Muscle Car Of The Week Video #23: 1979 Pontiac Trans Am 10th Anniversary 111 Miles

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Muscle Car Of The Week Video #23: 1979 Pontiac Trans Am 10th Anniversary 111 Miles
1979 marked the 10th anniversary of the Pontiac Trans Am. In this episode, we spotlight a 1979 10th Anniversary Trans Am from the Brothers Collection that shows a mere 111 miles on the odometer! This one features the Pontiac 400 V8 and four-speed transmission, and is the very same car owned by Pontiac advertising executive Jim Wangers and featured in the movie "Joe Dirt". Although some consider this car to be overdone with its five color hood bird, two-tone paint, & silver interior, we really like the styling of this 1 of 1817 made Anniversary edition.
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[@stuartb9323]

Cool TA. ...I remember sitting in one on the showroom floor. I was 19, and took a ride to the Pontiac dealer with Pop. We went to pickup some part he had ordered for his 76 wagon. He was busy with that, and I couldn't resist checking out the new TA's. I jumped right into that silver beauty and was blow away by the interior. My Pop found me behind the wheel and I said, why don't you buy this for your drive to work? ! He just laughed and said, "so you can take her out every weekend ?! " We both laughed. ...and he was right!! Lost Pop this past July...miss you

[@HighSockDavid]

I’m sorry for your loss

[@sparkytdg]

Wow, I remember thousands of these rolling off the assembly line. My uncle in quality would call me when a run was getting done and he would pick a few cars out for us to take for a ride and I would meet him at the back fence. While my Aunt painted, or ran panning on the frame, Grandpa did interior and motor installs when he worked swings. Such a neat place to grow up.

[@rondo81]

I took my drivers test in a 10th anniversary Trans am with the t tops out.

[@jeremythompson9122]

Pontiac was the only manufacturer that was still building cool cars in the late 70s. The 77-79 400-4 speed Trans Am's and the 77 Can Am with the 400/auto were cool. They should've offered the 4 speed in the Can Am though too. Never liked that Olds 403 engine...but that Pontiac W72 400 was definitely still a really decent performer...especially by late 70s standards. I've heard the 400-4 speed T/A's were capable of high 14s in the 1/4 mile...blazing speed for the late 70s. You could do quite a few mods to them too for even better performance. And they were a great looking and great handling car too

[@RaymondHaley-bi8lx]

The bandit trans am still very popular but I love the 10th anniversary edition.

[@robz2843]

My older brother had one of these. He bought it in 1982 it was powered by the Olds 403 with an automatic. I will never forget that car it turned me into a car guy after 1 ride in it. I've owned 13 Camaros and Firebirds. I've never had a 2nd gen but this is the 1 I've always desired.

[@jjs777fzr]

Any fan of American muscle owes much to Pontiac and Corvette. Dodge and Ford gave up by the late 70’s and early 80’s. This makes the Pontiac of this era legendary if not historic. Pontiac did NOT give up.

[@enerrivers4392]

In '79, I had a L82,4spd, gymkhana suspension 'vette. I can honestly say of all the so-called muscle cars of the day, it was this T/A 6.6 4spd 'bird that gave me a gr8 run for the $$$$. Gr8 car. Why, oh why did Pontiac had to go!!!!!

[@cloveroak5492]

I almost bought one of these around 1994. Somebody had painted it gold, but I looked up the VIN and knew. It was pretty worn out and he wanted too much. I bugged him for a while making reasonable offers till giving up. Amazing to think how much it would be worth now. Hindsight I'd have bought it. Between 88-91 I had a '81 Formula 4-speed t-top that I totaled driving drunk. I sore I'd never sell that car and would still own it today if I hadn't totaled it. Such an incredibly fun and beautiful machine.

[@larrytate5605]

the host does an amazing job.

[@howarddavis1307]

Remember going too dealer as a teenager too look at these cars when they were new (side note james garner hated that front end on the 79 firebird sow he told the transportation people working on his tv show the Rockford files too locate as many 1978 firebird formulas as they could and convert them in firebird espirit for the last two seasons off the show👍✌️

[@pokerspades2167]

Dream Car

[@bobsilver3983]

Man, thats really cool to see a pristine 1979 T/A...very cool

[@Brian.8272]

I just bought a 1981 Trans Am turbo with 45,000 miles on it

[@manoman0]

I so love the turbo style wheels!

