[jmc855]

I think our 79 403 cars are worth more to the non Pontiac purist crowd. I've turned down several offers in the high teens in the recent years from local people who know my car and its clean history. Its a 403 car with a hardtop. It's simply not for sale. None of these people iunteretsed and offering are what I like to call "Bandit Geeks" who go home every night and dream of rubbing the grease off their Pontiac 400s lol. People here that are second gen geeks and restorers are probably grasping their chests that more than one someone would be offering that kind of $ for a "bast$&d child lowly Olds fired TA", much less a non SE or Anniversary car. That said, here in the Northeast, there are very few legit unrusted/non rebuilt from wreck second gen cars around with documentation. Also, FWIW, my insurance company assigned a declared value or 28,500 to mine last year. I didnt state anything, they told me. Obviously high, but fair considering what it would take to replace with a non rebuilt project to get equal to my car back in event of a total loss. That said, yeah, 79s get little respect, and 77/78s with a boat anchor 400 and floor mounted high beams are treated like gold. My 2 cents.

[bs78ta]

Well jmc, you can sell muddy water to a thirsty man if there is nothing else available.

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by bs78ta

Well jmc, you can sell muddy water to a thirsty man if there is nothing else available.

Good one......

I've posted this in the past........There are about a half dozen things that contribute to the ultimate value & sale-ability of 77-81 T/A's.

First thing is.... a 77/78 seems to be most peoples favorite.

next......black seems to be the color of choice.

OK,next is S/E status...(Y82,Y84,Y88,Y89,etc).......then,W72,WS6. 4 speed & T-tops.

(More is better... )

Condition is also obviously an important criteria and at this point in time,a lower mileage original is worth more than a restored or modified one...JMO.....and there ARE always exceptions ....

[barrierblue66]

After running a '79 403 in my '70 Lemans for years with upgrades to the intake, carb exhaust and rear, I would not kick a '79 Bird to the curb myself. That motor ran so very well. But, as someone said, each model car's pricing and future value are determined by many things including personal preference. I believe the front end design change could be one reason, coming right after the height of the Bandit cars.

As someone else said, if you're into these cars, buy a nice one now for cheap, because IMHO I believe they will too have their day.

[geeteeohguy]

My opinion as a long time car guy: a buddy's dad worked for GM and had a brand new '79 TA with the 403 automatic. Car handled like it was on rails.....but couldn't keep up with my mom's '64 Galaxie 352 4v car. Slow and underpowered. I never cared for the '79's then or now compared to the '70-'73's. A co worker had a Tenth Anniv. 4 speed car, silver with a black interior, and it was a nice car. Slow, but nice. At the time I was glad to be driving my '66 GTO, which felt like a performance car compared to the TA (at least in power....not in handling!) That buddy of mine liked his dad's '79 so much he bought an '80 4.9 TA, and it was even slower than the 403 '79. Had warranty issues, too. I kept my early GTO's and am glad I did. A lot of folks like the late 2nd gen birds, but I would never own or buy one, and I'm a Pontiac guy. Again, just my opinion, whatever that's worth. I think a clean tenth ann. 4 spd car would bring good money. I think anybody who buys cars 'to make a profit' is at risk. Not a great investment, and risky. It can be done, but the car has to be sold to realize that profit. I get asked all the time how much my '65 GTO is 'worth' (I paid $1200 for it) or how much my '67 GTO ragtop is 'worth' ($1800 car), and I say "I dunno, I'll never sell it. I just drive it". I bought my cars 30+ years ago because I liked to DRIVE them, not for an investment. . And the funny thing is, I like driving them now more than ever! Nobody even wanted these cars 35 years ago.

[jmc855]

good one i guess, though I can't say its muddy. To each his own. Fortunately the market for the cars includes non Pontiac engine "purists" I guess.

[bs78ta]

Well I believe you slapped at the face of a pontiac purist first. I will take my 77 TA 6.6 4speed over a 79 - 81 anyday. I owned a 1981 turbo 4.9 and it was the biggest letdown I have ever had. 1st new TA I bought was a 1977 TA 6.6 auto. No offense but if you do not get the answers you want don't take pot shots at the ones that honestly answer your question. IMO

[pontiac1981]

Early 79 was the end the Pontiac 400, Pontiac had around 1100 Pontiac 400 engines left from 78 that's why there is so many Oldsmobile TA's out there.

