Just damn! Beautiful car. I still have my mother's. Bought it for her back in 2002. I built the pontiac 400 in my garage, kept 4 spd and rebuilt front and rear suspension. She sewed all new interior herself. She unfortunately only drove it one time on her birthday. Passed away the following morning. But she drove the hell out of it. Six months later I received a letter in the mail. Failure to Appear and copy of a 135 mph speeding ticket past A California Highway Patrol weigh station😁😁 Go Mom!!! Have that ticket on my wall till this day😃
Thanks, Great Memories… Anyways, mine was the performances, of **& seeing the **76 TA//Black Gold, I fell for:: ordering a **1977 SPECIAL ED/ Hurst Hatches/6.6 L / Velour/ loaded/ ZIEBARTED….fortunately the LOW HP 1977, engine easy to tune-up , ETC …. INTERESTINGLY, by 1997 about unsafe to drive , in N Indiana road salt & inner RUST… STARTED BODY OFF, gave up….remembering , the Salvage GUY paid $100 Me to cart away((* about 20%of value if one **Snowflake GOLD SE Wheel’s, etc)….lot of miles & use!!
Thanks, incredible, Great story & stuff!! Anything more:: options, which TA, PARTS ON! , find out anything else???? Interestingly, I ordered a 77 TA/Special Ed/ Hurst Hatch ( always seeped/ leaked )/ loaded::: building up carefully:: still low on HP, BUT great Speed (!,!) , & HANDLING! * ps ordered in OCT 1976, + all GM Manuel’s/ Zeibart, etc: before “” Smokey & BANDIT MOVIE, ETC. Though did bump into one acquaintances, Movie worker, said he helped Oreo/ Clean the “” Seven + one TA’s) for Movie, (maybe 1985?approx)…
Thanks m ps also,,, What Suspensions did you use… ?? back in the DAY:: 1977-79 , I went KONI, HO PRODUCTS Sway/ Grommets/ Eagles GOODYEAR, ETC…Actually enjoyed working on the TA, ETC..(( ps: I went back to VALVOLINE Racing Oils, as new Pridcts, the MOBIL ONE ALL SYNTHETC ,made a little “”to much noise “” in most ::: Engine operating modes……. Interestingly back to VALVOLINE, NIw **full SYNTHETIC for both our Vehicles ,@ my Mechanics(I cut back most of wrenching at 75 years young,etc…
I'd take a Firebird over a Camaro any day. Not that I hate Camaros, it's just that it's nice to not see yourself coming and going. And the Firebird/Firebird Trans Am of this time was just much better looking.
Who is this guy?!! He seems very knowledgeable about Pontiac. But all the rambling on b*******. Is a huge turn off to the video! I wish you'd just shut up! And talk about the car. Show off this car.
Doug DeMuro is an idiot who has no class, knows nothing about cars, but thinks he is a star. Bill is a classy guy, kind of old-school, with a great sense of humor and vast car knowledge.
My dad took me to see Smokey & the Bandit when I was 8. When the Trans Am rolled out I told myself I'm going to own one some day. When I was 20, I took possession of a second owner 77 T/A Auto no T tops and felt like I'd been passed on to heavens gate when I drove it:).
Thanks. Me too. Interestingly, ordered mine in OCT 1976: ( before SMOKEY/ Bandit), got it March 1977((oddly, the MODEL 1976;**Black,*Gold TA got me interested) , & MOTOR TREND . LONG story
Had a Yellow 1976 Trans AM ... purchased it in 1977 ... installed B&M shift kit on the auto transmission, drove it coast to coast was a lot of fun and a great car for the time!
Flying down the highway, laughing at the double nickels sign, hearing the engine roar, blasting "Panama", "I Can't Drive 55", "Highway to Hell", etc. etc. Good times!
Bill you are awesome, love the videos keep them coming you are a true gentleman with a great sense of humour. Takes us back to the old days where we didn't wrap ourselves in foam to prevent getting hurt, we just went and did shit for the fun of it. I miss those days dearly.
That's like saying a mullet is the greatest hairstyle of all time . It is an iconic car ... But EXTREMELY cheesy .... Look at this ,then look at a 1958 Bonneville convertible and tell me this is beautiful
@@papimiami1938 theres no accounting for taste, the 58 bonneville is quite literally the car that homer designed in that simpsons episode, overblown and fancy with way too many design features, its a mess, a classless gaudy mess from when american designers were attempting to emulate classy european automobiles but just throwing chrome at it, its not a 55 chevy.
@@deadprivacy and a trans am was in every trailer park well into the 1990s . After that 1-2 %of the original owners actually have a positive net worth enough to drive the price of these shitboxes to ridiculous amount (anything over 1500 dollars) . Ugly , cheaply built , GUTLESS fuel hogs, did not stop and did not steer . This car epitomizes every negative stereotype of American built cars . Yeah any pre 1966 American car is substancially superior
@@papimiami1938 i didnt say it was any good, just a thing of beauty, its when america put their true personality into a car, the rover sd1 for example here in the uk, bags of junk but truly beautiful in a way a snob like yourself could never appreciate. its not really a stereotype when america has built truly fucking awful cars for its entire existence, every single one bar a couple were , are and always will be heavy, fuel hogging monstrosities, this trans am just represents the peak of that, and is therefore a truly beautiful classic. if you want quality? even going pre 66 wont get you that in america, lol. although ive got a soft spot for a packard or a studebaker.
@@papimiami1938 and the mk1 ford escort was in every travellers camp in the uk well into the 1990s, you cant buy one for less than 20 grand these days. you are a snob, its not my fault but that trans am, is iconic, unique and truly a thing of beauty, you can keep your 57 belairs and ridiculous plymouth superbirds and that gaudy monstrosity 58 bonneville pimp bus.
