[gtohurstjudge]

I own four collector cars in mint condition......my 69 GTO, a 70 Chevelle SS,
65 Buick Riviera and a 79 Trans Am. In the last ten years my sixties cars have all gone up in
value quite a bit, while the Trans Am just seems to stagnate. At 35 years of age they
aren't yet worth more than the cost of show quality exterior paint and body work and a
set of repro Polysteels. If you restore one of these cars you are instantly way upside down.
I enjoy driving the car, but I'm getting increasingly perturbed that the car hasn't been
a good financial investment. When you figure in the cost of inflation, the value of 79 T/A's
is actually less than ten years ago. I'm wondering if anybody on the forum thinks that these
cars will ever be worth more money than now when they are fifty years old or will they
still be worth less than a used Toyota Camry?

[2manyT/A'S]

Good question......

It wasn't that long ago that 70-73 T/A's seemed to be in a similar limbo..

It seems that 79-81's are the Rodney Dangerfields of 2nd gen T/A's right now...

Most people never accepted the bumper revisions and much prefer the 77/78 style....and then there's the Smokey and the Bandit thing on those years...

Don't know which engine & options your 79 has,but unless it's a W72/WS6/SE with T-tops...there doesn't seem to be much demand...

Pontiac guys STILL want a Pontiac under the hood....90,000 were built with 403 Olds engines.

Wasn't THAT long ago that 10k would get you a NICE low mile 77/78 survivor car.....

Now they seem to be trading in the 20-30K range...with the right colors and options..
Hopefully the 79's time will come...

[W72-Bandit]

They built 117k T/As that year, there are still a bunch out there. Like 2many states, unless its a W72 car, they just don't bring the big bucks and even most W72 cars don't bring super big bucks unless its a low mile virgin of some kind. All that said I've seen your car in person several times and it is one of the finest 79 403 T/As out there. In fact it was the first nut and bolt resto of a 79 T/A I ever saw(PSN '95). I was in awe. Try not to think of it as an investment, just have fun with it. If your like me, you've had it long enough that its worth more than you have in it anyway.

[gtohurstjudge]

I don't care that it isn't a very valuable car, what bothers me is that isn't
appreciating like a sporty car of that age normally would. I can't think of another sporty
car that is that good looking and that much fun to drive that goes year after year
without getting more valuable. At 35 years of age the market was going crazy on
the GTO and Chevelle with values climbing every year. It seems to me that it would make
a lot more financial sense to swap it for another 60's collector car. I am totally puzzled
why 60's mustangs are worth so much. They made a zillion of them, the 403 will blow
the doors off a 289 and the T/A is a much better driving, much better looking car. Actually,
if you figure in inflation, a 79 T/A is worth much less in perfect restored condition today
than it was when it was a new car back in 79. Very disappointing to say the least. It's
as if the collector car market fell off a cliff after 1973. It was pointed out above that they made a lot
of Trans Ams back in 79. That may very well be but there aren't very many perfect ones around today....
there are 500 perfect camaros or mustangs from 69 for every perfect 79 T/A and nice ones are very
rare and hard to find. They ought to be worth more than the price of a paint job. Back in the late 90's
I thought these cars were poised for takeoff as far as value is concerned when they hit 25 years of age but it never
happened. They are a screaming bargain if you want to buy a perfect collector car without spending
much cash.

[Ben M.]

Originally Posted by gtohurstjudge

They are a screaming bargain if you want to buy a perfect collector car without spending much cash.

And I think this is important. What other bigger cube performance car can you get after 1972 that is delivers the bang for the buck? The '73-77 A-bodies and the 2nd generation Trans Am really are it (especially after 1976). That they are cheap and easy to get into speaks to a generation of kids who have been priced out of the GTO and early Firebird world and would probably have gone into the 5.0 Fox Body Mustangs instead.

I secretly hoped my cars would one day be worth more money, but reality is that unless you've got a highly desirable drivetrain combo from the factory, most "muscle cars" just aren't worth that much money (crazy BJ-influenced owners notwithstanding).

[Grand73Am]

I agree that a really nice 79 TA should bring a good price. I also agree with the analysis so far. Another reason for the perception of lower value may just be that there hasn't been a history of high prices paid for 79's, and most buyers tend to look at what has been paid for certain cars in the past as a way of deciding value. The high dollar muscle car era cars have that history. Same thing has happened with late 70's Corvettes, I believe. It's good for the buyer who recognizes how much fun these cars can be, but not a good "investment" for owners so far. But, I wouldn't necessarily look at what the price guides say it's worth. I think you could still get a good price. All it takes is one buyer that sees, and really likes and wants your "like new" 79...someone whose desire for your car isn't governed by what somebody else thinks it should be worth...just by what it's worth to him.
While it seems most people like the older TA's better, 79's are my favorite. It's really the only year that I wanted when I decided to buy a TA. Now, I have 3. I liked the new look of them when they came out new, but I had a Corvette at the time. I just buy 'em because I like 'em. That they didn't cost much was a bonus. It would be nice if they go up in value, but it's not the reason I got them. If they never go up in value, it's not that important to me, cause I just like having them, and not interested in selling anyway.
Mine aren't nice yet, like yours apparently is. The 2 that run are still fun to drive in only "junker" condition, and people enjoy seeing and asking about them when I'm out and about. I'll eventually restore one or two of them. Since I can do my own resto work, I won't have a lot of money in them. Doubtful that they'll ever be worth a lot, since they aren't SE's, TATA's, or 4 speed 400's. But, I'll get my value out of them in enjoyment, and by the time I have to part with them(if ever), I won't lose money, since I won't have that much in them. And they probably will have gone up in value by that time.
I've done the same with 73-75 Pontiac A-bodies(73 GA, 73 GTO, and 75 LSC). While they may never be very valuable, I like the style and they also get attention, with people often asking "how much I want for it?". I just tell them, not for sale. But... I might be surprised what somebody would pay, if I actually gave them a price.
Best investment cars I've owned have been 57 Chevy 2 door hardtop BelAirs and Convertibles over the last 30 years. Again, I didn't buy my 57's as investments, but because I bought them when they didn't cost much, I always made good money on every one I owned and eventually sold. And while I love a 57, I'd rather have a 79 TA to drive, and that's just the way it has worked out .

