The last week of May 1977 was a big week for young movie-goers. Both Star Wars and Smokey and the Bandit were released in theaters almost on the same day. I don’t remember which one I stood in line to see first, but chances are it was the Burt Reynolds flick. It would go on to make the Pontiac Trans Am more famous than it already was. This weather worn ’77 Pontiac looks a lot like the one that ran diversion for a truckload of illegal beer in the film. Located on the back of a trailer in Tama, Iowa, this T/A is missing its engine and transmission and has seen its fair share of bad luck. It’s available here on eBay where bidders have raised the ante to $3,638.
Thanks to the popularity of the Bandit movie, Trans Am sales went through the roof. From 46,700 copies sold in 1976, they delivered 68,700 units in 1977, 93,300 in 1978, and peaked at 117,000 in 1979. We suspect this forgotten Pontiac once had a 6.6-liter V8 under the hood which delivered 185 horses and 325 325 lb.-ft of torque. Or the optional “T/A 6.6” engine that made an extra 25 hp. Given the condition of the vehicle seen here, we assume the body gave out before the engine, so it was removed at some point along with the automatic transmission which was standard fare.
The seller’s Trans Am is the SE edition of which just 3,760 were made with a Hurst shifter and T-Tops, according to the seller. This is said to be a PHS-documented auto that doesn’t look too bad from a distance. But once we get closer, you begin to see the issues with the body, specifically corrosion. And once you open the doors and look inside, the situation gets more depressing. It’s a mess and there are some pretty substantial holes in the floors, said to have been caused by leaking roof panels.
Does the rarity of this car prompt you to want to undertake an expensive restoration? One that will not involve it ever being a numbers-matching machine? But once you got finished, you could put on a fancy hat like Burt Reynolds and see if you can make the same historic run with bootleg beer – without attracting the attention of Sheriff Justice.
This battered bummer Bandit’s bounty is blasphemy. The car has all the appearance of what would’ve happen if Buford T. Justice would’ve caught them!!! To see this would even make Fred howl I’ll bet.
Shame just call a wrecker its a total loss!!
This heap has bids close to $4000? I think we found the guys that light their cigars with $1000 bills.
After looking at the pictures I say salvage what you can for someone else and crush it
Help me Jesus, who has the money money to waste on crap like this? Brain damage and stupid decisions are a tough thing to live with…YMMV.
it’s trash ! plain and simple trash, flood damaged trash.
The market for these Bandit cars are high, and climbing! Once again you are not buying what you see, but what the market value will be! Buyers, collectors are buying up what remains of the most dynamic muscle cars period in American Motor History. Basically, they are gone, never to exist again, only through totally refurbished and 6 figures! This car is cheap you will never see it again at this price, The market has changed forever, face reality!
Jeesh, Some weak stomachs these days… I’ve seen worse saved.. She is solid where it counts and those are rare to begin with… Whoever scores that beauty, I hope they post photos here so all the naysayers can have crow for dinner.
Geez, really? A Hurst shifter? Where in the world do these writers come up with this nonsense? It’s an AUTOMATIC car! There was never any Hurst shifter in this car and, just because it’s an automatic doesn’t mean it didn’t have the T/A 6.6 engine…do you see the “Z” in the VIN??? Do some research first!
That one picture looks like the seatbelts the only thing holding it together lol