Burt reynolds wanted to be buried in the drivers seat of a 1977 pontiac trans am. A washed up stuntman is on a journey to regain the title of world. The oakland press obituaries and death notices for pontiac michigan area. This style trans am was immortalized in the smokey and the bandit movies. The pontiac firebird was an american automobile built by pontiac from the 1967 to 2002 model years. Jim rockford james garners ride of choice was a gold pontiac firebird espirit on the rockford files. Watch this 1974 pontiac firebird trans am sd455 in action it led the annual monrovia days parade for 2019. All of the trans ams coming out of the woodwork in light of reynolds death is more than a bit distasteful. Warren tope crashed during a race held in a street circuit in pontiac, michigan, called the wide track ii.
Join millions of people using oodle to find unique used cars for sale, certified preowned car listings, and new car classifieds. It was first used in the 1977 astre, replacing astres aluminumblock 140 cubic inch vega engine. Due to the inherently dangerous nature of auto racing, many individuals, including drivers, crew members, officials and spectators, have been killed in. A washed up stuntman is on a journey to regain the title of world champion driver. Picking a pontiac 400 or 455 block for performance use. He spent his time running a farming business when he was not racing. Pontiacs 400 the 400 ci was pontiacs most popular v8 during the glory years, and a number of different blocks were produced in that time. The oakland press obituaries pontiac, mi the oakland press. The vehicle, a 2006 pontiac gto, reportedly left the track and struck a tree on the passenger side. He was the dominant driver of his era, winning two world championships 1963 and 1965. The same power in a smaller package special performance engines are all but extinct in detroit, but pontiac is bucking the trend with a new powerhouse for the 1977 transam.
When general motors shut down pontiac, it left a lot of enthusiasts wondering why. Based on the cannonball race, it beat the gumball rally into theaters by a month in 1976. And id guess the van would beat it in the twisties, too. This is one clean vega, or at least the drivers side is, thats the only side that we get a glimpse of, unfortunately. He drives a jet black 1972 chevrolet camaro rally sport aka sinister split bumper. Jan 06, 2017 yet it was such a favorite of mitchells that when he retired it was the one he chose to take with him after negotiating a deal to will the car back to gm upon his death. Earnhardt himself died in a racing accident during the final lap of the 2001 daytona 500. Its always refreshing to see a true drivers car at the head of a parade, like this 1974 pontiac firebird trans am sd455. Tope, the son of a vicepresident of ford motor company was dead on arrival at pontiac general hospital. Apr, 2016 pontiac v8 history to gain a better understanding of pontiac s v8, lets step back to the early 1950s. Pontiac man killed in crash on woodward joe guillen, detroit free press published 5. Acdelco professional premium gascharged shocks offer the superior ride of a premium gascharged shock. It looks like we dont have a synopsis for this title yet. Watch this 1974 pontiac firebird trans am sd455 in action.
It is documented with all its original books, papers and phs paperwork. He began driving in nascar in 1974 and earned his first victory in 1977 at the capital. Ein absoluter usfilmklassiker ist martin scorseses drama taxi driver, vor genau 40. It had gratuitous chase scenes, witty lines, mustaches, and a honkin v8 muscle car with a screaming. Pontiac also introduced its 151 cubic inch iron duke 4cylinder overhead valve engine. Death driver 1977 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Mar 5 jansen van vuuren, dutch volunteer safety marshall at the 1977 south african grand prix. Lawrence neil bonnett july 30, 1946 february 11, 1994 was an american nascar driver.
Topes death apparently turned the city officials against the idea of hosting the events and that was that for outlaw road racing on the streets of pontiac. It has inon car footage as well as a bunch of stuff from the pits, and from some choice vantage points on the course. Sep 07, 2018 the pontiac firebird trans am from burt reynolds film smokey and the bandit is seen in front of burt reynolds star on the hollywood walk of fame on sept. This bandit is 100% original and has less than 750 miles on it. Browse the most recent pontiac, michigan obituaries and condolences. What pontiac has done is to have seized on the personal car concept with more enthusiasm than anyone since the first mustang and developed the firebirdcamaro body into a real drivers car. It followed the british victory in the french and indian war, the north american front of the seven years war. In 1977, the pontiac 400 made at least 75 less hp than our family minivan. Not only was the movie a huge success but the films popularity helped drive sales of the 77 ttop transam. Dec 11, 2010 pontiac firebird trans am cannonball david carradine 1973. From owning a chevy dealership in milwaukee to starting his own smallvolume, oerelated specialty shop that created, among others, the original ford mustang cobra ii and the 1977 pontiac can. When smokey and the bandit director hal needham chose a 1977 pontiac trans am to star in his movie.
