1977 Pontiac Can Am Le Mans & T/A 6.6 Engine Start Up on My Car Story with Lou Costabile

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On "My Car Story" we're at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles IL at the 26th Annual Indian Uprising All Pontiac Weekend on 8-12-16.
We're looking at a 1977 Pontiac Can Am Le Mans Sport Coupe with a T/A 6.6 Engine. This model was produced for one year only, and it’s possible this one could be the last one produced by the factory.
The car's Owners are Eric & Shirley. They have had this car since 1978. The restoration of the car took place in 2008, and it looks stunning.
ENJOY!
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[@sspeedy2859]

One of the best example of the Can Am I've ever seen, It's super clean. Hats off to you folks!

[@loucostabile]

Hi S Speedy, Happy to read you appreciate this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@michaelrocky4571]

I bought one brand new May 10th, 1977 .. i was 20 and was a car guy even back then, kept it 5 years and then got new car fever. As i got older i really miss it. Mine came with a red bucket seat interior. The one here you're showing us didn't come with seat colors like that, it had to be a white interior and this guy had a shop make the seat designs "his way. Took me years to find out the different interior colors, i have seen black, red, white and even an UGLY green interior and then i seen some with a brown interior. ALL were Cameo white exteriors...SO happy my interior was red with buckets seats. thanks for the video

[@loucostabile]

Hi Michael, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing, and you're welcome. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@romans828.]

This car is gorgeous! Props to this guy for restoring this beauty!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Bob Bob, Happy to read you appreciate this restored beauty :-) Lou

[@gurutimes2]

finished at pontiac motors in pontiac mi my home town. pontiac motors is long gone as well as fisher body which was just down the street from pontiac motors. i remember seeing these a lot from 77 to 80 or so then hardly ever after 80 they thinned out as there were very few of them.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Mikey, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your home town :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@Carlito-Fxwg]

Always with these Amazing Machines Lou Thank you, my friend Louie has a Can Am...an Impala SS and a 454 Chevy (truck from Hell) pickup in his collection among others, all low miled... he's a custom car painter in Texas.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Carlito, Happy to share these "Amazing Machines" with you :-) Sounds like some fun cars in TX. Thanks for sharing. You're welcome, Lou

[@ThePaperSun]

Styling-wise, this car is quintessentially seventies. I've always sort of dreamed of having one.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Wilson Martin, Glad you've sort of dreamed of this one :-) Hope you see many more cars on the Channel you'll enjoy, Lou

[@JoeHynes284]

I love it. It's kind of ugly and kind of beautiful, I would buy one

[@ThePaperSun]

Exactly. I said “sort of” because there are plenty of cars I would rather own, but I do really love these.

[@bg147]

Yes, it is so over the top with the wild colors and graphics. Very 70s and cool today.

[@korbendallas4232]

Such a beautiful and iconic car.

[@korbendallas4232]

And has the best engine available.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Korben, Happy to read you appreciate the looks and engine of this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@HWolfeIII]

My Mom had a 76 Pontiac LeMans Sports coupe, those were excellent cars. I always loved the Can Am they did a great job restoring this one...

[@loucostabile]

Hi HWolfelll, Thanks for sharing your Mom had a cool car too :-)

[@danc1197]

My mom had the 77 four door Le Mans, old state police car. It hauled ass and was comfy and solid. Reached 140 with no hesitation and very stable at that speed. Most cars from that era had a taller grill and higher hood which would fight the wind at high speed. The lower hoodline in this car helped slice through the wind. No hood pins needed.

[@bruceh92]

This one from the archives popped up Lou, had to check it out. So rare was this I don't even remember it! Super nice. Thanks.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Bruce H., Happy to see you enjoyed this one that popped up :-) You're welcome, Lou

[@rueben44]

I love this channel because like with Leno you learn things about cars before your time. I had never heard of this car and it is nice. Actually many don't realize that Pontiacs and Buicks often were just as nice or more than Cadillacs of the time.

[@loucostabile]

Hi RayJ-HT, Thank you for the wonderful comment :-) I'm glad you're enjoying the learning part, as I'm learning on almost every car I'm sharing. I find that a fun part too, Lou

[@ToyKingWonder]

You might enjoy the fact that the last GTO (until their later resurrection) was actually a Ventura! 1974.

