1981 Pontiac Trans Am Bandit Special Edition

For consignment, a fully restored, 1 of 932 built, (production records vary), the WS6/Y84 1981 version of the screaming chicken adorned hood, T topped, black Trans Am from Pontiac. This car sports miles deep paint, black broadcloth interior, all paperwork from when the car was delivered new, and all the photos and receipts from when the restoration was being done. "Hey Snowman, ya got your ears on?"

***Due to varying emissions control devices being removed, please check with your state, county, local or provincial motor vehicle department to verify the ability to legally register this vehicle in your area***

Exterior
Code 19, Starlite Black bathes the exterior of this racy looking car. It will stand out in a crowd, and with a huge gold screaming chicken decal, two tone, (gold and beige), decal badging and polished aluminum and gold snowflake style wheels. All fender flaring and neoprene bumpers are matching the body black and a rear spoiler. The body is in very good condition with no chip offs or rust to note, just a pure calm sea of black. Side vents can be seen on the front quarters, and a chin spoiler is just below the gold highlighted black twin lower grilles. The back is more racy with the rear spoiler and black horizontal bar panel to use the taillights. Another clean black neoprene bumper is hanging on the bottom. Up top it features lightly smoked glass for the removable “T” top and all trimmings for the tinted side windows are in black and have been highlighted with gold pinstriping. More gold pinstriping frames the wheel wells as well as the rear spoiler and a smaller version of the hood chicken is seen on the B-pillars. A shaker hood with the scoop looking out through the hole in the hood, badged 5.0 Litre. "That's an attention getter." -Buford T. Justice

Interior
Black is the color motif for the interior chosen and it fits perfectly with the black exterior theme. Swinging the long doors and getting past the black colored vinyl door panels which are showing a side view mirror toggle, power lock switch, and black carpeting down below, these panels are showing some slight wrinkling but are otherwise near perfect. Moving inside we are greeted with high back buckets in front and a 2 plus 2 bench for the back. These are covered in broadcloth with striped gray and black inserts and the bolsters are solid black cloth. A warm black console shoots forward between the buckets and houses a glovebox, power window switches, and shift lever. As it rises it meets the gold circle machined pattern aluminum dash that houses black faced original gauges. Plenty of them as well all in circle form and even a factory tachometer and clock is seen on drivers left. Air-conditioning, a multitude of gauges, a see-through roof, tilt steering wheel, AM/FM/Cassette and power antenna. What more could you want? Oh, I know, read on!

Drivetrain
Under the screaming hood is the original 305ci Chevrolet V8. It has a single 4-barrel carburetor on top and a T10 4-speed manual on back. A 10-bolt 3.42 Positraction rear axle spins the tires. This engine bay is fully restored with wonderful paint and soft supple hoses. "She's as strong as an ox." -Bandit

Undercarriage
No rust, including nearly no surface rust is seen throughout with independent coil spring suspension in front and leaf springs in back. Power disc brakes are upfront, and power drums on back. A single exhaust ends splits into a dual system with stock style mufflers and dual shiny chrome tips behind each rear wheel.

Drive-Ability
As I slipped in for my test drive I buckled myself firmly in the black high backs and was off. Nice acceleration from the 305 cuber and good shifting from the T10 along with bias free panic stopping was noted. I kept looking in my rearview mirror for a smokie but all I kept hearing was my crack decoder and partner in crime whining about having to pee. Naturally I broke out my best Buford T. Justice impression and told him, "Swallow it, I'm busy!". Overall a splendid drive, although we never got chased by the local po-po nor did we get to run blocker for The Snowman, but we did enjoy a well-functioning car with only a few frowns to note; the reverse lights did not illuminate and the check engine light came off and on, (most likely due to the lack of catalytic converters).

Wonderfully restored with all its fairings and flaring, scoops and spoilers, and the smoked T tops, we are firmly in Trans Am heaven, but actually in the West hallway of the Classic Automatic's Malls Hallowed Halls. Paperwork and documentation galore along with a wonderful presentation will keep you on the podium at nearly every show you enter, but it won't let you slip past old Buford and his dimwitted son Junior, maybe you could bribe them with a Diablo sandwich and a Dr. Pepper?

VIN DECODE
1G2AW87H5BN106953
1-USA
G-General Motors
2-Pontiac
A-Manual Belts
W-Trans Am
87-2 Door Sport Coupe
H-305ci V8 4bbl 150hp
5-Check Digit
B-1981
N-Norwood, OH Assy Plant
106953-Sequential Unit Number

TRIM TAG
11A-1st Week November Build
19B-Black Cloth
19L19U-Starlite Black
A51-Bucket Seats
CC1-Removable Roof Panels
Y84-Bandit Special Edition
A31-Power Windows