Pg asked in tv shows and series what are the release dates for the chevy chase show 1977 tv. Burt reynolds was promised a free transam if smokey and the bandit became a hit. Donald joe booher february 22, 1941 february 12, 1993 was a nascar winston cup series and goodys dash driver. After a few months, reynolds, who was afraid of looking like one of those pretentious stars looking for freebies, finally called pontiac. The impact occurred between a car traveling westward and a heavy duty maintenance truck from hydro quebec, which was traveling eastward. Chevrolet was developing its 265ci v8 for 1955, and because pontiac was a rung higher on the. Michigan death records, 18671897 at familysearch free with registration index plus scanned images from the death ledgers. Browse interior and exterior photos for 1977 pontiac le mans. Months passed and reynolds never heard any news about his car. You are the wheelman, 1999 1954 pontiac bonneville special in jazzpunk racing, 2012 1974 pontiac catalina in biohazard. Burt reynolds funeral wanted to be buried in trans am after death. At the time of his death, he had won more grand prix races 25 and achieved more grand prix pole positions 33 than any other driver. According to belleville police, witnesses said alicia e.
Learn about 25 historical figures, notable people and celebrities who died in aug 1977 like elvis presley, groucho marx. Deputies say the gto was exiting a sharp left hand turn and went into a spin. In 1769 he was killed by a chief of the illinoiskinebooduring the council of joliet mound, held that year. What pontiac has done is to have seized on the personal car concept with more enthusiasm than anyone since the first mustang and developed the firebirdcamaro body into a real driver s car. It was primed with a lineup of powerful, rearwheel drive models, and seemed like it had a bright future ahead of it. Jul 23, 2019 its always refreshing to see a true drivers car at the head of a parade, like this 1974 pontiac firebird trans am sd455. Pontiac attempted a grand am revival with the downsized 1978 abody, but that proved to be an even bigger threeyear dud. Select a pontiac model and conveniently compare local dealer pricing. Tony stewart shows off his absurd car collection to jeff. Sep 24, 2018 in 1977, the pontiac 400 made at least 75 less hp than our family minivan. Sadly, what could have been an excellent pony car was turned into a weak passenger car. My mother has been the owner since about 1993 when my dad bought it for her as a gift back at smyrna, georgia. When the movie became a hit, reynolds expected the executive to come through with his promise.
The first actual settlement of will county is credited to the ottawa chief, pontiac, and the remnant of his tribe, who, after the francobritish war, selected the country in the vicinity of wilmington for his principal village, and there located in 17645. A woman was killed in a car accident in belleville friday night. Pontiac man killed in crash on woodward detroit free press. Yet it was such a favorite of mitchells that when he retired it was the one he chose to take with him after negotiating a deal to will the car back to gm upon his death. Pontiac firebird trans am cannonball david carradine 1973. Find out all the details of the cars of street outlaws cast. The nameplate, conceived in the early 70s for an upscale, internationallyflavored luxury model, ironically found success on a mainstream frontdrive compact built from 19852005. Want to make your 1977 pontiac grand am one of a kind, keep it running at its peak, or turn it into a highpowered beast.
With earl owensby, mike allen, joe byars, ron cheesman. Stacy david drives 1977 bandit pontiac trans am burt reynolds. Apr 18, 2006 hot rod magazine tested a 1967 ram air gto with turbohydramatic and 3. Feds told gm to drop pontiac or no bailout, exgm exec says. How do you install driver side window on 1977 chevy nova.
