A while ago, I came into possession of a 1979 Pontiac foldout, each page measuring 8×11 inches. When you fold it out and flip it over, you have this wonderful image of the entire 1979 Pontiac lineup. I’ve seen full range photos before – and I love them – but this is on a whole ‘nother level! I’m going to need to buy a nice, big frame to put this in.
The picture was so arresting they reused it for the 1979 full line brochure, which I also own. For those who aren’t as enthusiastic about 1979 Pontiacs as myself, let me tell you what’s in this picture.
In the front row is Pontiac’s strong-selling Grand Prix personal luxury coupe in (from top to bottom) base, SJ and LJ trim. Back a row are the base Firebird, Firebird Formula, Firebird Trans Am and Firebird Esprit (with Redbird package). Behind those, there’s a row of Bonneville and Bonneville Brougham sedans and coupes.
To save you from zooming in, here’s a more zoomed-in image courtesy of Flickr user coconv. Aft of the Bonnevilles is a row of cars containing LeMans, Grand LeMans and Catalina sedans and coupes. A Phoenix LJ sedan and coupe duo are at the top of the preceding row, followed by a Sunbird Formula hatchback and two Sunbird notchback coupes, a base coupe and a Sport Coupe. At the bottom are two Grand Ams, a coupe and a sedan (this was the last year for the sedan).
The row behind consists of Catalina Safari and Bonneville Safari wagons and a Phoenix hatchback, coupe and sedan (the hatch was not available in LJ trim). Bringing up the rear is the subcompact Sunbird Safari and midsize LeMans Safari and Grand LeMans Safari wagons.
Pontiac’s brand identity may have been rather hazy at this time but, at least to me, there’s no question there are a lot of appealing choices here. What would you choose? If you want to spec out your ideal ’79 Pontiac down to the engine and transmission of choice that year, take a look at the 1979 Pontiac information booklet here.
For me, I’ll take a Grand Am sedan with the Pontiac 301 cubic-inch V8 and a four-speed manual and the snowflake wheels. Or a Bonneville Brougham coupe with the Buick 350 and the buckets-and-console option, also with the snowflake wheels.
Once Upon A Time when not all cars were black, white, or fifty shades of grey…
Was shopping at the local GMC store (wife is picking out a new car) “Would you like black, white, silver/grey or extra cost?”
Medium blue metallic pearl would have caused the salesperson a sensory overload and have a meltdown.
And would you like the black interior or the dark charcoal?
The single biggest thing I so miss about today’s look alike colorless clones. I remember it was a treat for dad to take a 9 year old me to the dealers at the time to check out cars like these. We would talk about it for weeks in school with other friends who also lusted after one of those Camaro’s or Firebirds or Grand Am’s.
For me a Grand Am coupe with 301 4BBL and all the trimmings would be high on the list and the Bonneville coupe with bucket seat interior would be a close second with honorable mentions going to a 400 equipped Firebird Formula or Grand Prix SJ with snow flakes of course.
Okay, I’ll bite…. Firebird Esprit, black or silver, 4 speed, black wall tires.
Everyone have a great Christmas.
If I had to pick just one, probably a Grand Am coupe with the 301 and snowflakes. For sedans I think the choice would be a Bonneville Brougham, in the same Green/green as the pictured car, with disc wheel covers rather than the wire caps. And I wouldn’t turn down a Grand LeMans wagon either (dinoc and styled steel road wheels, please!)
Did you ever see a Pontiac 301 crankshaft? I’ve seen lots of them in machine shops; it’s quite a spindley thing.
They were in machine shops to be resurfaced because of oiling issues. Nobody sent broken crankshafts to machine shops, so I don’t know how much of an issue that was.
