1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 400 4-Speed

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE 

Out of a combination of a lifelong automotive passion and an unyielding desire to support the people of his Alabama community, the Generous Collection was born. Mr. Greg Rusk, a successful business leader in the cardboard industry, with a big heart for helping families and friends in times of need, would regularly pay overly generous fees to acquire an interesting vehicle. After decades of collecting and supporting local automotive enthusiasts, the Rusk family is ready for these vehicles, each with their own story, to write their next chapter back on the road, where they belong.  

The Generous Collection debuts with Part 1 offering over 200 cars in October, all offered without reserve, emerging from years of long-term silent storage. Many additional lots will be offered in the coming months. From the quiet shadows of the Generous Collection to the sunshine of backroads and highways, enthusiasts now have the opportunity to own a piece of a generous car-collecting legacy.

 * * * 

“I need a speedy car. Speedier than that.” The 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am stands as a cultural and automotive icon of the late 1970s, embodying the muscle car spirit during a time of shifting industry dynamics. The car’s popularity surged thanks in part to its starring role in Smokey and the Bandit (1977), which cemented its status as a pop culture legend and boosted sales dramatically.

Introduced during the second generation of Firebirds (1970–1981), the 1979 model featured refined styling updates, including a new front end with quad square headlights and a more aggressive grille design. It retained designer Norman Inouye’s bold “screaming chicken” hood decal, which had become synonymous with the Trans Am’s rebellious image.

Under the hood, the 1979 Trans Am offered several V8 options, with the top-tier W72 400-cubic-inch engine delivering 220 horsepower — impressive for an era increasingly constrained by emissions regulations and fuel economy concerns. Road Test Magazine reported, “The Trans Am with the W72 ‘T/A 6.6-liter’ V-8 and a four-speed manual gearbox recorded a 7.2-second 0-to-60 performance and a 15.2-second quarter mile at 93 mph."

Despite growing pressure from federal mandates and rising insurance costs, Pontiac managed to keep the Trans Am exciting and relevant. The 1979 model showcased GM’s ability to adapt muscle car appeal to a changing automotive landscape.

Highlights 

• Offered from The Generous Collection 

• Finished in blue with black and blue interior 

• 6.6-liter V8 engine

• 4-speed manual 

• T-tops 

• The chassis number (2W87Z9L119922) decodes as: 

  • 2 – Pontiac 

  • W – Trans Am 

  • 87 – Coupe 

  • Z – 400 cu-in V8 

  • 9 – 1979 

  • L – Los Angeles, California assembly plant 

  • 119922 – Sequential production number 

Features 

• 15-inch Snowflake wheels wearing 215/70R15 front, 245/60R15 rear Cooper tires 

• Quad rectangular headlights and aerodynamic nose 

• Iconic “Screaming Chicken” graphic on hood 

• Edelbrock aluminum intake 

• Pioneer speakers 

• Sport steering wheel 

Known Imperfections 

• While reasonable efforts were made during preparation for the sale, due to the volume of cars in this collection it was not possible to diagnose or detect all imperfections present in the cars. 

• Driver-side door handle broken 

• Faded interior and worn carpet 

• Trunk floor rust 

Ownership History This 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am is offered from The Generous Collection of no reserve automobiles. 

Additional Notes 

A Broad Arrow Auctions Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the owner of this vehicle. Broad Arrow Auctions is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hagerty. 

Contact: Ramsey Potts Phone: 912.508.4096 email: rpotts@hagerty.com  

Alabama Sales Tax Notice to Bidders: Because this car is located in Alabama, the selling dealer may be required to collect and remit Alabama state sales taxes of up to 2% of the purchase amount, even if the buyer plans to register the car outside of Alabama, if (a) the buyer is located in AZ, CA, FL, IN, MA, MI, or SC (capped at $500 in SC), and (b) the buyer does not transport the car out of Alabama using a common carrier (e.g., if the buyer drives the car or transports the car out of Alabama on a personal trailer). Additionally, the selling dealer may be required to collect and remit Alabama county or city taxes from buyers located outside of Alabama, if (a) the buyer does not transport the car out of Alabama using a common carrier (e.g., if the buyer drives or transports the car out of Alabama on a personal trailer), and (b) the buyer fails to provide an executed Drive-Out Certificate for Nonresidents. For additional information, please consult this publication and your own tax advisor regarding sales taxes applicable to cars located in Alabama that are sold to residents of another state.  

Please note that all lots in The Generous Collection are offered after many years of storage, without operation or service, in warehouse facilities. The seller endeavored to provide limited mechanical servicing to bring some cars back to running potential, however, not all cars will be running at time of sale. Because of the extended static display, it must be assumed that all cars will require additional mechanical attention before being driven safely and, in most cases, cleaning to both the interiors and exteriors. All the cars will have imperfections associated with long-term static storage and require extensive sorting to perform best and safely. The burden of determining a car’s status, both mechanical and cosmetic, rests fully on the bidder, prior to bidding and the close of the auction. All lots are sold as is, where is. 

Additionally, due to the location of the collection and limited access to the facility following the close of the auction, all lots must be retrieved while a Hagerty Marketplace representative is onsite beginning Monday, November 3 through Wednesday, November 19. No cars can be retrieved prior to November 3 and any lots remaining after November 19 will be re-located outside in the parking lot for retrieval by their buyers.