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I love my C5, also I’ve always wanted a 1977 Trans Am just like Smokey and the Bandit, but probably will not get one.
On the movie Burt Reynolds’s character brand new Trans Am seems to really have lots of get up and go, thinking it’s not factory, or they used Hollywood editing to make the car sound meaner, if stock that car sounded pretty amazing!
How would a stock 1977 Trans Am with Pontiac 400 and automatic compare to a C5 with automatic and the 2.73 gears?
I was looking and those old Trans Ams had gearing like that.
The C5 would probably outrun the TA but by how much?
I’m thinking new in 1977 the Trans Am would outrun the 1977 Corvette.
Who else likes the old movie and the black Trans Am with gold honeycomb wheels?
I love my C5, also I’ve always wanted a 1977 Trans Am just like Smokey and the Bandit, but probably will not get one.
On the movie Burt Reynolds’s character brand new Trans Am seems to really have lots of get up and go, thinking it’s not factory, or they used Hollywood editing to make the car sound meaner, if stock that car sounded pretty amazing!
How would a stock 1977 Trans Am with Pontiac 400 and automatic compare to a C5 with automatic and the 2.73 gears?
I was looking and those old Trans Ams had gearing like that.
The C5 would probably outrun the TA but by how much?
I’m thinking new in 1977 the Trans Am would outrun the 1977 Corvette.
Who else likes the old movie and the black Trans Am with gold honeycomb wheels?
How much would a C5 outrun a 1977 T/A?? Not even close. The C5 is probably around 50mph faster on top end. A '77 T/A would have a hard time hitting 125-130 mph top speed. All the C5s, Vert, FRC, Coupe, Z06, would hit 170+mph top end. 1/4 mile times the C5 was easily a 13 second (Z06s in the 12s)@105 mph car, while T/A was a 15 second bracket, @85mph car. Again, not even close........
I love my C5, also I’ve always wanted a 1977 Trans Am just like Smokey and the Bandit, but probably will not get one.
On the movie Burt Reynolds’s character brand new Trans Am seems to really have lots of get up and go, thinking it’s not factory, or they used Hollywood editing to make the car sound meaner, if stock that car sounded pretty amazing!
How would a stock 1977 Trans Am with Pontiac 400 and automatic compare to a C5 with automatic and the 2.73 gears?
I was looking and those old Trans Ams had gearing like that.
The C5 would probably outrun the TA but by how much?
I’m thinking new in 1977 the Trans Am would outrun the 1977 Corvette.
Who else likes the old movie and the black Trans Am with gold honeycomb wheels?
How much would a C5 outrun a 1977 T/A?? Not even close. The C5 is probably around 50mph faster on top end. A '77 T/A would have a hard time hitting 125-130 mph top speed. All the C5s, Vert, FRC, Coupe, Z06, would hit 170+mph top end. 1/4 mile times the C5 was easily a 13 second (Z06s in the 12s)@105 mph car, while T/A was a 15 second bracket, @85mph car. Again, not even close........
I think the trans am for that reason is so popular as a " resto mod". With a healthy drive train what a great car it would be. Sadly any example that's not rusted out has a hefty price tag just to get into one.
This is an amazing thread. I LOVE me a Smokey T/A. I actually had a similar 1977 Bandit T/A shortly after I graduated high school in 1980. It was like you posted, 400 with an auto but it had the tan interior. I did get it up to 115 a few times while owing it. Off the line, it did great. It would also, pun intended, smoke the tires very easily. I went through a few sets. I wish I still had it too. Comparing it with the C5 though, no comparison. The C5 handles much better, is much faster on the top end too. I wouldn't give up my C5 to get another one, but I would add one to the stable if the opportunity arose.
When I bought mine, it didn't have the honeycomb wheels with it so these were what I had on it. It came with the classic cragar wheels but they were way to wide for this car. The previous owner had 15x10 on the back and air shocks to raise the back end up. These are old Polaroids so the quality isn't there and we're taken after I had sold it.
Last edited by mstromquist; May 15, 2022 at 10:59 PM.
I had a 78 years ago. It was cool looking but a dog. Pales in comparison in regards to performance, handling, braking to a C5. Not even remotely in the same league.
I sold the T/A years ago for an 87 Grand National that I still own. Only 16K miles on my GN. Even my Grand National ran circles around the T/A
I, like you, still love the look of those T/A's, and if you want to go that route, only a restomod would be in order to provide any decent levels of refinement, performance, and comfort.
I had a 78 years ago. It was cool looking but a dog. Pales in comparison in regards to performance, handling, braking to a C5. Not even remotely in the same league.