From what I remember the early run of 1977 301’s had an issue with both bad cranks and oiling issues. By 1979 I don’t remember them being a real issue unless one overheated them or neglected oil changes etc. I have seen 301’s go in excess of 200k with nothing other than a new set of timing chain and gears and some valve cover gaskets but those were rarely ever beat on or wound out. I had a 1980 SJ with the W72 301 that had over 150K and was never apart other than the new timing set and gear and I did drive that car hard and it never missed a beat.
Wind back 10 years and you’ll have a supporter
No contest! I’ll take a Firebird Formula with a 400 and a 4-speed. I’m not sure on the color; I’d have to take a look at what’s available.
Firebird Formula…Poncho 400, 4 speed, WS6 package, AC, AM/FM, cruise control, and nothing else. Snowflake wheels, no stripes, solid roof, crank windows.
Immediately upon delivery, add 2.5″ dual exhaust, recurve the distributor, and tune the Qjet.
Grand Am, Grand Prix,.
I’m gonna go completely against the grain here, and I’ll probably be labelled crazy for it, but gimme a Sunbird Sport Coupe, V6, 4-speed, Navy blue over white vinyl with a white vinyl half top and color-coded rally wheels.
Yeah, the Grand Prix calls out to me, and I love the Bonneville Brougham, the Grand Am and the Grand Lemans Sport Wagon, but I could probably find a modern day analogue to any of those. The Sunbird appeals, as it’s sized just right for “Personal Use”, it could be optioned up to a similar level to an entry Grand Prix, and with a 6 and 4-speed it’d be fun enough without getting me into too much trouble. Besides, with color choices and options they could be outfitted as pretty sharp little cars. And you just can’t get a cheap coupe with a V6, flashy white interior and color-coded wheels any more. I kinda miss the days when even the secretary at your doctor’s office was driving something that looked distinctive, even if it was inexpensive.
The same, MTN. Make mine pale yellow.
Triple Black Grand Prix SJ. Preferably one of the 232 cars built with the 301/4 speed combo.
Bonneville coupe, sport suspension, big engine, no vinyl top or astroroof, make sure it has the gauge package.
+1, with snowflake alloys.
Me too, but I’d specify the two-tone paint treatment. Maybe green and silver. And I would want the moonroof, assuming it doesn’t start leaking.
Clearly Pontiac had run out of ideas by then. The new nose for the firebird being but one example. Ugly.
They got a lot worse than that later.
The 2G Firebird was built correctly-that is, 400ci engine and WS6 package-only in 1979.
Maybe, but such a car wouldn’t be able to see where a 1970-1973 Trams Am went.
…until the road curved.
And, of course, 3 hpurs in the shop has the 79 matching anything short of a Ram Air III.
Incredible to think that a brand that fielded such a large and diverse range is no longer around. Like a previous correspondent said, this is about 10 years after the period of Pontiacs that interest me.
These advertising photos showing entire product ranges were quite a thing. Mercedes used to love doing these photos and even video (more likely film!) versions. In photos the cars were sometimes arranged in the shape of their star logo. In their case there was a smaller number of cars as they did not do different trim levels, the range consisted of different bodies with varying engines. film versions always included several cars in formation on their banked test track. Great stuff!
It’s almost equally noteworthy that there’s not one front-wheel-drive car among all the 1979 Pontiac offerings, whereas the 1990 model year included only a single RWD offering – the Firebird.
There could be some sort of correlation between the growth of FWD drivetrains and the later lack of diversity among Pontiacs (or other GM marques).
At the time, I’d have wanted a Firebird for sure. Today (cheap gas permitting), give me the Bonneville Safari wagon with all the goodies.
Another “full range” ad was Chevy’s in 1959 (trucks not shown, of course). I’d take the Corvette as my pampered “summer car” or the snazzy Impala if it had to serve as my DD:
Here’s a dramatic full-line ad for 1968 Cadillacs.
I read about this photo shoot in a book called “Boulevard Photographic,” which was about the eponymous agency. Apparently, a sandstorm blew up during this shoot and caused significant damage to all the glass and maybe even the trim, resulting in a breathtaking insurance claim. It may have been worth it, because the final result was pretty spectacular.
