By Bo Durban and Nikolas Worden - 10/26/2022
The Trans Am was xxxxx.
About the Trans Am
Modifications For Filming
The movie presents the car as a 1977 Special Edition Trans Am. In actuality 4 modified 1976 Trans Ams were used to make the film.
1976 vs 1977
All of the Trans Ams used for the film were 1976 Limited Edition Trans Ams modified to look like the new, yet to be released 1977 Special Edition Trans Am. Filming started on 8/30/1976, and the 1977 models were not released until around 9/23/1976. Pontiac's decision to update existing cars seems like a fair decision considering the relatively few modifications needed to create the 1977 facade.
Modifications included:
- 1977 Front Bumper & Grilles
- 1977 Hood
- 1977 Hood Scoop
- 1977 Snowflake Wheels
All other 1976 Trans Am characteristics are visible with each car. These characteristics are items that would have updated for 1977 production but are still visible on the film cars. You can spot these cues throughout the movie:
- 8,000 RPM Tachometer
- Perforated vinyl inserts used in seats and door panels
- Door pull strap with black plastic end caps
- Seat belt guides with tri-oval base
Other notable differences between 1977 production models and the cars used in the movie are:
- The TRANS AM decal on the front bumper, above the left hand headlight is missing
- The bird decals on the C-pillar are positioned slightly lower than the 1977 production models
More info: 1977 Trans Am Promotional Vehicles
Safety Equipment
The hero cars and the stunt car had a deflection plate mounted below the engine. It was welded to the subframe.
The stunt car had a full roll cage installed. This added significant strength to the Trans Am's chassis and allowed the car to perform multiple stunts. The stunt car was also equipped with 5 point racing harnesses for both the driver and passenger.
Both of the hero cars had their shoulder harness seat belts removed. It is not clear why based on the fact that the insert cars kept their shoulder harnesses. Burt and Sally never actually used the seatbelts.
More info: Trans Am - Safety Equipment
CB Radio Equipment
There were 4 close up shots of the CB radio in the movie. It is a Pace CB166 model radio with a Pace SCAN 10-4U model scanner. It is positioned on the forward area of the center console with an automatic shifter. This appears to be B Roll footage that was filmed outside the normal filming schedule. It also appears the CB was just placed there for filming and not actually mounted. If you were to mount the radio and scanner in the movie location it would prevent the car from shifting into park.
For all primary filming, 3 of the Trans Ams were equipped with a Pace CB144 model radio and a Pace SCAN 10-4U model scanner. The radio and scanner were mounted to the lower dash trim plate just below and to the right of the steering column. The movie never focuses on this radio but you can see parts of it in several scenes throughout the movie. You can also identify it by the CB microphone which is slightly different than the Pace CB166 microphone.
The Trans Am also uses an "Antenna Specialists" brand M-176 model CB antenna. It was mounted to the center of the roof aligned with the rear of the T-Top frames.
More info: Trans Am - CB Radio Equipment
Other Modifications
Another modification was the front windshields were replaced with clear glass. We know all 4 Trans Ams were originally equipped with the Soft Ray (tinted glass) option because the rear windows have a slight green hue. With this option the windshield would have a tinted band across the top. However, none of the movie cars have this tinted band.
They used 2 different brands of glass for this modification. One of the brands used was "G"uardian. Recognizable by the large "G" logo in the lower middle of the windshield. This embedded logo is called a "bug" in the glass industry. This logo is one of the identifiers we used to distinguish between the cars.
Trans Am Car #1
This Trans Am is the one we see drive out of the trailer at Snowman's house. It is also the same car we see pull up to Big and Little Enos at the end of the movie. So you can say it was in the first and last scenes of the movie where you see the Trans Am. This was the primary HERO CAR. It was used throughout the Georgia filming schedule. It received a lot of abuse near the end of filming in Georgia, specifically during the filming of the chase scenes with Georgia Highway Patrol on GA 400 near Cumming, GA. It is believed that this car was destroyed when filming wrapped up in Georgia around the second week of October, 1976.
Unique identifiers
- Small dent in drivers door just below door lock
- Large "G" logo in windshield to denote Guardian brand glass (known as "bug")
- Seat belts removed after 9/4/76
Other notable characteristics
- Pace CB-144 radio mounted to lower dash trim
- A/C equipped
- 1976 interior cues
- Tinted glass
- Power windows
- Rear seat speaker
- Automatic transmission
Used as
- Hero Car
More Info: Trans Am Car 1 - Identification
Trans Am Car #2
This Trans Am is the one we see in the scene where Carrie is picked up in the wedding dress. It was also used for the long 4 wheel slide when Bandit and Carrie are running from the "10-100" cop. This Trans Am was heavily damaged during the first week of filming. While shooting the town square - night scene (when Bandit hides behind the building), the Trans Am slid sideways into the curb and destroyed both wheels on the passenger side of the car as well as the suspension. The filming crew pulled Car #1 off of the car hauler to finished filming the scene that you see in the movie. Because of this damage, Car #2 is not used for several days. It shows up 2 weeks later as an insert (camera close up) car.
Unique identifiers
- No dent in door
- Does not use "G" uardian windshield
- Seat belts removed
- Loose thread on driver's seat
- 4-speed transmission (very likely)
Used As
- Hero Car - up until 9/4/76
- Insert Car - after 9/16/76
More Info: Trans Am Car 2 - Identification
Trans Am Car #3
This Trans Am was used to film the close up scenes of the actors while the car was in motion. It was just used for front view shots and usually had 2-3 cameras rigged up to the front of the car. Thanks to behind the scenes photos, we can see this Trans Am had its front grilles removed and a tow bar mounted to the front bumper so it could be pulled by a truck.
Sometime around 9/11/76 this Trans Am had its rear window removed to accommodate filming through the rear window. This gave us a 3rd person view of the Trans Am and a rear view of the actors...or stunt man/woman...or a combination of both. The car was still used for front and side camera mounts. It was just more flexible now.
Sometime during the last week of filming in Georgia this Trans Am had the rear window reinstalled and was used as a hero car for a couple of scenes. By this time all of the other Trans Ams were severely damaged and this would have been the only remaining car to look good for the drive by scenes. Note that they did not reinstall the grilles and that helps identify this car.
After filming wrapped up in Georgia this car was shipped to California for additional filming in December of 1976.
Unique identifiers
- Lose thread on passenger's seat
- Insert car - Cameras mounted to car for close up shots of the actors
After 9/11/1976
- Guardian brand windshield was installed - has large "G" bug in windshield
- Rear window was removed
Other notable characteristics
- Pace CB-144 radio mounted to lower dash trim
- A/C equipped
- 1976 interior cues
- Tinted glass
- Power windows
- Rear seat speaker
- Automatic transmission
Used As
- Insert Car - up until ~10/4/76
- Hero Car - after ~10/4/76
More Info: Trans Am Car 3 - Identification
Trans Am Car #4
This Trans Am was used as a stunt car. It had a full roll cage installed and performed all the major stunts. It also appears that this Trans Am was not acquired at the same time as the other Trans Ams. Earlier in the filming schedule this car can be seen with the 1976 style Honeycomb wheels whereas the other Trans Ams have the 1977 style Snowflake wheels.
Unique identifiers
- Roll bar installed
- Honeycomb wheels prior to ~9/12/1976
- Bird on C-pillar is slightly lower than Car #1 and Car #2
Other notable characteristics
- A/C equipped
- 1976 interior cues
- Tinted glass
- Power windows
- Automatic transmission
Used As
- Stunt Car
More Info: Trans Am Car 4 - Identification
