of 150 bucks.
Scary to think that there are 36 of them out there.
That steering wheel is definitely “Meat Loaf – Bat Out Of Hell” material.
That steering wheel is a deal-breaker.
Besides agreeing with all the steering wheel comments, it is also just plain dangerous. I don’t know about the rest of you, but when I’m turning I often grip the inside of the wheel. That woud be impossible on about 50% of this wheel
And oh yeah, It’s ugly as hell.