Pontiac’s days of constructing pleasure are lengthy gone, although the model arguably light into the sundown lengthy earlier than the division was axed in 2009 as a part of the fallout of Basic Motors’ chapter.

But outdated Pontiacs are getting a second life on the planet of collector automobiles as values of many classics, good and unhealthy, proceed to soar in worth, and for true Pontiac lovers the Firebird is inconceivable to disregard, particularly the Trans Am version made famous within the 1977 hit film “Smokey and the Bandit” starring Burt Reynolds.

Jay Leno within the newest episode of his on-line collection “Jay Leno’s Storage” took a detailed take a look at a near-perfect 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am completed in the identical black and gold because the film automobile. Whereas he is no fan of the hen on the hood, he appreciates the automobile and the best way it drives. He could not drive it too onerous, although. This explicit instance usually resides in a museum, the Audrain Auto Museum in Newport, Rhode Island, to be particular.

This one has the 400-cubic inch V-8 that was provided in 1979, which is sweet for about 220 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. This instance additionally has a 4-speed handbook which, as Leno rightly factors out, solely provides to the enjoyable.

The 1979 mannequin 12 months was a last holdout for the Firebird Trans Am earlier than new emissions and gas economic system rules severely capped efficiency within the years forward. However the Firebird Trans Am was by no means about solely going quick; it was about wanting and sounding proper, one thing Leno undoubtedly understands.