I remember seeing one of these in Ireland (Lucan, County Dublin) in 1990, I was 14 yrs old. Same colour. An older local lad in school had told me about it, when myself and a friend found it our jaws dropped. It was sitting in the owners driveway with the bonnet up, great memory 👍.
Hi Aidan, Happy to read this car brings back memories of the car you saw in Ireland :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Pontiac Trans AM is a BEAUTY. I like Trans Am very much. Thanks LOU for sharing this great video. Appreciate your hard efforts showing all varieties of beautiful cars. Please have a nice day. THANKS LOU
Lou Costabile thank you soooo much posting this, you have totally made my day! 79 TA 400/4 speed/WS6 in Atlantis Blue with the black hobnail cloth interior is my dream car!!! I'm gonna be on the hunt for 1 now! This brings back great memories...I had a canary yellow 80 TA Turbo back in the day, I miss my Big Bird soooo much.
Hey Steve! I saw this video 4 years ago before I bought my Trans Am. I didn't even realize that when I met you a couple years ago a FirebirdFest. Still looking great!
"...in the right place at the right time," destiny!! Always enjoy hearing someone got their dream car... and so well taken care of! The firebird on front is awesome and the Atlantis Blue is lovely! Really great story! Thank you!!!!
For the pedants amongst us...The WS6 Suspension Package option available on the 1978 through 1981 Trans Am helped the nose heavy sport coupé to have a more neutral feel under "real world" driving conditions and handle as well or better than any other American car of its time. The WS6 package was first available in 1978 and included 15" x 8.0" aluminum "snowflake" wheels shod with 225/70R15 Goodyear tyres, 1 1/4" front anti-roll bar with hard plastic bushings, 3/4" rear anti-roll bar, stiffer rear springs, stiffer rear shackle bushings, firmer damper valves, close ratio steering and lower control arm supports.The WS6 package was upgraded in 1979 to include 4 wheel disc brakes with 11.1" rotors and 14:1 constant ratio steering box instead of the 15:1 - 13:1 variable ratio unit. A 1980 Trans Am equipped with the WS6 package generated 0.81 g lateral acceleration on the skid pan (Car & Driver, September 1979). Source : texastransam.com Note to Lou : most of my American colleagues are still working on their English, too.. Another fine video which tempted me to learn more about American cars. Thank you !
I've always been a Chevy guy and my first car was an 81 Z28 when I was in my senior year of high school back in 1990. Feeling nostalgic, looking back, these T/As are f'n awesome.
Hi mikejessmax , Nice 1st car in High School :-) Happy to read this episode brings back some memories, and I hope you see MANY more cars on this Channel you enjoy, Lou
This brought back memories...fifteen years ago, I had the opportunity to buy one for $2,500 in a nearby small town...same engine/transmission/color, but a Special Edition. I still kick myself. Also, Pontiac built 10,000 extra T/A 6.6 engines in '78 for the '79 run since '78 was gonna be the last year for the Pontiac 400.
Hi Keith Coppage, Glad this brought back memories. Rather then kick yourself, here is what I suggest. Every night before bed, take a few deep breaths and watch this video (maybe a couple of time) and this will give you pleasant dreams. Much better to go to bed with a smile on your face rather then a foot in your rear :-) Lou
@Brian Cabral The base 400 was only available in 1977 and 1978, and would have also said "6.6 LITRE" on the scoop, as well as the 403 from 1977-1979 which also said "6.6 LITRE". They made 180hp, not 185. The Olds 403 made 185hp. Also in '79, there is no base 400. All '79 400s are W72 engines that were leftover from 1978 and stockpiled for the '79 model year. Some '79 destined engines (like mine) were made as early as 1977. The '79 400 was coded PWH. In '77, the W72 made 200hp. In '78-'79, it made 220hp. You could get an automatic 400 or a manual 400 in 1977 and 1978. In '79, they were all manual transmission. You could get an automatic W72 in '77 and '78. All W72 cars said "T/A 6.6" on the scoop.
I bought a 79 TA back in the early 80's. Mine was gold and it was amazing. I was heart broken when a Jaguar turned in front of me while I was doing 50 mph. Needless to say the car was totaled. I moved on to Fiero's after that. I still have my 88 GT that I bought in late 87.
Among 400 Pontiac equipped cars in 1979, the rarest go in this order: 346 Formulas, 1,107 Black Special Edition Y84 cars, 1,817 10th Anniversary Y89 cars and then the balance of 400 production was split between non T-top regular non-SE cars (2,485) and then T-top non-SE cars (2,917). This is one of those 2,917. That's a total of 8,672 Pontiac 400 equipped cars for 1979. GM made 116,535 Trans Ams in 1979. That means only roughly about 8% of the total production (8672/116,535) had 400 engines. The balance were Olds 403 (the lion's share) and 301 Pontiac (this engine got you a credit, not many ordered them).