[@douglasholloran6513]

there was one of these just around the corner when i was 12 years old ,so few people seen the car that most would think it was someones home made bigger bandit car.thanks for proving it did exist

[@loucostabile]

Glad you viewed, and had a memory from the neighborhood you grew up in, Lou

[@clarkgriswold5903]

1977 the year I graduated high school. ah the memories of those old muscle cars!

[@floridaroadways]

Clark Griswold dude I graduated in 84 n had a 68 firebird 400 n paid $1500 in 82

[@loucostabile]

Good times, good times :-)

[@mikeware1002]

Love this! Thanks Lou

[@loucostabile]

Hi Mike, Happy to read you "Love this!" You're welcome, Lou

[@deanr4475]

My first car was a 75 GP the dash was essentially the same except mine had an 8 track and no clock, but when you had the close up of the instrument panel, it was like being in a time machine. That Can Am is beautiful.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Dean R, Glad you enjoyed seeing this car that brings back good memories :-) Lou

[@floridaroadways]

Dean R I’m sure 75 gp had a clock

[@HoosierGreek]

Now that is one beautiful automobile! 🙂

[@loucostabile]

Nice !

[@2414kels]

Very clean also rare.

[@loucostabile]

Glad you enjoyed the car / video, and good point that it's rare, Lou

[@FastHemi]

A friend of mine had one back in the day. It was sweet

[@loucostabile]

Hi FastHemiMachinist, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Friends car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@goodbonezz1289]

Awesome!

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@dougholtz]

I bought a new one with black front bench seat. Sold it when my fourth child was born. Missed it, so a few years later bought another, this one with red bucket interior and a sunroof. It was no GTO as far as power, but it looked the part.

[@loucostabile]

Hi doug holtz, Happy to read this video / car brings back good memories for you :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@Funsho97]

It would be fun to go to a cruise in with the owners of this car. Really nice example of a Can Am. I remember seeing those cars back in the day but never saw many of them. Really cool car. Really enjoy your videos Lou, good job!!!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Hobiemarty, Happy to read you're having fun on the Channel with me :-) Glad to read you enjoy this "Really cool car" :-) Lou

[@mikeslomski7063]

One of the coolest and sexiest 70's cars built. I remember when these first came out, as a young lad of 15 at the time and reading everything about cars I could, I wanted one pretty bad! When I was about 18 and hitting the local cruising strip in my Camaro there was one I'd see every weekend. Beautiful cars!

[@loucostabile]

Thank you Mike Slomski for sharing your memories of late 1970's :-) Glad you enjoy the looks of this one, Lou

[@Camb250]

Great car! Really nice couple!

[@loucostabile]

Hi D.J. Wagner, Glad you enjoyed this one. I agree a fun couple that loves their car :-) Lou

[@ymaisel6768]

This magnfcent beauty car. I enjoy video and much to meet Lou and Sherelee and Erc. Sorry english not my main languge of country.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Y Maisel, Happy to read you appreciate this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@adamschiff8384]

I'd love to find one of the Le Mans Sport coupes with the 400 engine that were sold after the Can Am spoiler accident.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Phil Urupp, Hope you're behind the wheel of your Le Mans Sport Coupe soon :-) Lou

[@adamschiff8384]

@@loucostabile Thanks. From what I understand there were around 1100 1977 White Le Mans bodies that were slated to become Can Ams before the spoiler mold broke. They were finished as Sport Coupes and shipped out to dealers. Just wondering how many survived and are still around today. They have become legendary, like the 8th 1969 Trans Am convertible.

[@l-ringer3050]

Sweet car. Neat story.

[@loucostabile]

Hi L- Ringer, Happy to read you appreciate this car and story :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@stardustdreamfactory1947]

One of my favorite RRs is a '75 fully loaded (last year full sized) with the 400ci and 230 net hp (full dual exhaust w/o cats) vs. 250 net hp in 1974 (Volare RR briefly afterwards). This was a little known option as the sales brochures stated a single exhaust edition netting 200 net hp as I recall. Another 'secret option' for Plymouth Dusters that same year was the 360cid with full dual exhaust (no cats) rated at 220 net hp (240 net hp in 1974). Otherwise, you were stuck with single exhaust and cats with lower net hp. I graduated from HS in 1973 and I remember these cars well, having worked at 3 local Ford Dealerships between 1973 and 1975 (typical kid who didn't know any better!). If I had the money and could turn back the clock.....

