Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Site
The Second Generation Trans Am Information Site

1979

The last year of the Pontiac 400 and Olds 403 engines.

Production Numbers

Model: Firebird
Manual: **
Automatic: **
Total: 38,642

Model: Esprit
Manual: **
Automatic: **
Total: 30,853

Model: Formula
Manual: **
Automatic: **
Total: 24,850

Model: Trans Am L37 301
Manual: 1,590
Automatic: 7,015
Total: 8,605

Model: Trans Am L80 403
Manual: 0
Automatic: 48,488
Total: 48,488

Model: Trans Am W72 400
Manual: 2,485
Automatic: 0
Total: 2,485

Model: Trans Am 301 (L37) T-Top
Manual: 1,530
Automatic: 3,301
Total: 4,831

Model: Trans Am 400 (W72) T-Top
Manual: 2,917
Automatic: 0
Total: 2,917

Model: Trans Am 403 (L80) T-Top
Manual: 0
Automatic: 30,728
Total: 30,728

Model: Y84 Trans Am 403 (L80)
Manual: 0
Automatic: 9,874
Total: 9,874

Model: Y84 Trans Am 400 (W72)
Manual: 1,107
Automatic: 0
Total: 1,107

Model: Y84 Trans Am 301 (L37)
Manual: 213
Automatic: 360
Total: 573

Model: Y89 10th Anniversary 403 (L80)
Manual: 0
Automatic: 5,683
Total: 5,683

Model: Y89 10th Anniversary 400 (W72)
Manual: 1,817
Automatic: 0
Total: 1,817

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Cowl Tag

79 - Model Year

11B - Assembly Date
01 - January
02 - February
03 - March
04 - April
05 - May
06 - June
07 - July
08 - August
09 - September
10 - October
11 - November
12 - December
A - First Week
B - Second Week
C - Third Week
D - Fourth Week
E - Fifth Week

2 - Division number
2 - Pontiac

F - Body Type
F - Firebird

S - Series
S - Firebird
T - Esprit
U - Formula
W - Trans Am
X - 10th Anniversary Trans Am

87 - Body Style (2-Door Coupe)

N - Assembly Plant
N - Norwood, OH
L - Van Nuys, CA

064907 - Fisher Body Unit Number

19N - Interior Trim Code
12R Oyster Vinyl (standard)
12N Oyster Vinyl (deluxe)
19R Black Vinyl (standard)
19B Black Cloth
19N Black Vinyl (deluxe)
24B Blue Cloth
24N Blue Vinyl
62R Camel Vinyl (standard)
62B Camel Cloth
62N Camel Vinyl (deluxe)
74R Carmine Vinyl (standard)
74B Carmine Cloth
74N Carmine Vinyl (deluxe)
152 Silver Leather
Trim Appointments with Trims 12N and 12R Oyster, colored carpet, dash, console.
24X Blue
16X Grey
19X Black
62X Camel
74X Carmine

L - Paint Type
L - Lacquer Based Paint
W - Water Based Paint

A51 - Bucket Seats

19L - Lower Body Paint Code
11 Cameo White
15 Platinum Poly
16 Dark Charcoal
19 Starlight Black
24 Atlantis Blue
29 Nocturn Blue
50 Solar Gold
51 Sundance Yellow
63 Sierra Copper
69 Heritage Brown
75 Mayan Red
77 Carmine
80 Redbird Red

19U - Upper Body Paint Code
11 Cameo White
15 Platinum Poly
16 Dark Charcoal
19 Starlight Black
24 Atlantis Blue
29 Nocturn Blue
50 Solar Gold
51 Sundance Yellow
63 Sierra Copper
69 Heritage Brown
75 Mayan Red
77 Carmine
80 Redbird Red

A31 - Power Windows

CC1 - Fisher T-tops

BL2 - Secondary Interior Color (Black)

510326 - Fisher Time Date Code


Note: Some 1979 Special Edition cars may have the following UPC codes on the Cowl Date Plate.

Y84 - Black&Gold S/E Trans Am with UPC code CC1 Fisher T-Top
Y89 - 10th Anniversary Trans Am


Now this is just a sample of a 1979 Cowl Tag. Your cowl tag may differ and have some different codes listed on there. For a list of more codes, check out the RPO page.

VIN Number

Example: 2W87L9N100001

1st digit - GM Division
2 = Pontiac

 

2nd digit - Car Line Series
S = Firebird
T = Esprit
U = Formula
W = Trans Am (75 - 81)
X = 10th Anniversary Trans Am (79)

 

3rd and 4th digit - Body Type
87 = 2 door Sport Coupe

 

5th digit - Engine Code
A = 231 c.i.d, 2-bbl V6 (1978 - 80)
G = 305 c.i.d, 2-bbl V8 (1979)
K = 403 c.i.d, 4-bbl V8 (1977 - 79)
L = 350 c.i.d, 4-bbl V8 (1978 - 79)
R = 350 c.i.d, 4-bbl V8 (1977 - 79)
W = 301 c.i.d, 4-bbl V8 (1979 -80)
Y = 301 c.i.d, 2 -bbl V8 (1977, 1979)
Z = 400 c.i.d, 4-bbl V8 (1977 - 79)

 

6th digit - Model Year
9 = 1979

 

7th digit - Assembly Plant
N = Norwood, Ohio
L = Van Nuys, California

 

Last 6 digits - Production Number
100001/up