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Car Forum / Pontiac / Pontiac Firebird / March 200479 T/A
I came across a 79 T/A with 130k miles. It runs as well as a 301 can run. It has all the external body parts, interior except for drivers seat and carpet is in very good condition. TH350 has a rear seal leak. Minor rust on rocker panels, DS rear quarter needs WORK, area underneath rear wheel bolt-ons is rusted through, area near rear bumper mount is rusted. The car has after market T-tops. Is this car worth restoring or parting out or ignoring? Comments appreciated. lan >I came across a 79 T/A with 130k miles. > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > >lan My opinion is that if it's something you would enjoy working on and driving enough then go for it. It's not going to have a lot of resale value anytime soon. But if you can get enough enjoyment out of it then do it. >I came across a 79 T/A with 130k miles. Ignore. There is a blue '80 T/A exactly like you describe here in Wisconsin that has been forsale since last summer. The seller started out at $1250 but is down to $850 and still can't sell it. The later 70's 2nd-gens aren't worth anything unless its something special(S.E. or 4-speed.)  Signature_________________________________________________________________ Dennis Smith -1971 Trans Am - 455 H.O. - M21 4speed - Cameo white/blue stripe- < http://ps2page.tripod.com/my71ta/tapage.html > -1973 Trans Am - 455 - TH400 auto - Buccaneer red- -1984 Trans Am - 5.0 L - TH700R4 auto - Royal blue/silver aero- _________________________________________________________________ > >I came across a 79 T/A with 130k miles. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > 2nd-gens aren't worth anything unless its something special(S.E. or > 4-speed.) Dennis, I went to you web page and was wondering about the 71. Was that the only year that the grill back was painted black with silver on the horizontal surfaces? Dave >I went to you web page and was wondering about the 71. Was that the only >year that the grill back was painted black with silver on the horizontal >surfaces? '70-72 was like that for Formulas(I think) and Trans Ams. Base and Esprit Firebirds had the entire grill painted silver. Signature_________________________________________________________________ Dennis Smith -1971 Trans Am - 455 H.O. - M21 4speed - Cameo white/blue stripe- < http://ps2page.tripod.com/my71ta/tapage.html > -1973 Trans Am - 455 - TH400 auto - Buccaneer red- -1984 Trans Am - 5.0 L - TH700R4 auto - Royal blue/silver aero- _________________________________________________________________ >The later 70's >2nd-gens aren't worth anything unless its something special(S.E. or >4-speed.) Huh? Trans Am's aren't special? Seriously, decent 2nd gens are getting hard to find. > >The later 70's > >2nd-gens aren't worth anything unless its something special(S.E. or > >4-speed.) > > Huh? Trans Am's aren't special? Seriously, decent 2nd gens are getting hard to > find. The 1980 smog change made the engines (especially V-8s) run too hot to play well without fuel injection, but the pre-1980 second generations are good cars. > > >The later 70's > > >2nd-gens aren't worth anything unless its something special(S.E. or [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > well without fuel injection, but the pre-1980 second generations are good > cars. Again...wrong. *CBHVAC* spilled my beer when they jumped on the table and proclaimed in <nV48c.35$gp2.1961@eagle.america.net> >> The 1980 smog change made the engines (especially V-8s) run too hot to > play >> well without fuel injection, but the pre-1980 second generations are good >> cars. > > Again...wrong. You sound as if you're not suprised. :) NOI > Again...wrong. You do a lot of flaming for a guy who can't even keep his own car roadable. Tarver Engineering spilled my beer when they jumped on the table and proclaimed in <pt2dnTTzWrRrY_3dRVn-hg@sti.net> >> Again...wrong. > > You do a lot of flaming for a guy who can't even keep his own car > roadable. And you do a lot of flaming for a guy who can't be original at it. NOI > > Again...wrong. > > You do a lot of flaming for a guy who can't even keep his own car roadable. LOL....yea...post some pics of yours tarring the road Tarver....mine did that after its winter storage, and 15 minutes after firing...:) > > >The later 70's > > >2nd-gens aren't worth anything unless its something special(S.E. or [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > well without fuel injection, but the pre-1980 second generations are good > cars. Ohh this I have just got to hear. What makes a fuel injected motor run cooler? And don't say electric fans. Rear wheel drive fuel injected GM cars Execpt possibly the Corvette, didn't go to electric fans untill 1986 or 87 on F-bodies. Charles >>The later 70's >>2nd-gens aren't worth anything unless its something special(S.E. or >>4-speed.) > >Huh? Trans Am's aren't special? Seriously, decent 2nd gens are getting hard to >find. There were 117,000 Trans Ams made in 1979 alone! I see 10 times as many 79-81 T/As as I do anything earlier. Even here in Wisconsin where the salt and rust has eaten up a lot of them. Signature_________________________________________________________________ Dennis Smith -1971 Trans Am - 455 H.O. - M21 4speed - Cameo white/blue