Original price: $6,649.00
On loan from Phil Mitchell, Sumner, WA
Number made: 6,459
Engine, etc.: V-8; cast-iron block and heads; 400 cu. in.; 200 h.p.; 4-barrel Rochester Quadraject carburetor
This is an unrestored car with just 6,000 original miles. It has a 4-speed transmission, original tires, and T-tops.
The 1977 Firebird Trans Am Special Edition was easily identified by its Starlight Black paint, gold striping, gold grille inserts, and gold accented snowflake wheels. Other standard equipment included a rear deck spoiler, dual chrome exhaust extensions, and a front air dam. Options included a citizen’s band radio and 8-track tape player. It was available with either T-tops or as a coupe.
Three engines were offered including the L80 Oldsmobile V-8 with 185 h.p. sold mainly in California, a L78 Pontiac 400 V-8 with180 h.p., and the W72 Performance Package with 200 h.p. Testing showed the L78 engines had more than the stated horsepower. This wasn’t unusual as auto manufacturers had understated horsepower figures to keep insurance companies and Uncle Sam off their backs. (Pontiac did this with the 455 Super Duty Firebird and the Ram Air 400 GTO.)
The W72 Trans Am went from 0 – 60 m.p.h. in 9.3 seconds and ran a quarter mile in 16.9 seconds in testing done by Car and Driver magazine. They also said “the Trans-Am remained…from introduction in 1969…as the sportiest, most roadable automobile build by an American manufacturer”.
A 1977 Trans Am Special Edition was driven by Burt Reynolds in the movie “Smokey and the Bandit”. The car used in this movie was sold for $550,000 at a 2016 auction.
Source: https://horsepowermemories.com/2017/08/10/1977-pontiac-firebird-trans-am-special-edition/
https://oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Pontiac/1977%20Pontiac/1977%20Pontiac%20Full%20Line%20Brochure/image7.html (Original dealer brochure)
https://www.oldcarsweekly.com/features/car-of-the-week-1977-trans-am