Classic Classified: 1979 Pontiac Trans Am Y84
Classic Classified: 1979 Pontiac Trans Am Y84
From: Cars & Parts
Date: October 1982
Price then: $9,800 ($24,400 adjusted for inflation, about the cost of a new 2016 Chevrolet Malibu today)
Price now: $22,900 – $69,400
Approximate dollar difference: $45,000 (assuming No. 1 condition)
Annual rate of return: 3.1%
“Pontiac 1979 Trans Am. Black special edition, rare TA 400, 4-speed, WS6, every available factory option, 8,000 summer miles, garaged, no snow, no rain, exceptional car, appreciating, $9,800 OBO.”
As the ad says, “appreciating” is right. Bandit-era Trans Ams have enjoyed a noticeable bump in value over the past two years. The most collectible of the available options were on this example: Y84 Special Edition, WS6 handling package and 400-ci Pontiac (which only came on four-speed cars) instead of the 403-ci Oldsmobile V-8. While the ‘79-81 Trans Am’s looks are either a love or hate affair, this example would’ve been the perfect investment grade car that has done quite well over the years.
