A 44-mile 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am WS6 has turned up in Fort Myers, Florida. The selling dealer got $265,000 for it Bring a Trailer. That amount could buy a lot of modern metal. But this Starlight Black coupe offers something new cars can’t: zero depreciation and an outdated shaker hood. The question is not whether the car is rare. The question is whether the mileage justifies the multiples.
The exterior screams late seventies swagger. Starlight Black paint combines with gold trim and a “screaming chicken” hood graphic. Removable t-top roof panels let in the Florida sunshine. A front spoiler, rear spoiler and painted mirror caps complete the look. Fifteen-inch gold Snowflake wheels wear old Goodyear rubber. The WS6 Special Performance Package adds a quick-ratio steering box, larger sway bars and power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes. The brake fluid is replaced in 2025, a nice perk for the new owner.
Inside, Camel Tan fabric covers the seats and door panels. The plastic seat covers and cardboard floor mats remain in place – the original owner’s fussiness remains. The machined dash fascia displays a 100 mph speedometer and a dead tachometer, but the clock is still ticking. Power windows, power locks, air conditioning, and AM/FM radio provide unique luxury. A Hurst shifter emerges from the full-length center console, eager to row through four gears.
Under the hood is a 400ci V8 W72. The factory rated this 6.6L at 220 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque, and it was powered by a four-barrel carburetor. Power is channeled through a four-speed manual transmission and a Safe-T-Track limited-slip differential. Recent work in 2025 included a carburetor rebuild, fuel tank cleaning and oil change. The selling dealer ensures that the engine rotates freely.
Its ownership history is simple and strange. Superior Pontiac of Tampa sold the new car to Suncoast Studebaker on May 16th1979. The owner added nothing of consequence, keeping the Pontiac Firebird in a private collection until his death in 2025. The selling dealer acquired it the same year. A window sticker and Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin accompany the sale.
This auction closes on March 31st with a jaw-dropping selling price of $265,000. For that kind of money, one could buy a new Corvette ZR1X. But nothing shows 44 miles on the odometer. Buyers get a time capsule of zero miles, a dead tachometer, and a very harsh answer to the question, “Would you drive it?”
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