Why This Car Is Special

The 1979 Pontiac Trans Am sits at a genuinely interesting crossroads in American automotive history. It arrived at the tail end of the muscle car era, after emissions regulations and the fuel crisis had gutted most performance cars, yet Pontiac managed to keep real performance on the table for buyers who knew what to ask for. The Trans Am was the best-selling Firebird variant that year, and the 1979 model year was actually the highest-production year in Trans Am history, with total Firebird production topping 211,000 units. Despite those numbers, the specific combination of options on this car — the W72 engine, WS6 suspension package, and 4-speed manual transmission — represents a much smaller slice of that production. Buyers who ordered all three in 1979 were a deliberate group. They knew exactly what they were doing.

The engine code in this car's VIN confirms the W72 designation, which was Pontiac's 400 cubic inch V8 rated at 220 horsepower under the conservative SAE net measurement standards used at the time. That figure was widely understood to be understated — Pontiac was known to sandbag output numbers during this period to avoid insurance and regulatory scrutiny. The W72 was Pontiac's performance-tuned version of the 400, featuring a higher-compression ratio than the standard 400 and specific calibration that set it apart from the base engine. It was the last true 400 cubic inch V8 Pontiac would offer; the 400 was discontinued after 1979, making this generation of Trans Am the final expression of Pontiac's own big-bore V8 in a performance application.

The 1979 Trans Am also benefited directly from the cultural moment created by Smokey and the Bandit, released in 1977. That film's black and gold Trans Am made this specific color combination an icon, and Pontiac leaned into it hard. This car wears that combination authentically — black exterior with gold accent striping — and carries it with the equipment to back it up.

Features List

• 6.6 W72 400ci V8 engine
• 4-Speed manual transmission
• Borg-Warner Super T-10 gearbox
• Hurst shifter
• WS6 Special Performance Package
• 4-wheel disc brakes
• Power steering
• Limited-slip differential
• Performance exhaust headers
• Shaker hood scoop
• Aftermarket 4-barrel carburetor
• Braided stainless fuel lines
• Moroso valve covers
• T-tops
• Firebird hood decal
• Rear spoiler
• Formula steering wheel
• Engine-turned dash panel
• Leather bucket seats
• Center console
• Tachometer with quartz clock
• Oil pressure and temperature gauges
• AM/FM radio
• Rear seat
• Radial Tuned Suspension badge
• Aftermarket wheels
• Dual exhaust tips
• Black interior
• Gold accent stripes

Mechanical

The heart of this 1979 Pontiac Trans Am is the W72 400 cubic inch V8, code-named the T/A 6.6 on the shaker scoop. This engine was exclusive to the Trans Am and was not available on other Firebird models. It used a higher compression ratio than the base 400 and received specific tuning that made it the quickest engine Pontiac offered in 1979. When this Trans Am left the factory, the W72 was paired with the Borg-Warner Super T-10 close-ratio 4-speed manual gearbox — a unit with a strong reputation for durability and precise shift feel. The Hurst shifter operates that gearbox here, which is the correct and expected combination for a Trans Am of this specification.

The WS6 Special Performance Package is one of the most significant option codes on this car. In 1979, WS6 added a specific front and rear stabilizer bar package, larger diameter front springs, revised shock calibration, and four-wheel disc brakes — an important distinction because the standard Trans Am used front discs and rear drums. Four-wheel disc brakes on a 1979 Trans Am require the WS6 package, so their presence here confirms what the options list states. The WS6 also included the Radial Tuned Suspension, which is noted on the dash badge visible in the photos. Pontiac's RTS tuning was engineered specifically around steel-belted radial tires, which were still a relatively new standard in American performance cars at the time.

