The Pontiac Can Am was a one-year wonder, a cross between the LeMans and Grand Am. It was built in 1977, the last year of the Colonnade-styled GM intermediates. Production numbers were low, said not to have exceeded 1,377 copies. And a registry dedicated to the Can Am can only account for 300 surviving copies. This example probably counts as one, although it needs a lot of work including getting the powertrain back into the car. Located in Stafford, Missouri, this “Poncho” has been bid to $5,100 here on eBay, but the reserve is unmet. Or you can cut to the chase and plop down $9,800.
Named after the Can Am racing series, this Pontiac debuted mid-way through the 1977 model year. It succeeded the Gran Am which had been a slow seller. And the car used the Trans Am’s shaker hood scoop as standard equipment. A trim package on the LeMans platform, the Can Am was powered by a 200 hp version of the 400 cubic inch V8 (the Trans Am W72). If you were unlucky enough to buy one in California, those cars used an Oldsmobile 403 small block that was rated at 15 fewer horses. You could get the Can Am in any color you wanted as long as it was Cameo White.
Pontiac didn’t build the final product. That work was done by Jim Wanger’s Motortown whose responsibilities were purely on the cosmetic side of the Can Am. Pontiac execs envisioned 2,500 copies for 1977 and they had orders for 5,000, but the mold used to produce the fiberglass rear spoiler broke (really?) and that would be the undoing of the car. With a complete redesign of the LeMans coming for 1978, which included downsizing, we assume Pontiac decided it wasn’t worth the effort to keep the Can Am going.
The seller says he/she has PHS documentation to prove this car is a true Can Am (I haven’t heard much about them being cloned). While we’re told the body is in decent shape, there is rust in all sorts of places, including the quarter panels, doors, and hood. But the frame is said to be in excellent condition, making a restoration viable. The interior is reportedly intact but will also require new materials. The mileage may or may not be 103,000.
Apparently, the motor and (maybe) the automatic transmission were pulled for a rebuild and sit indoors waiting to go back into the Pontiac when the cosmetic stuff is done. Both are numbers matching and the hood scoop identifies the engine as being the 400 V8 supplied by Pontiac, which went into the majority of the Can Ams. The car comes with some “unusual” options according to the seller, such as BS1 acoustical insulation which is like an extra layer of carpeting on the floors.
So cool hope it gets saved .
Why show us this “Bidding has ended on this item.”?
Parts for these cars are just not being produced. I’ve spent a fortune for the used ones that I could find. There are NO NEW PARTS for GM “A” bodies after 1973, let alone Pontiacs. If anyone can tell me where to find performance suspension parts for these cars, please let me know. Nobody can tell me if late model “G” body parts will fit or work, these can still be found.
Never had a problem finding parts for mine. Random wrecking yards have plenty of vehicles with plenty of correct parts.
theres a guy in new philadelphia pa. has 3 of these and they all look like this car. this guy has been collecting these kinds of cars for almost 40 years…cars are in an old warehouse…
You’re not talking about the Herder brothers, are you? If not, I’d sure like to know who you’re talking about, as I could REALLY use a parts car. . . . .
ive looked at them they are not parts cars. there all complete . i think he has a lemans generick . might be used for parts …where are you at…
never heard of herder bros. you in pa.
put your info in want adds for can am parts
What on earth is wrong with someone that lets one of these deteriorate to this point. Good heavens.
That’s easy- no internet to find any easy information on a car. At one time , seeing a car like this driving around was different, but nobody had any idea as to how many were made , so eventually as it aged, it was just like any other car- a beater . How many “one of one ” cars ended up getting crushed because nobody knew how rare it actually was ? I bought my 73 Duster 340 45 years ago, and I knew it was a one year only color , but it was only recently I found out it was one of only 117 painted that color. I had always assumed there were a lot made, and I just never saw one- the world was a lot bigger back then !
I had seen this car on Springfield (Mo.) Craigslist, some time back. with a big asking price. I didn’t make a move because lead picture showed the front end raised, like it had no motor or trans in it. I figured they were selling a roller, so I passed it by.