Loved the commentary! Awesome review. I'm a 23yr retired Army mechanic and just starting to restore my white '79, 275,000 miles, same as this model but 10th anniversary LE 4 wheel disc. Actually 2 working discs, I crimped the rear brake line, poor mans line lock lol. Bought it back in 90 with my GI-bill college fund. Didn't need college, I did need a Trans-Am! Bought it off of my towns retired police chief's daughter. Got honked and waved at by a lot of officers after that. First thing I did was lose all the emissions control crap and took off the AC pump. They had a clause for older cars that said if it was gonna cost over a certain amount to repair the exhaust emissions, you get a pass for free. Not sure if that's still in effect. Plus I had a few friends that worked at state inspection stations. Well after 14 years of sitting in storage, gonna see if she has one more dance left in her. Its not just the car, its all the great memories that go with it! Can't even count how many times that cars been spun around on a wet highway, the Oh-shit bar works, or friends who got tickets in that car, but two DWI's that I know of. Not to mention blood sweat tears and knuckle busters to keep it on the road :-D Thanks for a great ride down memory lane!
@@borismcgillicutty3042 Looked to me like he drove what would be equal to the Berlineta edition of the Camaro. Like the luxury edition. I don't think I ever saw Rockford do a big burn out? But I didn't watch the show that much.
@@dwoodog i watched it a lot in the 70s I honestly don't remember ......i remember the car and the cheesy intro with James garner...guess it was better than driving a pinto or a Ltd back then
@@dwoodog whatever year it was definitely pre 79 like 75 I'm pretty aure, maybe 74....but it was the type with no spoiler, more of the generic firebird. They had a camaro v6 like that too in the 70s...slower than dog sh/t
This is a great video. You really summed up what it was like to have this car. I used my discharge money from the Army in the late 90s to buy my dream car, a 1980 Firebird Esprit that was untouched and owned by a school teacher. After that I was able yo buy a 1980 Turbo and a 1976 Super Duty (parts cars) to make a car I loved. A 1980 firebird with a 1976 super duty and sexy ass 1980 turbo interior/ hood. Your description of this car is perfect and I am glad you made it so future generations can see what it was like to grab one of these when time allowed us kids were able to afford them and fuck with them.
All those references to that movie brings back a lot of memories. As a kid I loved that movie - and I like that type of oldschool car to this day. Thanks for making my day.
@@johnb2370 I got it that way. The person before my friend that I bought it from put a 76 Pontiac 455 in it, awesome saphire pearl paint, chrome roll bar, different wheels and a few other things. It was a T-top car. One of the many cars I regret not holding onto....
You guys keep the best cars in the world in stock. My niece is a resident in sunny Florida. I can't wait to come down for a visit. Well done. Keep up the great work.
Please! Ramble on! Every time I watch your channel, I tell my wife I’m going to school. I learn so much from you, and I’m older, and I used to think I was a car buff! Some of the stories you tell, I’ve already hard, but I like the way you tell it, better!
Brutally honest. Finally someone who knows cars who can tell me what the hell happened in the mid 70s to the early 80s. I had a1973 Charger SE with a 440 magnum. The last year.
403 was an underrated motor . lots of low end torque in its day. Delorean was arrested for dealing drugs and it was a full front page story. When all charges were dropped it was a paragraph somewhere in the back.
I owned A 400 4 SPEED 79 T/A FROM 1980 TO 1992..... have owned a 79 Olds 403 T/A since 2000........the Olds 403 is faster in the quarter mile (15.9 versus 15.3) and gets better gas mileage.
I sooooooo wanted to buy one. I was 23 at the time. There was an orange/red one with the same interior at Boas Pontiac in SF. The things that prevented me from buying it was it didn’t have the tilt wheel and I didn’t have a covered garage. It would have been reckless. Instead, I saved the money for a house.
I remember the day I went to buy my 79 T/A in the late 80's. Mine was exactly like this one except for silver exterior, light blue interior, and WS6 suspension. I never forget the feeling of that first trip home!
as always great test ride by bill. nice original car. over here in the netherlands they go fore €12000-€30000 depending on shape and originality. in general the transams cost indeed more than the formula. the 1981 turbo is very rare over here.
Hey Bill, thanks for this! This video is very educational, informative, and entertaining! That car is a true classic, it must have been a blast to drive! I look forward to seeing more of your videos! You just earned a new subscriber! :)
Nice bird and a survivor. I bought a new a 78 with the T/A 6.6 220 hp (W72). The Red 8” Snowflakes are not a factory option. They were either gold or silver. These were fun cars to drive. I disagree that a Honda Accord would out handle.
My first car was also a '79 Trans Am. Got it from my Uncle, the original owner. Mine was also white on red but with a gold screamin' chicken and a hard-top. Was nowhere near the pristine shape of this beast, as I got mine in 2004. The gutless Olds 403 wasn't meant for racing but cruising, not to say it couldn't embarrass someone at a stop light. Had an early 80s Pioneer cassette deck and matching 6x9 speakers, still worked and sounded great. Interior was pretty damn worn out by the California sun and it smelled like a damp, oily shop rag. GM quality everyone! Now I've got a 2002 Firebird, the last year for the breed. That Buick 3.8 pulls _hard_ compared to that Olds V8. Can't wait to strap a supercharger to it.
Laughed when the tach quit when he first pulled out! Super nice, well preserved machine just the same. LOVE that shaker hood! Don't see it on the AEN site any more so it must have sold, hopefully new owner is happy.
Loved this video.. my first car was the white special edition 1979... (i turned 16 in '87) same car except i had blue interior. loved the flashback it brought.. thank you.