Breathtaking, indeed. I found this piece on Hemings website, which refers to the sandstorm incident:
https://www.hemmings.com/magazine/hmn/2011/05/Creative-Brainstorm/3698581.html
According to the article, that were all dealer units that had been earmarked for future sale!
It seems unusual to see a Fleetwood Seventy-Five Sedan and Limousine in white, at least in my admittedly limited exposure to these beautiful beasts.
For that field of Chevrolets, I would go with number 2 ( at least today, as I really love wagons in the last few years). My brother had a two door (60) Brookwood wagon, he got (in 1971) just to get the left fender off it for his Biscayne, which matched the color. He pulled the 283 as well. Junked the rest. I liked that car, was in very good shape, and 2 Dr as well. I was 13 and it was the first car I ever saw to be parted and junked. It was that bluish color, with white top. . His friend Neil had a 59 El Cam at the time. ….Sad. I still want that car, and I usually lean toward Ford wagons of the 60’s for the most part, but now any wagon of the late 50’s to late 70’s is something I lust after. Those cars were cheap and plentiful then. For $50 and you had a running car.
’59 was the first in a long line of mom’s station wagons, and the beginning of the Paczolt family having more than one car in the driveway. I remember it as a Brookwood in tan and cream, 283/Powerglide, with the manually cranked back window. Beginning with the ’60 wagon, power tailgates became mandatory at our house.
Astre wagon for sure! 1979 is badged as a Sunbird Safari I guess, but it would have had the Iron Duke engine, what could possibly go wrong?
Lots.
I had the first cousin, a ’79 Monza Kammback wagon. V-6, 5-speed (I don’t think they were doing 4-speeds at that point), upgraded suspension and tires. Basically, my attempt to do a Volvo 1800 while starting with a Chevrolet (the only brand dad would loan me money for).
The worst car I ever owned. First off, Chevrolet cancelled the instrument package (the old Vega GT instrument panel) without telling me until the car arrived. 4’s and V-8’s got it, they decided to do away with it on the sixes. Then they almost cancelled my 5-speed, once again, anything sporty was intended to be for the small and big engines, not the middle one. I was notified in advance on that one, threatened to cancel the deal. Somehow the dealer saved it.
Then when I did get it, it was an ill-built mechanical nightmare, carburetor troubles galore, the entire bottom got repainted after the winter of ’78-79, and by 1982 I was just about desperate to get rid of the damned car. That was the end of my driving anything GM for the next twenty years, and even dad quit pushing me to stay with Chevrolet. He bought himself a Dodge Omni (first non-Chevy in our family history) in ’81. Thanks dad, nice to know you can drive what you want, even if I can’t.
On the good side, when it did run right (yes, there were a few periods like that) I had built myself the sport wagon I’d dreamed of. It hauled, and definitely loved the twisties. And it was the last car I ever bought where I went down the list checking boxes. It was also the last time a car dealer ever happily offered me the chance to do so. By the 1980’s that behavior was definitely disappearing.
A loaded Bonneville Brougham coupe with moonroof, gauges, Rally II wheels, and Rally RTS suspension package.
+1 fire engine red ( or whatever they had for red) w/white 1/2 padded top and white and red interior.
Like everyone has said you don’t see bright colors anymore. One of those I miss most is yellow. More than half of the cars in that Rabbit comparison test from 1975 were yellow and about 20% of the Pontiacs here are yellow. In my mind’s eye when I think of my favorite cars from the 70s and 80s — Porsche 914 2.0L, Pantera, Opel Sport Wagon, Capri II and Camaro IROC-Z — they are always yellow. So I’m going to take that yellow Trans-Am but without the T-Tops.
I have a 73 Maverick in Medium Bright Yellow. Lovely color that was used on a lot of 73 Mustang’s. I will say this, if that is medium yellow, I’d hate to see bright yellow!
