1979

In 1979, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Trans Am, Pontiac created a very special edition. This Trans Am was painted two-tone silver and charcoal, accented by red/silver/charcoal stripes.  Silver dominated the base of the car; with the charcoal covering the roof, most of the hood, a small portion of the door centerline, and bumper accents.  On the hood, the biggest ever bird to be fitted to a T/A was included. The bird was so large that each wing tip was a separate decal fitted to the fenders. The hood bird, Trans Am lettering, and engine decals followed the general theme of the car being as they were finished in silver/charcoal/red/black.

To distinguish between the Anniversary and standard Trans Ams, new brightly-polished "turbine" aluminum wheels were added specifically to the 10th anniversary edition Trans Am.  Most of these cars had every option, which included: mirrored t-tops, power windows/door locks/remote power trunk opener, and the WS6 Special Performance Package. Either the 403 Olds or the 400 Pontiac engines were available.

The 10th Anniversary's base price was $10,620.00, which was quite a bit for 1979 standards. Although Pontiac produced 7,500 of the tenth anniversary cars, a handful of cars were prepared/optioned as pace cars on the NASCAR circuit.  The 10th Anniversary Trans Ams that sported the Daytona 500 decal package are the most collectable of all 10th Anniversary Trans Ams.

Production Figures:
Total Production: 7,500
L-78 (T/A 6.6) 400 cid w/ Manual Transmission: 1,817
403 cid w/ Auto Transmission: 5,683

Specifications:
Body & Frame Construction: Unitized, front subframe
Curb Weight: 3,700 lb.
Weight Distribution F/R: 57.6% / 42.4%
Length: 197.1 in.
Width: 73.0 in.
Height: 49.3 in.
Wheelbase: 108.2 in.

Suspension:
Front:
Double A-arm, heavy duty coil springs
Swaybar Size: 1.25 in.
Struts: Heavy duty hydraulic tube
Rear:
Semi Elliptic leaves
Swaybar Size: .750 in.
Shocks: Heavy duty hydraulic tube

Steering:
Type: Constant quick ratio, power-assisted
Ratio: 14:1
Turns: lock-to-lock 2.41

Performance:
0-60 Mph: n/a
1/4 Mile Speed: 15.3 @ 96.6 mph
Top Speed: 124 mph
Braking 60-0 mph: 179 ft.
Skid Pad: 0.91 g
Drivetrain:
Front engine, Rear wheel drive sport coupe
Engine Type: Cast iron OHV V8
Displacement: 400 cid.
Bore/stroke: 4.12 x 3.75 in.
Induction: 1 4-bbl carburetor
Cylinder Heads: Cast-iron w/ 2.11/1.66 valves
Compression Ratio: 8.1:1
Camshaft: Hydraulic w/ 274*/298* duration 364/.364 in. lift
Ignition Type: HEI distributor
Exhaust: Single with catalytic converter, dual rear outlets
Horsepower: 220 @ 4000 rpm
Torque: 320 ft. lbs. @ 2800 rpm
Transmission: Borg warner super T-10 4-speed
Clutch: 11-in. disc w/ 2600# pressure plate
Transmission Ratios: 2.43/1.61/1.23/1.00
Shifter: Hurst, floor mounted
Rear Differential: 3.23:1, Safe-T-track

Brakes:
Front:
Single piston power-assisted 11.0" ventilated disc
Rear:
Single piston power-assisted disc

Wheels/Tires:
Wheel Size: 15" x 8" 'Turbo' alloy
Tire Size: 225/70R-15" Goodyear polysteel radial
 

1980

Turbo Indy Pace Cars, coded X87, made their debut in 1980 with an asymmetrical hood and specially-designed hood graphics. Notes Pontiac, "We wanted to show that form follows function on this car." In 1980, 5,700 of the turbocharged 301 cubic inch Trans Ams where built. The Turbo Trans Am Pace Car's paint scheme is basically white with a charcoal accent color extending from the hood through the door upper, into the front of the sail panel, and through the forward half of the roof.

A complete set of special decals were installed on the car. The hood bird was larger than normal and made up of red, charcoal, and gray colors. A large size set of decals was also installed on either door denoting the cars Pace Car status. Silver tinted removable T-top hatch-roof panels and aluminum white "air-flow" wheels are standard equipment. Along with the 4.9-liter 301 turbocharged V-8, a 3.08:1 rear axle and limited slip differential are standard. A three-speed automatic TH-350 was the only transmission available, no 4-speeds were offered on any '80 Trans Am.

