Up for auction is a 1995 Pontiac Trans Am Convertible with a 6-speed manual transmission. This is a fourth- and last generation example of Pontiac’s famed sports car – GM paused production of its pony cars, Firebird and Camaro, after the 2002 model year and ended Pontiac altogether after the 2009 model year before 2010 saw a return in the form of the Camaro. There are cosmetic kits to convert these later Camaros to look like what would be a modern-day Firebird/Trans Am but this car is an example of the last Firebird/Trans Am.

The current owner of this T/A has been its custodian for three years and space limitations make it time to send the car to someone else to enjoy. This car was built in Canada, at the former Ste-Therese GM facility in Quebec. The Carfax report on the gallery starting at image 129 notes no damage history on the car.

The car is finished in Dark Green Metallic. The car can still be made to look pretty, as seen in the gallery, though it shows some effects of the sun. The new owner might consider a ceramic coating treatment to wake up the paint. There are many features on the exterior to illustrate the car’s muscle car status. Pop-up headlights, hood scoops, fog lights and spoilers speak to this, as do the quad chrome-tipped exhaust outlets and rear splitter. A very notable recent improvement that the seller made during his ownership tenure is the installation of a new form-fitting top. A review of the photo gallery reveals that it remains in excellent condition, still appearing new and without runs, slits or tears. The original glass, with rear defrost was re-installed on this new top. Original 16” five-spoke Pontiac wheels are skinned in Falken Ziex H-rated 245/50 tires bearing date codes of 2019 which have rolled approximately 10,000 km. Again, a review of the photo gallery shows them to be in very good condition. While the radio antenna is functional and can be raised and lowered manually, the power function is inoperative. Lights work, lenses are intact.

The interior is a combination of tan on the leather covered seats, door cards and carpets with the Pontiac period grey dash, steering wheel and trim. It remains in very good condition with the smallest of perforations visible on the side of the driver’s seat, visible in photo 86. The factory head unit is included in the sale, though has been replaced with a Pioneer unit featuring removable face plate and carrying case; both are photographed in the gallery. This is a well-optioned car – a/c, cruise control, power group including seats with some manual functions, steering wheel-mounted controls are all on offer. Instrumentation includes a large tachometer and speedometer, supported by smaller gauges for temperature, oil pressure, alternator and fuel with both six-digit odometer and trip odometer.
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The origin of pony cars in the 1960s was the idea of a big and powerful engine in a non-full size car package. While this definition sometimes became subject to manufacturer interpretation over the years, in this car it is decidedly not diluted. The fuel-injected engine is a 5.7 litre small-block LT1, the famous GM 350 c.i. displacement, V8 engine pushing out a factory-rated 275 horsepower (5000 RPM) to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission. The 5.7 has powered the car to its 161,000 km reading, light duty to date for the big GM 350 and supported by deliberate build-up of mileage on the Carfax report. The engine remains powerful, speaking to the original 325 lb.-ft. of torque (2400 RPM) and has a great sound through the dual exhaust’s quad outlets – have a listen on the videos. Four-wheel disc brakes offer an ABS system. During the owner’s time with the car, in addition to routine maintenance like oil changes at more frequent than suggested intervals, the spark plugs and wires were replaced. Valve cover gaskets, window motors, distributor cap and air filter were replaced in March 2021, as set out on the Carfax. It also had its coolant flushed at the time while the fuel filter was changed the following month. The engine bay shows off a tidy package.

For a convertible, the car offers a reasonably-sized trunk – where the factory spare tire is housed. The 3-piece plastic tonneau cover for use when the top is down is also kept here – it is an efficient system, kept in place with the closed trunk while the car is in motion. Underneath, the car is clean – only the lightest surface rust is visible. A further blemish on this car’s report card is the scuffing on the passenger side quarter panel, aft of the rear wheel well. Lastly, the owner recommends to its new custodian some new weather-stripping on the driver’s door; while he does not drive this convertible in the rain (it is one of six cars in his household), some water does squeak through when he hand-washes it. He is also including two new headlight motors which he procured proactively, believing them to be a potential problem area – motors currently installed work the headlight up-and-down function without any trouble. For Ontario residents’ information, the owner has kept up maintenance and is thus confident that the car can earn an Ontario Safety Standards Certificate as it sits.

This 1995 Pontiac Trans Am Convertible 6-speed manual is available with two sets of keys from its owner in Mississauga, Ontario.