24,803 Actual Mile One Owner Trans Am 10th Anniversary

We were not surprised to see Sports Car Market magazine pick up on something we’ve known for several years now: Late second-generation Trans-Ams are hot. SCM just added these cars to their Buy-Sell-Hold list as a car to keep if you’ve got one, and one to buy if you don’t. But not just any F-body; you need one of the special ones, and only the very best. Beaters with jacked-up suspensions won’t be showing any upside, but ultra-clean survivors in original condition that have not been modified or abused are the ones to own. In a few short years, the folks that grew up with these cars will see their children moving out, and these fresh empty-nesters will suddenly find themselves longing for the past with plenty of disposable income. If you miss this one, don’t say we didn’t warn you.

This is truly an investment-grade 1979 10th Anniversary Trans-Am. The original lady owner drove it to the RK Motors facility here in Charlotte just last week and dropped it off. It shows just 24,803 original miles, and everything works. That’s original paint, original upholstery, and even the original catalytic converter underneath. Beyond some maintenance items, this car is as clean and original as they come. Investment grade? You better believe it.

When it first rolled in, the guys out in the shop figured it had been repainted—it’s just too nice to be original, right? But no, that’s factory paint, and even the original decals are beautifully preserved. The owner says she purchased some kind of clearcoat protection from the dealer (which is usually a nice profit center for them), and shockingly, it seems to have worked. The paint on this car is incredible, and the closer we looked, the more we realized she’s right—this is 100% original paint. The Anniversary silver was a great color on these cars, and emphasized their low, wide stance. The guys painting the F-bodies seemed to do a better job than their co-workers over at the Corvette factory when it came time to make the steel and plastic parts match, although the slight differences that still remain on this car are further proof that it’s original paint. There are no chips on the nose, no scuffs behind the wheels, and no parking lot dings in the doors, suggesting that this car was someone’s toy from the very beginning. It probably got waxed every Saturday, and driven slowly and carefully to the car shows to show off. How else do you explain the gorgeous original decal package and unblemished finish?

The Anniversary-standard mirrored T-tops are in near-flawless condition, along with the rest of the original glass throughout this Trans Am. There’s no chrome or bright stainless on the car, but the “10th Anniversary” badges throughout the car are in fine condition. Out back, the smoked taillights are superb.

Equipped with an Oldsmobile-built 403 cubic inch V8 (which was the default engine when you ordered an automatic transmission), it cranks out a relatively robust 185 horsepower. Opening the hood, you’ll find that aside from some very routine maintenance items such as the belts and hoses, and the battery, this engine bay is 100% factory original and beautifully preserved. From the seals on the big silver hood scoop to the fabric-covered hoses that feed it, it’s clear that this car has been pampered. The bright Pontiac blue paint on the engine looks great with no signs of flaking or rust, and everything is 100% functional, including the A/C. All the original stickers and decals are still in place, including the emissions decal that always seems to peel off the radiator cradle. The single biggest replacement item is a new Modine radiator, but you can’t tell the difference by looking at it.

Underneath, you’ll find a TH400 3-speed automatic behind the 403, and along with that paint protectant, the original owner had it undercoated which has helped preserve the car. Proving that these cars were not like the over-restored show queens when they were first built, the chassis on this car is in clean original condition. Like the engine, a few maintenance items have been replaced, most notably the sway bar end links, but otherwise it is highly original and full of OEM parts. As I mentioned before, even the exhaust is 100% original including the original catalytic converter, which proves that this car was properly maintained and gently used. The aluminum wheels were a preview of upcoming optional wheels, and there’s no curb rash or corrosion. They wear a set of 225/60/15 white letter radials that are probably only the second set of tires this car has ever worn.

The silver leather interior that was unique to the 10th Anniversary models is virtually unblemished, and even the driver’s seat is in remarkable condition. There’s almost no creasing, no wear on the bolsters, and none of the “comfort marks” that leather gets after being used for a few years. The unique engine-turned dash is bright and crisp, and all the original gauges are fully functional. The only noteworthy wear is to the carpet in the driver’s footwell, but it’s modest. Anniversary models were loaded with every single option Pontiac could throw at them, including power windows and power locks, which operate correctly. The door panels and dashboard have clearly not been baking in the hot sun for the past 31 years, and are still supple and crack-free. Even the original radio is still in the dash and fully operational. In the trunk, you’ll find both storage bags for the T-tops, the original space-saver inflatable spare that has never been used, and the original jack assembly.

A lot of original documents accompany this Trans Am as well. We have the original dealer invoice sheet, fuel economy sticker, sales contract, owner’s manuals, and warranty documents. There’s also the original title in the original owner’s name, and it’s the exact same lady who brought the car to our showroom.

We’ve featured a number of these 10th Anniversary Trans Ams in the past three years, and without exception, they all sell. There’s a devoted following out there who knows these are underrated cars, and good ones are difficult to find. We’ve known that there’s a tremendous potential upside to these great cars, and in the mean time they’re a lot of fun to drive and still draw a lot of attention. And look again at the price—I’ve seen similar cars selling for three times that number. Which do you think will see an increase sooner? If you’re even remotely interested in these cars, call now, because history has proven that they don’t stick around long, and now even the experts are telling you what we’ve known all along: these cars are hot. Call now!