Powered by a turbocharged 4.9L V-8 engine, the Turbo-Trans Am needed only minor modifications to bring it up to pace car specs. As the turbocharger comes up to higher speed, the turbo's boost is controlled to 9 PSI so the turbo doesn't overboost/detonate the engine. The compression ratio on the turbo is 7.5:1, the horsepower is 210 at 4,000 rpm, and the torque is 345ft./lbs. at 2,000rpm. The 80 Indy Trans Am was one of the LEAST modified cars EVER to pace the Indy 500, as they only changed the rear end gears.

64th Indy 500
May 25, 1980

Pace Car Duties:

For the first time since it was introduced in 1969, the Pontiac Trans Am was selected as the pace car for the 1980 Indy 500. In fact this was only the second time Pontiac had paced the field at the Brickyard... and it was chosen as the NASCAR pace car for 1980, which included the 22nd annual Daytona 500 stock car race in February. It was the first time in 11 years that an auto manufacturer had the same car chosen to pace both the Indy 500 and Daytona 500 races in the same year! The 1980 Trans Am was piloted by 1950 Indy 500 winner Johnnie Parsons, Sr.

Pace Car Package:


Two tone paint (white lower, grey upper)
Tri-color accent stripes
Oyster Vinyl bucket seats with oyster/black hobnail cloth inserts
Embroidered birds on door pads and center of rear seat
Specific limited edition exterior decals
White headlamp bezels
Silver T-top hatch roof
Red instrument panel lighting
Air conditioning
AM/FM Stereo w/cassette, audio booster, and extended range speakers
4.9-Liter Turbo (301cid) 4-bbl. engine
Automatic transmission (TH-350)
3.08:1 limited-slip posi traction axle ratio
Special performance package
Front and rear disc brakes
225/70 r15" white letter tires
15"x 8" white turbo cast aluminum wheels
Turbo hood
Power windows
Custom seat belts
Sport mirrors - L.H. Remote - R.H. manual
Leather Formula steering wheel
Tungsten quartz halogen headlamps
Pedal trim package
Heavy Duty 63 AMP alternator
Soft-Ray glass (all windows)
Turbo boost gauge (hood mounted)

Available Options:

UA1 - Heavy duty battery - $23.00
K30 - Cruise control - $112.00
A90 - Power deck lid release - $26.00
C49 - Electric rear window defroster - $107.00
K05 - Engine block heater - $16.00
B93 - Door edge guards - $14.00
BS1 - Additional acoustical insulation - $34.00
TR9 - Lamp group (Luggage lamp, Glove box, I.P. Courtesy lamp) - $22.00
D34 - RH visor vanity mirror - $7.00
B84 - Body side molding (white only) - $46.00
U75 - Power antenna - $51.00-$71.00
UA3 - Power door locks - $93.00
N33 - Tilt steering wheel - $81.00
CD4 - Controlled Cycle windshield wipers - $41.00
 

1981

Daytona 500 Special Edition Turbo Trans Am

In 1981, Pontiac produced a Special Edition (Y85) Turbo Trans Am for Nascar. This Special Edition Firebird Trans Am paced the field of stock cars at the 1981 Daytona 500, as well as various Nascar races that year. 2,000 Daytona 500 Turbo Trans Am Special Editions where built in '81. These cars differed slightly from the Indy pace cars from the previous year. They received an Oyster white paint job and black accents, rather than the gray ones from the year before. On the inside, these cars came with Recaro bucket seats with black and red cloth, which was a sharp contrast to the white and black paint scheme on the exterior.

Other features included: turbo gauges, Fisher t-top hatch roof, and white turbo cast aluminum wheels. Special Daytona Pace Car decals where shipped inside the cars for dealer installation, only if the buyer preferred the graphics. Released around February 1981 with a $12,244 base price, it looked similiar to the 1980 Indy Pace car Trans Am. However it had black, instead of charcoal, accents.

The NASCAR Trans Ams of '81 featured a re-designed screaming chicken used with the turbo hood. The white turbo rims accented the overall design of the car. Despite the lagging horse power numbers, these TAs featured the best suspension and some of the nicer creature comforts of any 2nd gen.

