Combining a Movie Car Tribute With 8-Second Performance Results in a Trans Am That Demands a Closer Look
Most car enthusiasts have either heard of or seen the class movie ‘Smokey and the Bandit.’ And although the star power was high with Burt Reynolds, Jackie Gleason and Sally Field, some say that the car was the true star.
The first movie that stuntman Hal Needham would trade an action role for the director’s chair, the Pontiac Trans Am Special Edition would take center stage.
Three were used in the film, and although none survived, the exposure pushed sales of the black with gold accent ‘special edition’ Pontiacs through the roof.
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This clean 1976 Trans Am example of Nick Wiegand (wearing a 1977-78 front bumper cap) checks all the boxes, especially in ‘drive’ form with the ‘snowflake’ wheels and matching black and gold trailer.
But when converted into track mode, the Pontiac-powered ride shines with the performance we wish the factory model could’ve had.
Originally, the best engine in 1976 was a low-compression 455 cubic inch making a measly 200 horsepower that could only get the Trans Am 15-second time slips from the factory.
Nick’s Trans Am went for the ‘more is better’ route on power, starting with a 400 cubic inch factory block that now displaces 462 cubic inches and gets force-fed air from a pair of VS Racing 78/75 turbochargers. Safe to say it makes a little more than 200 horsepower.
Nick’s Trans Am was one to watch during the 2023 edition of Sick Week presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, as 8-second performances were witnessed at every stop as he participated in the Pro Dial-Your-Own class.
A full feature on Nick’s ride is now available in the latest print issue of Sick the Magazine. You aren’t subscribed yet? CLICK HERE TO GET THE MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO THE DRAG-AND-DRIVE LIFESTYLE!
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine and Motion Raceworks.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com