[@googleusergp]

Those wheels were made by Appliance Wheel Company to the specifications of John Schinella. If you look at the back of one, you'll see the "A" Appliance Wheel logo. I believe Appliance Wheel was based in California.

[@jasonmoskowitz246]

Beautiful. Only blight on the thing is the catalytic converter!

[@hpgarage9884]

My first car was one of these .I miss it and those days

[@briancenti5423]

mid to high 14's show room stock was incredibly good for that time period, i owned a '79 and it ran equally impressive numbers and many times i owned L-82 corvettes in the 1/4 mile..it was the quickest car in america for that year...gorgeous 10th anniversary T/A...great job on this.

[@b.s.adventures9421]

I was gonna say what he said.

[@thebacdoc6464]

Absolutely correct on your comment. I had a 79 with the olds 403, blk with gold velour, fully loaded except t-tops. My Dad bought a 10th Anniversary but it also had the olds 403. Those Pontiac 400's, equipped with the W72 performance package were most definitely quicker. Hard to believe that 220hp crank hp, was the quickest two door American coupe that year. A four cylinder Camaro or Mustang with an automatic could smoke that today, but no where near the car in my opinion. Kind of makes me think forty three years from today, how much horsepower are these electric cars going to produce, over 2000 lol...will we still be making cars in the year 2077...

[@thamechanic3324]

I'm in tears... Love the Pontiac T.A....

[@jjs777fzr]

Not alone. Same.

[@Tiffany.1970]

They fitted the turbo style wheels on the 1980 Trans am 4.9 turbo bandit car the wheel centres was painted gold 🔥👍🤩

[@jrbird7571]

I bought a `79 Firebird back in `81 and after a few years had to sell it because I couldn't afford it. I found another `79 in `87 that was an absolute dog and looked like hell too. I had a vision. It now has a 400 4 speed and looks like a TA ... and runs like a scalded dog!!

[@dontcheatyourselftreatyour4654]

❤I’m liking thiz car!

[@hugh-iu7vo]

Very nice ride

[@chrisbenthall9718]

I love second generation F-bodied. Owned a couple but now have and 86 T/A

[@JxT1957]

'79 to '81 is my favorite trans am. i hear a lot of people dont like the front mask. i like it, i think it looks mean.

[@barrysnider635]

It is what it is,but its here because of the 111 miles on it that alone makes it ultra rare !

[@tickdog3]

I had a red 79 with an Olds 403 (185 hp) automatic turbo 350 and 2.41 gears.. Volks wagons were blowing me off the road until I replaced the engine with a 69 428, turbo 400 and 3:73 gears. I do miss that car though.

[@truthaboveagenda]

tickdog3 - Yea, for gm to put such a huge engine into the trans with so little power, is ridiculous. I think it goes to show that the marketing dept. has much more influence than their mechanics/engineers. - Joseph

[@Hugeroost]

man i would love to have one of these and put a 600 horse BB in it, now that would be the bomb

[@abe2571]

So it had about the same power as a late 80s early 90s 5.0 mustang. Not bad for its day. Love this body style and it has shag carpet.

[@mouser485]

I came to this vid after watching another vid with a 79 TA with only 13miles on it.

[@allentolbert8404]

Love it

[@sharondaniel8116]

This right here is my favorite trans am. I've always loved tru ks and cars. But Iseen one parked on a street in harriman, tn and I fell inlove.

[@rickyburton4642]

Totally awesome 😎👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸!

[@jacobbales3692]

Love this car to me best color ever

[@ralphfurley404]

The to tone paint off the back of the bird was a nice touch Pontiac must of been looking at the 70 amx shadow mask when they got that idea,, after 78 it's interesting how the bird changed its head from driver to passenger,, I've always been partial to the 70-78 but that particular one is very nice,,

[@chrisriccio3532]

2nd gens are great cars to upgrade suspensions, and engines. Tons of aftermarket performance parts are available. It doesn't take much to wake them up. The T-10 tanny is raw, and shifting is a hoot. With a few upgrades violent burnouts are just under your right foot.

[@floridakeys4me]

No one I knew left these cars stock. Back in the day we just swapped top ends from an old GTO and added an exhaust system. A few hundred dollars later and a day in the driveway and you had a real tire fryer. It was as good as anything the 60's had to offer. Much better results today with modern performance parts.

