Trans Ams are popular, and Bandit T/As are even more so, especially for 1970s movie fans. That makes this 1977 Pontiac Trans Am appear to be a desirable buy. But before you raise your bidder’s paddle, be sure of what you’re looking at. There might be value in this car, or maybe not. Anyway, have a look here on ebay and you’ll be confronted with a $28,000 opening bid (with no takers) that is short of reserve. Should you find that floor and win the auction, you’ll have to bring this car home from Washougal, Washington.
You’ll be in possession of a 101,000-mile car, though that number doesn’t matter that much, since the engine resting there is not original. That factory one has been replaced by a 1977 or 1978 400-CID V8 that is said to run well. But those miles will register once you have a look inside. The seller details various problems including a sagging head liner and sun damaged rear seat. He has various parts to restore the interior. The exterior, too, and man, does it need some attention.
You gotta love this: the seller has $9,000 worth of parts, many listed, that were going to be used as part of a recommissioning. “I wanted the car to look new, so I bought all the parts,” the ad indicates. “But you actually have to install them,” one replies. The restoration was supposed to happen over the winter. Plans have changed, though, and apparently the owner would rather move the car and these attendant goodies along to you. Mind you, you have to swallow the idea that you should immediately deduct nine grand from your purchase price, per his advice, to find out the true cost of your buy. Is that how the math of failed restorations works? I thought there was a discount for the fact that you did the easy stuff—buying from catalogues—and not the hard part—the teardown and rebuild?
The Bandit (Special Edition Package) was a package that included a bunch of items meant to evoke the car of Smokey and the Bandit movie fame. A gold bird hood decal, gold pin striping, twin gold front grilles, and other appointments which extended to the interior of the car were part of the “look.” Nice Bandits trade from $40-70K with the occasional outlier coming to market. That means that you have to find this guy’s reserve—let’s call it $35, and restore the car for another $5-15K, just to break even. And it will still have a non-matching engine. Maybe give this whole scenario a once-over before you go hit that opening bid.
Sounds like he spent his money foolishly. Many of the items he bought are just as easily restored for little or no cost. That said, this car looks to be an easy resto. Basically needs a cleanup and paint job. A knowledgeable hobbyist could take it apart, clean most things, replace some smalls, have it painted, and put it back together using most of the original parts. Wouldn’t cost all that much, just time. Apparently someone else felt the same way because it was ended for a private sale.
You know the “Bandit”Trans Ams were Actually 76′ models fitted with 77′ front end pieces because the 77 models weren’t out yet and the engine sounds used in some scenes were dubbed in from the 55′ chevy used in the movie Two Lane Blacktop.So technically 76′ models were actually Bandit cars?
ALL black Trans Ams are bandit cars nowadays…
It’s funny because when these cars came out we would laugh at the guys who thought they were fast as we drove around in our late 60’s / early 70’s big blocks. Now we pay crazy money for them and they’re even slower now (without mods) than they were then. But it’s actually the nostalgia we’re paying for more than the car isn’t it? Thanks to Burt for keeping them alive!
The gold hood bird/black color/gold striping scheme actually had it’s origins on a ’73 model built for Bill Mitchell that also had raised GOLD letter tires & black paint with gold metal flakes! …
https://1973-76transamconcept.com/history.html
The ’73 was later converted into a ’74, & then a ’76(including hacking into the roof to fit a curved rear window!)
Note the unique small & large t/a lettering on the front fenders, fitted in ’74 for the auto show …
http://pontiacformula.free.fr/en/promo.php
Edwin, most of the remaining ones today(except those in Calif) have more than likely been fitted with a no-more-cat-converter true dual exhaust & performance mufflers(like this t/a above), an overdue cam replacement – most likely more aggressive, & possibly a compression & numerical rear end gear increase.
Agreed, as I would do the same if I still had one. These are still some of my favorite cars and actually I probably mentioned on this site before that my ’79 Formula was my all time (so far) favorite car of the 60 plus cars I have owned. With the WS6 package they were excellent handling cars even with the 15″ tires. I just remember when they were new and my gang made fun of them because compared to our 440’s and 455’s they were slow. But I think the biggest reason we did is because we couldn’t afford one!
Most people tho don’t know that as late as ’74 you could get a t/a for just $4300(radio & hood bird were options) & mid model year it came with std HEI as well as PB, & PS. & turbo 400 automatic was no extra charge!, as was full instrumentation. You could get a formula for even less money with manual brakes & manual steering & no spoilers. & warning lights.
$28k, hahaha what a clown.
I have one of these located in Idaho if someone is looking for one. it needs a full restore, comes with a completely rebuilt 6.6L engine(non matching numbers
Brian K.,
Thanks for telling it like it is. You said exactly what needed to be said without calling it a piece of $#!+. Great job!
Hey Jame–thanks very much?
PS I don’t know, but maybe we’re related, though I know your comments don’t come b’c you’re a cousin :)
Sorry James. Missed the S in typing