I admit I have loved the Pontiac Trans Am ever since I first saw the film “Smokey and the Bandit” as a kid. That black Trans Am with Burt Reynolds behind the wheel and Sally Field in the passenger seat became a car I always wanted. Sadly, for a number of reasons, I have not owned one – but have driven many.
Despite my love affair with the later-generation Trans Am in my younger years, my all-time favorite Trans Am (and one of my all-time favorite pony cars – even more than the 1960s Camaro Z28) is the first-generation Trans Am.
Featured on AutoHunter is this 1969 Pontiac Trans Am. The car is being offered by a dealer in Mankato, Minnesota, and the auction will end Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. (PDT).
That first model had a purity of design and, while still a bit outrageous, also incorporated performance body options more subtly, with only a small Trans Am logo on the front fenders instead of the big bird covering the entire hood. It also offered great engine combinations and enough vents, spoilers and scoops to really look like a 1960s race car for the street. An interesting footnote about the 1969 Trans Am is that, despite its name, it never competed in the Trans Am racing series for which it was named. In fact, using the name also caused some issues for GM, because “Trans Am”‘ was used without permission from the SCCA, the sanctioning body and creators of the Trans Am series. They threatened to sue GM, but the automaker settled the issue by agreeing to pay $5 to the SCCA for each Trans Am it sold.
The seller describes this 1969 Trans Am as being powered by its original numbers-matching L74 400 HO Ram Air V8 mated to the original three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 automatic transmission. Finished in Cameo White with blue racing stripes over a Dark Blue vinyl interior, this pony car is offered by the selling dealer with PHS documentation, factory service manuals, an options list from GM and a clear title.
This, like any 1969 Trans Am, is a rare car, being only one of only 689 Trans Am coupes built and one of only 114 Firebird Trans Ams built with an L74 400ci engine and Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission.
The exterior looks to be in excellent condition, including the Cameo White paint. The seller does note there are some minor touch-ups from chips, but that’s it. It of course features its factory blue stripes, rear spoiler, Ram Air hood and side vents. The car rides on correct 14-inch Rally II wheels with correct F70 Goodyear Polyglas raised-white-letter bias-ply tires.
The Dark Blue vinyl upholstery also appears to be in excellent shape, apart from some minor scuffs on the driver’s seat. The car is super-correct and features burl vinyl applique, a center console with an automatic shifter and the correct wood steering wheel.
Under the hood lies the magic 400 HO Ram Air V8. I say “magic” because these Pontiac 400s are a sweetheart of an engine, with this one rated at 335 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. Everything under the hood not only looks clean but also is correct. In essence, this is a show car you can drive. The seller does note there is a slight fluid leak from the power steering pump; an easy fix and something I would attend to, as this is a nice car and worth the work.
If you are looking for a late-1960s pony car that is one of the rarest ever built, with total production half of the 1969 Shelby Mustang, this is the one. While both cars are rare and cool, I still maintain these first-generation Firebirds are among the most stunning pony cars of all time.
If you are interested in this car, keep in mind it is on the clock, as the auction for this 1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am ends Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. (PDT). Get out there and place a bid!
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