[@johntempest267]

One of the frontrunners for 79? Try THE FrontRunner for 79. This guy has an under appreciation for what this car was. .0030 off the heads, a set of headers and a 067 camshaft and you're running with a SS 396. And blowing the doors off the IROC Camaro and 5.0 Mustang. Those 6X heads are gold!

[@peteandrepete528]

GM made the wrong decision when they stopped making the Fire bird cars.

[@justinsanders2705]

One of my favorites after the Bandit SE and the GTA.

[@MitchGrooms]

fantastic job, you know your stuff

[@Ladco77]

No mention of the significance of the 400 in '79? Pontiac stopped production of the 400 engine in 1978. They knew 79 was going to be the 10th Anniversary, so they made a supply of extra engines and stockpiled them for 1979. The only way to get a Pontiac 400 in '79 was to get the 4-speed and WS6 suspension. Earlier years could be had with an automatic, but for '79 it was 4-speed only. Automatics got the Olds 403.

[@stevejohnson1397]

Because the boat anchor 400 couldn't pass emissions in California.

[@Mrmudbone_gaming]

great video, VIVA Pontiac!

[@CoastalAutoReactionCAR]

Beautiful car! Thank gawd they did not destroy it during filming!

[@davidklauer3422]

Man Kevin! You were a young man 10 years ago lol

[@V8TV]

Still am...

[@josemontano9210]

Great video

[@wilsoncanizares221]

Very nice car had a couple in high school and still got one now a lot of heads truns when I drive it

[@Hot80s]

My friend bought a '79 TATA 403 auto in 1990 great cruisin' car. Same year I bought a 72 TA 455 h.o. auto in lucerne blue int/ext

[@deborahlooke9795]

I owned this car as a kid. Too bad, I didn't know what I had back then. I also had the Pontiac 400 4spd in my 10th anniversary. It was my second firebird. My first was a '79 Formula, Black/silver with orange pin strip, crushed red valor. Car had all emissions stripped out and was cherry condition. Drove it like I stole it every day. By far though my 10th anniversary was the best. I think in had 30K miles when I bought it for about $7,000 back in 1986 or 87. Drove it like I stole it everyday. Unfortunaly racing on a back road I was cut off and put it around a tree. Very lucky I walk away from the accident. Tree penetrated into the car all the way thu to the glove box. I woke with my head on the passage door window sill with the tree almost touching my noise. I was doing over 100mph maybe down to 60 or so by the time the car found the tree while sideways. Turned out the other car cut me off intentionally...he didn't appreciate me speed in his neighborhood. As an adult and father myself now...I can understand. My silver anniversary had an oversized cam installed. Custom 1st gear and 4th gear in the Transmission. Flawless paint body and interior. I had a true duel exhaust installed where factory had the Y pipe. If you look at the speedometer you will see its a round gauge. marks 0-100mph. Needle doesn't stop at 100, it keeps going. I was able to get the speedometer needle on my car to point close to 0. More than 3/4 way past the seatbelt light to the 0 mark. If the gauge was still accurate all the way around, based off the top of the dial 30 and 70 is about the same distance as 0 and 100 marked on the dial. I estimate my car did about 140+ mph no exaggeration. 25 years latter I still miss that car dearly. I figure I was about 2-3 years away from being an adult enough to have kept her forever. To all you guys/gals that still have this car...god bless you...so jelous!

[@steviedee71]

SAL SAL that was a great story if you’re interested in looking for another T/A there is some guys down in Miami called Trans Am specialist they have all kinds of them for sale check them out I’m just still saving for one but believe me I’m bringing one home soon lol I never actually owned one but my father had a 78 400 WS6 T-bar with nobnail cloth interior my mother had a 81 turbo slow but kinda cool and I had every Hotwheels Trans Am ever made now I just need the real thing.

[@quentin3330]

Were the 73 and 74 455 SD nice Trans Am? Did they still have great performance?

[@brucethomas3100]

SAL SAL And how many miles across I-40 in Arizona did it take you to achieve this TOTALLY unbelievable event? Sounds a Hell of a Lot like someone trying to blow smoke up everybody's ASS! WOW! Sounds like a scene from Vanishing Point!!!!!

