We hope that Pontiac was sufficiently grateful to the producers of the hit 1977 movie, Smokey and the Bandit. It helped make a star out of the flick’s 1977 Pontiac Trans Am (a ’76 model with a ’77 front clip) as sales soared for years after the release of the original movie and Bandit 2 in 1980. The seller has a 1979 Trans Am, which is a running work-in-process. More is needed, but a great head start seems to have been made. Located in Havertown, Pennsylvania, this Bandit wannabe is available here on eBay, where the opening bid of $9,500 remains elusive.
If you’ve never heard of Smokey and the Bandit, you need to circulate a lot more. It was the most attended movie of 1977 except for a little film called Star Wars that came out at the same time. Burt Reynolds drove a shiny black Trans Am that everyone seemed to want a copy of in the immediate years that followed. In 1976, Pontiac built 46,700 Trans Ams, but that grew to 68,700 in 1977, 93,300 in 1978, 117,100 in 1979, then back down to 50,900 in 1980. The public finally tired of that generation of the Trans Am, as just 33,500 of them moved in 1981 before a complete redesign in 1982.
This ’79 Trans Am looks like it wears tired black paint. But the seller has been working on it both cosmetically and mechanically. The floor pans are new, as well as the black interior, and some parts are still due to come in that help support the cause. We don’t know the condition of the body from the photos, and the seller doesn’t mention any other problem areas in that regard. A 403 Pontiac V8 sits under the hood.
The Pontiac does run and drive and has a new exhaust, fuel pump, shock absorbers, and will need a new brake line kit installed once it arrives. Also, the belt is off of the A/C compressor, so is a fix needed there, too? Perhaps it’s only good for a few laps around the block for now. The odometer reads 47,000 miles, but the seller suspects it’s been around full circle at least once. If you don’t mind finishing someone else’s work, would you opt for a Bandit tribute?
Had one tha same color combo. Except no chicken. Silver dash and trim. Liked it because it was different than Smokey wannabees.
403 Pontiac ?? Just asking.
403 Oldsmobile.
Wrong front clip to be a Bandit tribute.
They’re quite common “overall”. Be it exactly the same as “ban one” or not, the general similarities are there over several years and if looks is what you are going for, then 9500 to start is a bit steep.
Out in the desert you see these parked by isolated mobile homes that are exuding noxious chemicals.
pretty beat up. those floors needed more finish work before the sound mat went down. only good thing i see is the olds 403.
They tired of them in 81 because they were getting progressively weaker since 79 with the majority having an anemic Olds 403 and then the ridiculously weak 301 and 301 turbo. If they would have still had the 400 Pontiac and 455 they would have had a lot stronger sales. I remember this time very well and I remember how disappointed everyone was with the performance of those cars.
Dude they sold more Trans Am in 79 then any other year,so they sold just fine.
Restoring the interior first is a bit different. Most barn finds have interiors that look more like trash bins, so this was refreshing.
Trying to do a faithful Bandit restoration or build might be a reach, but these cars still look great.That front oil fill says Oldsmobile motor which was a feature of the “corporate years” when engine swaps were done at the factory, haha. Big blocks typically have lots of torque, if not horsepower for that year and seem to be in better shape when compared to smaller motors. I’ll agree with TRUTH, the price seems a bit high since the car definitely lacks a shine.
It’s a good starter . But it is going to need the drive train rebuilt . Best guess $25000 for that , another $15000 for the new paint . They already replaced the floor panes , I’m sure Parts of the frame will have to be replaced as well . Would be nice to see more pictures. No bids and 16 hours left tells me alot. Good luck to who ever gets it .