Here ’tis
A Grand Am with 301 4 barrel, 4 speed, and Pontiac road wheels.
Easy. The 1979 Trans AM. 6.6 liters and 185 horsepower! Wooooohooooo!
Only the Olds…the Poncho 400 was 220hp.
That 220 was the rating. The 0-60 time of 6.7 seconds told a different story however and it was proven in Pontiac car magazine that these 400 Pontiac engines were putting out closer to 260 horses and were underrated. Those 403’s were also easily capable of making similar power with a few bolton’s.
True…but the 403s biggest problems took major work to fix. Those being: super low compression (most had actual ratios of worse than 8:1), and super-tall gears. (I recall 2.73 was the DEEPEST available.)
The t-top Grand Prix. I drove a 79 LJ just like that for several years. It felt very quick with the 301 but the shift into second was abrupt. Real fun car however.
Last summer I saw what I thought might be a rare Firebird parked in a local driveway with a for sale sign. It was called a Bluebird. Had the name decals attached, and yes it was a light shade of blue. My guess, it was about a 1978 model. It did need restoration……..
Was it a rare model ??
It was probably a 1977 model. Pontiac produced a “Sky Bird” in blue followed by a Yellow Bird and a Red Bird. I was in middle school during this time and I remember this model. I was very unimpressed as the screaming chicken on the Trans Am appealed to my young adolescent sense of style.
Here is some additional information:
https://autopolis.wordpress.com/2013/03/30/1977-1980-pontiac-firebird-esprit-special-editions-birds-of-a-different-color/
Ah yes, the Sky Bird! Year older classmate in HS traded his MINT 440 powered 68 GTX in on a small block Sky Bird. I was in shock but he seemed happy with the better handling and slightly better MPG. Personally I thought he was crazy – the wheezy V-8, goofy blue paint, light blue interior, and scrolly bird pinstripes seemed like a big srep down from the classy – and brutally fast! – GTX.
Being in the middle of high school at the time I’d pretty much have to take a Firebird of some sort. Probably the Formula because the Trans Am Chicken was becoming slightlybcliche even then. But as a previous commenter observed a B Safari would be my current preference.
Well since my first car was an 80 Sunbird hatchback… I’d get another one, except this time a “Formula” one instead of the absolute base model that I had. Only one (or maybe 2) years of the Sunbird was available with the 305 v8, and I think it was 79, so I’d definitely go with that, cause the “Iron Duke” mine had was no fun. Still red with black interior is what I’d pick. Or, since I get to pick whatever I want here, a Trans Am in “Heritage Brown” (rich chocolate color) with Camel Tan “Custom” interior, the WS-6 package, the 400ci engine and the 4-speed. Oh, and the CB radio! At the time, my car choices were the 4-banger Sunbird and a V6 Olds Starfire GT (with about 12 extra horsepower) but my insurance was literally half as much with the Sunbird, I don’t even want to guess what it would be with a TA…
Since I’ve already done 15 years with an F body, I think I’ll take a Sunbird Coupe, light blue in and out, with a 3.8, auto, console, and snowflakes, among other options. If they still had the Astre, I would have chosen that instead. I’m really a sucker for the design of the “Vega” in spite of it being the worst car I’ve ever experienced.
Grand Am for sure. With a 301, of course.
I’ll take a 4 door Catalina with a 350/350 and whatever heavy duty suspension option they had.
Easy decision for me: a Parisienne Brougham two door slick top, blue over blue. With 350 CID V-8, F-41 and power everything. No sunroof, GM could never make one what wouldn’t leak.
This would make as good a road car as many others costing twice as much.
