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Images: RK Motors Charlotte
The legendary lives of some of the greatest muscle cars to ever exist saw their start in the late sixties when the classic muscle car era made its initial impact. Among those was the Pontiac Firebird, which resulted in the introduction of the top-of-the-line Trans Am in 1969. A limited run vehicle with just 689 hard tops and eight convertibles produced, these muscle car icons are some of the most valued and sought-after vehicles still to this day, making them rather hard to find even for the most dedicated collectors. But in a surprising twist, RK Motors Charlotte recently advertised two of these bad beasts on eBay. And these aren’t just any Trans Ams. In fact, they’re both low-mileage, period-correct, museum-quality examples of the first ever TA model.
The first 1969 Trans Am we came across from RK Motors is a dignified “investment grade” Ram Air III car with a potent 400ci V8 producing 335hp. Assembled during the third week of September 1969, this is an exclusive Trans Am Code car with special Trans Am Performance and Appearance Package, which includes a special rear spoiler, unique hood with functional air scoops that could be opened and closed by the driver, and functional fender scoops.
It also comes in exclusive Trans Am colors, Cameo White with blue racing stripes that match the revamped blue vinyl interior perfectly.
Treated to an extensive nut and bolt restoration in the last five years, this award winning Trans Am maintained much of its class and prestige by being stored in a private storage facility for 21 years, starting in 1987. Before that, it acquired nearly all of its original 44,860 miles and before the restoration process, it even won a Bloomington Gold Survivor Award, Freeze Frame Award, and Lost & Found Award.
An all original body encapsulates this Pontiac great, with features like a new-for-1969 Endura nose piece, Trans Am-specific black grills, model-exclusive chin spoiler, and 60-inch decklid spoiler.
Underneath the functional Ram Air hood is the car’s original 400ci V8 with a period-correct Rochester Quadrajet 4-barrell carburetor attached to the factory original intake manifold.
This powerhouse is topped off with new chrome valve covers, a high-flow oil pump, fresh Delco Energizer battery, and a Delco Moraine brake booster.
Attached to the numbers-matching engine is the Trans Am’s original Muncie M-20 4-speed, which pushes the engine’s underrated power to an original 10-bolt, Safe T-Track rearend with 3.55 gears. Keeping the car road-worthy is the original double A-arm front suspension and rear leaf spring suspension system.
This is complemented by standard power steering, front disc and rear drum brakes, and original 14-inch GM Rally II wheels wrapped in Goodyear Polyglas F70-14 white-lettered rubber.
Backed by extensive documentation, this extremely clean Trans Am is one in a million, making the eBay asking price of $139,900 rather reasonable. While it certainly was a special lot to come across, the bird is currently listed on RK Motors’ website as “sale pending” with a final price of $129,900, leading us to believe that this rare collector’s item will soon have a new home.
The other 1969 Trans Am we found being sold by RK Motors Charlotte on eBay is even nicer than the first, adding to its appeal by coming with the exclusive Ram Air IV upgrade on its original 400ci V8 engine. This gives this first-year Trans Am a power rating of 345hp and exclusive rights to the Ram Air IV club, of which only 46 of the 697 Trans Ams built for the 1969 model year are a part of.
According to the RK Motors website, this currently-available Trans Am is a fully restored time capsule, featuring its original engine rebuilt to AMA specifications by highly-acclaimed Pontiac expert Dan Jensen. It also features it’s original suspension, power steering, front disc brakes, Ram Air IV hood and Muncie M-21 close ratio 4-speed transmission, which has been equipped with a Centerforce clutch and billet flywheel combination.
Original sheet metal, 10-bolt Posi-traction rearend, 3.90 rearend gears and GM Rally II wheels add even more appeal to this timely classic.
Inside the car, most of the original blue vinyl interior remains, matching the car’s factory-correct Cameo White and Tyrol Blue paint scheme laid after an 18-month rotisserie restoration.
It’s not every day that you come across an immaculate first-generation Trans Am, let alone two being sold by the same company. But just when you thought it couldn’t get any better than that, the company lists two more first-gen Firebirds for sale on their website: a 1969 Ram Air III Trans Am with factory air conditioning (one of just 29 built), and a gorgeous Carousel Red Firebird convertible. We expect to see both of these cars hit eBay soon.