[@loucostabile]

We all wish we could turn that clock back :-)

[@franzs9157]

love t he design of the car great job restoring it

[@loucostabile]

Glad you enjoy this one :-)

[@dcaseng]

Love those stripes on the seats.

[@loucostabile]

Nice :-)

[@AccordionJoe1]

All show and no go.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Joseph, Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@stardustdreamfactory1947]

I wanted one of these back in the day (still do); my heart was broken when I found out so few had been built. My first new car purchase ended up being the newly downsized 1978 Monte Carlo Landau.

[@loucostabile]

The Monte Carlo is a nice first car. I like the hood scoop. I hope one day soon you get yours, Lou

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

The '77 and '76 Montes were so much cooler than '78. GM destroyed their cars.

[@mariegardner8347]

Nice car always liked uncommon cars had a LaGuna when paid 200 for it I was seventeen then love that rare car sweeeet

[@loucostabile]

Hi Marie, Happy to read you appreciate this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@tomjones7057]

Love the stripes inside & out.

[@loucostabile]

Happy to read you enjoy the stripes on this car :-)

[@earlyetman5588]

Awesome car!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Earl, Happy to read you appreciate this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@bonjaevel2]

Love it.

[@loucostabile]

Glad you enjoyed, Lou

[@josephromano6825]

Nice car Lou! Nice colors, good looking car!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Joseph Romano, Glad you read you enjoy this car :-)

[@rxwhat33]

Its hideous uncle joe.

[@jeremythompson9895]

Definitely my favorite car of the Disco era. Pontiac was really the only American manufacturer still building cool cars in the late 70s

[@loucostabile]

Glad to read this one is a Winner for you :-)

[@opera93]

Thanks. Interestingly, reminds me of my 1977 TransAM Special EDITION, *Hurst TTOPS, VELOUR INT, PS/PB, REAR DEFROST, and *6.6 L ( not the TA 6.6 for economic reason I did not order) AUTO, (that we ordered in OCT 1976), before SMOKY/ Bandit & , wringing some 15years of daily use and WARSAW IN SALT RUSTED it out , etc....

[@loucostabile]

You're welcome, and thank you for sharing your story too.

[@bryantcurtis2665]

Top of the morning to ya Lou!

[@loucostabile]

Top of the morning to ya Curtis!

[@samueltractorton2088]

Cool!

[@loucostabile]

Hope you see many more cool cars on this KZbin Channel.

[@FJB-522]

Lived in Fort Worth Texas in another life. I knew a guy named Ender Izen that had one of these Can Ams. I have liked these cars ever since. The closest I ever came to owning one was a 1973 Grand Am. I loved that car but am interested in finding one of these to restore. Still looking.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Marc Miesch, Speaking of 73 Grand Am, did you see this one? Enjoy! Lou kzbin.info/www/bejne/iarIfHaCn56FmbM

[@estpst]

awesome

[@loucostabile]

Hi estpst, Nice :-) Lou

[@jeremythompson9895]

This is a really cool car for the late 70s. A pretty decent performer too for 1977. I'd take one over a 77 trans am any day of the week. They should've offered a 4 speed option though. It's more of a GTO than a 74 Ventura GTO was

[@loucostabile]

Glad to read you enjoy this car :-)

[@guynese977]

lol

[@lonmcq7317]

There was a 4-speed car for sale this summer in the midwest... Whether this was a RPO for this model, I don't know, but this was beautiful, and less than 20K... A shame they killed this, because by '77 the GP was a giant tub that couldn't get out of it's own way... The cluster WAS really well done, however..

[@dougb3740]

Very cool car!!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Doug Blanco, Glad you enjoy this car :-) Lou

[@oscarmccormack1761]

Gorgeous car

[@loucostabile]

Hi Oscar McCormack, Glad you like the looks of this one :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many more cars on the Channel you'll enjoy, Lou

[@TommyZTrains]

"What a nice story, amid some very nice people" !