I sold the T/A years ago for an 87 Grand National that I still own. Only 16K miles on my GN. Even my Grand National ran circles around the T/A
I, like you, still love the look of those T/A's, and if you want to go that route, only a restomod would be in order to provide any decent levels of refinement, performance, and comfort.
Your getting close to my dream garage, Always liked to T/As except I like the front end on the '79 - '81s better, always like the Buick GN body style too. If I could have those plus a GMC Syclone and maybe a couple of Italian cars, I would be all set.
I had a 78 years ago. It was cool looking but a dog. Pales in comparison in regards to performance, handling, braking to a C5. Not even remotely in the same league.
I sold the T/A years ago for an 87 Grand National that I still own. Only 16K miles on my GN. Even my Grand National ran circles around the T/A
I, like you, still love the look of those T/A's, and if you want to go that route, only a restomod would be in order to provide any decent levels of refinement, performance, and comfort.
Those GNs can really get out and haul some serious ***!!!
Here’s my old car. 1977 Impala, very mild build 383 stroker, comp cam, dart heads, 750 Holley, headers, 373 gear, TH350 trans.
best 1/4 mile was 13.9 at 100mph.
The movie cars were modded. '77's with '78 front "bumpers" IIRC. At least one of them had a ex-Nascar 350 Chevy motor dropped in, so it had some actual performance - and probably twice the power of "stock" T/A's. The 77/78 6.6 liter T/A's had either 180 or 220 bhp(W72).
So, they looked good, but didn't go.
Had a colleague who bought a brand new '79, complete with the "screaming chicken" on the hood. Equally power challenged, plus it drove like a truck.
Here’s my old car. 1977 Impala, very mild build 383 stroker, comp cam, dart heads, 750 Holley, headers, 373 gear, TH350 trans.
best 1/4 mile was 13.9 at 100mph.
my c5 is faster. Best 1/4 mile 12.6 at 109mph
Impala is gone but not forgotten.
I built a 383 stroker around 40 years ago. Weren't any kits out yet. Torque monster in a 1985 IROC-Z. In 1990, I put the Lingenfelter "Box" intake (As it was known then-Today it's the "Super Ram!") on it, 58mm dual throat TB, cam, 1.6 rockers, headers, Flowmaster muffler, etc. Ran damn good for the time. Had 1963 "camel hump" heads. Bought the car in Georgia, so absolutely no rust.
Here's my 87 GN. All stock, and original down to the factory installed Goodyear Eagle GT's tires still on the car.
35 year old tires??!!! Are you SERIOUS????!!!!!
The stock market crash is nothing compared to the crash you're going to experience if you're driving on them!! Do yourself a HUGE favor, and get some tires on that beautiful car. I remember my late father bought a new 1986 Regal as the 1987 models came out. Got a great deal because it was a last years model. Anyway, it was at a Chevy/Buick dealer, and there was a new Corvette on the showroom floor, along with the Grand National. Dad told the salesman 'I'll bet that Corvette is fast." The salesman pointed to the GN, and said "That Buick there will run away and hide from that Corvette!"
The TA looks fantastic, but as others have said, they really don't perform well at all. The late 70's was a terrible time for performance cars. A lot of them look fantastic though. I suspect that the TA would not have been nearly as popular as it was had it not been for Smokey and the Bandit.
Funny how a movie can transform a car ! Those of us that have owned and know the T/A well will tell you a '73 455 SD is a far better car !!
Man, now you're talking. I know they weren't super high compression, but those SD 455 T/As were probably the last true muscle cars until the present day cars came along. Sadly, Pontiac is gone. GM was the largest corporation in the world back then. To show you how foreign competition has eaten away at GM, check this statistic out:
In 1964, GMs Chevrolet division, by itself, not including Olds, Pontiac, Buick, Cadillac, or GMC truck sales, sold only 100,000 fewer cars than the entire GM Corporation did last year!!! Oh, how the mighty have fallen..........
I had a '75 T/A, 400, 4 speed, back in the '80s. It was okay performance wise but had a girlfriend drive it and motor got hot and spun a bearing. Rebuilt the 400 with 10.5 pistons, cam, heads, intake, carb, etc. and 3.73 gears. Ran pretty strong then although I never took it to the track for a time.
A '77 engine could be built easily and gears make a big difference while still retaining stock looks. The thing is though, in comparison to a stock C5 it will still be lacking in many ways. The biggest thing I dislike about gen 2 F bodies is that the doors weight a ton and springs usually sag. The windows don't seal well either. Most are going to be pretty basic with just power brakes and steering as options. Maybe you can find one with power windows, locks and a/c.
Definitely a cool car but a C5 is better in every way times 10. No comparison at all.
A couple of my friends had them new back then and I drove them both but I bought a '74 Corvette instead.
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C5 versus 1977 Trans Am