Has anyone ever asked to just come down and meet you, just talk with you? Can't afford the jag. But maybe something. I enjoy these videos so much. Thanks Bill
Not my first car, but the first car I bought purely out of lust. A '79 T/A that was metallic blue with no screaming chicken decals that is to this day the best looking car I've owned. That's an awesome car and the condition is stunning!! What a find...
Love your videos Bill. If I may make one suggestion..(and you may be doing this already in newer videos).. Maybe after the review or before the review you can take some walkaround footage of the car that you can edit into the part of the video where you're talking about the history of the cars and other important ramblings. This is just so we can be looking at more than one angle of the car while we listen.
My first car was also a 79 Formula. Miss her so much. It was 11 years old when I got her. Had the 403 olds. I took out the smog control, removed catalytic converter put a shift kit in the TH350 and put a 373 posi. Was able to run mid 14s at the bracket pizza races. Thought it was hot shit back then
That's an amazing car! I had a '79 T/A, a 66k mile original in Lucerne Blue w/white interior. There was one thing I could never figure out about the 403-powered T/A though, and that's the hood scoop. All of the cowl induction/ram air parts were there from the factory, but for some weird reason, Pontiac didn't cut out the back of the hood scoop to make it functional. I did on mine
Ok.. Thats genration hasnt fuel injection "electrical" but pure Exhaust sound and pure power. If you miss the turbo you can change it to EFI with Computer system then add the turbo. You will get more than 500.
That video brought back a lot of memories ! I had a 80 firebird i bought in Las Vegas in 85 ...One of the best cars i have ever owned . It looked just like your 79 with the exception of the chicken and the shaker hood . In 80 they had Yellowbird , Redbird , Bluebird and severla others . I had the Yellowbird ...Same interior except it was light brown . 305 ci engine .
I agree... had a 77 T/A and that was the only thing I didn't like as well. The seats could have been better but other than that an awsome car even today.
I never really thought about it until this video and don't get me wrong, I love it. But a huge bird decal that takes up the whole entire hood, from the factory, is so wonderfully insane. It really makes the whole car though. I can't think of any other car that had a decal like that. Racing stripes would be the closest thing I can think of. '76 and the 77- '78 where my favorites.
I was the luckiest teenager in 1978-79; I worked at the local Pontiac dealer as a car washer and mostly on the used lot but sometimes those cars were delivered new with broken windows from that plant in Tarrytown, NY; kids would throw rocks at the trucks that delivered them. (Have you noticed trains now have aluminum shields on the sides? Hillbilly's would swill beer and shoot them these days.) All the cars had 2.5 to 2.7 miles on them. You're right, they were smogged down and slow compared to some the 1967-71 cars on the used lot but that radial tuned steering and a 4 speed made driving them a joy. I would occasionally drive a new one with a dent or broken window to the body shop 5 miles away and then my job was "Test Pilot". After a few years the T-tops always leaked. While working for another dealer later in life as a buyer/wholesaler we had a kid who worked there who owned a rusty one like yours with 180K miles and he was going to junk it, 1996 for $200. We spent the afternoon taking turns trying to outdo each other on the back lot, smoking the tires. Believe it or not that Radial Tuned Steering felt just as nimble in the worn out car.
3 ปีที่แล้ว +1
GOD DAMN! MAN YOU ARE SO GOD DAMN KNOWLEDGEABLE ! APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU DO SO THANK U.
I owned a '71 T/A for a while in the late 70's, white with blue stripe, automatic. It had about 40K miles on it when I got it. AM radio, power steering, power brakes, tinted glass, deluxe interior and console, no other options. A decent combination of power, handling and looks. A power sliding demon, any corner or curve was very fun. In a straight line it was no HEMI or solid lifter Rat, but decent. I would rail it around and round cloverleafs just for the rush. It did take some work to keep it on the road. Got about 10 miles to the gallon of gas.
Very beautiful car ....... I had one same year I found in a junkyard no tires missing the passenger side door half a motor bad transmission. This is how I learned how to turn a wrench. Miss it should had kept it. Later I bought a 86 t/a miss that one too.
I can remember in 1984 and a just graduated HS senior my very best friend got a bunch of money from his father he never really knew. Any how he bought a black T/A with the T/A 6.6. Before he even rough it home he took to Antonio's race engine builders and spent insane money and had it built to the hilt. Also had them remove the Super Chicken decal and had a custom one painted on the hood, then 6 coats of clear coat. Looked like you could jump into the paint. Had a the baddest custom stereo installed and would actually get so loud it would bust the T-Tops. That fucking car was absolutely insane. I can remember going down the road blasting Queensryche's 84 album. I was so respectvely jellie maybe cause he at the same time bought a Chevy Monza that was damn insane itself. He passed away a few years ago cause he just wouldn't get a C-PAP he desperately needed. I'll still and always will always miss Steve. Memories can be great and or hauntingly depressing.
Rare to see one in such good shape. Most people raw dogged the hell out of them Just about all used ones were junk or built from other cars. My 1st car was a 1971 Mercury Comet. My CB handle was "Roadkill" because I was always broke down on side of the road.
Beautiful and slow. In 1979 I was graduating high school & driving an enormous 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88. My friend worked at Sullivan Pontiac (Illinois). He was driving a brand new 1979 trans am to get its fuel tank topped off. We dragged raced across our high school parking lot (a little over ¼ mile long). My pathetic delta 88 walked away from the brand new Trans Am,. Poor thing was so choked by emissions stuff it could hardly get out of its own way
Hi I used to have the 79 trans am 403 engine automatic and I used to have 81 automatic 301 back in the 80s man I had the fun with this cars so much fun
“It’s a good riding platform, unless you’re going over bumps of any kind. Then, it will jar your spine loose.” LOL. Best car reviews on YouTubhe! Thank you!
