43,000 original miles. One of 555 Trans Am convertibles built. LQ9 5.0 V8. Beautiful color combination, very well preserved interior, loaded with options. Fast, fun, reliable, and inexpensive to own, it’s just like 1991 all over again!

Pontiac redesigned the Firebird for 1991, adding a slightly more rounded beak that was reminiscent of the Banshee show car, as well as some dramatic new ground effects. The result was a great-looking Trans Am that neatly bridged sport and luxury as Pontiac planners wanted it to. It was more sophisticated than a Camaro but still had plenty of attitude on the street. And when it’s dressed in the Medium Red Metallic that you find on this ragtop, it looks absolutely gorgeous. With just 43,047 original miles, this one is beautifully preserved and completely unmodified—a real rarity for these cars. Finish quality is quite good, particularly on the convertibles which were built by ASC, and there are few people who will say this isn’t a great-looking car. Of note the nose has been repainted, but the rest of the paint is original and in outstanding condition. It wears correct ‘Trans Am’ graphics, but compared to earlier (and later) versions, the effect is rather subtle. The decklid spoiler is modest and not cracked as they all seem to do, and the only real demerit is the ‘PONTIAC’ decal on the tail panel is a bit faded, but we have a replacement on order and it will be included with the car.

The tan leather interior is the perfect complement to the rich red bodywork and showcases Pontiac’s commitment to being the Excitement Division. Grippy bucket seats anchor an interior that was high tech for the time and aside from the typical scuffing on the driver’s outer bolster, the hides are in excellent shape. The options list is long, including A/C that blows cold, power windows, locks, and mirrors, cruise control, and a decent AM/FM/CD stereo with graphic equalizer (remember those?). The Trans Am included a complete set of gauges in four round dials across the dash, with everything else on the console between the seats. Original carpets are in great shape with matching GM-logo floor mats, the dash pad hasn’t been cooked by the sun, and there’s not even a depression on the armrest from the driver’s elbow. The back seat looks virtually unused and there’s a modest trunk out back that can handle some overnight bags. The tan canvas top is in excellent shape and folds easily under a hard tonneau that makes for a very clean profile.

The standard engine in the Trans Am convertible was the LQ9 5.0 liter V8 with Tuned-Port Injection. It was rated at 205 horsepower and 280 ft.-lbs. of torque, so it was formidable in 1991 and remains entertaining today. Unlike a vast majority of its peers, this one remains completely stock, right down to the air filter and exhaust, so it has obviously led an easy life. The engine bay is extremely clean and tidy with OEM hardware throughout and no signs that the car has ever suffered through winter weather. Even the hood struts keep the hood open effortlessly! Underneath, there’s a bulletproof 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive spinning a factory rear end with 2.73 gears inside, making this T/A a fantastic highway cruiser. Even the exhaust system appears to be 100% factory-installed, right down to the GM part number on the muffler. There’s some surface scale on the heavy metal parts, but nothing structural and you’ll note the floors are solid with zero issues. The suspension is firm, of course, but this is a cruiser more than a hard-edged performance car so it’s comfortable almost anywhere. And those gold lace-center wheels are simply beautiful against the dark red paint and they carry staggered 225/60/16 front and 235/60/16 rear performance radials.

If you haven’t driven some ‘90s muscle lately, you should give it a try. Bulletproof reliable, torquey, and with a booming aftermarket if more power is what you crave. This one also offers low mileage, a stunning color combination, and the kind of good looks that will never go out of style. If you were there, you already understand and if you’re looking for an affordable hobby car with open-air excitement, there are plenty of worse choices than this Trans Am. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventor prior to purchase.