The Ford Mustang debuted as a 1964 1/2 mid-year model, to great fanfare and robust sales. Chevrolet responded with the Chevy Camaro in late September of 1966. Five months later, Pontiac rolled out an F-Body car of its own with the Pontiac Firebird. In March 1969, the Trans Am Performance and Appearance package debuted, taking its name directly from the Trans Am racing series. Just 689 Pontiac Trans Am hardtops and eight convertibles were built for the 1969 model year.
As federal emissions and Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards brought an end to the brawny muscle and pony cars of the 1960s and early 1970s, a ray of hope could be found in the Pontiac Trans Am. The Trans Am equipped with the 455 Super Duty produced more horsepower than Chevy’s Corvette. The 6.6-liter powered 1977 Trans Am featured in Smokey and the Bandit boosted Trans Am sales, with 1978 T/A sales surpassing 93,000 units, and 1979 sales exceeding those of the Chevy Camaro for the first time in history, with over 117,000 T/As sold.
The 6.6-liter Pontiac Trans Am came in three different versions. The 6.6-liter Pontiac L78 400 cubic inch V8 made 180 horsepower. The optional 400 cube Pontiac W72 V8 was rated at 220 ponies. The Oldsmobile L80 403 made 185 horsepower, and was used primarily in California and states with higher altitudes as it was emissions compliant when equipped with the A.I.R. pump.
Our feature 1979 Pontiac Trans Am has had a single owner from new. It has covered just 45,000 miles. Finished in Heritage Brown over a Camel Tan cloth interior, the T/A is powered by a 400 cubic-inch L78 backed by a four-speed manual transmission. It is equipped with the WS6 Special Performance Package, power windows, power locks, air conditioning, tilt steering, rear window defroster, AM/FM/cassette stereo, and a remote trunk release. The Trans Am rolls on fifteen-inch snowflake wheels wrapped in raised white-letter BFGoodrich Radial T/As. Included in the sale is the factory window sticker, build sheet, 1979 sales literature, and service records.
This highly original 1979 Pontiac Trans Am is currently being auctioned on Bring a Trailer with the sale concluding Tuesday, June 18th.
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Comments
The L78 Pontiac 400 is the highest horsepower engine available only with a 4-speed in 1979.
Better check the window sticker; it says L78.
I did. You incorrectly wrote that the highest HP was the W72 which wasn’t available. The L78 was the top dog option for this car which yes is on the window sticker
I would be all over this, if it wasn’t brown. Had a brown 79 z28, and just hated the coloy
I drove a 1978 TA in Chesterfield Brown during HS. Thought it looked great with the snowflake wheels. Mine was no WS6 though. Just an auto with an 403 olds motor.
I really like the Heritage Brown on the 79.
The 403 Oldsmobile engine was junk. The siamese cylinders were prone to overheating and destroying themselves. And the 305 Chevrolet ate camshafts.
79 trans am with a 455 nicest car I ever had
You never had a 79 TA with a 455. The 455 was last used in 1976.
The brown wouldn’t be my first choice but the interior is nice. Think I could get used to it. Maybe GM should have moved the Camaro in this gen body style?
I had one of these with the Y84 special edition black with gold striping WS6 and the 400 4 speed,wow what a car
I’ll gladly overlook the color in exchange for owning a low mile, 4 speed Pontiac 400 Trans Am. I tried to order one in March of 79, but was told by the dealer that the last of the 400’s were built out.
The L78 400 was not available in 1979.
There were only 3 engines available in the T/A for 1979:
– 301 4 bbl with automatic
– 403 4 bbl Olds with automatic
– W72 400 4 bbl Pontiac with manual only (some internal Pontiac documentation refer to the W72 400 as the L78).
Yes, if a memory serves me, the TA 6.6 was the W72 engine available in 77-79. I seem to recall 78 and 79 versions had a slightly upgraded exhaust that bumped the power to 220 hp (vs 200 in 77).
Personally, I had a 78’ TA 6.6, 4 spd,, WS6. Many an adventure in that car.
You got that backwards. The W72 was not available in 1979.It was made 1975-1978. The L78 is clearly stated on the build sheet and window sticker and was the highest HP engine available in 1979.
1979 Trans AM did outsell ‘79 Z28. (I bought a loaded bright blue metallic as one of the 86k plus sold), but Camaros of all types outsold Firebirds handily that year.
Our family has a 1979 10th anniversary Trans Am 400 l78 4 speed with four miles on it same way it rolled out of the factory all the factory stickers plastic and everything is still on the car the car is the same way it rolled off the car carrier I’ll take offers from $200,000
Our family has a 1979 10th anniversary Trans Am 400 l78 4 speed with four miles on it same way it rolled out of the factory all the factory stickers plastic and everything is still on the car the car is the same way it rolled off the car carrier I’ll take offers from $200,000
I had a 78 ws6 4 speed that coler.i had a great time burning the tires and doing donuts on our back rds here in Greensboro n.c.,gave 3200.00 for it.and cried like a baby when It rolled dn a hill warming up one cold feb.morning.that was 86,still got 1300 for it totalled.had plenty automatic since, never be another like that 4 speed BROWN T.a.
The 1976 was the last year with the super duty 455 cid. Offered with a 4 speed Borg warner t 10