2nd gen F-body prices are on the way back up

[79TA]

Of course, all muscle cars have gotten much more expensive over the last 4 years due in part to that pesky good American economy. I was lucky to get my '79 Trans Am in 2004 (for 100 bucks!) when second gen prices were at an absolute low. At the time, people still had a chance at getting a first gen for a somewhat decent price so the second gen cars weren't as sought after. Perhaps things were summed up best in the movie Joe Dirt, where a '79 10th anniversary Trans Am was mocked as the epitome of all that was wrong with malaise-era pop culture.

Also in 2004, I had no problem finding second gens at the local salvage yards for parts. Now, I'm lucky to find one and when I do, it's usually too late as the car has been thoroughly stripped.

Here's a list of Barrett-Jackson prices for 1979 F-bodies.

Firebirds:
1979 PONTIAC FIREBIRD TRANS AM 10TH ANNIVERSARY COUPE 25500.00 Palm Beach 2007
1979 PONTIAC TRANS AM COUPE 19000.00 Scottsdale 2007
1979 PONTIAC FIREBIRD TRANS AM 10TH ANNIVERSARY 24500.00 PBCCA Palm Beach 2006
1979 PONTIAC FIREBIRD FORMULA 400 COUPE 7000.00 Scottsdale 35th Anniversary 2006
1979PONTIAC FIREBIRD T-TOPS 3100.00 BARRETT JACKSON CLASSIC CAR AUCTION 1998
1979 PONTIAC TRANS AM 2-DR COUPE 15000.00 BARRETT JACKSON CLASSIC CAR AUCTION 1996

-note that 10th anniversary editions always demand a higher price than a standard non-SE Trans Am

Camaros:
1979CHEVROLETCAMARO Z/28COUPE 23500.00 Palm Beach 2007
1979CHEVROLETCAMARO Z/28COUPE 24000.00 Scottsdale 35th Anniversary 2006
1979CHEVROLETCAMAROMACHO-Z 11500.00 BARRETT-JACKSON CLASSIC CAR AUCTION 2001

There are still good deals to be had, so no worries . . . and when compared to first gen Camaro prices, anything is a good deal.