[starlightblack]

I just think you're riding the wrong horse. A 403 auto. car is never going to pull the $$$ of a 10th anniversary or a black or gold W72 4-speed. Both of those cars I just mentioned have traded hands in the 30K range in nice condition. It's not '79s in general...it's the particular '79 you choose to own.

[teeraven]

Dude to be honest, cars are a lousy investment. It's nice that you can have them and enjoy them but eventually sell them if you need the money, but if you're worried about not getting enough return on your investment, sell it and put that money in a mutual fund.

To be honest, you can't really say a car's value has gone up unless you sell it. You might think it's worth X amount of dollars, but just because you think that doesn't mean someone will pay it.

I say own cars you want to own because you want to own them, and don't worry about what they're worth. Invest money in else where if you want a return.

[J GLASGO]

To answer your question on "will a 79 TA ever go up in value?". Yes,the minute I start looking to buy one. They will however go back down when I decide to sell!!

[redonred81]

Well said.When you want one the prices are always high,but then when you want to sell you have to give them away

[pontiacmonstr]

im not sure what number you think the car should be at, but I see 79's all over selling for 15k and more depending on what exactly it is. in my personal opinion, 403 cars are never going to be a lot except for a 10th anniversary car. if it were mine and you want a lot of return, I would make it a black se with a 400 4 spd. you'll get way more as a clone than as a 403 original.

[gtohurstjudge]

some of you are missing the point......other sporty collector cars are increasing
in value all the time when they are 35 years old. It is the normal cycle of collector car
appreciation. 79 Trans Ams are not doing this. Yes I own the car because I like it, but
the fact is at some point I will need to sell when I get too old to drive it and I do care what
it will be worth at that point. Also, if the 403 is such a terrible powertrain, how is it that
they were able to sell 90,000 of them in 79? The 403 is a great engine, gets better gas mileage than the 400 and runs mid fifteens in the quarter. What's not to like?

[J GLASGO]

That it was made by Oldsmobile!

[W72-Bandit]

Overall I think they have increased in value. I've bought and sold 10-12 79s in the last 20 years. I can remember buying very nice ones for 6-7k now a very nice one will run over 20k. I paid 9k for my current SE/400/4spd/WS6 15yrs ago, its undoubtly worth more than that now. I just don't think 79s will ever be worth big (SD) money. The 403 is not a terrible motor, GM sold 90k of them to meet demand, its just that now days most everybody looking for a 79 is wanting the 400/4spd. I suppose because it is rare relatively speaking.

[Scarebird]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

Most people never accepted the bumper revisions...

Looks are subjective, I personally do not think the 79-81 front aged well at all.

[Grand73Am]

I think the bumper revision in 79 was accepted extremely well, at least by the car buying public, since more 79's were sold than any year in history ever, and in spite of most of them having Olds engines .

Everybody's going to have their own tastes. I like some of the styling in other years, but 79's will always be my favorite. I like the style, proportion and blending of the nose into the front end better than any other. And the tail treatment is great too. So I enjoy looking at it, and think it's the epitome of TA styling, and the style that got me to buy one(or 3).

[Larry Navarro]

John and Paul pretty much covered the relative points.

[Skip Fix]

Try having an 81 even with a nice 400 or 455! Not worth much in comparison even though same car and motor.

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by gtohurstjudge

some of you are missing the point......other sporty collector cars are increasing
in value all the time when they are 35 years old. It is the normal cycle of collector car
appreciation. 79 Trans Ams are not doing this. Yes I own the car because I like it, but
the fact is at some point I will need to sell when I get too old to drive it and I do care what
it will be worth at that point. Also, if the 403 is such a terrible powertrain, how is it that
they were able to sell 90,000 of them in 79? The 403 is a great engine, gets better gas mileage than the 400 and runs mid fifteens in the quarter. What's not to like?

They sold 90,000 with 403's in them because they were on the lot ready to drive......most shoppers/buyers were there because the Trans am WAS the coolest car you could buy in 79.....and MOST didn't KNOW or care about WHAT was under the hood.

It said 6.6 Litre on the shaker & THAT was the important thing...

I had a 6 month old 78 when the 79's came out....wasn't that keen on the bumpers and when they told me at the dealer... "good luck" if I wanted a 400 4 speed,I went cold on the NEW 79 real quick...Still have the 78 & GLAD I kept it...

NO disrespect to the OLds 403....but it's NOT a Pontiac.....

[Don 79 TA]

value is in the eye of the beholder
if they start going up more, you gotta then start looking at new cars
way more value per $$
the economy also is a player, not to mention 79 was the year they produced the most too
kindda hard to pay a lot of $$ for a low hp car (compared to what you can buy for earlier years and what you can buy new now)

i love the mid/late 70s, but when you start factoring in costs, sometimes have to look elsewhere

if it makes you feel better, go to a Barret Jackson show, then you can see over inflated cars, that seems to make people feel good about their rides and ask ridiculous $$ for them

think the later 70's cars are bastard childs, they make the mid 70s look primo at times