1979 Pontiac Firebird

1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am — 6.6L 403 V8, TH400, Blue over Black


Why This Car Is Special

The 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am sits at an interesting crossroads in American automotive history. By 1979, the emissions and fuel economy squeeze of the mid-1970s had already taken a real toll on performance across the industry, yet the Trans Am remained one of the last credible performance cars you could walk into a dealership and buy. Pontiac sold over 117,000 Trans Ams for the 1979 model year — a record at the time — driven in no small part by the car's cultural moment following the 1977 film Smokey and the Bandit. That popularity has since made clean, honest 1979 Trans Ams increasingly hard to find in original, driver-quality condition.

This particular 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am is equipped with the 6.6-liter 403 cubic inch V8, which is a detail worth understanding. In 1979, buyers who checked the box for the 6.6L engine received one of two different motors depending on where the car was built and what transmission was ordered. Cars equipped with the TH400 three-speed automatic received the Oldsmobile-sourced 403 cubic inch V8, while the four-speed manual cars got the Pontiac-built 400. This car has the TH400, which confirms the 403 Olds mill under the hood — and that combination is actually well-regarded. The 403 is a torquey, durable engine that responds well to basic modifications and has a strong following among Firebird enthusiasts. The TH400 is one of GM's most proven automatic transmissions, known for its strength and longevity. Together they make for a straightforward, reliable drivetrain that has held up well over the decades.

The VIN on this car decodes to a 1979 Pontiac Firebird (model code 87) built in the Norwood, Ohio assembly plant, with the 6.6L V8 engine designation confirmed in the powertrain position. Norwood-built Firebirds are well documented among collectors and the plant was one of GM's primary F-body production facilities throughout the second-generation run.


Features List

- 6.6L 403 cubic inch Oldsmobile V8
- TH400 3-Speed Automatic Transmission
- Trans Am Badging
- Gold Snowflake Wheels
- Dashboard Tachometer
- Center Console
- Factory Bucket Seats
- Factory Air Conditioning
- Power Steering
- Woodgrain Dash Trim
- Firebird Door Emblems
- Dual Exhaust
- Black Vinyl Top
- Black Vinyl Interior


Mechanical

Under the hood, the 403 cubic inch V8 is a familiar sight to anyone who spent time around late-1970s GM performance cars. Oldsmobile developed this engine as a displacement-efficient way to maintain torque output while meeting tightening federal emissions standards. In Trans Am trim, it was rated at 185 horsepower in 1979 — a number that looks modest on paper but translates into a car that moves with authority in real-world driving, especially given the 403's strong low-end torque characteristics. The aftermarket air cleaner visible in the engine bay photographs is a common and functional upgrade on these cars, improving airflow over the stock unit.

The TH400 three-speed automatic was one of the most robust transmissions GM produced during this era. Originally developed in the mid-1960s, it was used across a wide range of GM vehicles through the end of the 1970s and is well-supported by the rebuilding and parts community today. Power steering rounds out the driving experience, keeping effort manageable while maintaining enough road feel that the car stays engaging on longer drives. The dual exhaust setup gives the 403 a proper exhaust note and helps the engine breathe more freely than the single-exit configurations used on lower trim Firebirds.


Interior

The black vinyl interior is correct and period-appropriate for the 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. Factory bucket seats sit up front, flanking a center console that houses the shifter for the TH400. These consoles were a standard Trans Am feature and give the cabin a focused, driver-oriented layout. The woodgrain dash trim adds