I would like to have several of those pictured, but it comes down to the Trans Am or the yellow full size wagon. The T/A in black( yes so cliche ), T-Tops ( yes I know those were leaky PITA things) 400, 4 spd, posi 3:55, snowflakes, ac, power everything. I had the 301 version in plum metallic, so under powered and slow. I did have the Olds version of the wagon, in yellow, with 350 Olds. Got it cheap because it would barely run due to wore rocket pivots, causing the push rods to pop out. Needed windshield and air shocks too. Once those things got fixed it was one of the best cars I ever owned. It got towed away one day, about 1996, and I was too broke at the time to make bail for it. Great, great car, smooth ride, smooth perfect engine, roomy, dependable. Hope I can come across another one someday. Doesn’t matter to me it is over 30 years old.
The green Bonneville sedan in row three from the front looks pretty good to me.
I think I’d choose a Grand Prix LJ — seafoam green & dark green two-tone. Hold the T-Tops, though!
Likewise. Another loaded Grand Prix for me, please; hold the T-top.
Not really a big fan of the Pontiac’s that were out that year but my choice would be a 1979 Pontiac Trans Am with the 6.6 Liter V8 (preferably a 400ci engine), preferably a black or any dark color vehicle.
Not even gonna look at the choices. Whatever the mid spec B body is. No wait it’s 1979, make that fully loaded…
Anyway, a Catalina/Bonneville/Parisienne for me with the small block Chevy 350 if possible, thanks.
A Bonneville Brougham 4-door sedan with every normally-available option, the L34 (Olds 350-4bbl) engine, 2.73 rear axle, NN9 emissions, F41 suspension, T84 headlamps, T89 taillamps, T90 turn signals, 5D4 cooling system, A26 glass, and an assortment of other RPOs. But I’d probably prefer a Caprice or an 88.
The L34 was a great engine, Strong Like Bull. We had a Catalina with this engine, and without a/c. It was the fastest non-9C1 B body I have ever driven.
Somehow, the Olds 350 seemed quite a bit less strangled by the emission control strategies of the day. Which is kind of odd, because technologically there was scant difference between the equipment of a Chev 350 and the equipment of an Olds 350 to meet a given year’s emissions limits.
In the late 60s, Olds engineers did lots of work on cleaning up their engines. The other divisions-notably Pontiac-did not. That is one reason so many Pontiacs had Olds power in the 70s: the Poncho engines would not meet Cali emissions.
That’s interesting; I didn’t know that.
Although I wanted my Dad to buy a red ’79 Grand Am with the 301 V8 4 barrel, red vinyl buckets, and white letter tires, he was looking more for comfort and luxury, and special ordered a silver ’79 Grand LeMans with a matching landau vinyl top, red pinstripes and red loose pillow velour interior. Of course he had to get the wire wheels and whitewalls. At least he got the 301 4 barrel and gauge package. He wanted the plushest possible ride, so he declined the Rally RTS option. The dash had woodgrain rather than the Grand Am’s aluminium, and I always thought the dash of the Grand LeMans was one of the best looking of any car. Although it had a power antenna, we had to crank the windows. My Dad went with the factory AM-FM stereo and respectfully declined my request for a cassette deck. The Grand LeMans was the last car my Dad owned and he was always proud of how good it looked.
I’d walk across the street get a Ford Fiesta. If I had to stay on the lot, I’d get the Trans-Am with the 4-speed and A/C. In the most absurd color combination I could get.
Ditto. Finally got my Fiesta S about five years later and loved it.
Pontiac was definitely not talking to me at that point.
1979 Sunbird safari with a V6/4-speed drive train. This has to be a real unicorn-I have never seen one in captivity.
I’d take the Grand LeMans Wagon with the rarely ordered Chevy 350/auto. When the dealer refuses to order it for me I’ll try for William’s Grand Am with a 301 and 4 speed. After getting laughed out of the showroom I’d drive across town to the AMC dealer and order a 304 4 speed Spirit GT. They’d be so hard up for sales they’d order whatever I want. If I were lucky they’re be one languishing on the sales floor with heavy discounts to get it out of the way.
Then, certainly a Firebird with 4 speed and WS6. Now, a wagon, any one would do, but the Sunbird Safari pulls some heartstrings with this ex-Vega owner.