The underside of this car is where the build quality shows most clearly. The headers are large-tube units routed to a true dual exhaust system that exits through polished dual tips. The undercarriage itself shows clean, solid structure with a painted finish. Braided stainless steel fuel lines replace the factory rubber lines, which is a worthwhile upgrade on any car of this age. The limited-slip differential keeps power going to both rear wheels under load, working in conjunction with the disc brakes at all four corners for a chassis that is genuinely well-sorted front to rear. Moroso valve covers finish the engine compartment visually and are a recognized name in performance engine components.

Interior

Step inside this 1979 Pontiac Trans Am and the cockpit is exactly what the exterior suggests — purposeful and driver-focused. The black leather bucket seats are in good condition and hold their shape well, which matters on a car used as it was intended. The center console runs the length of the transmission tunnel and houses the Hurst shifter, keeping everything within reach. The Formula steering wheel is the correct performance-oriented unit for this car, smaller in diameter than a standard Firebird wheel and better suited to the WS6-tuned chassis underneath.

The instrument panel deserves specific attention. The engine-turned gold dash panel is a Trans Am trademark and is correctly present here, creating the textured metallic surface that frames the gauges. The gauge cluster includes a tachometer integrated with a quartz clock — a feature Pontiac promoted as performance-oriented instrumentation — along with a combined oil pressure and temperature gauge and a 100 mph speedometer. The Radial Tuned Suspension badge sits below the center gauges as a factory identifier of the WS6 equipment. An AM/FM radio occupies its original position in the dash. The rear seat is present, making this a practical four-passenger car when needed. T-tops remove for open-air driving, and the headliner structure around them appears clean and intact.

Exterior

The 1979 Pontiac Trans Am in black with gold accent striping is, historically, the version of this car that defined the model's identity in popular culture. The exterior on this car presents well, with the black paint carrying good depth and the gold pinstripes running cleanly along the body lines. The large Firebird hood decal — spanning most of the hood's surface — is intact and correctly rendered in gold tones that match the accent striping throughout.

The shaker hood scoop is functional and reads T/A 6.6 in gold lettering on black, which is the correct callout for the W72 engine. It protrudes through the hood and moves with the engine, as designed — a feature Pontiac used on the Trans Am going back to the early 1970s. The rear spoiler is fitted and integrates with the tail of the car as intended. Aftermarket wheels replace the factory honeycomb units and wear performance tires sized to fill the wheel wells properly. The dual exhaust tips exit at the rear in the correct staggered position beneath the bumper. The overall exterior package — black body, gold graphics, shaker scoop, rear spoiler — is the combination that put the second-generation Trans Am on the cultural map and has kept it there ever since.

Conclusion

This 1979 Pontiac Trans Am checks the boxes that matter most to a knowledgeable buyer. The W72 400 is the engine you want — the last and strongest Pontiac V8 offered in this car. The Borg-Warner Super T-10 with Hurst shifter is the correct transmission pairing. The WS6 package delivers four-wheel disc brakes and the suspension tuning that makes this car handle in proportion to its straight-line capability. The black and gold presentation is correct for the model and the era. Upgrades like the performance headers, braided stainless fuel lines, aftermarket carburetor, and Moroso valve covers represent the kind of thoughtful work that improves the driving experience without changing what the car fundamentally is. The undercarriage is solid, the interior is intact, and the exterior carries its iconic look without apology.

The 1979 Trans Am with this specific combination of W72 engine, 4-speed manual, and WS6 package is not the car to compromise on. If you are looking for the real thing, this is it.

To schedule a viewing or ask specific questions, call Skyway Classics in Sarasota, Florida at 941-254-6608.

Disclaimer

Information found on the website is presented as given to us by the owner of the car, whether on consignment or from the owner we bought it from. Some Photos, materials for videos, descriptions and other information are provided by the consignor/seller and is deemed reliable, but Skyway Classics does not warranty or guarantee this information. Skyway Classics is not responsible for information that may incorrect or a publishing error. The decision to purchase should be based solely on the buyers personal inspection of the vehicle or by a professional inspection service prior to offer or purchase being made.