Don't look now, but this 1979 Pontiac Trans Am is the biggest bargain in the showroom today. '70s Trans Ams are red hot, and this one packs potent V8 power, a first class interior, and great-looking Starlight Black paint. You wanted one when you were a kid, and at this price there's just no excuse not to own it today.With recent paint, this car looks spectacular, and it's more than skin deep. The paint is quite nice, better than most of these cars got when they were new, and now with prices shooting up, it looks right at home on the show field. And regardless, it's still superior to whatever GM was spraying on cars in 1979. It's also nicely assembled, with urethane bumpers that fit well, big doors that close without needing a violent slam, and proper Trans Am graphics everywhere you look, all of which are in great shape. Never designed to be a subtle machine, the deep Starlight Black is the perfect '70s color if you're looking to relive an era and it's hard to see this car without thinking of a certain favorite movie. The chin spoiler doesn't show any evidence of run-ins with steep driveways or parking curbs, making this a machine that can hold its head high at car shows and still turn heads on the street. Honestly, driving one of these today is even more of an event than it was in 1979.The black cloth interior is so clean that we have believe that much of it has been replaced, including the unusual cloth seat covers, carpets, and door panels. Other stuff like the center console and dash pad are probably originals that are still in good shape and you can see that this car's always been well-maintained, even with the T-tops, which let in a lot of extra sunlight. The Trans Am got a gold engine-turned instrument panel, the gauges are original and show clear lenses and bright markings, and it's all visible through one of the most handsome steering wheels of the period. The factory radio is long gone, replaced at some point by an AM/FM/CD stereo head unit that fits in the dash just as if it was born there. The trunk is also nicely finished and includes an original-style space-saver spare and black carpets that would probably clean up pretty easily.When you checked the automatic transmission box on the order form for your new Trans Am, you got a smooth, torquey 403 cubic inch V8, which was technically an Oldsmobile engine. It's a great runner and makes plenty of power, thanks to a 4-barrel carburetor living under the hood scoop, which was more decoration than function, but who cares when it looks this cool? The engine has been nicely detailed with corporate blue engine enamel, lots of new hardware, and an R134a refrigerant upgrade for the factory A/C. A true dual exhaust system with glasspack-style mufflers probably frees up a few ponies and sounds awesome, just the way you want your T/A to sound. The undercarriage is original but the car has clearly led an easy life, particularly most recently when it has been treated as a true collector's item. And seriously, there aren't many factory wheels better-looking than the Pontiac snowflakes, which have been wrapped in 255/60/15 BFGoodrich T/A radials.These cars have steadily increased in value over the past few years, and there sure aren't many investments that are this much fun to drive. Call today!