Channel Your Inner Bandit with This Pro Touring 1977 Pontiac Trans Am

Classic Pontiac Trans Am is clean inside and out, with LS1 power and other modern upgrades.

While flipping through the Pontiac Firebirds listed in the LS1Tech Marketplace, we came across this 1977 Trans Am and quickly fell in love. This car was posted for sale by “Amigo-2k” and if you want a classic Firebird with modern power, this could be your dream car. Although the seller refers to the paint as being “driver quality”, it looks great in pictures and, most importantly, it packs LS1 power and a long list of other upgrades. As a result, this is the perfect car for high-speed summer cruising.

The Introduction

When the OP posted his slick 1977 Trans Am for sale, he provided the following information, in which he was fairly detailed in describing his classic Pontiac muscle car.

1977 Pontiac Trans Am “Year One” Replica. Born black on black (PHS documentation). Over 10,000 miles since the engine swap (I have owned it for 4 years). Driver quality paint. The car was built to do extended road trips like the Hot Rod Power Tour. Everything on the car works from the factory gauges and clock to the AC and heater. Power steering, brakes (4 wheel disc, upgraded not an option in 1977). Has a complete new interior including seats covers, dash, headliner and carpet. The drivers front floor pan was cut out and replaced with a replacement from Year One. The rear floor pans, axle housing area and trunk are original and rust free. LS1 from a low mileage 2001 Trans Am.

Transmission was replaced 2 years ago with a crate 4l65E from GM (street and strip). Texas Speed MS3 roller cam kit with matching push rods and valve springs. Texas speed LS6 ported oil pump and LS2 timing chain. Pacesetter long tube headers. Engine was refreshed and all new gaskets installed. Tuning was around 405HP at the wheels (I have no dyno sheets, this is what I was told from the previous owner). Custom fuse block in mounted on the firewall. Custom built and balanced driveshaft. 3.73 limit slip gears. Upgraded Sway bars, Flowmaster exhaust with crossover. Duel fans fans one turn on based on engine temp and the other is trigger by a manual switch. Custom LED tail-lights. Fender flares are BRE (Burt Reynolds Edition) from Year One. New fuel tank with drop in fuel pump. Year One 17″ rims. Front springs built for F-body cars with LS engine. Rear tires replaced last year. I have driven this car up to 1000 miles in a week on parts of the Hot Rod Power Tour and the Bandit Run. Again, this is a driver quality car, not a 100k show car. Small cracks in the bumpers, and some paint defects. The car was also featured on “The Car Chasers” on CNBC (before the engine swap).

He also included the video above and all of the images shown here. Although he talks about some paint issues and cracks in the bumpers, those problems don’t show in the pictures.

The interior looks new because much of it is, and with the relatively new transmission and lightly-tuned LS1, this Trans Am likely drives like a dream whether you are racing around town or cruising down the highway. The engine makes more power than stock thanks to the headers, camshaft and tune, the ride is likely better than that of a stock ’77 Firebird thanks to the late model upgrades and there is no questioning the cool factor of this classic Pontiac muscle car.

For Sale or Trade

The seller is asking $40,000 for this LS1-powered 1977 Trans Am and he points out that it isn’t a $100,000 show car, but based on the pictures compared to similar cars being sold online, this car is priced to sell. There are cars in similar physical condition without the upgrades listed on auction sites for nearly double this price, so if you want a classic Pontiac that rides and drives like a modern muscle car, this might be the best buy online right now.

Also, if you don’t have $40,000 to spend on an old school Firebird, the seller would also consider trades. He would consider other older cars with LS-based engine swaps or he wants a modern muscle car with an automatic transmission and air condition, going so far as to state that this first choice would be a Hellcat car.

In the long run, this is a gorgeous example of a proper LS1-swapped classic Pontiac that maintains the classic look while introducing modern components under the skin.

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com