[@loucostabile]

Hi TommyZTrains, Glad you enjoyed this one :-) Lou

[@skittykitty1000]

What a car!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Brandon Lee, Glad you enjoyed this one :-) Hope you see many more cars you'll enjoy on the Channel, Lou

[@trevorwilson5461]

I went to an acreage where I bought a 75 le mans last year.i told no one about this place and the cars were all tarped in 4 big dome garages. The owner (who I have been doing charity work for,for 11 years)called me and asked if I wanted an 82 Grand prix with console and t-tops never removed with 19000km,he had to get to the car behind it.its black and mint.im 52 and it's was the first time in 11 years I was in the garages .he has 57 Pontiac cars from 66 to 84.he bought them all new and he showed me the 3 le mans Grand Ams. 2 have under 100kms and the other 7200.he gave me all 4 cars for free and it cost 736 dollars to get them all towed home. He is 84 years old and told me that he has every car in all 3 dome garages willed to me. 54 cars left and people around here (moved here 13 yearsago) he has 21 gto's 6 that are judges,3 stage lV's. But I love the CanAms. Hope old Harold never dies,but I can only dream about the other cars. He won't give me a hint . I peeked and all I seen were 3 identical white firebirds with blue trim.

[@loucostabile]

That's a fun story, and thank you Trevor for sharing :-)

[@raphaelhernandez4088]

They still look good today!

[@loucostabile]

I agree.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

Hey Lou. Sweet looking Can Am. I've heard of the car, but I've never actually seen one in person. :)

[@loucostabile]

Hey Jason Carpp, Glad you were able to see this one and hear details from the Owners :-) Lou

[@randsonic]

I owned one with a black interior...they are VERY rare.

[@marcfredo8273]

I'll never forget these Can Am's. In March of 1982, I was racing a guy who had one of these, in my old 1970 SS Camaro. We were up to around 120mph on I-285 in Atlanta, when the guy's left front tire blew and he slammed into the highway retaining wall. Every now and then, I wonder whatever happened to that guy and his Pontiac.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Marc Fredo, Thank goodness it was the right front. Who knows, maybe he watches the Channel and he can comment too?! Lou

[@nonplayerzealot4]

@@loucostabile He was likelier a feature in the 1983 edition of the Highway Patrol's blood and guts warning videos that they put out back then to warn people against racing.

[@ChrisfromGeorgia]

Who would've thought that 120 is the minimum speed limit on 285 nowadays.😅

[@kingkrimson8771]

In '77 the W72 T/A 6.6 engine was rated at 200 net HP; in '78 it increased to 220 HP due to a bump in compression. I know this because my buddy had a '77 Trans Am with this engine and I had a '78 and he was mad that I had an extra 20 HP lol.

[@loucostabile]

Hi KING KRIMSON, Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge. Lou

[@sampride2030]

There was 1 of these in oliver springs ,tn bought brand new when i was 10 yrs old, can-am they hardly drove it

[@loucostabile]

Hi Sam, Happy to read this car brings back memories :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@melrose9252]

This car’s advertised hp with the T/A 6.6 (400) was 200 hp. In 78 the the Cam Am was gone but the Trans Am kept the W72 option which hp was increased to 220 advertised. They all had THM 350 transmissions.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Mel Rose, Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@tscooter22]

Great car and as usual, great review. Thanks!! For some reason, I keep thinking this car was Sheriff Buford T. Justice's car in Smokey in the Bandit but after double checking I was wrong. Wasn't this car in one of the 70s movies?

[@loucostabile]

HI tscotter22, I can understand why you'd think that at first glance. Thank you for the kind words :-) Lou

[@XCELERATIONRULES]

GM spent a ton of money on those 73-77 bumpers..even on rust buckets the bumpers last forever..Great car...

[@loucostabile]

Thanks for viewing and sharing your thoughts :-)

[@garbage854]

Cool :)

[@loucostabile]

Agreed :-)

[@garbage854]

Welcome :)

[@bkehlin]

This is the first Can-Am I've seen with white interior with stripes. I've never seen the tan interior yet.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Rooster Illuzion, Glad this one was a "first" for you :-) Hope you see many more cars on the Channel you'll enjoy, Lou

[@jonminnella2966]

nice car

[@loucostabile]

Hi Jon Minnella , Happy to read you enjoy this nice car :-) Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you'll enjoy, Lou

[@jonminnella2966]

@@loucostabile for sure I will be following you I love old cars

[@tomlangley8852]

I know where one of these is sitting on four flats right now. The license plate indicates it was last renewed in 1985. Nice and snug in a warehouse in Downtown Toledo, Ohio.

