1980 Pontiac Trans-Am Bandit Restomod For Sale

THE APPEAL

As Hollywood icons go, there are few cars as famous as the black Pontiac Firebird Trans Am driven by Burt Reynolds in the Smokey and the Bandit movies. Sheriff Buford T Justice wouldn’t have stood a chance if the Bandit had this particular Trans Am, though, as it’s a modernised resto mod, powered by a coil-on-plug LS1 small block V8 as found in the likes of Corvettes and Camaros of the late 1990s through to the mid-2000s.

Here, then, is your chance to experience the good ol’ American life, the money, the glory and the fun, but in an altogether beefier and better-engineered package.

Imported to the UK in 2019 after the vendor and his father spotted it on a road trip to watch the Daytona 500 NASCAR race, the Trans Am was built by a classic and custom car specialist in Florida and finished in the classic black colour scheme, with golden Firebird on the bonnet.

But with other projects on the horizon for the vendor, now is your chance to own a car that’s steeped in movie history. Perfect for hiring out for weddings, stag weekends and prom nights, or simply enjoying for the glorious slice of Americana that it undoubtedly is.

And if you want to cruise along with rock’n’roll music blasting out the T-Top (Bruce Springsteen fans will get that reference), who are we to stop you? This car pretty much speaks for itself – it’s a near replica of the very car that found silver screen fame in Smokey and the Bandit and is a truly brilliant resto mod in lovely overall condition.

Not only is it an American legend and a car you can thoroughly enjoy, but it’s also in need of nothing – ready to show, or to put to work and make the most of that Hollywood iconography.

Keep your foot hard on the pedal son, never mind them brakes. Let it all hang out, because we’ve got a run to make. Ten-four, we got a bandit on our tail…

THE CONDITION

This car is a 1980 model year Transam with a 1977 model year nose cone, as fitted during the restoration in the USA

Classic Black paint scheme

Firebird ‘Phoenix’ bonnet graphic

Year One 17"x9" snowflakes

Absolutely superb order – a very high-quality restoration both on top and underneath

Removable T-Top

Black vinyl trim

Dakota digital dials

Make no mistake – this car is absolutely stunning. The quality of the restoration work and the detail that has gone into it are second-to-none, and it’s beautifully presented all over. We’ll come to the powertrain in a moment, but there are also a number of ways in which it has been subtly yet tastefully modernised. LED lighting throughout, Dakota digital gauges, a retrim in high quality black vinyl and sequential LED turn signals to name but a few.

Inside, outside and underneath, it’s in great order. The black paint is finished to a very high standard and the car sits on period-correct ‘Snowflake’ alloy wheels, with quality BF Goodrich rubber. The cabin is superb – the seats retrimmed in high quality vinyl, a new set of digital Dakota dials and Burt Reynolds’s signature across the centre console being just some of the highlights of a fabulously detailed car – the one very minor fault being that although the stereo works, there’s an inbuilt aerial but it is inoperative so you can’t pick up radio stations. CD, or rumbling V8 are your only options, our preference being the latter. And then there’s the underside – clichéd as it may sound, you could eat your dinner off it.

THE MECHANICS

5.7-litre LS1 V8

4L60 four-speed auto

Estimated to develop in excess of 400bhp

Sounds incredible and drives without fault

Completely rebuilt braking system and servo conversion

It may look old-school but under the hood, the Trans Am is anything but. Sure, it has a pushrod V8, but it’s an LS1 unit estimated to be from the late 1990s or early 2000s, 5.7-litres in capacity and equipped with a performance cam and uprated induction system. There’s no official power output, but it is estimated to be in the region of 400bhp. It’s certainly a beast of a car, and it sounds like one, too thanks to some fruity Flow Master mufflers.

It has also been converted to coil-over suspension and four-wheel disc brakes, the latter of which have been completely renewed and rebuilt with a servo conversion to make the Trans Am more useable in modern traffic conditions. According to the vendor it’s a fabulous car to drive, fast, noisy (in very much the right way) and a huge amount of fun.

BEFORE YOU BUY

This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:

✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions..

✓ We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates.

✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.

✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.

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✓Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection

or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it’s worth checking beforehand.. If requested, we may refer you to a third-party shipping company who can help. For more details and to speak to the team, email [email protected]

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1980 Pontiac Trans-Am Bandit Restomod

HIGHLIGHTS

THE APPEAL

THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK

THE CONDITION

THE MECHANICS

The safest way to buy a classic car online