Hi Google User GP , Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge. Hope you see many more cars on this RUclips Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Have never seen the breakdown of ‘79 W72’s with and without T-Tops. It is hard to believe the proper engine was under the hood of so many T-Topless T/A’s. Why haven’t ‘79 W72, WS6, equipped with T-Tops and Hobnail Cloth seat’s appreciated more in value? So few made while so many love them. Mine is Nocturne Blue with Camel but sans Power Locks with matching numbers and only 15k original miles. Had the cat pulled out and a Gardner Exhaust System installed to get every horse of power which the NHRA rated at 260 hp actual as opposed to factory rated, wink, wink, 220.
Hi Sky1, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your 80 Formula :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Oh Lou I love Pontiacs and this is my most favorite body style of the Trans Am! I love the options on this car and I would have liked the automatic but I would take this anytime! He had a gorgeous gorgeous car! Thanks for another great car story!
What a beautiful car! I love the color and the options. I'm guessing it had power windows in addition to power locks because I didn't see a window crank -- the buttons must be in the center console somewhere. Thanks, Lou!
Not a GM or Pontiac guy at all, but I’ve always wanted a trans am or GTO judge. The trans am is one of the best body styles ever made. My uncle had the same exact one from Smokey in the bandit. Same color and everything. He bought it wrecked and rebuilt it back to original spec.
Hi john doe, Happy to read you appreciate this car & cool your Uncle had a "Smokey & the Bandit TA too:-) Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Hi turbotransam1980, Seems me and some amazing Trans Am's have been showing up at the same place and the same time :-) when I see ones I like, you will too, Lou
Put 255/60r/15 on it fill the fender wells up makes it loook10 times better I had 5of these cars and one was silver anniversary and one was smokey and the bandit edition
Great job Lou again.. who IN HELL would give you a negative review? Someone that wants the car and they can't afford one I guess.. Great speaking with you today buddy..
Hi BR Speedy's Garage, Generally I find them in my travels. Mostly I meet people at car shows or when I'm in a town I share I'd like to stop at their museum, restoration shop, or house to video cars. Sometimes they contact me to show me there car to video. Hope that helps, Lou
Hi Douglas Schramm, Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge. Hope you see many more cars on this RUclips Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Hi Peter, Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge. Hope you see many more cars on this RUclips Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Yes I ordered a 1978 Pontiac Trans Am automatic still have the Pontiac motor 400 but it was terrible off the line but it would run a hundred miles an hour from here to Kingdom Come and never heat up mine was blue with blue velour but the workmanship was terrible the trunk weight I put three transmissions in it in 80,000 miles brakes were terrible fit and trim were average but it was a looker
Yeah the usually had a 2.41 gear so not gonna do much off the line, maybe without A/C they would have given you a 3.23 and that would be a whole different ball game.
Such a beautiful car, it is a v shame they only put out low 200's horsepower with all the emissions and smog regs back then. A car like this really performs on the carshow strip though.
I had one with a 403. I put headers a fireball 2 cam and edlebrock performer intake. It had one hell of a lopey and masculine idle and pushed hard till about 4600 rpm. Wish I had that car back!
Boy this one is so desirable 4 speed T-tops luxury interior 8 inch wheels it got all the options that I want. The video guy is doing a bad job it keeps moving fast it's so hard to see the details of the car I had to pause the video because of it made me dizzy .
Hi Peter Mec, Glad you enjoy this desirable car :-) Take an aspirin for that dizzy spell, and see more cars on this RUclips Channel in the morning, Lou
Hi FSEVENMAN, Sometimes the paint on a rubber nose & bumpers like this one cracks, and paint fades. Probably just to freshen the car up I'm guessing. Hope that helped, Lou
I remember seeing one of these in Ireland (Lucan, County Dublin) in 1990, I was 14 yrs old. Same colour. An older local lad in school had told me about it, when myself and a friend found it our jaws dropped. It was sitting in the owners driveway with the bonnet up, great memory 👍.