[@goopah]

I dunno what this website's sources are, but it lists this car factory stock at 134 mph top speed. With modifications, 140 does not seem out of the question: www.autosnout.com/Top-Speed/Pontiac-Firebird-6-6L-Trans-Am-1979/670 I owned the olds 403 version of the 79, and while I never tried it out for top speed, it had a lot of torque and was definitely comfortable cruising at 100 mph on a regular basis. Miss that car. It may not have been the most desirable version of the car, it didn't even have T-tops, but it had all the other amenities, and it felt good to drive.

[@googleusergp]

@@goopah The '79 400/4 speed's top speed was about 125-130 mph, and was gearing limited in a sense. It really needed that fifth gear (of course it was only a 4 speed). But for 1979, this was a fast and well handling car and it had the look as well. This was the car to have in 1979.

[@Themanfromglad]

I love second generation f bodies! I had a 75 Camaro and loved it, but I wish I had landed a Pontiac instead!

[@tobiasojeda1209]

I wish I had one beautiful car

[@larryrussell5575]

I had a black 79 gold cloth interior with a 403. Changing plugs was a pain. The AC was in the way on the passenger side. You had to go through the wheel well.

[@Boredout454]

Also please guys we need to see either a 68 Dodge Dart SS with the racing 426 Hemi or the 68 Plymouth Barracuda SS as they can be considered the fastest of the muscle cars since unlike Ford or GM you could walk in off the street and if you had the money and they had one you could buy it without being a sponsored racer. Or what I believe to be the first true muscle cars, the Mopar Wedge cars from 61-63 with the aluminum noses. Or the lesser known 63-65 Coronet 426 Wedge/Hemi. Just some Ideas guys!

[@florimshala1]

I found one last week in whit identical to this one we are trying to find more information on it . I was doing a demolition project in Illinois but the eagle on it is amazing any information on it we would really appreciate it

[@dieverseifiedcreativetechn4786]

I had 1.in 1999.it didn't feel like it had much hp,but it did have enough torque to make it fun,and a limited slip diff. that worked perfectly,and back then you could get 1 cheap...I pd 2000$ and it didn't have a scratch or dent,the plastic was like new,and there was something about the car that was very unlucky...the guy I got it from,forgot to mention...every1 that owned it,had a lot of chaos and bad luck ,until they got rid of it...no bs...I don't know if it sounds crazy ,but I tell u true,the guy that had it b6 who I got it from,lost he wife & kids,the next guys wife divorced him,same thing happened to me,then my lawyer got it and lost his law license,his dad got it next,and ended up in bad way also....I took a picture of it back when u had to use a camera,and never really looked at pics very much ,but sum1 else looked at the pics and could see a figure in the reflection of something that was very bizzar..there was a hooded reaper with an evil look and a blade,and it will make your skin crawl when u see it... I kmow it sounds like bs,but sum 1 else even found other things in the pic that were just as creepy...I think there was something haunting that car and it showed up on that film..the guy I got the car from couldn't get rid of it fast enough,now that I think about it,,he seemed releaved after we did the title ,but he was all sketchy andweird b4 when we were in nego., butt it ran excellent with an olds 403 & had automatic trans,silver leather interior,the bird was different,and the wings went off hood and onto fnnders...it had 99,800 miles and it was so quiet and ran smoother than any other carbureted car I ever have had...and that many miles and it still ran perfect,was weird,now that I think about it...true stoey.still got the pics..theres sum things in this world ,u just cant ex pla ain...CDB

[@bradhowe8364]

Own an 81 4speed owned it since 83 great car. Kinda like the 73 beak better tho

[@fartsare2023]

In stock form, these late 70's model Trans Am's were slower then Christmas.

[@Lucille69caddy]

Paul Daluz Compared to what?

[@bobsilver3983]

They sure were...my 1998 Caravan could beat it

[@Lucille69caddy]

Bob Silver New Caravans could MAYBE beat mid 70’s TAs. Late 70’s 400 with the 220 hp and more importantly 320 lb/ft torque at a very low 2800 rpm, not a chance. Your ‘98 Caravan would be stuck in mud against it. Lol.

[@bobsilver3983]

@@Lucille69caddy 472, is that a 90 over 454? I had a LS-7 bored 100 over long time ago...that was a 474

[@Lucille69caddy]

Bob Silver No, 472 as in Cadillac 472

[@RMAGEDN740]

would seriously give some fingers for this car.

[@jeffb243]

I had one of these, had the 403-4bbl in it. I knew what I had, but I wiped it out showing off. Hooked the pavement on the inside of a sharp turn, snapped around on me, bounced it off a telephone pole. My neck is still fucked up because of it!!

