1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am — W72 400 V8, WS6 Package, 4-Speed Manual, Black on Black Why This Car Is Special The 1979 Pontiac Trans Am sits at a genuinely interesting crossroads in American automotive history. It arrived at the tail end of the muscle car era, after emissions regulations and the fuel crisis had gutted most performance cars, yet Pontiac managed to keep real performance on the table for buyers who knew what to ask for. The Trans Am was the best-selling Firebird variant that year, and the 1979 model year was actually the highest-production year in Trans Am history, with total Firebird production topping 211,000 units.

Despite those numbers, the specific combination of options on this car — the W72 engine, WS6 suspension package, and 4-speed manual transmission — represents a much smaller slice of that production. Buyers who ordered all three in 1979 were a deliberate group. They knew exactly what they were doing.

The engine code in this car's VIN confirms the W72 designation, which was Pontiac's 400 cubic inch V8 rated at 220 horsepower under the conservative SAE net measurement standards used at the time. That figure was widely understood to be understated — Pontiac was known to sandbag output numbers during this period to avoid insurance and regulatory scrutiny. The W72 was Pontiac's performance-tuned version of the 400, featuring a higher-compression ratio than the standard 400 and specific calibration that set it apart from the base engine.

It was the last true 400 cubic inch V8 Pontiac would offer; the 400 was discontinued after 1979, making this generation of Trans Am the final expression of Pontiac's own big-bore V8 in a performance application. The 1979 Trans Am also benefited directly from the cultural moment created by Smokey and the Bandit, released in 1977. That film's black and gold Trans Am made this specific color combination an icon, and Pontiac leaned into it hard.

This car wears that combination authentically — black exterior with gold accent striping — and carries it with the equipment to back it up. Features List - 6.6 W72 400ci V8 engine - 4-Speed manual transmission - Borg-Warner Super T-10 gearbox - Hurst shifter - WS6 Special Performance Package - 4-wheel disc brakes - Power steering - Limited-slip differential - Performance exhaust headers - Shaker hood scoop - Aftermarket 4-barrel carburetor - Braided stainless fuel lines - Moroso valve covers - T-tops - Firebird hood decal - Rear spoiler - Formula steering wheel - Engine-turned dash panel - Leather bucket seats - Center console - Tachometer with quartz clock - Oil pressure and temperature gauges - AM/FM radio - Rear seat - Radial Tuned Suspension badge - Aftermarket wheels - Dual exhaust tips - Black interior - Gold accent stripes Mechanical The heart of this 1979 Pontiac Trans Am is the W72 400 cubic inch V8, code-named the T/A 6.6 on the shaker scoop. This engine was exclusive to the Trans Am and was not available on other Firebird models.

It used a higher compression ratio than the base 400 and received specific tuning that made it the quickest engine Pontiac offered in 1979. When this Trans Am left the factory, the W72 was paired with the Borg-Warner Super T-10 close-ratio 4-speed manual gearbox — a unit with a strong reputation for durability and precise shift feel. The Hurst shifter operates that gearbox here, which is the correct and expected combination for a Trans Am of this specification.

The WS6 Special Performance Package is one of the most significant option codes on this car. In 1979, WS6 added a specific front and rear stabilizer bar package, larger diameter front springs, revised shock calibration, and four-wheel disc brakes — an important distinction because the standard Trans Am used front discs and rear drums. Four-wheel disc brakes on a 1979 Trans Am require the WS6 package, so their presence here confirms what the options list states.

The WS6 also included the Radial Tuned Suspension, which is not