The Trans Am began as a performance version of the Pontiac Firebird in 1969. Sales moved up slowly year after year until the first Smokey and the Bandit movie was released in 1977. After that, demand exploded, and Pontiac built more than 300,000 of them through the end of the second-generation Firebird in 1981. This 1976 version is a special edition from Pontiac’s 50th Anniversary celebration. The machine looks to have been in storage for some time as the odometer reading is just 27,000 miles. Located in Custer, Wisconsin, bidding has been slow here on eBay at $50,300 with the reserve as yet unmet.
To help celebrate Pontiac’s 50 years in vehicle production, a limited assembly Trans Am was scheduled. Just 319 copies were built, finished in Starlight Black, accented in gold pinstriping, fitted with honeycomb wheels in Anniversary Gold, and equipped with a 455 HO (High Output) V8 engine. 1,628 more copies would be built with a 400 motor. The 1976 Trans Am Special Edition would serve as the role model for the cars used in the Smokey movies. Many collectors consider the black-and-gold ’76 SE Trans Am to be the most beautiful 2nd-Gen Firebird ever produced. These cars were priced hundreds of dollars above other Pontiac Trans Ams.
From the seller’s description, we gather the seller bought this car as an investment. It appears to be a low mileage example and both the engine and 4-speed manual transmission are said to be numbers-matching. The photos were taken in the seller’s garage, and it appears as though the car only moves around on dollies, although the seller says it runs great and can provide a video to validate that.
The body appears to be solid, and the car wears its factory paint, striping, and decals. We assume the interior is equally nice, but the photos are dark and focused mostly on small areas rather than the whole automobile. The Pontiac comes with a plethora of paperwork that includes the build sheet and point-of-purchase materials. The factory air conditioning is not hooked up, so it may not work. And we’re told a lot of the front-end components have been replaced. For an extra charge, the seller can throw in a horn button that was allegedly signed by Smokey star, Burt Reynolds.
For 50k some DNA should cone with it too besides the horn button.
I like it but questionable on AC and why at 27k why some of the front components needed to be updated?
Good luck on sale ….
Wish these had not become so expensive. Performance doesn’t really warrant the price but dang, this one is on my “want” list.
Looks to be a very nice example. Would be nice to know what was done to the motor, if anything, while it was out to be painted.
The 455HO was long dead. It’s a 455, but not an HO.
I believe in 1976 Pontiac was calling it a 455 HO even though they were nothing like the 71/72 455 HO engines. In the first Bandit movie they used 4 1976 Trans Ams. They changed the front grills and headlights to the 1977 model. I think they also changed the wheels to the 1977 version. 3
Yes, when Smokey and the Bandit hit, we started working overtime…built so many we got laid off for awhile for market correction
Wrong year for a bandit car bidding over $50k and still haven’t hit the reserve they can keep it
Actually a ’76 was used in the movie, it can be seen in the one scene where Bandit is waiting on the roadside for the Snowman to roll by.
A high school classmate bought an exact duplicate after we graduated. I saw the car a few times parked at a local bar where we hung out. He took very good care of it and told me ordered every option. I prefer 77 and 78 models, but to each his own. Too much money here for a 190 hp car.
I briefly dated a girl who’s dad owned a local NAPA franchise
She had a 77 4speed black on black
I still prefer the round headlight cars
I never did get to drive it
I took a job up in the DC area and we went our separate ways
My best friend all through school bought this exact same car at King Pontiac in Gaithersburg, MD. His was also a 455/4-speed, with A/C. Kept it in the garage, never driving it in bad weather. It was as close to mint as possible, yet regularly driven for exercise. He came down with a rare disease that proved fatal, and passed away in 1987. His sister inherited the car and drove it into the ground before rolling it a couple of years later.
I have #50 with 43000 miles. I have owned it since 9/77. 455/4sd. Black on Black.
Awesome! Had a 1970 TA back when the movie came out! Miss it. Spun a crank bearing. Sat for a long time outside. Wish I still had it.
Interesting. How did you determine the sequence number of yours to be Nunber 50?
theres a 76 ta 50th 455 4 speed restored going to auction jan.14 in fl. reserve is over 200,000 these cars are going up in price and fewer built then the bandit car and last of the 455 cars in76 !!!!
I came across #14 about 20 or so years ago in a western suburb of Chicago. It was a car that had been through the ringer. Someone had painted the whole car white over all the decals and gold trim 455/4sp car. I had no idea about these cars then and I kick myself in the butt every time I think about having the chance to buy one of these cars for less than 5k. They only wanted 3k for it. But it needed a complete restoration. Now that I know how rare these cars and how valuable these cars are becoming … I shoulda bought it. And I hope whoever DID buy it, gave it a proper restoration that it deserved.
I owned the 1979 ta with the 403 rocket engine was the best car i ever owned wish i had never let my wife talk me into selling it . Was so fun to drive
pushes ALL my buttons for a Trans Am-round headlights/455/4speed, but alas the prices on these wonders have exceeded my wallets capacity …sigh