Although the Y81s and Y82s could be ordered in other color combinations, the only “true” color combination is black on black or black on tan. ![]() SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT PONTIAC PHOTOS MOVIEWhile there has never been an official “Bandit” edition Trans Am, Pontiac did capitalize on the movie with the Y81- and Y82-code Special Editions - the same type of car driven by Reynolds with black and gold accents. Pontiac used the movie as an excellent opportunity to market the Trans Am. Unquestionably, the unspoken star of the movie was the black and gold Trans Am that Burt Reynolds slammed over highways. In May 1977, Universal Pictures released “Smokey and the Bandit.” It was campy, but it rocked the box office and has grossed over $300 million since its release. With that, the marketing teams at GM plotted a sales theory - if it can’t go fast, it might as well look like it can. Styling was at an all-time low and the “smogger car” era was fully engaged. In the automotive world, U.S.-built cars were choked and bloated by emissions and mandated safety equipment. Sales continued to soar all the way up to 1979, with the bean counters tallying up 117,108 Trans Ams sold in 1979 alone. Sales had multiplied from 10,255 units sold in 1974 to 27,274 in 1975. ![]() Still, as the Trans Am took a nosedive in the performance department, sales climbed. The highest horsepower offered came in the form of the 455 HO (High Output), but that was mainly a marketing buzzword for a paltry 200-horse windbag of an engine suffocated by catalytic converters. While it handled great, performance had become a thing of the past. So, needless to say, the Trans Am name was very good for the Pontiac brand.īut by 1975, the Trans Am had become more of a styling and touring car than anything else. Doing so still gives us a production run from 1973 to 1981 of a whopping 451,420 Trans Ams. That said, we can dispatch all of the 1970–72 models as well as the 19 Super Duty editions. We can’t lump all the Trans Am models into one profile - there are far too many of them. But with that came a wide range of styling options and a heavy-duty lineup of performance-engine choices. The body was completely new, heavier and larger. Any similarities between the 1967–69 (first-gen) and second-gen cars were nonexistent. Transformation of the Trans AmĮven though the 1970 Firebird shared its platform with the newly designed Camaro, the second-generation F-body Pontiacs were marketed towards a more well-heeled buyer. I had to put on my glasses just to make sure I wasn’t seeing the bid number incorrectly.īut the numbers were right, and this car wasn’t the only one seeing big money across the block. Quite frankly, when I watched this sell at Barrett-Jackson, I was in total disbelief myself. This car, Lot 480.1, sold for $110,000, including buyer’s premium, at the Barrett Jackson Scottsdale sale held on January 24–31, 2016, in Scottsdale, AZ.Ī bunch of you may be tripping over this car’s selling price - $110,000 for a 1980 Pontiac Trans Am. SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT PONTIAC PHOTOS CODESuffix code and partial VIN on front engine block below left cylinder headġ980 Chevrolet Corvette L82, 1979 Dodge Li’l Red Express truck, 1980 Ford Mustang Cobra Plate on driver’s side dashpad, VIN label on driver’s side door, partial VIN on engine block and transmission SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT PONTIAC PHOTOS PLUSLater the car was used in a Fast N' Wow Car Giveaway sweepstakes and the lucky winner got the car plus $40,000 cash to help cover taxes.1980 Pontiac Trans Am “Bandit” Special EditionĤ52,615 (1973–81), 3,444 (1980 4.9 Turbo SE T-top) Richard and the Monkeys delivered with the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am Gas Monkey Special Edition. ![]() He would throw in another $40,000 if it was delivered to New Orleans on time, plus $25,000 extra if he got Burt Reynolds' signature on the car. Richard's friend with deep pockets, Jay Riecke, offered him $70,000 to build a Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am in 6 days. 1977 Smokey and the Bandit Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
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