[MikeNoun]

Warren, great story!!

When brother went to pick up his new 79 Trans Am S/E, I, along with my other brother, wandered around the dealership showroom looking for brochures, etc. while my dad and my oldest brother were signing all the papers. I remember standing in the showroom watching one of those old GM promotional films on the videoscreen showing the 1979 Pontiac lineup. I hoped to see Special Edition on the screen. To my surprise, up pops the 10th Anniversary! I watched and listened to the description; special interior, seats, wheels, carpet, hood bird, unique paint job......I was stunned. When my brother finished with his paperwork, and we were all set to go, I told him what I saw on the filmstrip. Being naive, I thought my brother would immediately turn around and order a 10th Anniversary instead, and leave his S/E at the dealer! Looking back on that situation, I guess I rained on his parade a bit. He had waited for months to get his special ordered S/E, and the day he picks it up, I'm ranting and raving about some limited edition silver/charcoal car that I thought looked incredible!

To all you 79 Trans Am guys out there, does anyone have a photo of a black/blue bird/blue interior car? I saw in another (older) thread that someone said they ordered one like that, but I would just love to see a photo.

[MikeNoun]

Here's a nice shot....circa 1980.

[Last4004spdTA]

I think now it would be harder to find a true 79 Y84 W72 T/A rather than a 79 TATA also more valueable and in my opinion its beter looking

[Last4004spdTA]

I think now it would be harder to find a true 79 Y84 W72 T/A rather than a 79 TATA also more valueable and in my opinion its beter looking, even production numbers aside as most TATAs were preserved since day one

[Warren Seale]

Originally Posted by Last4004spdTA

Cool story warren, my buddy down here in cincinnati, ohio ordered a 79 400 4spd T/A in 10/78 and waited untill 3/79 and the dealer finnaly called him and said his car come in and when he went to look at it , it was a 403 A/T They could not get any more 400 4spds, so he waited a few days as at first he did not want it, finnaly days latter he deciced to buy it drove it home and drove it for a few months untill winter of 79 and has not drove it much since then today it has 4252 miles. Fast foward 30 years latter we found a 79 TATA 400 4spd car with 825 miles and the kicker of the whole thing is that it was sold new at the same dealer MARSH PONTIAC in 4/79

Based on what you are saying, maybe my dealer was telling the truth. They were probably not allocated a 400/4 spd car, so I lost. In know the TATA cars were definitely allocated.

[WarbirdTA]

Nice stories all!
I'll have to find some time to write something..........

George ;cool:

[chicagoland]

1979 seemed like the end of performance cars, with the last 400 ci 'Birds.

My HS Grad year, 4-ever Class of 79!

[Pontiac Inc.]

i've got some 80's pics too. let me find them, if i can scan them, i will post (subscribed too)

[John V.]

Sometime around April/May '79, I was driving a '73 TA 4 spd and reading how this was to be the end of the line for the Pontiac motor. Somehow my m-i-l to be learned that I was interested in a new '79. She knew a sales guy at Eddie Ruch Pontiac in Wheaton, Ill, and she arranged for me to go see him.

It was an ancient dealership. He took me up to what I remember was like a poorly lit 3rd floor, where they warehoused some of their inventory indoors, I just thought it was weird. He had a dark blue 4 spd, loaded, T-Tops, A/C, WS6, power everything etc. etc. I remember being disappointed that it felt very much like my '73 when I sat in it. But it was just what I wanted EXCEPT it did not have some very minor thing, my recollection was it didn't have Roof Drip Rail Molding.

Anyway, I told him that I preferred to Order one. Same dark blue, camel tan velour interior and every option offered. He said fine, he said he would put the Order in and see if it came thru. It never did for somewhat obvious reasons, I'm not even sure he bothered to enter the Order.

I always have regretted not taking the one he had in the building.

I've often wondered if anybody here eventually purchased that car from Ruch.

A year later I got myself T-boned in the '73 and gave that car away. Haven't owned a TA since, much to my regret. Just as well, it would have been a driver and I probably would have wrecked it or watched it slowly disintegrate, ravaged by road salt.

[Last4004spdTA]

cool story, thats how i feal now drive my 79 Bonnie 2dr everyday guess you have to enjoy it somehow, nice story on the 79 T/A,