[@beatersho3497]

Tom Langley idiot! Cars were meant to be driven! I hate how some people just hoard a car and hide it away until it’s rusty and the dust is so deep in the engine that it doesn’t start!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Tom, Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@scottricklaroque7428]

For some reason this reminds me of my 2nd car. Though nothing alike the stripes were kind of similar but different colors. It was a Bicentennial Monza with an old 350 replacing the stock (I think) 305. It had also been converted from automatic to 4sp with a clutch pedal that went about 3" sideways when pressed. It was annoying until you got used to it, my foot slipped off a few times when I first got it but wow was that thing fast. I don't know much about the engine but it did have camel hump heads, an Edelbrock Performer intake, headers and a Holly 4bbl, I don't know the CFM but I'd guess 650 and it was a vacuum secondary model. It had headers and as best I could make out 3.55 rear end. It could smoke tires through 2nd and give a serious bark into 3rd once I got used to that weird clutch. I was stupid to sell that but someone flashed enough $100s in my face to get it from me. *Sigh*

[@loucostabile]

Hi Scottrick LaRoque, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your 2nd car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@scottricklaroque7428]

@@loucostabile Will do, I love cars, all the years starting with a 1. lol Consider me subscribed.

[@mickey6275]

That's a pretty car

[@loucostabile]

Glad to read you enjoy the looks of this car Mikey :-)

[@lawrencedelong9748]

I would love to purchase this sweet Can Am.

[@loucostabile]

Hope you are behind the wheel of the right one for you soon.

[@joachimdartson7313]

Love it! But oddly enough the brochure he had in the car said 403 that's an Oldsmobile engine.

[@grand73am]

If you read the brochure more closely, you'll see that it says the Can Am came with the Trans Am's Pontiac 400, EXCEPT for California and some "high altitude counties", where they used the Olds 403 engine. The Pontiac 400 didn't meet California's emissions standards. Even Trans Ams sold in California had 403 Olds engines.

[@joachimdartson7313]

@@grand73am thank you my eyesight isn't what it was! The info and maturity is a welcome thing. I've been a GM guy all my life. That's funny because i Always thought the Olds were pretty efficient comparatively speaking. They held a tune better than Ford or Dodge ever dreamed of . 400 Poncho was all around cheap and reliable. Just a brute. Ive had them all. But the 330 Olds and Rocket 350 from '69 and the Ram Rod 350. Ruined many hot rodders day with the switch watch consistency. Didn't mean to ramble.

[@loucostabile]

Hi JOACHIM DARTSON, Happy to read you appreciate this car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Lou

[@melrose9252]

JOACHIM DARTSON This car had the 200 hp 400/6.6 liter. They called it the T/A 6.6 which was a 20hp option over the standard 400.

[@sampride2030]

Bad assssss

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@mikehileman7672]

You can't really see them but the car had the quad chrome tips ala Trans Am . This was the luxury Trans Am.

[@loucostabile]

Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts.

[@Clearanceman2]

I had a 77 grand prix SJ same drive train. This has almost the same interior as the SJ Grand Prix.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Clearanceman2, Happy to read you had a fun car :-) Lou

[@barrysnider635]

Nice people with a odd but beautiful Lemans

[@loucostabile]

Hi Barry, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@MitchGrooms]

wow

[@loucostabile]

Hi Mitch Grooms, "wow" High praise :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@MitchGrooms]

Yes, great job. I rescue cars so I understand the story thing for sure. Had a famous Trans Am that was stolen just over 2 years ago, I rescued another and a 98 Jaguar XJR Supercharged

[@mrbandit1130]

Beautiful car. Kudos for keeping it since 78. I recently purchased a can am from the original owner who special ordered the car. He took delivery 7/27/77. Last 6 of the vin are 409631. Looking at the vin on this door the last 6 start with 38. Does anybody know what the last 6 digits are of the last can am or batch of can am's. I also read that they were made between March and June 77 but a few got out for publication prior to that. Again, I am not sure and hopefully some of the can am experts out there can shed some light on the start and end of production.

[@loucostabile]

Hi MrBandit1 1, Congrats on your cool car purchase! Not and Can Am Expert, however I hope a Viewer can share knowledge, Lou

[@ANDREWSAMY562]

I don't get the hate on the front end on this one. I still think it looks better than the 1977 Trans am next to it lol

[@loucostabile]

Hi Andrew Samy, Agreed a good looking car. However better then a 1977 Trans Am? This is why I enjoy reading Viewer comments. I get the feeling there might be a few people who would favor the Trans Am. Lou

[@ceejay960]

Agreed. Pontiac nailed it in 1977.

