1977 Pontiac Can Am
If ever there was a star-crossed special-edition performer , the Pontiac Can Am was it . The angular design and just-right proportions of the Pontiac LeMans leant themselves to a Seventies-style handling-performance makeover , with bold graphics thrown in to boot . Like the Mustang II , the Can Am had roots in Jim Wangers ’ Motortown company , which built the proposal car and handled conversions down the road from the Pontiac assembly plant .
The Can Am included a unique rear spoiler , a Trans Am shaker hood scoop , the more intricate instrument panel from the Grand Prix and the “ T / A 6.6 ” 400ci engine from the Trans Am – all highlighted by red and orange stripes against a stark white exterior . The prospects were
good , and talk of more than 5,000 orders was heard , but after about the first 1,100 were completed , the tool for the rear spoiler broke and there was no quick fix . Pontiac killed the program soon after , and the Can Am ’ s fate was sealed . Can Am owners comprise a loyal fraternity , but the cars are rare sights at any event . The exterior graphics are available in reproduction and the shaker scoop is a standard Trans Am piece , but the rear spoiler and other LeMansspecific restoration parts just don ’ t exist . Even among the best examples we ’ ve seen , many of the trim parts aren ’ t perfect , simply because there ’ s no replacement alternative . And because their values haven ’ t yet gone through the roof , it ’ s easy to find modified examples . Look carefully for the most complete , original car you can – and be prepared for a long search .
1978-81 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 The late Seventies and early Eighties were all about the Camaro . Chevrolet sold more than 282,000 Camaros in 1979 , including about 50,000 Z28s ( more than 54,000 Zs were sold in 1978 ). Those production numbers were never topped again .
What ’ s surprising about the Camaro ’ s popularity in that era was the fact the second-generation platform was already quite long in the tooth . It was introduced in 1970 , but continual styling refinements turned out a great looking car when sleek urethane front and rear fascias were introduced in 1978 .
And while there were tens of thousands of Z28s built during those four influential model years , few remain untouched . Like the new , fifth-generation Camaros , they were modified and personalized by owners moments after delivery . They were turned into street machines , bracket racers and more , before becoming the budget hot rods for a generation of high-school throttle jockeys . Plain and simple , most of the cars were beaten to death . Pristine examples are out there and many restoration parts are available – and the prices are only going up with each passing
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