A base Firebird ‘Rockford Special’ with a 305/4-speed in Solar Gold.
my aunt had a 79 esprit that I loved. a duplicate of that car would be nice but being honest I would take any 79 firebird I could get!
Great post. I remember this foldout well, I used to love checking it out and literally thinking which one would I want. My grandmother did in fact get a yellow Grand LeMans sedan like the one pictured (Montego Cream was the color name).
12-year-old me really wanted a Trans Am or Formula with the Pontiac 400. I’d still pick the Firebird today, though a loaded Bonneville Coupe with bucket seats and snowflakes or Grand Prix SJ with the leather “Viscount” buckets and snowflakes would also make my list now.
I`d take a Grand Am 2dr in dark blue, loaded 301 Auto & snowflakes. I own a 78 Grand Prix SJ and like the way it drives but I always really liked those 2nd gen Grand Ams
I’d have to go with the t-top Grand Prix in the front row, dark blue like that, although with a light blue or white landu vinyl top (or no vinyl top) and a light blue or white interior. I was gonna say Pontiac rally wheels, but some above mentioned the snowflake rims, and yeah, that would work too. For the engine, a 301 V8 would be just fine I suppose. My Dad had that engine in an ’80 Bonnie, and it was pretty nice.
The 301 got a bad rap at the time I remember by certain high po magazines because it was an outlier and didn’t offer the performance parts that a Chevy Small block could have. It was also a lighter duty lower deck version of the traditional Pontiac V8 with lower emissions and better fuel economy being the primary focus.
It did not take well to neglect as I found out as a 17 year old with a 1979 light blue Grand LeMans sedan with that engine in 2BBL guise. My dad found it for me in a nice neighborhood nearby and assumed it was a nice clean lower mileage elderly owned car which would be perfect for me. The problem was that the elderly old lady that owned it rarely changed the oil and did mostly short hop city driving and the engine was full of sludge. Being young at the time but also finding it suspicious that the engine had a low RPM tick neither of these things ever occurred to either me or dad until it was too late. While driving on the open road and gassing up the engine I heard what could best be described as a loud thump. I pulled over and heard what sounded like a low end thumping noise at idle and knew then and there that the motor was not far away from throwing a rod bearing.
Mom made me take it into a local shop who pulled the oil pan revealing a sludged up oil screen and oil pan with metal shavings and the engine needed to be re-built. She was so hot as I only had the car for a few weeks that she make me drive it over to the elderly couples house and demanded a refund. The husband wanted to put in a new engine but the wife agreed to refund my 1400 bucks much to my amazement.
After that I learned to always look for signs of frequent oil changes, look into the valve cover for sludge, pull the oil dipstick and look for burnt or dark foul smelling oil and to listen very closely for any suspect engine noises. It was the only car I ever lost an engine on to date and I have owned other 301 equipped Pontiac cars with both low and higher mileage without issues.
Man, lots of Astroroofs in the Pontiac pic! That might be every Astroroof-equipped car they built that year.
Gimme a Bonneville with fender skirts and slick top. Black with red interior. Did they even build a Bonne with Astroroof and no vinyl?
1979 me would that gold Trans Am, just the way you see it in the brochure.
2016 me would like either a slick top Bonnie sedan with Poncho motor, snowflakes, the F41 suspension and gages or a Grand LeMans wagon with similar set up. Hell, I think I’d even pay for the fake wood on the side, too.
Something to consider: This is quite an array of models to choose from. But Chevrolet probably had nearly the same lineup. Then Buick and Oldsmobile had much the same except for Firebirds. It seems to me that this was not good for GM. There are simply too many models to choose from, most much like the same thing from other GM brands. It should not have been a surprise to see GM’s market share collapse.
Catalina coupe with the 403.
I’d go for a silver Firebird formula with the t-tops and red interior or a blue Grand Am coupe.