The car was parked in 1998 because of various mechanical problems. This car shocked and awed enthusiasts as well as automotive publications like car and driver when it came out, the final roar of american muscle at the end of the golden age. Celebrate and remember the lives we have lost in pontiac, michigan. Burt reynolds smokey and the bandit boosted 77 trans am. Pontiac firebird trans am cannonball david carradine. Selling my beautiful 1983 pontiac transam, 100861 miles on original engine. Welcome to the old car manual projects collection of car brochures. At first glance, the pontiac pegasus just looks like a longnosed 70 firebird filled to brimming with ferrari v12 drivetrain hardware and gauges, finished in a gallon of. So, what a better time to sell than with burt reynolds untimely death in peoples minds. Thanks for interest in my 2 1977 pontiac trans am ses. He was driving a canam mclaren owned by gordy oftedahl of minneapolis, minnesota in a sports car club of america event.
This is a very rare sj model and is all original and numbers matching. Our vast selection of premium accessories and parts ticks all the boxes. This very rare and lowproduction special edition trans am has it all. Back in 2000, i began messing around with it just to play around with it and see if i could get it to run again. According to an online source, these were actually firebird formula 400s, which had all the sturdiness and power needed to negotiate the many oncamera stunts seen on the show, but were dressed to look like espirit models. He has been racing since the 80s and is considered as the most technical driver on the show. Burt reynolds the man who made so many of us fall in love with blackandgold 1977 pontiac firebird trans am ttops may have finally. Hockenheimring, 1977 jim clark memorial race, practice, drove straight into a concrete wall. Mosport international raceway, transam series 125, race, spun out. From owning a chevy dealership in milwaukee to starting his own smallvolume, oerelated specialty shop that created, among others, the original ford mustang cobra ii and the 1977 pontiac canam, wangers has kept his hand in the business, nonstop.
This trans am is one of the lowest originalmiles special edition cars in existence. Picking a pontiac 400 or 455 block for performance use hot rod. It did and the 1977 ttop transam became one of the hottest selling cars of the year. Find 1977 pontiac cars for sale on oodle classifieds. Officials say this event allows the driver to use their personal vehicle on the track under the guidance of the nasa instructor. Pontiac later applied the sunbird name to the jbodybased front drivers it built in the. View motor trend s pontiac car lineup and research pontiac prices, specs, fuel economy and photos. The 1977 classic smokey and the bandit reigns as one of the ultimate car movies ever made. Get the best deals on fenders for 1977 pontiac firebird when you shop the largest online selection at. But wangerss storied career didnt begin or end with pontiac. A ferrari engine in a pontiac firebird makes the ferraribird. Best known by the nickname monza, jerry johnston earned his fame after starring in discoverys reality series, street outlaws. Browse interior and exterior photos for 1977 pontiac bonneville.
The muscle car history back in the and the american car manufacturers diversified their automobile lines with high performance vehicles which came to be known as muscle cars. Death driver 1977 is ratedreceived certificates of. Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands affordable prices. This also coincided with the release of the 1967 mercury cougar, fords upscale, platformsharing version of the. As in my other listing, i pay to tribute to him and the movie smokey and the bandit for getting myself and most of the world a passenger seat in this. At midyear 1977, pontiac introduced the phoenix, an upscale version of the ventura which replaced the ventura entirely after the end of the 1977 model year. Michigan death records, 18971952 from michiganology free includes scanned images of the death certificates from 18971943. Stacy david drives 1977 bandit pontiac trans am burt. This car shocked and awed enthusiasts as well as automotive publications like car and driver when it came out, the final roar of american muscle at the end of.
Fatal accident in the municipality of pontiac chipfm 101,9. The pontiac firebird trans am from burt reynolds film smokey and the bandit is seen in front of burt reynolds star on the hollywood walk of fame. In death proof gurkt stuntman mike in einem todsicheren chevy nova ss 1972. Designed as a pony car to compete with the ford mustang and mercury cougar, it was introduced on february 23, 1967, simultaneous with gms chevrolet division platformsharing camaro. Burt reynolds 1977 pontiac trans am from smokey and the. This post is an adaption of a comment i left last night on the original article about pontiacs death, but i feel it needs a lengthier explanation. Quality is at the heart of everything we do at carid, so whatever your project, our brand name products and qualified experts will ensure success. I received a request for the cowl tag, which it better explains the options that came factory.