[@drippinglass]

The 4-speed was also available on regular ‘79 Trans Ams with the 301 as well as an automatic. It was a credit option. I saw one as a kid in dark blue metallic and didn’t realize til years later. The shaker didn’t have any decal on the 301 equipped cars.

[@thebacdoc6464]

Re: The shaker hood decals on the 301...actually they did. They said t/a 4.9

[@redscorpioncrusades9284]

nice t/a

[@carlosg1165]

Wow my favorite car back in the 70s nicer than a corvette and more torque on those days than the 79 corvette

[@mexicomarc4352]

I need this whip

[@1Bandit455]

W72 400 4 spd -- last of the great engine combo's from Pontiac - HOT ROD Magazine did a test on one for 1979 - Stock 79 400 4 spd T/A ran a 14.6 @ 96 mph in the 1/4 mile - good #'s even for the 1960's :)

[@mikepinder8128]

really good numbers for the late 70,s

[@ericvoet2634]

1Bandit455 I agree believe it was the fastest car for that year even beat the Corvette

[@brucethomas3100]

1Bandit455 Oh Yeah ! I had a 1973 Dodge Dart 340, 4 barrel carb, automatic transmission had not had a tune up in over 15,000 miles, blew the doors off of a 79 10 year special edition with a 6.6 in a quarter mile! Oh Yeah, wicked 6.6, B S!!!!!

[@melrose9252]

Bruce Thomas Liar!

[@brucethomas3100]

Dyno Don Do the research, stock 73 Dodge Dart had more horsepower than the T/A. And as you so blatantly pointed out in another post, the guy driving the T/A didn't know how to drive it. Check out the factory specs for the 79 T/A 6.6 and compare to the factory specs for the 73 Dart 340, about 20 horsepower difference.

[@stevesinphx]

Nice video, but I remember it was called the "10th Anniversary Limited Edition" though, and I believe you also forgot to mention one other very important thing, lol, that it was the only T/A model with the bigger hood bird. The wing tips extended past the hood and onto the tops of the fenders. I thought that was very cool and I also loved the two tone paint job, mostly silver lower half with the gunmetal hood/roof. All the other Trans Ams till then had the firebirds or eagles that stopped on the hood. The '81 Daytona Pace car 4.9 turbo T/A also had a bigger bird like that and went out to the fenders, but it was the turbo style hood and not a shaker scoop hood...only those two models had that bigger bird going out onto the fendertops "feature". I was lucky enough to have one as my 1st car I ever owned! You could even look straight up, while driving, at the mirrored t-tops to check if your 80's hairdo was still perfect, like the car was your own personal rolling dressing room. At times that got weird though, after all your best buds discovered the "mirrors on the ceiling" too, and everyone ended up looking pretty stupid just staring up INSIDE the car, lol, and tweaking the 'do, especially when chicks were nearby just staring at us wondering wth type of new drug we were on, haha. I must say, some of them huge haired "80's chicks" loved that feature the most about that car though! lol. I bought my 10th Anniv T/A in '84 used, from the orig owner for $7500 with 42,000 miles. and the original tires still on it, although they were pretty bald. I was 19 years old and held on to it for 20 years, I reluctantly sold it in 2004, but wish I hadn't...mine had the 403 Olds V8 w/ the auto TH350 and was my daily driver for many years. At one point I noticed a green puddle underneath the car. It had a small coolant leak, and all I could do was add more Prestone antifreeze & water until I fixed it. The gallon bottle of prestone ran out quick, so for a few days I was being a cheapskate and was topping off the car's coolant overflow bottle with plain water until I could fix the leak. But unfortunately, the engine block cracked after a sudden temp drop or quick freeze one night. I guess by adding only water the antifreeze solution was mostly H2O by that one, below 32 degree night & it froze solid enough to not only pop the freeze plugs, but to crack a cast iron engine block! I never got the chance to find or fix the leak. But I never did, nor will I ever make that mistake again! It was a blessing in disguise though because eventually, I swapped the Olds 403 out with a 400 Pontiac and the matching Borg Warner Super T10 4 speed manual I pulled out of a wrecked '78 T/A. Wow what a difference that made! Pontiac engines are torque beasts! It could "chirp" the wider than stock, 245 60 15 BF Goodrich tires in all the gears, even 4th! In my T/A, I added an edelbrock intake, accel hei distributor, 2.5" true dual exhausts & dynomax mufflers, I hand cut open the fake louvers in the hood scoop to really suck in air, a mild to medium cam, new carb jets, machine shop did the 1.66" to 1.77" bigger exhaust valves on the stock 6x heads like the older engines had, and shaved the heads down very little for a compression boost and hooker headers basically, my speedometer went past 0, almost to 10 or 12 again! Yea if you look at the speedo face divided into thirds, its the same distance from 0-50 and 50-100 as it is 100-0, exactly...I think it should read correctly. And I still had the 2.73 ratio rear from the 403 automatic original setup, just swapped to a 400 and 4 speed manual. I raced a red Ferrari Testarossa on the highway one day with 4 people in my T/A and the guy had his girl in the Ferrari...man, I BEAT him, I blasted by the Ferrari till aerodynamics and the gearing of a 4 speed started to tap out on me... we were both going all out, no prisoners, I came from behind and was in front until I topped out at "10"... or 160 mph and he just slowly crept by me I think those had 5 speeds and had a 175 mph top speed! Man it was great!I just love Pontiac engines always did. I was a devout Pontiac man since my Dad had a gold 1970 Pontiac Lemans Station Wagon with that exact same, beautiful 1970 GTO style front nose. It had a Pontiac 350 engine with just a 2 barrel carb but was so quick still! I cried like a baby when he traded it in for a new 1975 mucus green Chevy Malibu Classic Station Wagon! Pontiac engines were definitely the best engine design GM ever had...until the 90's, IMHO. Thanks for the awesome video and the recollections.