Hi Aidan, Happy to read this car brings back memories of the car you saw in Ireland :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Pontiac Trans AM is a BEAUTY. I like Trans Am very much. Thanks LOU for sharing this great video. Appreciate your hard efforts showing all varieties of beautiful cars. Please have a nice day. THANKS LOU
HI Hisham ELfiki, Glad you enjoyed this "beauty" :-) Hope you have a nice day too. You're welcome, Lou
Lou Costabile thank you soooo much posting this, you have totally made my day! 79 TA 400/4 speed/WS6 in Atlantis Blue with the black hobnail cloth interior is my dream car!!! I'm gonna be on the hunt for 1 now! This brings back great memories...I had a canary yellow 80 TA Turbo back in the day, I miss my Big Bird soooo much.
HI Billy Moedebeck, You made my day sharing I made your day :-) You're welcome, Lou
Hey Steve! I saw this video 4 years ago before I bought my Trans Am. I didn't even realize that when I met you a couple years ago a FirebirdFest. Still looking great!
Hi Dale, Thanks for viewing and sharing, Lou
"...in the right place at the right time," destiny!! Always enjoy hearing someone got their dream car... and so well taken care of! The firebird on front is awesome and the Atlantis Blue is lovely! Really great story! Thank you!!!!
HI WickedFireFly13, "destiny!!" I like that :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. You're welcome, Lou
For the pedants amongst us...The WS6 Suspension Package option available on the 1978 through 1981 Trans Am helped the nose heavy sport coupé to have a more neutral feel under "real world" driving conditions and handle as well or better than any other American car of its time. The WS6 package was first available in 1978 and included 15" x 8.0" aluminum "snowflake" wheels shod with 225/70R15 Goodyear tyres, 1 1/4" front anti-roll bar with hard plastic bushings, 3/4" rear anti-roll bar, stiffer rear springs, stiffer rear shackle bushings, firmer damper valves, close ratio steering and lower control arm supports.The WS6 package was upgraded in 1979 to include 4 wheel disc brakes with 11.1" rotors and 14:1 constant ratio steering box instead of the 15:1 - 13:1 variable ratio unit. A 1980 Trans Am equipped with the WS6 package generated 0.81 g lateral acceleration on the skid pan (Car & Driver, September 1979). Source : texastransam.com Note to Lou : most of my American colleagues are still working on their English, too.. Another fine video which tempted me to learn more about American cars. Thank you !
HI Andrew Graham, WOW, You are on a roll with the stats on this one :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge, Lou
I still have a Matchbox model of this car in this colour from 1977 ! This is Beautiful, no wonder Steve is "the happy man"
Hi Dave Lister, Fun to see a full size version of your Matchbox :-) Thank you sharing, Lou
This is my TOP car. It doesnt get any better.
High praise for this car :-)
@@loucostabile I'll have it over a 911 or any supercar.. unless I'm given a supercar then I'll sell it and buy more Firebird..
I've always been a Chevy guy and my first car was an 81 Z28 when I was in my senior year of high school back in 1990. Feeling nostalgic, looking back, these T/As are f'n awesome.
Hi mikejessmax
, Nice 1st car in High School :-) Happy to read this episode brings back some memories, and I hope you see MANY more cars on this Channel you enjoy, Lou
I had a 1977, 1979 and 1984 Trans Am. Boy I wish I still had them all.
I bet you had good times with them. :-)
beautiful car! I just bought an 81 trans am in mint condition, I cant wait to get it, it's being trucked in from Minnesota
Hi Brian D, Congratulations! Hope your behind the wheel soon, Lou
T-Top I like it! Atlantis Blue is beautiful! Thank you Lou!
Hi Bad Russian, I like the blue too :-) You're welcome, Lou
I really appreciate you walking around the cars and pointing out special features.
Hi srercrcr, Glad you are enjoying the Channel. I hope you see many more cars you'll enjoy, Lou
This brought back memories...fifteen years ago, I had the opportunity to buy one for $2,500 in a nearby small town...same engine/transmission/color, but a Special Edition. I still kick myself. Also, Pontiac built 10,000 extra T/A 6.6 engines in '78 for the '79 run since '78 was gonna be the last year for the Pontiac 400.
Hi Keith Coppage, Glad this brought back memories. Rather then kick yourself, here is what I suggest. Every night before bed, take a few deep breaths and watch this video (maybe a couple of time) and this will give you pleasant dreams. Much better to go to bed with a smile on your face rather then a foot in your rear :-) Lou
@Brian Cabral The base 400 was only available in 1977 and 1978, and would have also said "6.6 LITRE" on the scoop, as well as the 403 from 1977-1979 which also said "6.6 LITRE". They made 180hp, not 185. The Olds 403 made 185hp. Also in '79, there is no base 400. All '79 400s are W72 engines that were leftover from 1978 and stockpiled for the '79 model year. Some '79 destined engines (like mine) were made as early as 1977. The '79 400 was coded PWH. In '77, the W72 made 200hp. In '78-'79, it made 220hp. You could get an automatic 400 or a manual 400 in 1977 and 1978. In '79, they were all manual transmission. You could get an automatic W72 in '77 and '78. All W72 cars said "T/A 6.6" on the scoop.