stripe- < http://ps2page.tripod.com/my71ta/tapage.html > -1973 Trans Am - 455 - TH400 auto - Buccaneer red- -1984 Trans Am - 5.0 L - TH700R4 auto - Royal blue/silver aero- _________________________________________________________________ >>>The later 70's >>>2nd-gens aren't worth anything unless its something special(S.E. or [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > T/As as I do anything earlier. Even here in Wisconsin where the salt and rust > has eaten up a lot of them. reinforcing the above, I just paid $1500 CDN (about $1100 US) for a 1976 Camaro enduro stock car. Comes with a second 350 and a spare rear end and some extra parts. Has a full roll cage which would cost me about $1000 CDN to get installed... so I paid about $200 for the actual body shell... Ray >Subject: Re: 79 T/A >From: ps2guru@REMOVETHISyahoo.com (Dennis Smith) [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >2nd-gens aren't worth anything unless its something special(S.E. or >4-speed.) Dennis: I've been offered more than my parents paid in 1980 for our Turbo Trans Am. I usually get 3 or 4 offers to buy the car every time I take it out. Not an SE car, nothing "special" (except it's Carousel Red, which is fairly rare), and not even a WS6 car :). Bottom line: These cars in good shape are fetching bucks and hard to find. Original poster: A 301 1979 T/A like you describe is either a) A car that someone gives me free, or b) something I part out. Nothing of value there---but like the others said, if you like it and want a challenge, you've got the right car. Just expect to gain nothing financially from it. Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car... >Dennis: > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >Not an SE car, nothing "special" (except it's Carousel Red, which is fairly >rare), and not even a WS6 car :). Joe. Your '80 is something special. It has 26,000 miles. If it was your typical '80 T/A with 100k+ miles and weathered body and interior it would be your typical $1000 project. My dad's T/A is your basic black 400/4-speed T/A '78 T/A but it has only 48k miles, been garaged since new, and still has its original paint. He's had offers over $15G before. Unless its in excellent condition and low miles a late 70's T/A just isn't worth as much as an early T/A. A total rust bucket numbers matching 70-73 T/A can fetch $10,000 before you even spend a dime on restoration! Signature_________________________________________________________________ Dennis Smith -1971 Trans Am - 455 H.O. - M21 4speed - Cameo white/blue stripe- < http://ps2page.tripod.com/my71ta/tapage.html > -1973 Trans Am - 455 - TH400 auto - Buccaneer red- -1984 Trans Am - 5.0 L - TH700R4 auto - Royal blue/silver aero- _________________________________________________________________ >Subject: Re: 79 T/A >From: ps2guru@REMOVETHISyahoo.com (Dennis Smith) [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] >worth as much as an early T/A. A total rust bucket numbers matching 70-73 >T/A can fetch $10,000 before you even spend a dime on restoration! Apples and oranges! An early 70's T/A will always fetch more due to the aura of power surrounding the early cars. Have a look on Ebay and see what some of those cleaner 79-81 cars are fetching Dennis :). Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car... >Have a look on Ebay and see what some of those cleaner 79-81 cars are fetching >Dennis :). Yeah Joe, but are those cars on Ebay REALLY selling? :-) They seem to pop up again a month later. Signature______________________________________________________________ Dennis Smith AIM SN: Dens71TA ICQ Pager #: 52009584 '71 Trans Am - 455 H.O. - M21 4-speed - Cameo white/blue stripe '73 Trans Am - 455 - TH400 auto - Buccaneer red '84 Trans Am - 5.0 L - TH700R4 auto - Royal blue/silver aero All, thanks for the opinions. They are much appreciated but only served to further confuse my poor brain. Perhaps a better question might be: Is it worth putting the money into this vehicle (from a pragmatic POV)? An initial estimate to turn this into a nice driver (in my mind) are: 2.5-3.5K body/paint (good paint job) 1.5K for a used 400 Block and rebuild and maybe 500 to 1000 for incidentals (interior, trans leak) High end sub total = 6K + 15% for cost overuns almost 7 Grand Or throw in an additonal 5K and look for something ready to drive? lan > >Have a look on Ebay and see what some of those cleaner 79-81 cars are fetching > >Dennis :). > > Yeah Joe, but are those cars on Ebay REALLY selling? :-) They seem to pop up > again a month later. >Subject: Re: 79 T/A >From: ps2guru@ReMoVeThIsToEmAiLyahoo.com (Dennis Smith) [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > >again a month later. If it's a different seller ID, chances are the person is flipping the car for a profit :). Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car... > If it's a different seller ID, chances are the person is flipping the car for a > profit :). More like buyer's regret. >Subject: Re: 79 T/A >From: "Tarver Engineering" jtarver@sti.net [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > >More like buyer's regret. No, there are plenty of buyers who get in over their head on a project and try to flip it for a profit. Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car... |
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