[@Jerzeyguy]

I had that car and like a dope I traded it for a k5 blazer back in the day.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Don Waldron, I've made some decisions I look back on and wish I had them back too. Who knows, maybe you'll get another one, Lou

[@peterhogan9537]

at 3.10 he said the Grandville,s weren,t out yet, the Grandville was produced from 71 to 75.

[@loucostabile]

Thank you for viewing & sharing. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy, Lou

[@pl5624]

Olds should have done a pumped up 442 for 77 as well...bet that would have sold like hotcakes. Seeing as how cutlass was americas best seller that year.

[@loucostabile]

Good to know. Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge.

[@guitarhole]

Nice car . Chevrolet should have did something similar with the Monte Carlo .

[@loucostabile]

That would have been a good idea :-)

[@79tazman]

That car is a Trans Am in a Le Mans Body and the reason they did not make many of those cars is because the rear spoiler mold was damaged so the rest of the cars that were supposed to be Can Am's were sent out as Le Mans Sports

[@loucostabile]

Hi 79tazman, Interesting. Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge, Lou

[@patrickbeishir8737]

As a kid my neighbor had a garage built just so he could store his Can Am. Did they come in red? I could swear his was red. Either way it was and is a kick ass car. And as far as I know, though he has given it to his son, it still sits in that very same garage.

[@loucostabile]

Hi patrick beishir, Thank you for viewing, sharing, and adding to the story regarding your neighbor :-) Lou

[@markg7030]

The Can Am came in this color combo, no other colors. Maybe your neighbor had a Grand Am.

[@blakerh]

Are these cars in Illinois? Can AM is cool!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Blake, This one was at the time I videoed it, Lou

[@vincentcassano4083]

beautiful car,guy I know has one,it's sitting outside 36 yrs😟

[@loucostabile]

Is there anything left of it?

[@vincentcassano4083]

@@loucostabile it's all there but just rusting away interior faded and dry rotted,sad I offer him $$ but he says he's going to restore it someday,I've been trying since 1993

[@loucostabile]

Hmmm, unfortunate the Care Taker is not selling to you, or fixing it. Hope it happens either way sooner rather than later.

[@biffdelmonte3787]

I know of one of these also, sitting outside with no hood and the motor pulled out. It looks to be in decent shape, I wish someone would do something with it.

[@utuBrV1oI]

Actually that is the older better looking IMO '73-76 t/a shaker hood scoop that is a lot easier to open up than the one on a '77-9 t/a - to free up some horsepower.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Rich V, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts :-) Hope you see many more cars you enjoy on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@swatter5216]

I saw 3.8 v6 on that build sheet.

[@jasonvoorhees8545]

That is on the no extra charge section on the left. On the right side it says Can Am package, 6.6L 400 TA engine

[@loucostabile]

Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you'll enjoy :-) Lou

[@Klinkerklunk]

Last true muscle car.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Andrew, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@copndonuts]

Beautiful Can Am ......... just wish Pontiac would have put a speedometer of at least 130mph in them. Was a manual transmission an option for this model?

[@loucostabile]

Hi, Not sure about the manual transmission questions, so hoping a Viewer can share the details on that. Thanks for viewing, Lou

[@copndonuts]

I had to look it up ....... it was killing me to know ...... and no none of the models were offered with a manual trans.......... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Can_Am

[@loucostabile]

That was being resourceful, good thinking and thanks for sharing the results, Lou

[@W1se0ldg33zer]

Pontiac had gotten slammed for making the Nova-bodied GTO in '74. Pontiac purists were all like 'It's not a Le Mans' and generally the car was unpopular - which is a shame because the '74 GTO matched the '64 at the strip. So they decided not to call this model a GTO. But it's a GTO - it's based on the Le Mans.

[@loucostabile]

Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge.

[@W1se0ldg33zer]

@@loucostabile This model and others suffer from 'square headlightis' - they had passed new laws making square headlights - so in order to make cars match the headlights, they had to make them rather boxy.