[@missingremote4388]

Steve Sky , Awesome car story Sky.

[@brucethomas3100]

missingremote Yeah, his Dad's 70, store cart, grocery getter with a 350 2 barrel probably had more horsepower than his big block 400 Pontiac with the 4 speed!!!!

[@googleusergp]

@@brucethomas3100 No such thing as a Pontiac big block V8. Pontiac did not use the big and small block designations that for example, Chevrolet and Oldsmobile did with their V8 engines.

[@nigelplantin6477]

This is the type of Car I want but I want Black and black with Firebird color gold and with a 6.6l V8 with a Automatic 3spd floorboard shifter

[@wadihelmarj1524]

I have the same with auto transmission. Car is in beirut kebanon. I bought it from florida

[@bkehlin]

Um, yeah, there were no Left/Right fender supports, just a single fender support. They're the same either way. I think someone at the assembly plant fucked that up, possibly.

[@jbhann]

A bit surprised for only having 111 miles, the paint on the intake, block, and head, is in that condition at 4:34.

[@chief1972]

👍

[@jaimemartinez8121]

Mine came with a cockpit sterio from Panasonic radio location was blocked off

[@XOneStarX]

I used to own a silver anniversary trans am when I was 16. My first car. I loved that thing but I was a stupid kid and got rid of it for an IROC. What a big mistake. I hope to buy another silver edition some day as a project car. If I could go back in time and talk some sense into my younger self.

[@thebacdoc6464]

A silver anniversary Trans Am when you were 16 Will, you weren't spoiled were you...

[@roberth4688]

Them muscles had atrophied by the late 70's.

[@gammaraycube]

what will be the estimated price of this peace of art ?!

[@joserobles5421]

Best car ever made

[@bobsilver3983]

Its a cool car but on the "Best Cars Ever Made" it would be down in the thousands range.

[@edcain3676]

4 Spd.Just Needs Some 70 Stg.IV Heads & Then It Has Some REAL H.P.

[@Reaglesracing44_]

there is a 1979 trans am WS6 factory four speed on here with 6 original miles. search restodan pontiac trans am

[@ericou812]

i know a guy has a 77 trans am se he ordered it from dealership in 1977, he had it trailored to a climate controlled storage building...only 800 miles!!!!

[@freedomfighter69]

Sad these cars are just tucked away by collectors, and not driven.

[@JB-zo7ln]

This looks nicer than the car from Joe Dièrte.

[@shaneinkster]

Joe Dirt? I haven't seen that movie in years that car was with the scene with the bully's when the show up in that car and they threaten him?

[@rodguitarezz3482]

Kid Rock.

