Like most muscle or pony cars, the offerings from GM were often driven hard and put up wet. Such is the nature of being muscle or pony cars. Big engines, big power, sleek looks, sporty handling capabilities – all of these are factors built into cars like this Pontiac Trans Am. But unlike most of those other cars, this example has been loved, babied, stored inside, driven lightly and infrequently. Combine all of those factors with the exclusivity of the Tenth Anniversary package, and you have the makings of a true classic.
This Tenth Anniversary Pontiac Trans Am has covered only 24,510 miles from new. That’s fewer than six hundred miles a year! It has been collector owned for the past seventeen years. It was lovingly maintained and taken to shows, winning many of them. It hasn’t suffered the indignities so common to these cars, particularly those from the Malaise Era of American automobile manufacturing.
The Tenth Anniversary Pontiac Trans Ams were loaded from the factory. The only real options available were the choice of two engine/transmission combos. You could get the Olds 403 motor backed by the three-speed automatic transmission, or the 400-cube Pontiac engine with the more driver-oriented four-speed manual. This copy has the more desirable 400/4-speed drivetrain.
The condition of this Pontiac Trans Am is consistent with the low miles and fastidious care. The paint, largely original, is glossy, and devoid of any corrosion. All decals and stripes are in superior condition. There are no signs of the cracks or damage that so often attend these cars. Body panels show consistent fit throughout. Mirrored glass T-tops show no scratches or cracks. Glass and weatherstrip are both in good nick.
The Tenth Anniversary Pontiac Trans Am interior was considered luxuriant for the time. The silver leather seats are in exceedingly good condition, with only minor creasing to indicate use. The plush carpets are free from the pilling that was so common on these cars. Door cards show no signs of wear or damage. Sill plates are shiny, and without undue heel scuffs. The machine-turned dash is as new. The gauges are lit in a red-orange color, a Pontiac trait. The headliner is as new, with no sagging noted. Dome light and map light both function properly. A factory 8-track player is fitted. Neither the lighter nor the ashtray show any signs of having been used.
The engine bay is clean, correct, and properly squared away. Everything here is as it should be, and appears to have been recently detailed. The shaker hood scoop is in place. The A/C has been updated to R134.
The undercarriage looks to have gotten the same careful attention the rest of this Pontiac Trans Am has received. Clean and correct, the original exhaust is still in place. No drips or leaks are noted.
The car is accompanied by heavy documentation. The two-page window sticker (the list of options took up considerable space), two build sheets, invoice, inspection sheet, manuals, Point of Sale literature and warranty is included in the sale, along with Pontiac Historical Service documentation. This Tenth Anniversary Pontiac Trans Am is available at Volo Auto Sales.
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Comments
That car looks to be amazing! It would be interesting to see what it goes for.
It’s gorgeous. I love the T Tops too.
W72 400 = T/A
Olds 403 = Cutlass Firebird……..
Correction, both Pontiac 400 and Oldsmobile 403 engines were offered in the 77 to 79 Trans Am and Special Edition Trans Am depending on the choice of manual or automatic transmission.
Wow. I’d still prefer the yellow GP from an earlier article, but this thing looks perfect.
I’ve owned two of these. Love them.
Had this car’s clone, bought new off the floor of Hallett Pontiac in Miami, May of 1980 for MSRP. Didn’t care that it was a 10th Anniversary, just wanted a WS6/L78 4 speed Formula or Trans Am and this one was available. I ran the wheels off it for 3 years including winning some Autocross and many a stop-light drag. Spun a bottom end bearing on an extended top speed run one evening, once rebuilt added Headers, true dual exhaust, no cat and a few tweaks to the Quadrajet and there wasn’t much that was faster in the early ’80s. After 3 years and 65k miles it was tired, I sold it and bought a 280ZX which was a real let down. Ford annouced the ’85 5.0 5-speed with factory roller cam, headers and a big Holley and that was the end of the ZX. I’d love to have another T/A 6.6 Pontiac but they’ve gotten way out of reach.
There was a considerable difference in performance between the two engine choices on these. The 403 Olds made 185 HP and was connected to the 350 THM automatic and a choice of 2.41 or 3.08 rear gears. The 400 made 220 HP according to the factory and used a 4 speed stick and 3.23 rear gears. HPP Pontiac magazine tested a car with this setup and put it on a dyno and claimed it made closer to 260 HP as it was moving these 3800 plus LB cars far quicker than the numbers suggested. That also helped explain the huge gap in power between the 1980 4.9 turbo engine which made 210 HP and had 3.08 gears tied to the 350 auto compared to the 400/4 speed setup despite “only” 10 HP difference on paper.
This car is lovely and would go very nicely alongside my 1981 Nascar Edition TA.
I’ve owned both an olds 403 and a Pontiac 400. Not a whole lot of difference. They both are torque down low and not much at top. Just a joy to cruise now as 185hp or 220hp is not much at all by today’s standards.