During the 1979 model year Pontiac built 7,500 "10th Anniversary Limited Edition" Trans-Ams. While the balance of the cars (5,683 units) was fitted with 403 CI 6.6 litre engines and automatic transmission, just 1,817 cars were produced with the 400 CI, 4-Speed option making them a very rare find today. To tell a genuine Anniversay car from one that’s been fabricated, just check the VIN number. Conventional Trans-Ams carry numbers with "2W87" as the first four digits, while the Limited Edition cars have "2X87" as the first four digits of the VIN.
Assembled in Van Nuys, Ca and originally sold by Don Sisk Pontiac, this 1979 "10th Anniversary Limited Edition" Trans-Am has traveled just over 10,000 miles since new. The car is an absolute time capsule and collector’s dream. The original 400 motor and original 4-speed-close-ratio transmission sit totally untouched and have never been out of the car. The engine compartment is very clean and is exactly how the car rolled off the showroom floor. Even the exhaust system is original and correct down to the cats. The car is totally rust free and the panels and floor boards are perfect and unmolested. The car has never had any body work and the floor boards have never been undercoated or re-painted. They are gorgeous and retain all of their original spot welds. There is some light surface rust on uncoated surfaces (exhaust, rear suspension components, rear end housing) but the undercarriage has never been touched and we have chosen to leave it that way! It’s a testament to the small amount of used this beauty has seen. This car has been garaged kept and babied since new.
The interior is as clean as the body and shows little-to-no wear on all surfaces. The steering wheel is mint and the dash and center console are cherry as well. The seats and carpeting are all original but look nearly new. The door panels are gorgeous, the arm rests are wear-free and the headliner is perfect. All of the switches and knobs look un-touched. The original spare and jack are still in the trunk and the trunk pan and interior panels look brand new.
The car is terrific to drive and feels the way it should – like a very low mile TA! Operation is very slick and smooth like an all original car should be and the motor just purrs. The TA blows cold AC, has a working 8-track (yes we sampled the Steve Miller 8-track we found in the glove box) and even the power antennae works. In fact, all the functions on the car work as they should, power truck release included.
The Trans-Am comes with the original window sticker, all of the original pamphlets and the original owner’s manual. Out of curiosity, we removed the driver’s seat and found the original build sheet lodged between the springs. Wow!
Trans-Am collectors should not sit on their hands as the window of opportunity to buy a 10,000 mile, virgin "10th Anniversary Limited Edition" Trans-Am with the 400 motor and 4-speed transmission does not stay open for very long.
