'79-'81 Trans Am convertibles

[PontiacPaul]

Interesting TA convert for sale on eBay - Item number: 260294778721

Ad states:

“Up for auction is a 1981 Pontiac trans Am factory convertible. These cars were done by
National Coach Engineering & Coach works in 1979, 80 , and 81 only for General Motors and are considered 100% factory correct. These cars are very rare and very collectible.

This car is an all matching numbers car with the 301 turbo engine and just 76,213 original miles. This car is also equipped with pwr steering, pwr windows, pwr locks, tilt, cruise, working air, AM/FM cassette, 4 wheel disc brakes, heavy duty sway bars, 15" X 8" aluminum turbo wheels and 308 posi rear end. This car is very solid with no rust issues. Floors, trunk, frame rails, tail light panel, etc. are all solid.”

Do we have any of these in POCI?

[aukc]

I found this 1979 Motor Trend article on the conversion

Motor Trend Article Page 1 (www.firebirdgallery.com/Site Design Images/NCE Article Pg1.jpg)

Motor Trend Article Page 2 (www.firebirdgallery.com/Site Design Images/NCE Article Pg2.jpg)

Motor Trend Article Page 3 (www.firebirdgallery.com/Site Design Images/NCE Article Pg3.jpg)

[PontiacPaul]

That article was very helpful and I enjoyed the photos and the background detail on the conversion of these Firebirds and Camaros.

-Paul

[aukc]

according to the ls1tech.com forum:

National Coach Engineering Convertible Trans Am (1978-1981) (In 1978, NCE of Michigan began converting Firebirds to convertibles. They put a serial number plate on the driver side door jamb. There were a lot of modifications done to these cars. The frame is reinforced from front to back with flat bar and one inch tubing, the front seats sit lower, the back seat is trimmed 1.5 inches on each side to make room for the top. The sun visors are closer together and the dome light is now at the end of the console. Even the spare tire is relocated. Completed versions carried a price tag in the neighborhood of $30,000, which is expensive even by today's standards. They built about 200 convertibles in 1979.)
NCE Convertible 10th Anniversary Trans Am (1979) (Ten 1979 10th Anniversary cars were converted by NCE. They used a silver leather material for the top along with chrome struts for the top mechanism. In addition, they were also supposed to have a chrome roll-bar. Each one was numbered 1-10.)

[aukc]

I think this is another one fore sale right now - check out eBay item # 130320246140