I bought a 79 TA back in the early 80's. Mine was gold and it was amazing. I was heart broken when a Jaguar turned in front of me while I was doing 50 mph. Needless to say the car was totaled. I moved on to Fiero's after that. I still have my 88 GT that I bought in late 87.
Hi Mark S., Sorry to read the story of your 79 TA. Glad you're enjoying your 88 Fiero GT, Lou
Among 400 Pontiac equipped cars in 1979, the rarest go in this order: 346 Formulas, 1,107 Black Special Edition Y84 cars, 1,817 10th Anniversary Y89 cars and then the balance of 400 production was split between non T-top regular non-SE cars (2,485) and then T-top non-SE cars (2,917). This is one of those 2,917. That's a total of 8,672 Pontiac 400 equipped cars for 1979. GM made 116,535 Trans Ams in 1979. That means only roughly about 8% of the total production (8672/116,535) had 400 engines. The balance were Olds 403 (the lion's share) and 301 Pontiac (this engine got you a credit, not many ordered them).
Hi Google User GP
, Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge. Hope you see many more cars on this RUclips Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Have never seen the breakdown of ‘79 W72’s with and without T-Tops. It is hard to believe the proper engine was under the hood of so many T-Topless T/A’s. Why haven’t ‘79 W72, WS6, equipped with T-Tops and Hobnail Cloth seat’s appreciated more in value? So few made while so many love them. Mine is Nocturne Blue with Camel but sans Power Locks with matching numbers and only 15k original miles. Had the cat pulled out and a Gardner Exhaust System installed to get every horse of power which the NHRA rated at 260 hp actual as opposed to factory rated, wink, wink, 220.
@@MarkRoberts-bj2me They are going up in value, but the 10th Anniversary and Y84 400 equipped cars are worth more.
I had an 80 Formula with that nose, blue cloth interior, white exterior with silver snowflake rims. Fun car!
Hi Sky1, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your 80 Formula :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
LOVE IT!!!
Hi JoAnne, Happy to read "LOVE IT!!!" :-) Lou
Oh Lou I love Pontiacs and this is my most favorite body style of the Trans Am! I love the options on this car and I would have liked the automatic but I would take this anytime! He had a gorgeous gorgeous car! Thanks for another great car story!
HI Steve Flad, We have a Winner ! :-) Thank you for a wonderful comment, and you're welcome, Lou
Love this stuff. My high school dream car! Just subbed.
Hi Adam, Welcome to the Channel. Happy to read this is your "High School Dream Car!" :-) Please click the "thumb up" of the cars you enjoy, Lou
What a beautiful car! I love the color and the options. I'm guessing it had power windows in addition to power locks because I didn't see a window crank -- the buttons must be in the center console somewhere. Thanks, Lou!
Hi Brian Chappie, Glad you like the looks of this one :-) You're welcome, Lou
this guy hit the jackpot with that car!!
Happy to read this car is a Winner for you :-)
Not a GM or Pontiac guy at all, but I’ve always wanted a trans am or GTO judge. The trans am is one of the best body styles ever made. My uncle had the same exact one from Smokey in the bandit. Same color and everything. He bought it wrecked and rebuilt it back to original spec.
Hi john doe, Happy to read you appreciate this car & cool your Uncle had a "Smokey & the Bandit TA too:-) Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Nice video Lou, I love trans ams, It's pretty cool that you have several new videos featuring these cars lately.
Hi turbotransam1980, Seems me and some amazing Trans Am's have been showing up at the same place and the same time :-) when I see ones I like, you will too, Lou
SWEEEET! Gotta love that exhaust note!
Hi clyde7059, Glad you enjoyed this one and think it's "SWEEEET!" :-) Agreed, good exhaust note, Lou
Drove one loved it
Thank you for viewing and sharing :-)
That's one banging bad 79. While I had owned from brand new martinique blue 78with the weak 6.6 litre, , this is one COOL car,
Hi 74SD455TA, Glad you enjoy this 79. Cool 78 you had too :-) Lou
Thanks Lou
Always enjoy YOU'RE videos
My pleasure whiteoak60
Lou you find the best cars.
Thank you Scott Bivins, Appreciate that, Lou
Beautiful car
Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-)
Wow, this T/A has it all including the rare paint! Looks like the Security Patrol made another cameo appearance. He must be a car guy, too!
