Make: | Pontiac |
Model: | Trans Am |
Type: | Coupe |
Doors: | 2 |
Year: | 1979 |
Mileage: | 26103 |
VIN: | 2W87Z9N115980 |
Color: | White |
Engine: | 400 V8 |
Transmission: | Manual |
Interior color: | Tan |
Vehicle Title: | Clean |
Item location: | Morgantown, Pennsylvania, United States |
1979 Pontiac Trans Am
The sporty Firebird was Pontiac's answer to the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro. The car combined an available big V-8 with aggressive, attention-grabbing styling and delivered it in a relatively practical four-passenger package. Like it's pony-car competitors, the rear-wheel-drive Firebird offered tire-smoking power and impressive acceleration. The F-body platform on which it and the Camaro were based, however, was arguably well past its prime by the early 2000s. 2002 was the final year of production for Pontiac's iconic but dated speed machine. The Trans Am was the pumped-up, V8 powered model.
Here we have a gem! A dealer who was privy to some inside information was told that the 400/4-speed combination was going to be phased out, and the factory was stockpiling the last remaining 400's for the 10th anniversary Trans Ams. Since each dealership was allotted 1 "sold order" anniversary car this astute son of the owner decided to pull the trigger on his dream car, only do so in a white gold combo, and the rest is history. Oh, did I mention she's also loaded with options?
Exterior
Code 11 Cameo White bathes the exterior of this 26,106 original mile car. It will stand out in a crowd, and with a gold screaming chicken decal, gold badging and gold snowflake wheels we have a first place winner. All fender flaring, neoprene bumpers matching the body white and a rear spoiler look fab with no faults in the gaps or paint. Up top it features gold smoked glass for the removable "T" top and all trimmings for the windows are in black. A shaker open hood with the scoop looking out through the hole in the hood badged TA 6.6. And bottoming it off are the gold snowflake style wheels which are wrapped in BF Goodrich radial T/A's all around. A survivor, all original car except for paint, presenting just fab!
Interior
Camel is the color motif for the interior chosen because it was closest in keeping with the white/gold theme. Swinging the long doors and getting past the camel colored vinyl door panels showing power windows and a side view mirror toggle, we are greeted with high back buckets in front and a 2 plus 2 bench for the back. These seats are all excellent and show in Hobnail cloth with slightly darker tan inserts with a dark brown small square pattern, which seamlessly melt into light tan bolsters in clean velour with some butterscotch colored piping as a highlighter. The rear tubs for the buckets are butterscotch as well. Hurst provides the shifter, and upfront a circle machined aluminum dash houses black faced original gauges. This albino with gold accented car comes with the removable hatch roof panels, air conditioning, remote deck lid release, power door locks, power windows, tilt steering wheel, AM/FM/Cassette and power antenna. The order finished, it showed up at the dealership and immediately became named the "refrigerator".
Drivetrain
Since the L78/W72 400 4-speed option was not built in 1979, hoarded extras were carried over and offered up as an option in '79. This original, numbers matching engine has not been rebuilt, but the block was repainted. It features its cast iron crank, connecting rods, pistons, 6X heads, 2.11/1.66 valves and 402 cam. An A code 1103315 distributor sends spark, and fuel is fed through a 4-barrel Q-jet carb, and cast iron and dual plate intake, original to this car. The numbers matching 4-speed transmission is courtesy Borg-Warner in Super T10 form, and in back a 10-bolt 3.23 posi rear is attached.
Undercarriage
With the underside looking very nice with slight surface rust on the usual suspension subjects and drivetrain, but the floorpan and seat tub looks like new. A WS6 performance package has been added on, and this car has 4-wheel disc brakes. A stock dual exhaust remains and presents well.
Drive-Ability
Slipping into this car was a time capsule ride harkening back to the Smokey and the Bandit days of the late 70's. She fired right up and performed swimmingly on our test track. All functions are wonderfully working although the air conditioning will need to be charged.
Star of magazine, and museum, a copy of the build sheet, and a copy of the sales order, it has hopped through owners scattered across the country, but has now made its way back to the East and plopped firmly here in the hallowed halls of the Classic Auto Mall and available to you! A low mileage, great backstory car, and somewhat rare with a mere 8,326 produced sporting the 400/4-speed option, and even fewer in white. What a great car dubbed "the refrigerator" but don't be fooled, it is definitely keeping you looking cool!
VIN DECODE
2W87Z9N115980
2-Pontiac
W-Trans Am
87-2 Door Coupe
Z-400ci V8 4bbl 220hp
9-1979
N-Norwood, OH Assy Plant
115980-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
10D-4th Week October Build
ST 70 2FS87-1970 Firebird Coupe
BDY N031701-Norwood Body #
TR 62B-Camel Tan Hobnail Cloth
PNT 11-Cameo White
A51-Strato Bucket Seats
CC1-Panel Hatch Release
WS4-Trans Am Option
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.