[Nitebird]

Originally Posted by 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.

I agree with you to an extent. I myself went looking for a 1979 TA/SE W72,4speed,WS6,t-top A/C car and ended up getting one because I didn't like the way the 77-78 looked and that the 79 had the better interior and options as well at least in my opinion and had the Pontiac engine as well.

I have seen 79 SE t-top autos in good shape continuously bring 25K all day long so I don't think that is too shabby at at all.

It all depends on the options and color of the car if you ask me along with originality.

[Nitebird]

Originally Posted by 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.

I have seen and agree with this as well. None of the 77-81 cars will ever be worth SD money.

[Nitebird]

Hey gtohurstjudge what color is your TA and what options does it have? The color and options effect all 77-81 Trans Ams not just 79.

[autobahn]

My question is if the 403 is so great WHY was there NO OLDS F bodies, I don't 79 Tas(Olds) with 4 spd did not exist

[ta6point6]

I think with shows like Gas Monkey and Car Chasers showing more Trans Ams of course these cars will go up in value. The Pontiac powered TAs will always bring more money and I am probably biased but I think the 403 SE and TATA will keep going up in value as well. I think the most iconic of Pontiac style the snowflake rim which has been copied by every car manufacture and is on new vettes, vipers and shelby cars. I just think the 79 TA has a modern style that still holds up today

[Nitebird]

The 1979 TA's with 403 will definitely go up in value. They have the same styling and had more options than other years.

[MNBob]

A co worker had a Tenth Anniv. 4 speed car, silver with a black interior, and it was a nice car. Slow, but nice.

I would definitely not call mine slow. There was not a late model that could stay with me when it was new (e.g. 77-82 Vettes). Of course it was slightly modified. I guess I should put my track times where my mouth is.

Mine sits out in the driveway in suburbia. I have about one knock on the the door every 3 months from someone wanting to buy it. Last Sunday, the guy asked me what I thought it was worth. I told him 25-30K. It is a pristine and numbers matching 4spd, but modded rust free car with 36k miles and only paint issues. Any comments?

[455Grandville]

Seems to be very few left that are in decent condition. When I bought my rust free '79 I combed Craigslist for parts and there was no shortage of parts cars, but very few ones that were even decent or drivers.

[gtohurstjudge]

Originally Posted by Nitebird

Hey gtohurstjudge what color is your TA and what options does it have? The color and options effect all 77-81 Trans Ams not just 79.

It has every option except rear window defogger. Pics are below. As a side note,
the car is a concours d'elegance winner at POCI scoring 400/400 points and beat all
the other stock 79's at the T/A nats in Ohio both times shown. It had a frame off resto
in the early nineties.....never a door ding or spec of rust 48,000 original miles.

[Larry Navarro]

IMO.......late 70's t/a's will never "significantly" appreciate in value like the earlier models.
Given the currect trend among "purests" and the buying public at auctions, the survivor cars will bring top dollar over the restored cars.
Pontiac 4 speed cars outweigh the Olds auto in terms of popularity too.

[gtohurstjudge]

I agree that these cars aren't appreciating worth a damn compared to other
collector cars. I disagree that my car can't bring as much money as an identically equipped
survivor as it is totally correct and three times nicer than an original car. Plus underneath
the show paint job is perfect virgin unmolested original sheet metal. it does appear that even in the year 2050 these cars won't be worth as much a show paint job. In my car's case,
counting labor $30,000 was spent on the resto. Can you say upside down?

[Nitebird]

Originally Posted by gtohurstjudge

I agree that these cars aren't appreciating worth a damn compared to other
collector cars. I disagree that my car can't bring as much money as an identically equipped
survivor as it is totally correct and three times nicer than an original car. Plus underneath
the show paint job is perfect virgin unmolested original sheet metal. it does appear that even in the year 2050 these cars won't be worth as much a show paint job. In my car's case,
counting labor $30,000 was spent on the resto. Can you say upside down?

I think if your car was a 74 through 78 Trans Am then it still wouldn't be worth very much more without the more popular options so I wouldn't get too down about it. You have a very nice Trans Am!