The third-generation Pontiac Firebird / Chevrolet Camaro platform remains one of the more accessible muscle car families out there, with prices holding fairly steady and still within reach for most enthusiasts. There some special editions and limited production models like the GTA and turbocharged varieties that will command a pretty penny, but you can still slide into an example like this WS6-equipped 1985 Trans Am listed here on craigslist for a reasonable $13,500 and in excellent condition. The seller’s car is nicely optioned and has clearly been treated as a Sunday driver.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader T.J. for the find. The Trans Am in 3rd-generation form was certainly not the most powerful edition of the classic muscle car nameplate, but it was one of the more slippery eras, with an impressively low drag coefficient helping to make the most of the fuel-injected 5.0L engine under the hood. This Trans Am is an ideal balance between the models with additional spoilers and body cladding and the stripper-grade base models, as it has the fender- and hood-mounted air extractors, sport mirrors, and the classic “Turbo”-style wheels; curiously, the build sheet indicates it came with a rear spoiler but it appears to have been deleted if it at one time did have a wing on the trunk.
Now, the interior is where things start to get really special, as this Trans Am comes equipped with color-matched Lear Siegler bucket seats. This is a rarely seen factory upgrade, and the overall vibe of this Trans Am is that the first owner was very specific about the equipment boxes they checked. It does come with the optional 4-speed automatic transmission, and if this one had the standard 5-speed manual, it’d truly be over the top. As you can deduct, it comes equipped with a T-top roof panel, along with an optional stereo upgrade consisting of better speakers, an equalizer, and a power antenna.
Mechanically, there wasn’t a whole lot to get excited about in the late 80s muscle car lineup. The WS6 package did its best to add some excitement to the Trans Am recipe, consisting of upgraded tires and the aforementioned Turbo wheels, a limited-slip differential, four wheel disc brakes, and better shocks. I’ve seen varying horsepower figures for a 1985 model with the 5.0L, but most sources peg it at between 190 and 205 horsepower. That’s good for a 1/4 mile pass in the low 15s, but a hot cam and exhaust should wake it up without dramatically altering its survivor-grade condition.
It looks better without the handle on the back anyway. Nice car overall.
The window sticker shows $199 up charge for an Aero Wing, it wasn’t deleted, it was removed. Nice looking car, potentially priced fairly, but needs tires and gas issues with the paint. Any interested buyer should bring an objective friend when they look at the car.
Steve R
Not only that, but all T/As came with a rear spoiler. The first thing I spotted was that this is the first one I’ve seen without one.
I had a 1985 Trans Am 305 TPI. It needs the spoiler or it looks like a plain firebird
The 85 would have had a “luggage handle” spoiler. That awful aero-wing was either 86 or 87 and was a soft wing with a foam core that dried up, cracked, and fell of the car, but they looked good, sort of, for a little while.
Second time this car has been featured here…same pics. Hmmm
https://barnfinds.com/32k-original-miles-1985-pontiac-trans-am/
I yi yi…..Oh that red interior!
I thought the exterior was a burgundy color? Darker in the shade?
Second time this car has been posted. My last post was taken down because I linked the first time.
You’d think I’ve been posting here enough that someone would know I’m not spamming the board.
Rockford’s car of choice if it was 1985.
Oh that nauseating interior… Again
It’s a different 1985 Firebird with the same rare interior…
https://barnfinds.com/ws6-equipped-1985-pontiac-trans-am/
Bright red and grey interior with burgundy exterior?… kinda cringeworthy… I had an ’87 GTA, Flame red with tan interior, much nicer.
Looks more stealthy than that white TA listed 2 weeks ago. Yes, the interior looks loud but I see it as a nice change of pace from the usually all-gray interiors of that era. Not the most powerful TA and I see this as appreciating more slowly than a comparable 350-equipped Z28 of that era. Still looks like a good buy for a car that’s meant to be enjoyed.
Bought one of these new in 85 after getting back from basic at Benning. I ordered it before I left and the engine this one has was the new version with F.I., the LB9. It was 205hp in the T/A and either 210 or 220 in the Z28. Supposedly the lower hood for the pop-up lights made Pontiac use a more restrictive intake system. In 85 you couldn’t get the 350 yet in either one. I had a trooper buddy clock me and flat out on a slight down grade got 144 out of it. Neat car, traded it in on an 88 model Mark VII LSC. I was thinking that the rear spoiler was a delete option and mine had a small bird on the hood down at the front. I ordered it (the bird) thinking it was the bigger one like on my 77 but they went cheap on me.
The price isn’t horribly at all, if that mileage is correct. I sold my light copper metallic (code 67 if I recall correctly) WS6 packaged car with the 305 quadrajet (last year offered) for $8500.00 in 2006! Mine was gorgeous. Still miss it. Absolute pig performance wise but fun with the ttops out. Ran like a top. My Fox body Mustangs definitely out performed it and my other 86 350 TPI 3rd gens, yet I loved my 3rd gens for their looks and handling over the Stangs I owned. Fun cars. Most people ended up ditching the factory spoilers and replaced them or left them off. They warped and cracked, filling with water and debris. Absolute trash. Should’ve been solid fiberglass like the Mustang’s spoilers. Still couldn’t beat a gorgeous day, ttops out, that exhaust note and an open road. Damn, takes me back……some hair band music blasting and the sun shining……. Nothing mattered then.