1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 400 WS6 4-Speed

[alsancle]

I'm posting this because it is a Red Trans-Am.  90% seem to be black or gold.  So the Red is interesting.  Also it has the 4 speed. Although it does NOT have the W72 400,   but the L78 400.  I thought all the 4 speed cars in 79  got the W72.  Maybe Kerry can explain.

 

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1979-pontiac-firebird-trans-am-45/

 

This 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am was delivered new to Davis Auto Company in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and it is powered by a 400ci L78 V8 linked with a four-speed manual transmission and an optional limited-slip differential. The car was also optioned with the WS6 Performance Package, which included power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes, a quick-ratio steering box, and a larger sway bar. It wears a repaint in red over black velour, and additional equipment includes an Edelbrock intake manifold, a Flowmaster exhaust system, removable t-top roof panels, a shaker hood, four-wheel disc brakes, 15″ snowflake alloy wheels, power windows, a Kenwood stereo, an aftermarket sound system, and air conditioning. This Firebird Trans Am shows 92k miles and is now offered by the selling dealer with a window sticker, the owner’s manual, a copy of the build sheet, and a clean Ohio title.

 

 

Edited November 23, 2023 by alsancle (see edit history)

[kingrudy]

Very nice looking car, my best friend bought one new in dark brown. Great driving car. 

[TAKerry]

Very nice car. L78 is correct for the Pontiac 400 4 speed in 1979. Previously the w72 was the Pontiac 400 4 speed. In 79 they changed back to L78 as the designation for the Pontiac motor, and the only transmission choice was the 4 speed. It could not be confused with another version of the Pontiac motor as in previous years. I think there was something like 7k total Pontiac 400's in 1979 out of the 200k total trans ams.

I hope the price goes up, LOL.

This one seems particularly nice, I would expect it to hit 25k-30k. 

Edited November 24, 2023 by TAKerry (see edit history)

[alsancle]

3 minutes ago, TAKerry said:

Very nice car. L78 is correct for the Pontiac 400 4 speed in 1979. Previously the w72 was the Pontiac 400 4 speed. In 79 they changed back to L78 as the designation for the Pontiac motor, and the only transmission choice was the 4 speed.

I hope the price goes up, LOL.

This one seems particularly nice, I would expect it to hit 25k-30k. 

 

Kerry,  for some reason I thought you could still get a W72 in 79?

[TAKerry]

It was the same thing, technically it was called L78 though. Same as previous years W72. A lot of people call the 79 4 speeds W72 which is kinda correct in that its the same settup.

[alsancle]

2 hours ago, TAKerry said:

It was the same thing, technically it was called L78 though. Same as previous years W72. A lot of people call the 79 4 speeds W72 which is kinda correct in that its the same settup.

 

Did they still rate it at 220 HP?

[TAKerry]

As far as I know yes. One thing that changed in the 1979 power train was a dual muffler settup for the L78 (w72) package. Previous years used a transverse muffler.

[B Jake Moran]

Sorry to piggyback on this thread but I am looking for either a 79-81 Trans Am, Formula or a Z28 project.  
 

Can a Pontiac 400 replace the Olds 403 apples to apples or the 301 Turbo for that matter?  How about the Pontiac 350?  These would be automatics I’m looking at.  

[Ed Luddy]

2 hours ago, B Jake Moran said:

Sorry to piggyback on this thread but I am looking for either a 79-81 Trans Am, Formula or a Z28 project.  
 

Can a Pontiac 400 replace the Olds 403 apples to apples or the 301 Turbo for that matter?  How about the Pontiac 350?  These would be automatics I’m looking at.  

Any of those engines can be swapped into the 79-81 F body cars. I'm looking at a 1980 T/A Turbo Pace Car that has long ago lost it's 301 wheezer and has a 454 Chevy to go along with it. My only hold back is the dash/cowl has too much rust for me.

[B Jake Moran]

5 hours ago, Ed Luddy said:

Any of those engines can be swapped into the 79-81 F body cars. I'm looking at a 1980 T/A Turbo Pace Car that has long ago lost it's 301 wheezer and has a 454 Chevy to go along with it. My only hold back is the dash/cowl has too much rust for me.

Thank you.