Lucas Bell 
Ever since it made its initial debut in 1967, the Chevrolet Camaro has been General Motors premier muscle car. But it is important to remember that it wasn’t the only V8-powered coupe that arrived in the late 1960s. In fact, the Pontiac Firebird debuted right alongside the Camaro for the 1967 model year, and lived on until the fourth-gen F-body platform was discontinued. Throughout much of that long lifespan, the Pontiac Trans Am was arguably the more potent of the two muscle car nameplates. A legend in its own right, we still see folks trying to find ways to preserve the Trans Am’s legacy to this day. And while you’ve probably seen the fine work done by the Trans Am Depot, one shop down in Georgia has found an entirely different way to capture the essence. We’d like to introduce you to this Bandit-inspired Pontiac Trans Am Pickup.
Pontiac Trans Am Turned Truck
Out of all of the various Trans Am variants we saw over the years, none are as iconic as the Black-and-Gold Special Edition of the late 1970s. First introduced in 1976 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Pontiac, the special graphics package for the second-gen Firebird would be propelled to immortal status via Burt Reynolds’ 1977 film “Smokey and the Bandit”. From that point on, the Norm Inouye-designed “Screaming Chicken” graphics package would become a cultural icon forever tied to the muscle car. The Bandit model was clearly the inspiration for this Pontiac Trans Am Pickup, which was built by Jay’s Custom Cars. As a result, the truck has all the presence of the Bandit.
The Chevrolet Silverado turned Pontiac Trans Am Pickup features a ton of design cues from the “Bandit” model, including the aforementioned graphics package and the gold snowflake wheels we all know and love. The shop also borrowed some design cues from later Pontiac models, including the honeycomb tail lights found on the F-body WS6. These honeycombs continue inside, where the truck features a fully custom leather interior. And while the truck doesn’t have a t-top setup, it does pack a Rolls Royce inspired starlight headliner. We don’t have details about the powertrain, but the truck’s stock 420 horsepower is more than sufficient.
While it appears that this Pontiac Trans Am Pickup is a one-off, we love the idea behind it. More than anything however, it makes us wish for the days when Pontiac was a standout brand. Does this build honor the Bandit, or do you find it appalling? Let us know below!