Hi TheGunfighter45acp, Glad this one received a "Wow" from you :-) Agreed, the Security Guy is probably a "Car Guy" with good taste, Lou
Beautiful car! Thanks Lou!
Hi Bill Yates, Glad you enjoyed the looks of this one and think it's "beautiful" :-) I do too. You're welcome, Lou
Lou, just picked me up a '79 T/A, rust free. White/gold car. Originally 403 car, but has the PonTon 40p swapped into it
Congratulations! Nice ride :-)
my dream car when i was a little boy i dream of 79 trans am at my absolute dream
Hi Neos Neos, Happy to read this one is a "dream car" for you :-) Lou
Beautiful T/A
HI Aggtown1, Glad you enjoyed this one :-) Lou
Nice ride 👍👍👍👍
Hi Paul Letchworth
, Happy to read you're enjoying this "nice ride" :-) Hope you see many more cars on this RUclips Channel you enjoy, Lou
Sharp car! Great lines, attractive color!
A Winner for sure :-)
Put 255/60r/15 on it fill the fender wells up makes it loook10 times better I had 5of these cars and one was silver anniversary and one was smokey and the bandit edition
Hi Paul, Happy to read you've had 5 of them! NICE :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
Great job Lou again.. who IN HELL would give you a negative review? Someone that wants the car and they can't afford one I guess.. Great speaking with you today buddy..
Hi Mitch Grooms, Glad you enjoyed this one and I enjoyed talking to you too. Thank you for the kind words, it's appreciated :-) Lou
Hey Lou, how do these people get in contact with you for features? Another great car! Thanks.
Hi BR Speedy's Garage, Generally I find them in my travels. Mostly I meet people at car shows or when I'm in a town I share I'd like to stop at their museum, restoration shop, or house to video cars. Sometimes they contact me to show me there car to video. Hope that helps, Lou
beautiful
Hi Kramden, Well said :-) Lou
Vary Cool Car...👍
Hi mike the Knight, Glad you enjoyed this one :-) Hope you see many more on the Channel you'll enjoy, Lou
Had 3 loved them but 403s were a boat anchor
Hi Douglas Schramm, Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge. Hope you see many more cars on this RUclips Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Hey Lou. Lovely looking Firebird Trans Am. :)
Hey Jason Carpp, Glad you enjoyed this one and think it's "lovely" :-) I think so too, Lou
I had a79 just like that one.
Hi bo cat, Glad to read this video reminds you of the car you had, Lou
My father has a blue one i didnt know the blue was rare!
Dad's got a cool car for sure :-)
That's a W72 Pontiac 400. A strong block 988XX
Not sure? Maybe a Viewer can share knowledge.
@@loucostabile Correct, the W72 blocks were 988XX castings.
Cool :)
Glad you enjoyed this one :-)
:)
the 79 did not have the bird on the gas cover.
Hi Peter, Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge. Hope you see many more cars on this RUclips Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Yes I ordered a 1978 Pontiac Trans Am automatic still have the Pontiac motor 400 but it was terrible off the line but it would run a hundred miles an hour from here to Kingdom Come and never heat up mine was blue with blue velour but the workmanship was terrible the trunk weight I put three transmissions in it in 80,000 miles brakes were terrible fit and trim were average but it was a looker
Hi Sam Gango, Sounds like you had a fun car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
Yeah the usually had a 2.41 gear so not gonna do much off the line, maybe without A/C they would have given you a 3.23 and that would be a whole different ball game.
Such a beautiful car, it is a v shame they only put out low 200's horsepower with all the emissions and smog regs back then. A car like this really performs on the carshow strip though.
Hi Erad Negan, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car. Back in 1979 that was quite a bit of HP :-) Lou
People who don't know much always look at the 220hp and think it won't run, like I said, they don't know nor have they ever driven one.
I had one with a 403. I put headers a fireball 2 cam and edlebrock performer intake. It had one hell of a lopey and masculine idle and pushed hard till about 4600 rpm. Wish I had that car back!
Boy this one is so desirable 4 speed T-tops luxury interior 8 inch wheels it got all the options that I want. The video guy is doing a bad job it keeps moving fast it's so hard to see the details of the car I had to pause the video because of it made me dizzy .
Hi Peter Mec, Glad you enjoy this desirable car :-) Take an aspirin for that dizzy spell, and see more cars on this RUclips Channel in the morning, Lou
why would a car with 35000 miles on it need a paint job that makes no sense at all
Hi FSEVENMAN, Sometimes the paint on a rubber nose & bumpers like this one cracks, and paint fades. Probably just to freshen the car up I'm guessing. Hope that helped, Lou