The United States is often referred to as the land of the free. Besides giving us Starbucks, KFC, and Facebook, it is one of the most prominent countries in the automotive industry. American muscle cars, sports cars, electric vehicles, and record-breaking supercars have had a hand in the evolution of cars.
One of the most infamous car manufacturers in America is Pontiac. Pontiac is one of the many car companies that fall under the General Motors Car Company. This American company was founded 95 years ago, in 1925 in Detroit, Michigan. The company is known for its great car builds and impact on the automotive and entertainment industries.
One of Pontiac’s most iconic builds was the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am. The 1977 Pontiac Trans Am was a muscle car that met the emission regulation ax. This saw it feature a smaller box engine that complied with the EPA regulations.
Like most muscle cars, the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am was a roaring beast that turned heads everywhere it went. With that in mind, here is what we love about the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am.
Powertrain And Performance Of The 1977 Pontiac Trans Am
For the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am, General Motors offered three engine options. These inevitably created three trim options for anyone looking to purchase a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am. The most popular engine option was the 6.6-liter V8 engine.
This engine was in the first-generation cars. For the other generations, engines that only did 200-hp. were fitted to the cars. These engines were a 400 Pontiac V8 that delivered 180-hp at 3,00 rpm and pushed 325 lb-ft of torque. A T/A V8 engine that pushed 200-hp at 3,600 rpm and delivered 325 lb-ft of torque was another choice. And lastly, a 403 Oldsmobile V8 engine. This engine had a maximum power output capacity of 185-hp at 3,600 rpm and delivered 320 lb-ft of torque.
Overall Design
With General Motors aiming to stand out from its competition, they focused on designing a unique car. This adventure gave rise to the T-tops on the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am. T-tops were more or less a semi-convertible approach to cars. They were removable panels on either side of the car’s top. The T was formed by the central panel that remained intact after the tops were removed. This style was not a first. It was first used in the first-generation Corvette in 1953.
The T-tops on the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am made all the difference during those hot summer days. But like with most designs, the T-tops were phased out with time. Besides the T-tops, the firebird decal on the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am hood is one that saw many emulate even on other cars.
1977 Pontiac Trans Am Appearance In Entertainment
The 1977 Pontiac Trans Am made it big when it came to the big screen. This ride is one of the many iconic movie stars that held a perfect side-kick role. The most infamous movie the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am starred in was Smokey and the Bandit.
In the movie, the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am is a high-performance. To many, this was Pontiac’s take on the Chevy Camaro. For the movies, the director, Hal Needham, was given four cars. Of the four, three were used in the movie, and one was a promotional ride. All the three cars used in the movie were destroyed, leaving the promotional car as the sole survivor in this movie. Over the years, this serving car has exchanged hands through sale. In 2019 Burt Reynold’s sold it at auction for $317,500.
Price Tag
When the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am first came out, it sold for $5,456. But with the fame and notoriety surrounding it, the price for this car today is almost double its original asking price. If you are looking to add a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am to your collection, then you are looking at a $10,000 plus budget. This is, however, dependent on the condition of the car.
However, if you are aiming for the big league, you can go for the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am Smokey and Bandit option. Another big option are the next generations of the Pontiac Trans Am. The most prolific is the 1982 Pontiac Trans Am from Knight Rider. If you are still looking for more reasons to love the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am, you should consider a Smokey and Bandit catch-up during this festive season.