Are you going to do a video on the 924 that has been in the background on your last couple? I love your videos BTW, I have seen them all. If I ever move from Bolton in the UK to Florida I'll look you up for a sweet car.
I had the 74, Firebird Esprit back in the day over in the UK it had a 5.7 litre 350 race tuned 4 speed manual.in a straight line it would out drag the 2.8 Toyota supra back in the day but around corners in the wet..forget it!.the noise from those cherry bombs was thunderous,Owned for 8 years and absolutely loved it.
The 75-79 Nova front suspension and subframe assembly were based on the 70-81 F-Body Firebird front suspension and subframe assembly, not the other way around.
My mom and dad had a '79 Trans Am in the early 80's and they told me it was frequently vandalized. Never any damage to the paint, but one time some knucklehead put cinderblocks under the mufflers and they were torn right off as they drove away one day.
I'm gonna roll my odometer back on my 64 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 it's a roller and I'm replacing everything but the frame as far as I can tell rn no drivetrain ect so once I get it resto modded I'm rolling the odometer to 0 just because its mine I'm never selling and its rolled over idk how many times so when I put in a drivetrain from a Escalade I'm gonna have all new everything except car lol and just gonna put mileage as exempt as they do with cars this old
What??? No fuzzy dice or playboy air fresheners?? I would have hung out with you ayday back then or even now lol. What a great video and yes it brings back some great memories..
I have a 77, people used and abused them back in the day. Lots of fun to see the thumbs up. Mustangs and Challengers are intimidated but you know, keep them guessing lol
I had a new 79 T/A back in the day, 6.6 liter version, burned two sets of rear tires off of it in less than 5000 miles and it never spent one minute in the shop for unscheduled maintenance
Originally those headlights were supposed to have motorized doors on them to cover them when they were off but GM bean counters said no way to the cost and they kept them uncovered.My neighbor ordered one of the 1st 79'Formula's in black with gold bottom and tan interior.Sharp car in the day.
Can't believe this one slipped by me, haha Yup I was just getting my drivers license when this beauty was the street king back in the day,, thanks for memory lane bro!
I never had one, but a drove a couple back in the day - none were the 400s. I’m a Ford guy, but always liked the F-body style and the way they drove and handled. I especially appreciated the Trans Am - maybe a “Smokey and the Bandit” thing. I rode tested an 81 with a 305 Chevy back in 82 or so. Automatic. I thought it would have a lesser 301/4V, but apparently the 305s were more available. Again, it handled great, or at least better than everything else I’d ever driven to date, and probably had all the power an 18-19 year old college student really needed... Didn’t get to buy it. I remember a Hot Rod Magazine article from 79 featuring the TA and how the Pontiac 400/4 speed they tested ran a quicker quarter than the flagship Corvette - low 14s. Seems that the 403 versions were more like 16.5s average. I also recall the article stated that Pontiac had holed away something like 10K 400s for the anniversary version of the TA, while the rest got the remaining 400s and 403 Olds. Nice video.
![[Live สด] การออกรางวัลสลากกินแบ่งรัฐบาล งวดวันที่ 16 กรกฎาคม 2567](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/B8gcGM6I6e4/mqdefault.jpg)
Just damn!
Beautiful car.
I still have my mother's.
Bought it for her back in 2002.
I built the pontiac 400 in my garage, kept 4 spd and rebuilt front and rear suspension.
She sewed all new interior herself.
She unfortunately only drove it one time on her birthday.
Passed away the following morning.
But she drove the hell out of it.
Six months later I received a letter in the mail.
Failure to Appear and copy of a 135 mph speeding ticket past
A California Highway Patrol weigh station😁😁
Go Mom!!!
Have that ticket on my wall till this day😃
she sounds incredible 😁
Your mom was way cool! Sorry for your loss.
Thanks, Great Memories… Anyways, mine was the performances, of **& seeing the **76 TA//Black Gold, I fell for:: ordering a **1977 SPECIAL ED/ Hurst Hatches/6.6 L / Velour/ loaded/ ZIEBARTED….fortunately the LOW HP 1977, engine easy to tune-up , ETC …. INTERESTINGLY, by 1997 about unsafe to drive , in N Indiana road salt & inner RUST… STARTED BODY OFF, gave up….remembering , the Salvage GUY paid $100 Me to cart away((* about 20%of value if one **Snowflake GOLD SE Wheel’s, etc)….lot of miles & use!!
Thanks, incredible, Great story & stuff!! Anything more:: options, which TA, PARTS ON! , find out anything else???? Interestingly, I ordered a 77 TA/Special Ed/ Hurst Hatch ( always seeped/ leaked )/ loaded::: building up carefully:: still low on HP, BUT great Speed (!,!) , & HANDLING! * ps ordered in OCT 1976, + all GM Manuel’s/ Zeibart, etc: before “” Smokey & BANDIT MOVIE, ETC. Though did bump into one acquaintances, Movie worker, said he helped Oreo/ Clean the “” Seven + one TA’s) for Movie, (maybe 1985?approx)…
Thanks m ps also,,, What Suspensions did you use… ?? back in the DAY:: 1977-79 , I went KONI, HO PRODUCTS Sway/ Grommets/ Eagles GOODYEAR, ETC…Actually enjoyed working on the TA, ETC..(( ps: I went back to VALVOLINE Racing Oils, as new Pridcts, the MOBIL ONE ALL SYNTHETC ,made a little “”to much noise “” in most ::: Engine operating modes……. Interestingly back to VALVOLINE, NIw **full SYNTHETIC for both our Vehicles ,@ my Mechanics(I cut back most of wrenching at 75 years young,etc…
I'd take a Firebird over a Camaro any day. Not that I hate Camaros, it's just that it's nice to not see yourself coming and going. And the Firebird/Firebird Trans Am of this time was just much better looking.
Heavier duty too.
