A 79 TA was my first car I bought.  I said one day I would have another just like it.  I just didn't think it would be almost 30 years later.  I bought one last week just like my first car.  I really want to talk it back to factory condition.  Does anyone have any suggestions for a restoration company that is reliable and trustworthy?  Thanks for your help.  

Depending on your personal talents and skills, you may be able to do much of the work yourself, if you don't mind getting dirty. As for professional shops, check with local guys at shows and cruise nights to see who did their work for them. In my experience, most cars don't get dropped of at pro resto shops and picked up 6 months later complete and ready to show. Most guys do some of the work at home like stripping out the interior, motor, trans and wheels, then send the body out to be done by a pro, get the engine rebuilt at the machine shop etc., then put it all back together themselves. Magazines and TV shows have led alot of folks to believe that pro shops are the only way to go, and that every car must be restored to competition show quality. Your 79 TA gives you the advantage over older cars because it is still possible to buy all the mechanical parts through the local parts stores. Stuff like brakes, steering parts and suspension parts (springs, shocks) are all still available at decent prices, as are good upgrade kits like poly bushing kits and exhaust systems. Suppliers such as Year One, Classic Industries , Ames etc., can all supply just about anything for interior and trim, even the hobnail cloth upholstery is now available in reasonably priced kits. Cars like ours ( I have a 79 Formula) are easy to work on and drive great when brought back to like new or better. Like I said above ask around, someone will know of a good body shop, machine shop, alignment or exhaust shop who does great work and you can usually look at their car as a reference to see if it's good enough for you. Have fun.
Steve  

That is good advice, I bookmarked Year One as I recently got a 1977 Firebird myself.  It has a Pontiac 350 in it, runs, needs rear brakes, some other, minor, work which I will do after registration.  But, you should try to do as much work as you can or have mechanically-inclined friends before you hit the shops.  

Cool, my 79 Formula has a 75 350 with 5C heads, Q-jet on stock manifold, th400 trans and 2.73 open rear. Just put it on the road this summer and still working out the bugs, have to pull the gas tank and flush it out, I've clogged 6 fuel filters so far. It sat for 15 years before I bought it. I'd post a pic but I don't know how to do it. It's silver with charcoal lower accent and 3-tone blue Formula striping and light blue deluxe interior (hobnail cloth). Looking forward to next spring!
Steve  

Yours sounds nice, have to figure out how to add pic, too, mine is blue, basic black vinyl interior.  I have some bugs to work out, too, but after registration and sticker, want to take it for test run - spring will be fun, though.  

OF COURSE DEPENDING ON WERE YOU LIVE, YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER TALKING TO MELVIN AT CLASSIC RESTORATIONS IN PINE ISLAND NY. THEY HAVE A NICE WEB SITE. WITH NUMERIOUS CARS AND HOW THAT CAR WAS RESTORED. I HAVE A 79TA/400/WS6/T-TOP CAR WHICH HAS BEEN TO CLASSIC FOR MINOR WORK. I HAVE JUST FINISHED GETTING TWO DAUGHTERS THROUGH COLLEGE AND WEDDINGS, SOON I WILL BE RESTORING MY *** I WOULD NOT CONSEDER ANY ONE ELSE. WHEN I FIRST SAW CLASSIC'S SHOP IN ORANGEBURG NY
(B-4 THEY MOVED) THEY MUST HAVE HAD 5 TO 6 LATE 2ND GEN T/A'S. CHECH OUT CLASSIC'S WEB SITE, CALL AND TALK TO MELVIN.
PS MELVIN HAS DONE SOME TECH ARTICALS FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE PONTIAC IN THE PAST.