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This is a documentation of a 1977 Trans Am SE with 12000 miles
The vehicle was originally purchased in Flint Mi from Superior Pontiac in 1977.
As the story goes the original owner was a drug dealer. In 1978 he dropped it off at a Burton (sub of Flint) body shop for minor body repair. While the vehicle was there he was arrested for dealing and subsequently sent to Jackson prison where he died quickly. The vehicle was never paid for, nor picked up so the shop owner filed a mechanics lean which was later converted to a valid title.
His intention was to give it to his daughter as an "incentive to straighten up and fly right", but she disappeared to California never to be seen again. Over the next year it sat in his storage yard as things were pilfered (one t-top, wheels, steering wheel). Luckily the shop owner finally chose to move the vehicle to his private storage as he couldn't bare to part with it.
In the following 28yr's it just sat as his buddy was bugged him for years to sell it, but he never could because of the memories of his daughter. In 2005 he finally relented and allowed his friend to buy it for a father/son project. The new owner had the motor and transmission professionally rebuilt - both due to sitting. Unfortunately the bodywork was sadly just a garage resto for this formerly grand vehicle.
Come 2007 the vehicle is finished, and the new owner gets to enjoy it for a few hundred miles before being diagnosed with cancer and has to sell it due to medical expenses.
May 2008 This is where I come in.
We go to look at the vehicle just hoping it's going to be a relatively clean 1977 T/A.
As we are looking at it, I start to see things that lead me to believe this might actually be an original SE vehicle. So we take a test drive - it has lots of power but is shifting poorly (later turns out to be a disconnected hose). We decide to let it go for that night and “think about it”.
My suspision about it being an SE was getting the best of me so the next morning I order a PHS report. As I’m waiting for the report the owner calls me back to confirm that the trans issue has been fixed.
The fax rings.
Here I am trying my hardest to do my best Marcel Marceau impression as I’m jumping up & down while reading that this is a 1 of 1200 car (not to mention the interior color – 2nd rarest).
ME: “Well…….overall it looks pretty good. How bout xxxxx.xx (4500.00 less than asking) “
Silence……………….
HIM: “I really liked you two (wife was with me and can be charming when needed)”
Silence……………….
HIM: “You know what just come get it – I want you to have it”
Obviously we bought it.
Unfortunately as most of know it was damaged on the on the way to the Meet & Greet.
Here is it’s journey since…………………
The vehicle was originally purchased in Flint Mi from Superior Pontiac in 1977.
As the story goes the original owner was a drug dealer. In 1978 he dropped it off at a Burton (sub of Flint) body shop for minor body repair. While the vehicle was there he was arrested for dealing and subsequently sent to Jackson prison where he died quickly. The vehicle was never paid for, nor picked up so the shop owner filed a mechanics lean which was later converted to a valid title.
His intention was to give it to his daughter as an "incentive to straighten up and fly right", but she disappeared to California never to be seen again. Over the next year it sat in his storage yard as things were pilfered (one t-top, wheels, steering wheel). Luckily the shop owner finally chose to move the vehicle to his private storage as he couldn't bare to part with it.
In the following 28yr's it just sat as his buddy was bugged him for years to sell it, but he never could because of the memories of his daughter. In 2005 he finally relented and allowed his friend to buy it for a father/son project. The new owner had the motor and transmission professionally rebuilt - both due to sitting. Unfortunately the bodywork was sadly just a garage resto for this formerly grand vehicle.
Come 2007 the vehicle is finished, and the new owner gets to enjoy it for a few hundred miles before being diagnosed with cancer and has to sell it due to medical expenses.
May 2008 This is where I come in.
We go to look at the vehicle just hoping it's going to be a relatively clean 1977 T/A.
As we are looking at it, I start to see things that lead me to believe this might actually be an original SE vehicle. So we take a test drive - it has lots of power but is shifting poorly (later turns out to be a disconnected hose). We decide to let it go for that night and “think about it”.
My suspision about it being an SE was getting the best of me so the next morning I order a PHS report. As I’m waiting for the report the owner calls me back to confirm that the trans issue has been fixed.
The fax rings.
Here I am trying my hardest to do my best Marcel Marceau impression as I’m jumping up & down while reading that this is a 1 of 1200 car (not to mention the interior color – 2nd rarest).
ME: “Well…….overall it looks pretty good. How bout xxxxx.xx (4500.00 less than asking) “
Silence……………….
HIM: “I really liked you two (wife was with me and can be charming when needed)”
Silence……………….
HIM: “You know what just come get it – I want you to have it”
Obviously we bought it.
Unfortunately as most of know it was damaged on the on the way to the Meet & Greet.
Here is it’s journey since…………………
357ci LT1, cammed, stalled, and driven. 
RIP Snowman!
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