I liked the Camaro better!
going over a bank lol
They’re the same fucking car
Change the fenders, hood, front and rear plastics and the dashboard, and you have a Camaro.
Bill, you crack me up! Way more entertaining than Doug DeMuro.
Doug is a clown. Bill is awesome
Thomas Michael I can’t stand Doug DeMuro ... he’s too in your face for me 🤪
Who is this guy?!! The car awesome. He seems very
Who is this guy?!! He seems very knowledgeable about Pontiac. But all the rambling on b*******. Is a huge turn off to the video! I wish you'd just shut up! And talk about the car. Show off this car.
Doug DeMuro is an idiot who has no class, knows nothing about cars, but thinks he is a star. Bill is a classy guy, kind of old-school, with a great sense of humor and vast car knowledge.
“It’s the 70s everyone’s into disco, nobodies shooting anyone” lmao love your commentary
Never heard "hicksploitation". Great word.
My dad took me to see Smokey & the Bandit when I was 8. When the Trans Am rolled out I told myself I'm going to own one some day. When I was 20, I took possession of a second owner 77 T/A Auto no T tops and felt like I'd been passed on to heavens gate when I drove it:).
Thanks. Me too. Interestingly, ordered mine in OCT 1976: ( before SMOKEY/ Bandit), got it March 1977((oddly, the MODEL 1976;**Black,*Gold TA got me interested) , & MOTOR TREND . LONG story
Had a Yellow 1976 Trans AM ... purchased it in 1977 ... installed B&M shift kit on the auto transmission, drove it coast to coast was a lot of fun and a great car for the time!
Thank you Bill for the trip down memory lane. I seem to have misplaced my youth...has anyone seen it?
I had an 83 T/A and loved it. Thank you for the trip down memory lane. A great video and review and just love the visit. Thanks Bill! :)
Flying down the highway, laughing at the double nickels sign, hearing the engine roar, blasting "Panama", "I Can't Drive 55", "Highway to Hell", etc. etc. Good times!
Bill you are awesome, love the videos keep them coming you are a true gentleman with a great sense of humour. Takes us back to the old days where we didn't wrap ourselves in foam to prevent getting hurt, we just went and did shit for the fun of it. I miss those days dearly.
me too
had a couple of these in high school. loved them. mullet optional.
😆
😭
@Marcos C Gotta have the mustache and shades to go with that mullet.
one the greatest looking cars ever to come out of america.
its just beautiful.
That's like saying a mullet is the greatest hairstyle of all time . It is an iconic car ... But EXTREMELY cheesy .... Look at this ,then look at a 1958 Bonneville convertible and tell me this is beautiful
@@papimiami1938 theres no accounting for taste, the 58 bonneville is quite literally the car that homer designed in that simpsons episode, overblown and fancy with way too many design features, its a mess, a classless gaudy mess from when american designers were attempting to emulate classy european automobiles but just throwing chrome at it, its not a 55 chevy.
@@deadprivacy and a trans am was in every trailer park well into the 1990s . After that 1-2 %of the original owners actually have a positive net worth enough to drive the price of these shitboxes to ridiculous amount (anything over 1500 dollars) . Ugly , cheaply built , GUTLESS fuel hogs, did not stop and did not steer . This car epitomizes every negative stereotype of American built cars . Yeah any pre 1966 American car is substancially superior
@@papimiami1938 i didnt say it was any good, just a thing of beauty, its when america put their true personality into a car, the rover sd1 for example here in the uk, bags of junk but truly beautiful in a way a snob like yourself could never appreciate.
its not really a stereotype when america has built truly fucking awful cars for its entire existence, every single one bar a couple were , are and always will be heavy, fuel hogging monstrosities, this trans am just represents the peak of that, and is therefore a truly beautiful classic.
if you want quality?
even going pre 66 wont get you that in america, lol.
although ive got a soft spot for a packard or a studebaker.
@@papimiami1938 and the mk1 ford escort was in every travellers camp in the uk well into the 1990s, you cant buy one for less than 20 grand these days.
you are a snob, its not my fault but that trans am, is iconic, unique and truly a thing of beauty, you can keep your 57 belairs and ridiculous plymouth superbirds and that gaudy monstrosity 58 bonneville pimp bus.
These were one of the coolest looking cars! May not have a lot of power but still is a good looking car.
Finally Bill after teasing us with other videos seeing the TransAm behind the scenes! What a beauty What an icon! Love it!!
Loved the commentary! Awesome review. I'm a 23yr retired Army mechanic and just starting to restore my white '79, 275,000 miles, same as this model but 10th anniversary LE 4 wheel disc. Actually 2 working discs, I crimped the rear brake line, poor mans line lock lol. Bought it back in 90 with my GI-bill college fund. Didn't need college, I did need a Trans-Am! Bought it off of my towns retired police chief's daughter. Got honked and waved at by a lot of officers after that. First thing I did was lose all the emissions control crap and took off the AC pump. They had a clause for older cars that said if it was gonna cost over a certain amount to repair the exhaust emissions, you get a pass for free. Not sure if that's still in effect. Plus I had a few friends that worked at state inspection stations. Well after 14 years of sitting in storage, gonna see if she has one more dance left in her. Its not just the car, its all the great memories that go with it! Can't even count how many times that cars been spun around on a wet highway, the Oh-shit bar works, or friends who got tickets in that car, but two DWI's that I know of. Not to mention blood sweat tears and knuckle busters to keep it on the road :-D Thanks for a great ride down memory lane!
Didn’t Jim Rockford from Rockford files drive a nice gold version I always loved that car. 👌
He drove a 75 firebird I believe
@@borismcgillicutty3042 Looked to me like he drove what would be equal to the Berlineta edition of the Camaro. Like the luxury edition. I don't think I ever saw Rockford do a big burn out? But I didn't watch the show that much.
