Did you know that some Chicago-area Pontiac dealerships used the term “Pontiaction” when marketing cars in the ‘70s? There were some clever people sitting around GM’s boardroom tables during that era. AutoHunter is showcasing a 1979 Pontiac Firebird Coupe those ad execs were promoting, and it’s listed for sale by a dealer in Annandale, Minnesota.
Below is a link to a “Pontiaction” commercial, which, by the way, includes a firefighter driving the Firebird (in fire engine red, of course). Pontiac saw some marketing opportunities here and ran with them. “Firebird’s got the look that says ‘move over, I’m coming through’,” the commercial says.
In the Pontiac Firebird’s evolution, the second generation was produced from 1970-81. Within that range, model year 1979 stood out for a few reasons. For one, the car’s four-eye front end received a new fascia with individually housed headlights. And sales-wise, the car was a home run: the 211,454 units sold that year would make it a high point in the model’s history.
In addition to the fireman-themed television commercial, Pontiac pushed the Firebird in print media. One advertisement for 1979 said, “Firebird first touched pavement twelve years ago. Sharpening corners and shortening straightaways with a passion others envied.”
The Atlantis Blue exterior of the AutoHunter-featured car includes quad headlights, urethane bumpers, color-keyed side mirrors, rear spoiler, louvered taillight panel, and 15-inch Cragar wheels wrapped in white-letter tires.
The bucket seats are upholstered in Oyster vinyl. Interior features include power steering, power windows, air conditioning, center console, woodgrain trim, rear defroster, and Alpine stereo with CD and USB.
Under the hood is a 135-horsepower, Y-code, 4.9-liter V-8 mated to a three-speed automatic transmission. The odometer shows 18,588 miles, but the true mileage is unknown. Nice-to-have equipment includes power front disc brakes and dual exhaust system.
If you didn’t get in on the “Pontiaction” back in the late 1970s and early 1980s (or if you did, and want a retro nostalgia trip), this clean second-gen F-body will give you all the right vibes.
The auction for this 1979 Pontiac Firebird Coupe ends Monday, May 11, 2026, at 11:45 a.m. (PDT).
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery
