If I told you that you can still buy a new Pontiac Trans Am you would probably think that I’m pretty out of it, right? Pontiac dropped the Firebird in 2002 and then dropped themselves at the end of 2009. So how is a modern Trans Am possible? Well, it is and there is a story that will unfold as we review this 2015 Pontiac Trans Am – Bandit Edition. It is located in Jaspar, Georgia, and is available here on eBay for a classified ad price of $205,000 (gulp!). There is a make an offer option too.
The 1977 film Smokey and the Bandit launched the Pontiac Trans Am into eternal recognition and appreciation. If you didn’t know what one was before the movie started, 96 minutes later you did. And not just any Trans Am but a menacing, gold-trimmed, blackbird of a Trans Am. Fast forward to 2009, the Firebird Trans Am is gone, Pontiac is singing its swan song and Chevrolet is reintroducing the Camaro, as a 2010 model, after a seven-year absence. The Firebird cousin? Forget it! Well, don’t forget it for too long because a company called Trans Am Depot in Tallahassee, Florida figures, “Why let Chevrolet have all the fun with the Camaro?” Why not use the Camaro as a starting point and create a Pontiac Firebird nosepiece, hood, taillights and interior appointments that are reminiscent of the Trans Am and other notable Firebird models? Well, they did and that’s exactly what we have here, a Camaro guts with Firebird refinement. Now, there is one major thing to consider, though this Trans Am looks like a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, it is really a Chevrolet via its VIN. We can call it a Pontiac Trans Am but the DMV will title it as a 2015 Chevrolet Camaro SS.
This 13,500 mile Trans Am lost its original 6.2 liter LS V8 engine long ago and is now harboring a supercharged, 454 CI LSX V8 engine, good for 840 HP. Don’t be confused by the displacement, this is a modern small-block “LS” series engine, not the famed 454 Turbo-Jet big-block Mark IV engine from years ago. So how’s it run? The seller doesn’t say but it has to be a real “sit down, hold on and zip it” experience. How could it not be, right? The seller claims that the mileage accumulated has been from transporting itself to shows and events, as opposed to everyday driving, so hopefully, the mileage count is gentle mileage. The monstrous 840 HP is harnessed by a six-speed automatic transmission.
There’s no mistaking the exterior, sure it has some Camaro bearing but the Trans Am effects are very well incorporated – it looks like a Trans Am. As a nod to the ’70s, this example even has T-tops – hopefully, they are relieved of the foibles possessed by their predecessors. For grins and giggles there is, what else, but a shaker hood scoop, even if it doesn’t do anything; it is an essential part of the visual package. And notable, unlike a Camaro, the hood hinges from the front. The one detail that really caught my attention is the rear spoiler, it truly looks like a Pontiac Trans Am spoiler, not a lame, tacked on Chevy piece – well done!
The interior is about what you would expect, over the top in fit and finish. The two-tone leather combination is an acquired taste, I guess, but it is finished out in what appears to be very high-quality material. There is even a Trans Am screaming chicken motif on both door cards. The only thing noted that seems a bit out of place is the driver’s footwell carpet, it’s wrinkled and doesn’t appear to be that well attached.
But most important of all, this Trans Am is signed by the ole Bandit himself, Burt Reynolds! I do not have good knowledge of enhanced car values as they pertain to celebrities but I imagine there is a pecking order of perceived “celebritiness” as well as an impact, or a kicker, relative to currently living vs. deceased status. Whatever the case, Burt’s autograph is a value-added souvenir. And, here is a video of Burt Reynolds reviewing this Trans Am.
This Trans Am makes sense (well, maybe not the price), it is a modern take on an iconic 1977 Trans Am but fast-forwarded to 2015. And it will have an appeal to someone, with deep pockets, that wants to relive the Smokey and the Bandit aura but without having to accept the inherent shortcomings of a 43-year-old automobile design. It would be possible to find a ’77 or ’78 Trans Am and bring it up to modern standards, that would be my inclination, but if you really wanted a completely clean slate, this would be the way to do it, don’t you think?
I’m sorry but I hate these, they were done all wrong. I get what they were trying to do but the new Camaro is modeled after the first gen F body, These would be so much better if they had done a 69 Trans Am tribute.
Unlike the ’69, no room for 4, no room under the hood, no pontiac engine, no hidden wipers, no long hood. & grey interior with tan splashes – really?, a joke of rear qtr side windows, too many CV joints, electrical complexity beyond comprehension that many mechanics can’t fix when there is a problem.
Oops – hidden wipers on the ’70s & ’80s 2nd & 3rd gens, not the 1st.
I’ve always wants to do something like this to a late model Dodge Challenger and make it into a Plymouth barracuda AAR clone. Plum crazy of course.
I like this but not at that price obviously.
Nice find.
Mr. Norm was making one a few years back.
https://www.rcnmag.com/garage/royal-treatment
They probably had to stop because Chrysler has registered the name and is rumored to be making one:
https://www.hotcars.com/dodge-barracuda-2020-facts-information/
I would take one of these any day over this T/A.
I saw one of these new Cuda clones behind the Chevy dealership in Pipestone, Minnesota 4-5 years ago. Pretty awesome looking.
A glorified Camaro? Sorry; it didn’t work. Pontiac was long gone when this was created, and it didn’t come out right. It tried too hard to be a `76-`78 Generation F-body when the Camaro it’s based on is supposed to harken back to the `69 models. I can’t justify this car in any way, shape or form. It’s just nowhere close to what it’s supposed to be. Reynolds’ signature doesn’t mean a thing to me. He drove one in a movie; he didn’t have anything to do with it’s design.
Have a look at the sellers other listings on eBay. He has some interesting items for sale.
Compared to a ’70-2 t/a, a shaker is just fluff here – it is not letting cool air into the intake, nor can it easily be changed to do so by the owner – with port fuel injection. Non hidden wipers. 2 of your 3 friends won’t fit inside & will have to stay home. Way too short overhangs, especially on the front. No long hood. No racing mirrors or engine tuned dash. Tachy interior door panel fluff. Ridiculously small side rear quarter windows. Wrong division motor. Wrinkled floor mats? No wheel flares. Are those fender air scoop extractors functional? – maybe not, with those huge strut towers in the way. Rear decklid & spoiler end too high up in the air – as do on almost all modern cars. Ugly headrests. Cheap plastic console & dash.
I wouldn’t buy this if it was the same price as a new camaro.
Seems to be a lot of negative reaction to this one for many reasons, but I have to say, other than the typically ridiculous price, I like it.
This is not as bad as the “superbird” made out of a modern challenger (where the proportions are extremely “off”) but it’s still wrong.
There is a very good argument for birth control here somewhere.
I wonder how much they had to pay GM in royalties for creating this? All for a car that really doesn’t work. Pay 1/10th this price and have a real Trans Am from the Smokey and the Bandit era.
They didn’t have to pay GM anything. Trans Am is owned by the SCCA always has been. SCCA leases the name out as they did to GM for all those years.
That appears to be a towel in the driver’s foot well not wrinkled carpet. I do similar to my cars to keep the floors clean and then all I have to do is carefully fold up the towel or rug, shake it out and put it back. Eliminating the need to vac the floors as often.
I’m with 370zpp. Why not something different and good looking? Too expensive but nobody died did they?
I saw one of these in Roanoke a couple of years ago,
& thought it was a one-off owner built car.
Another mystery of life answered.
It’s a custom Camaro really, also a “what might have been” had Pontiac still been around. To be honest, Chevy powered Trans Am’s had been the norm right up until end.
A better version would be lucerne blue with white accents black interior no screaming chicken, with SD 6.0 on the phony baloney shaker scoop,,,, for me anyways. All business, gorgeous in a bad way.
Price is a bit out there for sure. I wonder what TA Depot is getting for a new one these days. Overall I like it. It pays tribute. Thats all. Its as Weasel said, Its what he’s do to a Chall to create a AAR. It wont BE an AAR, but I bet it’d look cool. I love the front end as well. Very well executed…although, personal taste – interior – seat should have been all black.
Yes, it did work! You were probably too young to even know what a original trans am was! You probably grew up on the modern Camaros, mustangs and challengers. Too bad for you!!!!!!!!
I have a friend who owns one of these and I was able to see it up close and personal. His was also signed by “the Bandit” himself. It’s a nicely executed “what if?” car, it’s not for everyone (it’s not really my cup of tea) but if it’s something up your alley, why not?
That price tho, whew… you could buy a nice house for that!
Ha ha- I hadn’t even seen the price when I commented before. What a sick joke.
So i got a drivetrain question! What freakin 6speed automatic is this behind an 840hp engine?
I suspect its the stock 2015 camaro unit which was so taxed that you couldn’t even order it with the 6.2 liter LS3 (manual only) so i. 2015 if you wanted a camaro SS with automatic trans they would automatically bump you down from LS3 to L99 v8
Somebody is going to be real disappointed!
If they opted to mate the LSX with Chevrolet Performance T56 Super Magnum 6 Speed Transmission, which is available as a combo deal….no disappointments. IF they did..
Wow, lots of negativity on this one. I was never a fan of the Bandit Trans Am. I like this one. I like the spirit. LOVE the front end.
I agree with KINCER’s comment that a 69 Trans Am tribute would be a good way to go with this one. I wonder if The Trans Am Depot has an option? Not like I have $200K to drop on any car right now !!! Last of three kids in college!!!!
Trans Am Depot. Just took a quick visit and WOW! Really fun stuff there !! Probably only 2 camps, either LOVE it or HATE it. Their cars remind me of Hot Wheels of which I am a BIG fan. Super cool retro memories, cool cars, modern technology and performance. Love it.
WOW! – I just looked at their website.
At those prices,does anyone actually buy
anything from them?
Nice try.
If i were building it and that said if they really wanted to justify the big bucks, they should have done more with the dash. Those firebirds had that cool fishing lure inlay that was a key element imho.
Isn’t it “engine turned” dash?
It’s a nice car, but the price, well…. On another note, can we stop calling the new Camaro a retro 69? The original 69 had a side view that was outstanding. The crease at the top of the wheelwells had a distinct crease the extending through the doors and from the back wheelwells on back. That is why I loved my 69 Z with rally sport package.
IMO, the 2010 camaro was a combo retro ’68 RS on the back(& on the sides-upper part), & a ’69 non RS up front, with a chopped roof & blunt nose.
& somehow lost the 1st gen’s usuable backseat, & a bit of the 1st gen’s trunk space.
Yet the 2010 is physically 5.7″ longer, 3″ wider, & 2.8″ taller than the 1st gens!
It’s those blasted huge tires & wheels that mess up the styling of it & many new cars & why the rear ends are way too high.
I just purchased this car and I have had a 77,78, and 79 TA and this is far and above any of those. Yes, it was a little pricey but you have a much nicer car with a lot more power and everyone wants to take a photo of it.
This is the Pilot car that was made to take to the shows so everyone could see what they were buying. It is the 1st one made and is the only one with hand-painted trim and decals so its one of a kind for sure.