The 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am and 10th Anniversary Trans Am received striking front - and - rear facelifts . That admit a no - grille coming into court in an elongated nose , flanked by inset quad rectangular headlamps . A urethane molding held the recessed head - lamp , with horizontal louvre below ( at bumper level ) .
Pontiac Firebird Image Gallery
At the prat lurked a full - breadth taillamp , which seemed to disappear in day . Front and rear spoilers were install , and wide-cut fender skirts could embrace fattertires .
Firebird Formulas carried Pontiac ’s little - block , two - barrel 301 - cid V-8 , packing 140horsepower ; Trans Ams used Oldsmobile ’s 403 , rat at 185 bhp . Lower - stave Firebirds might have the Buick V-6 , a 150 - bhp four - gun barrel 301 V-8 , or Chevrolet - built 305 .
A final batch of 400 - cid V-8s , skilful for 220 horsepower , was stuffed into engine compartments of 10th Anniversary Trans Ams , extend a measured " 6.6 Liter " appointment . ( product had halted in 1978 , but a few were saved for this limited - variation . )
jade silver / charcoal blusher , silver hatch - roof venire , and matching argent leather upholstery , those Limited Editions sell for a whopping $ 10,620 – the first Firebird to spend 10 G – yet 7,500 went to customers . That was in gain to 109,609 regular Trans Ams , account for more than one-half of Firebird output .
Never before ( or since ) have so many Firebirds entered customers ' hands as in 1979 , when 211,454 roll off the assembly melodic phrase .
Pontiac promoted the Trans Am as " Our good of breed , " whether or not it swank a " cry bird of Jove decal . “Brakeswould get more tending as the 1980s near , and four - wheel disc became optional on Formulas and Trans Ams for the first time .
