#158 OF 250, 6.6L V8, AUTO, RARE CUSTOM BUILT, PWR STEER, A/C, PWR BRAKES, NICE!

What a minute! A 1979 convertible TransAm!? While you may never have seen a GM second-generation F-body convertible, here were actually 250 contracted for. That means this is a very special custom Trans Am. The late 1970s were a tough time in automotive history, afety regulations scared every domestic manufacturer away from convertibles. But this is a classic sports car that was out to break the rules. One company solved the problem in a rare custom build that's sure to turn heads. The heavily regulated market in 1979 was actually a good year for the few fun cars still up for sale, ike the Firebirds and Trans Ams. Pontiac was still riding high after the production of Smokey and the Bandit. Plus, hey had just given the car a facelift with a new broader Endura front end, nd more stylized body effects. In fact, he public reacted so well that this was the best selling year for GM F-bodies in its entire history. But as popular as these cars were, he public was yearning for a convertible version, nd that was quite a rare thing. A small firm called National Coach Engineering was contracted and responsible for turning brand new Firebirds/Trans Ams from the factory, nto soft tops. A similar built convertible was actually featured on the Dukes of Hazzard series in the second season. The engineering behind these cars is pretty unique. It included a custom framework to keep the fastback styling in the drop top, olding b-pillars to hold the window glass firmly in place, nd a compact design that could fold flush into the custom storage well (much of this can be seen in the included restoration photos). It was a complicated build that doubled the sticker price of a new Trans Am, hich is why in this very popular production year, nly a little over one tenth of one percent received this special customization (this is #158 of 250). Everything else is exactly what you want on a Trans Am of this era. The original white paint was replaced with the Special Edition black color scheme that includes the detailed gold decals and the "screaming chicken" across the hood. Also, he desirable cast aluminum 15-inch "snowflake" wheels complete the final touch.Despite the thoroughly customized exterior, his car is refreshingly original on the inside. The bucket seats are covered in the original Carmine cloth that came from the factory. These T/As often were ordered with plenty of options, o this one includes items like power windows, M/FM cassette, ilt steering wheel, nd power brakes. The gold colored machined aluminum dash panel is another factory correct piece to go with the Special Edition switchover. This is particularly nice when the top is down because the color unifies the interior with gold striping and wheels on the outside. This one is a bit more ferocious than a stock 1979 Trans Am. The 6.6-liter 403 V8 was rebuilt less than 3,000 miles ago. Power was increased with a .030 bore, nd a new mild camshaft that adds grunt without losing its daily drive-ability. The three-speed automatic transmission has been given a 2,000 rpm stall converter, hich is important to keep this motor deeper into its powerband at all times. When it's time to bring this drop-top to a halt, here is the added security of front disc brakes. One engineering item that needed addressing to make a custom convertible was stability. You should take some time to look at the undercarriage pictures in the photo gallery. You will see that National Coach Engineering welded steel reinforcements under the car to make sure that the body and chassis stayed rigid after the roof was removed.You read all this info because this unique convertible's pictures drew you in, nd that's exact same reason why this car attracts so much attention wherever it goes. Enthusiasts know this is literally a rare bird. Everyone in the 1970s wished for a Trans Am convertible, nd now you can get to be one of the lucky few to actually have one. Call Now!!