Trans Am SE Bandit Edition

In less than two decades, the American automotive industry lost no fewer than three historic brands as of 2016. In 2001, Chrysler killed Plymouth after many years of slow sales and a lineup that rarely included more than three nameplates. Three years later, it was GM’s turn to shutdown Oldsmobile, a brand that celebrated more than 100 years on the market. In 2010, financial problems and restructuring efforts forced GM to discontinue Pontiac as well. Of the three brands that are no longer with us, Pontiac is arguably the one enthusiasts miss the most, especially when it comes to its affordable RWD coupes and the iconic GTO, Firebird, and Trans Am models. Fortunately, both the GTO and the Trans Am have returned to the market in 2011 thanks to Trans Am Depot.

For those who are not familiar with the brand, Trans Am Depot was formed in 2011, one year after Pontiac was axed, by brothers Tod and Scott Warmack, Jim Dowling, and graphic designer Kevin Morgan. The goal was to bring to life the vision of a modern day Trans Am, which the team succeeded in doing after securing exclusive rights to the "Trans Am" name. In 2012, Trans Am Depot forged a partnership with Hurst Performance and built the first-ever Trans Am with the iconic Hurst badge.

As of 2015, the shop converts restomods, restores classic cars, and more importantly, builds modern iterations of the Pontiac Trans Am and GTO from fifth-generation Camaros. The current lineup includes the 7T7 Trans Am, the 6T9 Judge, and the Hurst Judge, which are based on the original 1977 Trans Am and 1969 GTO Judge. At the 2016 New York Auto Show, Trans Am Depot unveiled its latest masterpiece, the Trans Am SE Bandit Edition. As the name suggests, it’s a modern interpretation of the 1977 Trans Am Special Edition that was featured in the Smokey and the Bandit film.

Limited to only 77 units, the Bandit Edition comes with all of the signature features of the original car and an endorsement from Burt Reynolds himself, the star of Smokey and the Bandit. Keep reading to find out what makes it special.

Continue reading to learn more about the Trans Am SE Bandit Edition.

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