@@dwoodog i watched it a lot in the 70s I honestly don't remember ......i remember the car and the cheesy intro with James garner...guess it was better than driving a pinto or a Ltd back then
@@dwoodog whatever year it was definitely pre 79 like 75 I'm pretty aure, maybe 74....but it was the type with no spoiler, more of the generic firebird. They had a camaro v6 like that too in the 70s...slower than dog sh/t
He drove formulas trimed out as an esprit for the show
This is a great video. You really summed up what it was like to have this car. I used my discharge money from the Army in the late 90s to buy my dream car, a 1980 Firebird Esprit that was untouched and owned by a school teacher. After that I was able yo buy a 1980 Turbo and a 1976 Super Duty (parts cars) to make a car I loved. A 1980 firebird with a 1976 super duty and sexy ass 1980 turbo interior/ hood. Your description of this car is perfect and I am glad you made it so future generations can see what it was like to grab one of these when time allowed us kids were able to afford them and fuck with them.
All those references to that movie brings back a lot of memories. As a kid I loved that movie - and I like that type of oldschool car to this day. Thanks for making my day.
Had a 79 with a 455 when I was 17. It passed everything except the gas station...
Did you replace the engine? Or did you get it that way with the engine already changed out?
@@johnb2370 I got it that way. The person before my friend that I bought it from put a 76 Pontiac 455 in it, awesome saphire pearl paint, chrome roll bar, different wheels and a few other things. It was a T-top car. One of the many cars I regret not holding onto....
@Sean Gavin Probably didn't have a 455 ci engine then.. lol..
You guys keep the best cars in the world in stock. My niece is a resident in sunny Florida. I can't wait to come down for a visit. Well done. Keep up the great work.
One of the best test drives on TH-cam. That means never change that camera angle and make those drives longer brother!
Miami SWL Radio ))l
Please! Ramble on! Every time I watch your channel, I tell my wife I’m going to school. I learn so much from you, and I’m older, and I used to think I was a car buff! Some of the stories you tell, I’ve already hard, but I like the way you tell it, better!
Brutally honest. Finally someone who knows cars who can tell me what the hell happened in the mid 70s to the early 80s. I had a1973 Charger SE with a 440 magnum. The last year.
403 was an underrated motor . lots of low end torque in its day. Delorean was arrested for dealing drugs and it was a full front page story. When all charges were dropped it was a paragraph somewhere in the back.
I owned A 400 4 SPEED 79 T/A FROM 1980 TO 1992..... have owned a 79 Olds 403 T/A since 2000........the Olds 403 is faster
in the quarter mile (15.9 versus 15.3) and gets better gas mileage.
@@winstonmccollum8992 The Pontiac would chew the 403 without breaking a sweat... Good Lord...
Was given my mother’s 74 camero 350 it had a/c amfm. I got it in 79 with 18 thousand miles! My first car. Wish I still had it.
I sooooooo wanted to buy one. I was 23 at the time. There was an orange/red one with the same interior at Boas Pontiac in SF. The things that prevented me from buying it was it didn’t have the tilt wheel and I didn’t have a covered garage. It would have been reckless. Instead, I saved the money for a house.
Love how you bring the history and the weaponry
I remember the day I went to buy my 79 T/A in the late 80's. Mine was exactly like this one except for silver exterior, light blue interior, and WS6 suspension. I never forget the feeling of that first trip home!
I must say of all the car sales men I watch on TH-cam, you are the only one that points out the good places to put your hand guns
Great history lesson by BILL including DeLorean lineage. Love it! This man knows his cars!
as always great test ride by bill. nice original car. over here in the netherlands they go fore €12000-€30000 depending on shape and originality. in general the transams cost indeed more than the formula. the 1981 turbo is very rare over here.
Hey Bill, thanks for this! This video is very educational, informative, and entertaining! That car is a true classic, it must have been a blast to drive! I look forward to seeing more of your videos! You just earned a new subscriber! :)
This lockdown is making me mad luckily videos like this are keeping me entertained....thankyou
This salesman does a great job with the story behind the car. And it doesn't feel rehearsed.
Nice bird and a survivor. I bought a new a 78 with the T/A 6.6 220 hp (W72). The Red 8” Snowflakes are not a factory option. They were either gold or silver. These were fun cars to drive. I disagree that a Honda Accord would out handle.
You do the best reviews on TH-cam! This is awesome!
My first car was also a '79 Trans Am. Got it from my Uncle, the original owner. Mine was also white on red but with a gold screamin' chicken and a hard-top. Was nowhere near the pristine shape of this beast, as I got mine in 2004. The gutless Olds 403 wasn't meant for racing but cruising, not to say it couldn't embarrass someone at a stop light. Had an early 80s Pioneer cassette deck and matching 6x9 speakers, still worked and sounded great. Interior was pretty damn worn out by the California sun and it smelled like a damp, oily shop rag. GM quality everyone!
Now I've got a 2002 Firebird, the last year for the breed. That Buick 3.8 pulls _hard_ compared to that Olds V8. Can't wait to strap a supercharger to it.
Laughed when the tach quit when he first pulled out! Super nice, well preserved machine just the same. LOVE that shaker hood! Don't see it on the AEN site any more so it must have sold, hopefully new owner is happy.
I saw that too
Thanks for the amazing showcase. I WILL get my hands on a gen 2 Trans Am someday... gotta finish college first! :P
You and me both
Loved this video.. my first car was the white special edition 1979... (i turned 16 in '87) same car except i had blue interior. loved the flashback it brought.. thank you.