[@jeremythompson9122]

I'd take that orange 67 GTX over this slug any day. Late 70s cars suck

[@manoman0]

Still doesn't beat the SD455 T/A for me.

[@pontiacman777986]

But this was 1979!

[@HighSockDavid]

If you change the rear axle it does a lot better

[@erickort1987]

from 74-78 the chicken beak is pointing to the left on 79- the beak is pointing to the right...ever notice that?

[@mrwebber35]

I know my 1979 Firebird Esprit had 3 divisions per side on the tail lights + a clear reverse light per side. From what I'm seeing is that the T/A's were the same for a true 1979 built before June 1979. Can someone let me know if I am right about this.

[@googleusergp]

The Firebird Espirit taillights were likely different than those "black out" ones used on the Formula and Trans Ams. I think the lens is less "smoked" on the non-Formula and T/A units.

[@1972mercurycougar]

NHRA rated 79 T/A 400 V8, at 266 hp net. Pretty stout for 1979!

[@crankychris2]

That was with an open exhaust, super premium, and spark advanced. Reread the article...NOT stock!

[@1972mercurycougar]

Yes. Got it. All I'm saying, is seat of the pants detector, says that car felt good (stout) Better than Z28, and Vette. It's not a good accurate way, my way, but the 1979s in general, were nothing to write home about. When you took a spin in your buddies 400 4speed T/A, you came back saying, Don't see why they all don't have 1 great car. Other Manufacturers. I'm jaded. I miss right off idle, gobs of torque!!

[@enzoangelione1196]

I prefer the 1977 ;)

[@jeremythompson9895]

Me too. It still kind of resembled the 74 Super Duty, the last great Trans Am and the last of the true muscle cars of that era. In 1973-74 no other car built in America by any manufacturer even came close to the 455 Super Duty Formula Firebird/ Trans Am

[@ralphfurley404]

We all do

[@ricardoprado2163]

3:33 The 403 cu in isn't an Oldsmobile engine. In fact, it's a General Motors engine manufactured by the Olds. It's a corporative engine, at least that's how it comes in the invoice and the propaganda.

[@craigroth8710]

Ricardo Prado - the 403 was an Oldsmobile designed engine. Bigger bore 350.

[@jeffb243]

It’s not a corporate engine. It’s a mix of 455, 350, and 307 parts. All 3 of the 1979 Trans Am’s I had had this engine in it. I built the one in my white T/A, it ran pretty damn good!!

[@goopah]

Yeah, I totally loved my 403 version T/A. A ton of torque, and a brilliant road cruiser at any speed. Reliable engine as well.

[@jeffb243]

goopah Yes they are great engines!!! The windowed mains kinda suck though!!! Mine had over 120,000 miles on it at the time of the rebuild, it didn’t even have a ridge at the top of the cylinder bores!!! I just honed it, put a good cross hatch pattern in each bore, and re-used the stock pistons.

[@googleusergp]

"Corporate" engine designations started in 1982 when the last of the divisional engines (for the most part) had gone away by 1981. There were holdovers beyond 1982 for divisional engines. For example, the "LV2" 307 VIN code "Y" engine was an Olds engine but was designated "corporate" after 1982. Cadillac had their own engines and of course the Buick 3.8 engine was divisional. It came about with the internal reorganization/regrouping by GM circa 1982.

[@quentin3330]

Wasn't one in Fast Times At Ridgemont High ?

[@V8TV]

There was, not sure if the same year, however. Funny scene!

[@quentin3330]

V8TV People seem to have it narrowed down to a 78 or 79 Camaro Z28. I went and googled. Apparently the movie used 3 cars , no surprise there but 2 of them had different T-tops and one of them had cloth while the other two had leather.

[@drf1056]

I had a ‘79 brown T/A w/ 403 Olds and I would blow away Camaro’s and Corvettes of that era. My best friend burned and died in this exact 10th anniversary T/A from the 419 made that year when he hit a tree shortly after his 18th birthday. The car in the movie was about a ‘79 Camaro that was silver I believe, another friend had a dark blue camaro similar to the movie car, w/ a 350 and I would dust him also. Forest Whitaker, a black famous actor drove the Camaro in the movie.

[@robertbell525]

Oh that was a great movie. So many good teen flix from that era.

