Can you save this bird from extinction? This is a 1979 Pontiac Firebird that the seller started to convert to a Trans Am. There are four days left in the auction and the car is located in Dandridge, Tennessee. The Firebird is listed for sale here on eBay and the current bid is $3,550 but the reserve has not been met. The listing has a Buy It Now Price of $8,500. For the 1979 production run, Pontiac built more than 140,000 Trans Ams and Formulas. It might make sense to clone an earlier year but probably not the highest year of production. But we all have dreams and plans, so to each his own.
The eBay listing states that he car is equipped with a 400 cubic inch Pontiac motor with a date code of 1973. As most people know, Pontiac offered a base Firebird, Esprit, Formula and Trans Am. The Formula and Trans Am were the performance models with the best engine and suspension options. Of the 117,108 Trans Ams built in 1979, a buyer could order the W72 400 cubic inch V8 engine which was the highest engine performance option available. The engine was factory rated at 220 horsepower and 320 lb ft of torque. The base engine for the 1979 Pontiac Trans Am was the L80 Oldsmobile 403 cubic inch V8 engine. It was only available with an automatic transmission and was rated from the factory at 185 horsepower. This was also the first year that the 301 cubic inch V8 engine was offered in the Trans Am.
The pictures provided in the ad are not helpful. Most of the pictures are a close up of different panels or features of the car and not any from 5 to 10 feet away. From this picture we can tell that the car has the optional deluxe vinyl interior. another picture shows that the dash is in pretty good condition.
A Trans Am hood and front fenders have been added to the car but the seller says he stopped the conversion and needs to sell the car due to loss of interest. The body has some hail damage and the windshield is cracked. LED lights have been installed for the headlights and rust damage seems to be minimal but this car will probably be no more than a driver without extensive work. Maybe the reserve is not too high and it will find a new home.
officially worst listing for pictues ever!!
Looks like someone used portable shop lights for headlights.
That’s one fried scream’n chicken…courtesy of an engine fire!
Based on the Pep Boys headlights alone I would have no interest in this old cobbled together, unfinished Loch Ness monster. YMMV.
He’s quite proud of the lights. 2 close-up pics of them off & on
Based on the appearance of the hood, it looks like this is indeed a “fire” bird. Bonus points for the wire support cradle for the shaker hood scoop, though.
I had to look it up. Dandridge, TN High School listed 55th best in the state. Dang.
This must be the perfect car for “Joe Dirt 2”, it is classic in that hard to define way.
WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT. Looks like the Screaming Chicken, Screamed For The Last Time. WTF is going on under the hood with all the chicken wire holding everything together.
This is one of those cars where the seller requests you
come over at night to inspect it.
I was toying with the idea of doing a restoration project on a ’79-’81 T/A, but this is more of a resurrection. Much as I’d like to think I can I can’t walk on water.
Apparently it was “sold” at $7,900 and then put back up for auction again just after.
If at first you don’t succeed…
A pathetic choice of photos. Perhaps he just doesn’t want to sell it.
“Honey, I’m trying to sell it, but nobody is interested!”
negatory good buddy