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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