[@blueribb99]

Mine had the 403 Olds Engine. Even after I had the engine worked and the trans locked out, it only ran mid 14's. I had a 67 GTO and 69 GTO Judge that ran circles around my 79 Trans-Am. Here's a picture of it: drive.google.com/open?id=0B9Pglz79v56wMm5HM1hTS1NfbGc

[@bobsilver3983]

One of the fastest Pontiacs ever was the 1968 Ram Air II...in the GTO it was fast, but in the light Firebird it was a Road King

[@khaleedo63]

Hello dear. Is this for sale dear Kevin

[@SteveHolsten]

The Automakers sure pissed me off back then killing off the muscle car era. I know a lot of buyers wanted those economical little boxes with tiny engines & etc. They could've left the boxes on the order forms for the 400's 455's, 454's & the big Dodge & Ford engines for us diehard muscle heads!

[@chutoparadinni5474]

after 74 it was all dead

[@SteveHolsten]

I fully agree!

[@franciscodanconia45]

I had one. It steered like a go-kart- hurt your neck if you’re not careful.

[@Hugeroost]

would love to take this car and put that new Chevy LSX454 in it, much lighter than original motor and 3 x the HP. It would then compete w todays cars

[@danoneill2846]

Larry Buresh this is your car cool let me know if your out there

[@ATR-_]

Does anyone know if all 1817 manuals are accounted for?

[@tjclt250r]

noway there have to be at least a few that got totaled

[@googleusergp]

I've owned one since 1999, there's one right there :).

[@lonmcq7317]

I just sold mine... WS6, 4-speed, T-Top... Code 69...

[@javiersanchez1661]

I found one same year, but it don't have a title.

[@andrewlarson6805]

I don't know I mean I love Firebirds but you're right the early 70 Firebirds in my opinion or the best these late 70s after 77 I don't care for it too much this car I get it it's basically meant it's super low miles I'm sure it's rare you know being the Silver version and the four speed if that's what it was I don't remember but I don't like the turbo Wheels I don't like the color I don't like the serious lack of power I think the interior is really tacky but I do like surprisingly the mirrored T-tops I wonder what a 77 would look like with those? Anyway in my twenties I had a 70 Camaro RS was nothing more than a 350 in it and I remember racing one of these it was a street race but let's keep that private and I blew the doors off a 79 Firebird I'm just not impressed with them that's just my opinion I know there's lots of people out there that love them I'm just not one of them

[@tizzomr]

Dear God...

[@mcibus2000]

I thought the Black & Gold 1979 Trans AM was the 10th Anniversary Edition?

[@BklynRulz]

Those are known as Special Editions

[@BklynRulz]

Correct

[@melrose9252]

mcibus2000 nope

[@googleusergp]

The "Black and Gold" cars you're referring to are RPO code Y84 Black Special Editions. This is a RPO code Y89 10th Anniversary Limited Edition. The Y84 car to get in 1979 is the 400/4 speed combination, there were only 1,107 of those in 1979. Yes, the 301 Y84 cars were rarer, but the 400 was the engine to have in 1979. There were 1,817 400/4 speed 10th Anniversary cars made. My particular car was made in the first week of April 1979, the same week that Pontiac issued a bulletin announcing the discontinuance of the 400 engine due to the stockpile supply running out. Of course, there were cars made after April 1979 that had the 400 in them, but they were already scheduled for production and hence, the engines were accounted for. I believe SE and LE cars got preference for the 400, then the "regular" Trans Ams and Formulas. The rare one to get is a 400/4 speed 1979 Formula. there are only 346 of those made.

[@joeyyoung625]

Lol most people know the t.a. from smokey and the bandit not joe dirt..lmao

[@jeremythompson9895]

The coolest car in Joe Dirt was definitely that orange 67 426 Hemi Plymouth GTX. The 69 Charger Daytona he gets as a loaner is awesome too. The T/A in that movie is an afterthought, at least in my opinion being a Mopar man

[@3VAudioVideo]

OK, but in this video he is talking specifically about the 79 silver anniversary being most famous in the movie Joe Dirt. lmao..

[@manofweed1]

Even by 79 they still had a four speed, when the likes of Alfa, and most half decent Euro's all had five ?

[@brucethomas3100]

manofweed1 WOW! Isn't that something!!! Frankly I could give a half of a Rats Ass what the European automobiles have installed in them!!! Don't live in Europe! I don't drive or purchase European cars!!!!

[@melrose9252]

manofweed1 It didn’t how many speeds those Euro trash had because they didn’t run anyway.