First-generation pony cars established their sales success upon the more basic variants. While many enthusiasts focus on high-performance vehicles, it is the more basic cars that allowed people to buy into the lifestyle at an affordable cost. That approach almost perfectly encapsulates this 1979 Pontiac Firebird. It presents nicely as a survivor-grade classic, and its list of factory options is extremely short. It has no immediate needs, although the new owner may choose to refresh the interior to make a more positive impression. The seller has listed the Firebird here on eBay in Riverton, New Jersey. They set their price at $9,500 but may entertain offers.

The 1979 model year brought a restyle across the Firebird range to keep cars looking fresh and modern. Pontiac was never going to spend mega-dollars on these cars, knowing that its replacement was due to hit the market in 1982. The first owner ordered our feature Firebird in Cameo White, the most subtle shade available that year. Its presentation is tidy, with no significant imperfections beyond the typical array of chips and marks on the bumpers. The panels are straight, and with the Firebird devoid of rust, the new owner could leave the exterior untouched and enjoy this classic as a survivor. Factory options are limited, with this car’s first owner selecting a rear spoiler and the ultra-desirable glass T-Top. The lack of interior moisture damage suggests there are no issues with the top seals.

This shot of the Firebird’s interior confirms two things. The first is that the first owner didn’t go mad with their pen on the Order Form, because the interior has no factory options like air conditioning or power windows. The second is that the White vinyl trim has seen better days. It is discolored, and splits are beginning to develop in the seat vinyl. A budget-conscious new owner could fit a set of slipcovers and use one of the many high-quality plastic paints to address many of the shortcomings, and the results would be satisfactory. Considering the BIN price and this car’s potential future value, that would be the most sensible approach. Over-capitalizing on a classic is easy to do, and performing a retrim in this case, while the results would be nice, probably doesn’t make financial sense.

There’s no other way to put this, but this car would have been the least potent version of the Firebird released in 1979. Its engine bay houses a 3.8-liter V6 that sends 115hp and 190 ft/lbs of torque to the road via a three-speed automatic transmission. The acceleration figures are all you might expect, with the ¼-mile journey taking 20 seconds. However, it isn’t all bad news. The seller recently splashed some cash on the mechanical components, rebuilding the V6 and carburetor. They replaced tires, fuel pump, belts, hoses, and other components. The buyer will reap the benefits because this Pontiac drives perfectly. The seller states that they would take it anywhere, opening the possibility that someone could fly in, hand over their cash, and drive this baby home.

This is not the first time the seller has offered this 1979 Pontiac Firebird for sale, with a previous listing indicating that it sold for their BIN figure only a few weeks ago. Perhaps they fell foul of a non-paying buyer, a situation that is always frustrating. It is a neat and tidy driver-grade classic, with the Watch List and viewing history suggesting it has generated healthy interest. Will this result in a successful sale this time? I hope so because the seller doesn’t deserve a repeat performance.