Trans Am 30th Anniversary Special Edition

PONTIAC, Mich. Pontiac's Trans Am turns 30 in 1999. That's a very impressive milestone for a high performance car. Much has happened in the automotive industry since the Trans Am first appeared in March of 1969. The original muscle car era came and went. Oil shortages, insurance surcharges, tough emissions standards, and seemingly unattainable fuel economy requirements never stopped the Trans Am. Competitors fell by the wayside, but throughout all the changes and challenges, Trans Ams kept getting better.

The culmination of all those great predecessors is the 30th Anniversary Trans Am. This is no mere show package; the Trans Am packs 320-horsepower and 335 ft-lb of Ram Air-equipped excitement. The four-speed automatic is standard and the wonderful six-speed manual transmission is available as a no-cost option. Power four-wheel disc brakes and ABS combine with the tuned suspension to make the '99 Trans Am stop and handle as well as it accelerates.

All this performance is combined with comfort and luxury levels unheard of in muscle cars 30 years ago. The 30th Anniversary Trans Am is loaded with power equipment from which to choose. Four radios, two transmissions, and whether you want open or closed motoring are the only decisions.

Convertible buyers will have to be quicker than coupe customers. Total production is slated at 1,065 coupes (65 for Canada) and 535 convertibles (35 for Canada) so they're sure to go in a hurry and garner strong collector interest.

Traditional white and blue colors are back once more for the 1999 30th Anniversary Trans Am. Twin blue stripes on the Ram Air hood and rear deck lid highlight the Arctic White body. Instead of the larger Firebirds on previous Anniversary Editions, the '99s feature two small blue Firebirds at the front of each WS6 Ram Air hood scoop. The stripes extend from the wings.

Highly polished cast aluminum 17 x 9-inch five-spoke wheels are topped with a medium-blue-tinted clearcoat. The unique wheels look like polished blue steel. Thirtieth Anniversary logo center caps and P275/40ZR17 tires complete the package.

Identification
White leather bucket seats carry embroidered 30th Anniversary logos on the headrests. The distinctive Trans Am 30th Anniversary logo appears on the floor mats and the cargo area mat of T-top models. Each car has an individually numbered plaque on the console. Thirtieth Anniversary logo cloisonné badges highlight each door. All convertibles feature Medium Navy Blue cloth tops.

Excitement is an integral part of the entire 1999 Firebird Trans Am product line. With the limited production 30th Anniversary Trans Am the difference, like past Anniversary Editions, is that the excitement will be a little more exclusive.