Has anyone ever asked to just come down and meet you, just talk with you? Can't afford the jag. But maybe something. I enjoy these videos so much. Thanks Bill
Not my first car, but the first car I bought purely out of lust. A '79 T/A that was metallic blue with no screaming chicken decals that is to this day the best looking car I've owned. That's an awesome car and the condition is stunning!! What a find...
Funny how this brought a smile to my face. Well Done Bill. Well done.
I'm definitely coming over to take it for a drive Bill.
Love your videos Bill. If I may make one suggestion..(and you may be doing this already in newer videos).. Maybe after the review or before the review you can take some walkaround footage of the car that you can edit into the part of the video where you're talking about the history of the cars and other important ramblings. This is just so we can be looking at more than one angle of the car while we listen.
My first car was also a 79 Formula. Miss her so much. It was 11 years old when I got her. Had the 403 olds. I took out the smog control, removed catalytic converter put a shift kit in the TH350 and put a 373 posi. Was able to run mid 14s at the bracket pizza races. Thought it was hot shit back then
I loved Ponch's gold TA, glad to see you acknowledging that lol!
That's an amazing car! I had a '79 T/A, a 66k mile original in Lucerne Blue w/white interior. There was one thing I could never figure out about the 403-powered T/A though, and that's the hood scoop. All of the cowl induction/ram air parts were there from the factory, but for some weird reason, Pontiac didn't cut out the back of the hood scoop to make it functional. I did on mine
GM did that, because it would not pass noise pollution law.
1979 GM 6.6 litre V-8: 185 horsepower.
2020 GM 2.0 litre Turbo I-4: 250 horsepower. And 35 MPG.
Fuck that 4 cylinder piece of shit, turbo is gonna die at 120k .
Ok.. Thats genration hasnt fuel injection "electrical" but pure Exhaust sound and pure power. If you miss the turbo you can change it to EFI with Computer system then add the turbo. You will get more than 500.
That video brought back a lot of memories ! I had a 80 firebird i bought in Las Vegas in 85 ...One of the best cars i have ever owned . It looked just like your 79 with the exception of the chicken and the shaker hood . In 80 they had Yellowbird , Redbird , Bluebird and severla others . I had the Yellowbird ...Same interior except it was light brown . 305 ci engine .
Was always a trans Am man....
Great car and great commentary. I smiled all the way through.
Very entertaining and well spoken. Love it! I like the 2nd gen but I was always more of a 3rd gen Firebird guy.
New listener and viewer..Dude you are good at this! New 1996 Formula owner here and you have a cool cut to your jib lol
Had a silver 79 T/A with the same interior.. loved it. The only draw back was the seats don't recline
I agree... had a 77 T/A and that was the only thing I didn't like as well. The seats could have been better but other than that an awsome car even today.
i dont know why it took so long for car manufacturers to do that....id kill for reclining seats in an older car.
I never really thought about it until this video and don't get me wrong, I love it. But a huge bird decal that takes up the whole entire hood, from the factory, is so wonderfully insane. It really makes the whole car though. I can't think of any other car that had a decal like that. Racing stripes would be the closest thing I can think of. '76 and the 77- '78 where my favorites.
I was the luckiest teenager in 1978-79; I worked at the local Pontiac dealer as a car washer and mostly on the used lot but sometimes those cars were delivered new with broken windows from that plant in Tarrytown, NY; kids would throw rocks at the trucks that delivered them. (Have you noticed trains now have aluminum shields on the sides? Hillbilly's would swill beer and shoot them these days.) All the cars had 2.5 to 2.7 miles on them. You're right, they were smogged down and slow compared to some the 1967-71 cars on the used lot but that radial tuned steering and a 4 speed made driving them a joy. I would occasionally drive a new one with a dent or broken window to the body shop 5 miles away and then my job was "Test Pilot". After a few years the T-tops always leaked. While working for another dealer later in life as a buyer/wholesaler we had a kid who worked there who owned a rusty one like yours with 180K miles and he was going to junk it, 1996 for $200. We spent the afternoon taking turns trying to outdo each other on the back lot, smoking the tires. Believe it or not that Radial Tuned Steering felt just as nimble in the worn out car.
GOD DAMN! MAN YOU ARE SO GOD DAMN KNOWLEDGEABLE ! APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU DO SO THANK U.
i had a couple of these back in the day . i a black one with no bird on the hood . just beautiful
What a great car this is. Looks and sounds brilliant. Would certainly turn a few heads driving one of these here in Scotland!
I owned a '71 T/A for a while in the late 70's, white with blue stripe, automatic. It had about 40K miles on it when I got it. AM radio, power steering, power brakes, tinted glass, deluxe interior and console, no other options. A decent combination of power, handling and looks. A power sliding demon, any corner or curve was very fun. In a straight line it was no HEMI or solid lifter Rat, but decent. I would rail it around and round cloverleafs just for the rush. It did take some work to keep it on the road. Got about 10 miles to the gallon of gas.
Very beautiful car ....... I had one same year I found in a junkyard no tires missing the passenger side door half a motor bad transmission. This is how I learned how to turn a wrench. Miss it should had kept it. Later I bought a 86 t/a miss that one too.
Great job Bill I had a blue one just like it and that brought back old memories for me
Love your channel keep up the good work
Great Ride to style in. Thanks for posting.
I can remember in 1984 and a just graduated HS senior my very best friend got a bunch of money from his father he never really knew. Any how he bought a black T/A with the T/A 6.6. Before he even rough it home he took to Antonio's race engine builders and spent insane money and had it built to the hilt. Also had them remove the Super Chicken decal and had a custom one painted on the hood, then 6 coats of clear coat. Looked like you could jump into the paint. Had a the baddest custom stereo installed and would actually get so loud it would bust the T-Tops. That fucking car was absolutely insane. I can remember going down the road blasting Queensryche's 84 album. I was so respectvely jellie maybe cause he at the same time bought a Chevy Monza that was damn insane itself. He passed away a few years ago cause he just wouldn't get a C-PAP he desperately needed. I'll still and always will always miss Steve. Memories can be great and or hauntingly depressing.
