1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

FeaturedAutomatic Hunter, Up for auction on the online auction platform operated by ClassicCars.com is this 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.

The Pontiac Firebird was hailed as “a surprise of a new breed” when it was introduced in 1979. “The Firebird made its debut on the road 12 years ago, making curves sharper and straights shorter. It was the brainchild of engineers and designers whose love of the road never faded,” an ad said.

45 years later, this “Starlight Black” Firebird is still on the road and looking great. The car is being sold by a dealer in Atlanta, Georgia, and the auction ends on Monday.

Sharing its F-type chassis with its Chevrolet Camaro sibling, the second-generation Firebird made its world debut in February 1970. Unlike the previous generation Firebird, it was sold exclusively as a coupe (no convertible) throughout the entire generation (production ended in 1981). It was redesigned for 1979; one of the new design features was a louvered black taillight panel that spanned the width of the rear deck. “It’s exciting to start and arrive,” said Pontiac.

Aside from the stunning Starlight Black paint, one of the most striking features of this car is the gold accents on its exterior. This starts at the front with the famous Trans Am hood decal and extends to the window surrounds, wheel arches, roof, decklid, and even the inserts of the iconic “snowflake” alloy wheels. Also, note how the exhaust system was unique compared to other cars of the time, using dual outlets with the exhaust ports located behind the rear wheels. Very clever!

Speaking of the interior, the listing notes that the car’s original interior code specified a Carmine Red (74N) combination, but the theme is now all black. The Firebird-logo floor mats are a nice upgrade, and the car comes with air conditioning and a Delco stereo for a comfortable cruising experience.

Up front, the car is powered by an Oldsmobile “L80” 403ci V8 engine mated to a three-speed Turbo Hydra-matic 350 automatic transmission. The listing shows that the oil, air conditioning system, and fuel system were all serviced in early 2024. Additionally, the front brakes are newer, the handbrake cable has been replaced, and the rear anti-roll bar link has been replaced.

If you love the road, as many of us do, then the Trans Am is the car for you, allowing you to “shorten the straights.”

The auction for this 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am will end on Monday, September 23, 2024 at 12:00 PM (PDT)

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery