C3 or 1979 TA

[KingCorvette]

Well guys besides looking at those 1973/79 Corvettes.
My neighbor has a 1979 Trans Am 403 automatic. with 67k miles
for sale. How does the 79' TA stack up against the C3 Corvette?
In over all quality and issues?

 

[KANE]

Well guys besides looking at those 1973/79 Corvettes.
My neighbor has a 1979 Trans Am 403 automatic. with 67k miles
for sale. How does the 79' TA stack up against the C3 Corvette?
In over all quality and issues?

Many late 70s cars have quality issues. Strikes, production issues, manufacturing defects, smog era motors, and the list goes on. So, I can't say one is better than the other in some huge, significant way that is meaningful and important.

I also don't think I can compare the two fairly- and I've owned three of each! :L

The TA has more seats. The Vette... well, it is a Vette! The two cars have different purposes. TAs were typically kings of the street (muscle) while the Vette was the king of the road (touring). Without the Vette- the TA would not have been as fun a car. A lot of the firepower the later TAs have is owed to the Vette.

I would say Vettes are great cars & have lots of possibilities. Resale is usually better too. However, if you have kids and you want to take them with you- a Trans Am is a lot of fun too.


Either way- the car MUST fit your life. If you do it the other way you'll be miserable.

Not sure what your budget is, your long term plans for either car, or life situation (kids, no kids, maried, single). All those will likely play a part in the decision making process.;squint:

 

[mike82]

my guess is not so good. the 403 is an Oldsmobile and only 185 hp. the motor to have would be the 400(220 hp). unless the car has the WS6 suspension, it probably doesn't handle that great. I have no doubt the T/A weighs quite a bit more. stick with the vette.

 

[Crimson Thunder]

I'm not a big fan of the Olds 403 either.A muscle car like the T/A should have a motor that can rev past 4500 rpm. Now if you were looking at a Pontiac 400 with a 4 speed that would be a different story.

 

[6880 Mike]

...How does the 79' TA stack up against the C3 Corvette?...

That's a question you'll have to answer for yourself. I'm sure the folks on the Pontiac forum (if there is one) would have opinions different from ours.

 

[6 Shooter]

I think the only way I'd take and old TA over a C3 is it's this 1...

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Later . . . . . .
6 Shooter​

 

[KingCorvette]

Ive always been a fan of the Smokey and the Bandit movie.

Burt made the TA look cool. The 403 seems to have a lot of
pollution crap around the engine. I wonder if it would be a pain to
service?

 

[6880 Mike]

...Burt made the TA look cool...

I think it's the other way around; the TA made Burt look cool.

:L

 

[Vette79]

Well guys besides looking at those 1973/79 Corvettes.
My neighbor has a 1979 Trans Am 403 automatic. with 67k miles
for sale. How does the 79' TA stack up against the C3 Corvette?
In over all quality and issues?

After seeing that movie as a kid, I've always wanted a TA that was just like the one on Smokey and the Bandit. But if you had to make a choice, I'd still go with the Vette. Size and weight alone are huge factors. Condition of the vehicles would really matter to. Hell, I wouldn't mind having a late 70's TA in my garage!

 

[73shark]

Not sure but there may be more restoration parts available for the Corvette than the TA.

 

[Evolution1980]

Year for year comparisons, the vette is always the better overall car. The TA was always (as far as I can recall) at least two levels down. It goes Corvette -> Camaro Z28 -> Trans Am. (The VERY notable exception being the turbo Indy Pace Car edition TransAm)

As far as 1979 goes...don't expect anything fantastic in really any category relative to the cars before it nor to the cars of today. It's pretty much the most dogged year for american automobiles. Surprisingly though, it was the top-selling Corvette of all time (again, if memory serves me correctly).

 

[KANE]

... The TA was always (as far as I can recall) at least two levels down. It goes Corvette -> Camaro Z28 -> Trans Am. (The VERY notable exception being the turbo Indy Pace Car edition TransAm...

:harhar Thanks Dre! I've noted this for CruiseFest next year....



Seriously- I think you may be right for all but the 4th gen.

A 3rd gen IROC is hands down a better looking car than a comparable year TA (1989 TTA is the exception).

The 4th Gen Z28s did not have as nice a dash as the Ponchos (too much hard plastic on the Z & terrible ventilation), the front seats on the Z28 aren't as comfortable, and the Monsoon / 10 speaker systems sounded so much better than the Z28s 4 speaker system.

IMHO- the 4th gen Z28 doesn't look as good as the TA.

 

[Evolution1980]

IMHO- the 4th gen Z28 doesn't look as good as the TA.

I agree. But I was speaking purely in terms of performance.

 

[KANE]

I agree. But I was speaking purely in terms of performance.

I knew what you meant.

I was just playin' with you.



Anyway- here is another consideration: INSURANCE.

Mine went up $30 a month when I got my TA.:W

Fbodies cost a lot more to insure due to the history of accidents, damage, and fatalities. People who own Fbodies have been shown to engage in risky behavior from an insurance perspective.

FWIW- there are very few surviving TAs from that period in good shape. I looked for one for MONTHS and found many that were disappointing.


All things considered- and seeing as the original poster has Vettes already (and it would appear he doesn't need a car with more seats) ... '79 Vette versus '79 TA- I'd say go with the Vette.


I wonder when he'll give us an update?

 

[Crimson Thunder]

Year for year comparisons, the vette is always the better overall car. The TA was always (as far as I can recall) at least two levels down. It goes Corvette -> Camaro Z28 -> Trans Am. (The VERY notable exception being the turbo Indy Pace Car edition TransAm)

I'd put the order Corvette > 400 Trans Am > Camaro Z28 > 403 Trans Am > last is the 301 turbo Trans Am.

 

[6 Shooter]

YEP - The TA definitely looks Bad in Black!

2002 Trans Am​

2002 Camaro​

 

[black_81_vette]

Well after owning and still own a F body I can say this like the others the 403 isnt much of a runner but about a equal to a mid 70s to early 80s vette with the base engine.The 77 to 79 birds with the 400 pontiac engine run pretty good. And if im not mistaken were only available with 4 speeds in 78 79.The only way you were going to out run a 400 4 speed T/A was to have a L-82 vette(sorry guys!) As a matter of fact my neighbor has a beautiful 79 T/A with the 400 4 speed combo and just for laughs we raced when my vette was stone stock and his car was also.I got beat by 3-4 all three runs.The trans am aint a bad ride I always thought pontiac did a way better job with the interiors than chevy did with the camaro.And while the 4th gens are quick they arent very comfy and a pain to get in and out of.But they would smoke just about any of the post 72 muscle cars in comparison.

 

[Crimson Thunder]

I agree,Back in the late 80's we had a guy in town with a TA with a 400/4 speed that would run 13.90 bone stock with just headers and dual exhaust.By comparison my friends stock 79 Vette( L48/auto/3.55/duals no cat)would run 14.30's. Both respectable times for the year 1987.

 

[C3RVETTE]

Well guys besides looking at those 1973/79 Corvettes.
My neighbor has a 1979 Trans Am 403 automatic. with 67k miles
for sale. How does the 79' TA stack up against the C3 Corvette?
In over all quality and issues?

Wow! I like those,too! And you dont see many around here any longer.I never made the transition to Pontiacs,but had a few freinds with them.I had 1st & 2nd Generation Camaro F-bodies. I once had a freinds 73 455 T/A up to 150mph

 

[fm1]

Buy the T/A and the Vette.

Problem solved.