Rare to see one in such good shape. Most people raw dogged the hell out of them Just about all used ones were junk or built from other cars. My 1st car was a 1971 Mercury Comet. My CB handle was "Roadkill" because I was always broke down on side of the road.
These reviews are funnier than a lot of stand-up comedy!
Beautiful and slow. In 1979 I was graduating high school & driving an enormous 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88. My friend worked at Sullivan Pontiac (Illinois). He was driving a brand new 1979 trans am to get its fuel tank topped off. We dragged raced across our high school parking lot (a little over ¼ mile long). My pathetic delta 88 walked away from the brand new Trans Am,. Poor thing was so choked by emissions stuff it could hardly get out of its own way
I love the way the front ends feel in these cars!
Hi I used to have the 79 trans am 403 engine automatic and I used to have 81 automatic 301 back in the 80s man I had the fun with this cars so much fun
I've never heard Bill so genuinely enjoying himself while driving a car.
My man is IT; Love your videos. Informative AND hilertaining!!! LOL
Engine turned dash like the spirit of St. Louis plane
“It’s a good riding platform, unless you’re going over bumps of any kind. Then, it will jar your spine loose.” LOL. Best car reviews on YouTubhe! Thank you!
Are you going to do a video on the 924 that has been in the background on your last couple? I love your videos BTW, I have seen them all. If I ever move from Bolton in the UK to Florida I'll look you up for a sweet car.
I had the 74, Firebird Esprit back in the day over in the UK it had a 5.7 litre 350 race tuned 4 speed manual.in a straight line it would out drag the 2.8 Toyota supra back in the day but around corners in the wet..forget it!.the noise from those cherry bombs was thunderous,Owned for 8 years and absolutely loved it.
Very interesting and informative love your channel
One of the best comics on TH-cam right here!
Yes, Bill should take his act on the road. Oh wait, he has! lol
Bill , could listen to you all day
I'm a big Firebird Tans am fan, Great video and great presentation, I enjoyed it.
The 75-79 Nova front suspension and subframe assembly were based on the 70-81 F-Body Firebird front suspension and subframe assembly, not the other way around.
A lot of history from you Bill about The Trans Am. If this dealership ever lose you, there in trouble.
Love your videos man, would love this car, full of old school cool. Stay safe from UK
My mom and dad had a '79 Trans Am in the early 80's and they told me it was frequently vandalized. Never any damage to the paint, but one time some knucklehead put cinderblocks under the mufflers and they were torn right off as they drove away one day.
Any Car Dealer knows damn well there’s no telling what the mileage is with a pre-1981, five digit odometer, pre-digital service records automobile.
IT'SME They can’t turn back Carfax records, or dealer service records.
I'm gonna roll my odometer back on my 64 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 it's a roller and I'm replacing everything but the frame as far as I can tell rn no drivetrain ect so once I get it resto modded I'm rolling the odometer to 0 just because its mine I'm never selling and its rolled over idk how many times so when I put in a drivetrain from a Escalade I'm gonna have all new everything except car lol and just gonna put mileage as exempt as they do with cars this old
@William Schwartz Carfax is only for '81 or newer....requires the 17 character vin
And that's why the condition of the car can be the telltale sign on whether or not the odometer reading is accurate.
look at the pedals and overall shape of the interior.
I've had three '79 Formulas. And I'd dearly love to have a fourth. Fun, pretty cars.
Best year in the TA history. My cousin owned one. Grant Brown Buick Cadillac Toronto, ON
What??? No fuzzy dice or playboy air fresheners?? I would have hung out with you ayday back then or even now lol. What a great video and yes it brings back some great memories..
I have a 77, people used and abused them back in the day. Lots of fun to see the thumbs up. Mustangs and Challengers are intimidated but you know, keep them guessing lol
The firebird was one of my childhood favorites
This was my dream car when I was in high school and got a 1981 Turbo T/A in 90. It was very slow car but I loved it.
I actually bought one of these when I was 16 since then I've loved it
I had a new 79 T/A back in the day, 6.6 liter version, burned two sets of rear tires off of it in less than 5000 miles and it never spent one minute in the shop for unscheduled maintenance
Originally those headlights were supposed to have motorized doors on them to cover them when they were off but GM bean counters said no way to the cost and they kept them uncovered.My neighbor ordered one of the 1st 79'Formula's in black with gold bottom and tan interior.Sharp car in the day.
Can't believe this one slipped by me, haha
Yup I was just getting my drivers license when this beauty was the street king back in the day,, thanks for memory lane bro!
I never had one, but a drove a couple back in the day - none were the 400s. I’m a Ford guy, but always liked the F-body style and the way they drove and handled. I especially appreciated the Trans Am - maybe a “Smokey and the Bandit” thing. I rode tested an 81 with a 305 Chevy back in 82 or so. Automatic. I thought it would have a lesser 301/4V, but apparently the 305s were more available. Again, it handled great, or at least better than everything else I’d ever driven to date, and probably had all the power an 18-19 year old college student really needed... Didn’t get to buy it. I remember a Hot Rod Magazine article from 79 featuring the TA and how the Pontiac 400/4 speed they tested ran a quicker quarter than the flagship Corvette - low 14s. Seems that the 403 versions were more like 16.5s average. I also recall the article stated that Pontiac had holed away something like 10K 400s for the anniversary version of the TA, while the rest got the remaining 400s and 403 Olds. Nice video.
Brilliant review, you had me laughing and smiling from ear to ear.
Hey Bill, If you'll think back for a moment you'll remember that plastic front end showed up first on the 69 GTO. 👍