partial vin breakdown:
VIN: 2W87Z9L170841
1st digit: GM line number: Pontiac = 2
2nd digit: Series number: W = Trans Am (75 - 80)
3rd and 4th digits: Body type number:87 = Sport Coupe
5th digit: Engine code: Z = 400 c.i.d, 4-bbl V8 (1977 - 79)
6th digit: Last digit of model year: 9 = 1979
7th digit: Assembly plant location: L = Van Nuys, California
8th through 13th digits: Sequential production
number starting with 500001 for 1972 models
and 100001 for 1973-80 models
(170,841)
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1979 PONTIAC FIREBIRD TRANS-AM 403-185hp (8cyl-4V) AT
#5 #4 #3 #2 #1
2dr Hardtop 2550 6600 11075 16175 24675
10th Anniversary 2dr Hard 2225 6600 10850 16275 25600
Add:
400-220hp (8cyl-4V) 12%
4spd manual trans 10%
Air conditioning 10%
Power windows 3%
T-top 5%
So this car was very rare at less than 5% ever built

The car restored would bring 55k+ easily.
Problem was, the guy I bought it from NEVER produced the title.
I was lied to after he told me he had a clear title, and handed him the cash which I knew better. Long of the short, I had a title company go to work on the title to get me a clear title.
Problem is the title work was $700 at the time and I simply did not want to do it. Folks came by and seen the car sittin in the driveway in that condition and I got pressure on them to sale it as it was an "eyesore" and the neighbors would complain.
And they did. So it was back to the same problem I had with the camaro body in the driveway. No garage and no place to keep the "eyesore" while doing work on it.
So I gave up and let them win again.
Sold the car without a title for 2k.
I took a butt eating on that one. That won't happen ever again.
Couple of photos after I cleaned up the inside.