Standard Features Included:

LU8 - Y85 Turbo Special Edition Package


4.9L (301 CID) 4bbl Turbo Engine w/ Turbo Boost Gauge

Windshield Reveal Molding

Black Bucket Seats

Column Mounted Dimmer Switch

Front Disk Brakes

Concealed Windshield Wipers

Black Taillamp Lens

Front Fender Air Extractors

Power Steering

Backlite - Black Molding

Floor Console

Power Brakes

Kilometer/Miles per Hour Speedo

Chrome Side Splitter Tailpipe Extensions

 Front Center Air Dam & Front and Rear Wheel Opening Air Deflectors

19U - Paint Exterior - Black
11L - Paint Exterior - White
19I - Trim Interior Black
N81 - Computer Command Control
C60 - Air Conditioning, Custom
U17 - Gauges Rally, Clock, and Tachometer
D35 - Sport Mirrors, Sport LH Remote, RH Maunal Convex
D80 - Spoiler, Rear Deck
N89 - Wheels, Turbo Cast Aluminum
B18 - Custom Trim Group, Velour
AR9 - Black cloth Recaro bucket seats w/ red cloth inserts
MX1 - Automatic Transmission
199 - Seat Belts - Black
CC1 - Hatch Roof, Removeable
D34 - Mirror, Visor Vanity RH
UM6 - Delco-GM radio, AM/FM Stereo/Cassette-ETR
NK3 - Steering Wheel, Formula
K73 - Alternator, Heavy Duty 70 Amps
18C - Trim, Cloth Black

Available Options:

C60 - Air conditioning, custom-required w/ turbo
UA2 - Battery H.D.
NB2 - California emmision requirements
K35 - Cruise control, resume speed
A90 - Power deck lid release, remote control
C49 - Defroster, electric rear window
K05 - Engine block heater
A01 - Glass, all windows soft ray
B93 - Guards, door edge
TT5 - Headlamps, tungsten quartz halogen
C95 - Lamp, dome reading
TR9 - Lamp group (luggage, glovebox, I.P.courtesy, tone generator)
VK3 - License plate bracket, front
D34 - Mirror, visor vanity R.H.
B84 - Molding, body side
U75 - Power antenna
U83 - Power antenna, AM/FM/CB tri-band
AU3 - Power door locks
N33 - Steering wheel, tilt * CD4 - Windshield wipers, controlled cycle
WS8 - Priced car order acknowledgments

1982

NASCAR Daytona 500 Special Edition Trans Am
 

Debuting at the January 30th, 1982 Daytona 24-hour IMSA endurance race was the all new NASCAR Pace car... a sparkling red '82 Trans am. It would pace all Daytona NASCAR events for the year, as well as those at Talladega, Charlotte, Rockingham, Darlington, North Wilkesboro, Martinsville, and Bristol.

 

Daytona 500 Special Edition Trans Am


In 1983 the Trans Am was once again set to pace the Daytona 500. 2500 Limited edition Trans Ams would be produced in the colors and decal scheme of the actual 83 pace cars. The total production of 2500 seemed to coincide with the Daytona 500’s 25th anniversary.

The exterior of the 83 Daytona Pace, reverted back to the 1981 exterior color scheme to some degree, losing the red and black paint scheme used in 1982. The car produced to pace the 25th anniversary of the Daytona 500 would need to be special. GM was up to the task at hand, and this is one of the sharpest looking Trans Ams ever produced. The exterior as stated reverted to the 1981 model using the 19U black and 11L white color combination. This time however GM decided to go with a two tone type paint scheme running the lower half of the car in black and the upper in the white. Decals would once again follow tradition and adorn the windshield and rear window hatch with the words “Trans Am” in black print. Door decals were included also which stated “Official Pace Car” and “Daytona 500”. The designers at GM went a step further placing the NASCAR logo on the rear quarters and also a metal 25th anniversary badge was placed on each of the front fenders above the stock Trans Am logo. When this color and decal scheme came together with the aggressive turbo type hood bird, it became a car with style, and beauty. Other notable exterior points of interest were the addition of a ground effects package which would later become standard on all Trans Ams, yet in 1983 the Pace Cars would be the only Trans Ams to have the sleek low look. The standard rims of most 1983 Trans Ams were dumped and replaced by a brand new “Moon Aero” 15 x 7 inch cast aluminum rims which stated “Pontiac Aero” on the outer lip.

The interior also came to life on the 1983 Daytona Pace Trans Am. Recaro SST type seats once again were placed in this special edition Trans Am. The front and rear seats featured suede inserts and outer leather wraps. The front seat backs featured cloth and overall the seats were comfortable and stylish. The dash and radio lit up the now familiar “Pace Car” red, setting it far apart from the other Trans Ams of that year. .

Some other points of interest on the 1983 Daytona Pace was the optional close ratio 5 speed. While only 520 were produced with this option it provided the owners with some fun at the wheel. While the car was a tad under powered at 150hp at 4000 rpm, the addition of the 5 speed almost made the driver forget about this lack in power from the 305. While the power was not the best it could have been this is still a very desirable car. With only 2500 of these “Special Editions” produced it is a very nice, well-rounded car that is destined to become high on the collector car list in years to come.

1989

1986

1996

1997

1999

2002