[@W1se0ldg33zer]

@@loucostabile Like this car - it has swoopy, muscular side panels - then you get to that box on the front - so it could have the modern looking square headlights.

[@ToyKingWonder]

It was widely reported that they didn't continue building this car because the machine that formed the rear spoiler broke. I called BS on that story then, and I don't believe it now. I don't blame the gentleman for restating it, but it defies credibility. They could have built them without the spoiler, and it really is no big deal to make a fiberglass piece like that. Lots of stories floated around like that. The one that bothered me the most was the one that was even repeated by Jay Leno, and that was, they could not sell some of the Plymouth Superbirds in 1970, so some dealers resorted to remove the nose and tail and turn them back into Road Runners. As well as not making any economic sense at all, I have made inquiries for 30 years trying to find ONE that had been converted. I even went after the people that declared "I knew a guy". Lots of these stories are around.

[@loucostabile]

Hi ToyKingWonder, Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@peterhogan9537]

Lou do you not know a full size from a med size car ?

[@loucostabile]

Hi Peter, Please share the definition, Lou

[@markg7030]

Back in 77 General Motors down sized the big cars and left the mid sized cars alone until 78. The mid sized cars were almost as big for one year.

[@DLHerrod]

What's r12?

[@loucostabile]

Refrigerant

[@jenniferbeyer6412]

Awesome car. If you ever want to sell, please let me know. I live in Joliet. if you are ever around here please let me know. The Can Am is one of the cars I want to see in person. Thank you. Jennifer Beyer.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Jennifer, this weekend at the Pheasant Run in St. Charles IL has a Pontiac car show where you might be able to see a Can Am. Hope you can make the show, Lou

[@jenniferbeyer6412]

Lou Costabile thank you. I do not have a car. So I will keep watching.

[@lonmcq7317]

Who else knows why production ceased on these things back then...?

[@Red-rl1xx]

According to the channel Old Car Memories, the machine to make the rear spoiler was damaged.

[@randsonic]

@@Red-rl1xx Adding, America was in love with the Grand Prix and Can Ams were stealing the GP dash. Pontiac killed the car because they sucked. A Can Am without a spoiler was better than a Grand Prix any day.

[@scarbourgeoisie]

@@Red-rl1xx You're in the right ball park. It was actually the tooling to mold the rear spoiler required refurbishing and Pontiac wouldn't fit the bill for it. I heard a number of of about $75K as a cost to do so.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Will, I see Viewers shared knowledge on your question, Lou

[@lonmcq7317]

@@loucostabile Yes... It's a cool variant... Wangers was still in there pitching something different, and I have been close to buying at least 3 of these over the years, but being a Trans Am guy...

[@fedrojackson5735]

I had one of them when I was 15 .... someone towed it from in front of my house when I was in prison....

[@loucostabile]

Hi Fedro Jackson, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@fedrojackson5735]

Mine had a 400 big block in it

[@robertkopp873]

The owners are a nice young couple...

[@loucostabile]

HI Robert Kopp, I agree with you, they love their car. Great Care Takers of their fine ride, Lou

[@MichiganMan1985]

Owner is fooling himself to believe this was a 300 hp car...not even close. Original R-12?? Again-delusional, but a beautiful car... nicest Cam Am in existence.

[@loucostabile]

Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-)

[@goldraker5401]

I bought my Can Am in 1978. I beat my friends 1977 Trans Am! I also had a 1978 Trans Am. I think the reason why the Can Am out ran Trans Am’s. Is because of that 400 turbo transmission. I think that’s what they called it.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Gold Raker, Thank you for viewing and sharing some of your cars and story, Lou

[@randsonic]

A automatic Trans Am in 1978 was rated at 200hp...Can Am's were fitted with the W72 which was rated at 200hp but the NHRA stated the correct rating would have been around 260hp. Some Can Am's were fitted with the California emissions package which ran the Olds 403 rated at 185 with decent torque but they were no match for the W72. The Can Am in base trim through a single exhaust could run 15s back then. I would say if you were running an automatic 78 Trans Am your opponent bought a butter knife to a gunfight.

[@guynese977]

both dogs!

[@melrose9252]

Guy Nese Not in 78.

[@melrose9252]

Gold Raker Your friends Trans Am probably had the 180 hp 400 and the Cam Am has the 200. The Can Am and the Trans Am both had THM 350 Transmissions. A Turbo 400 requires more hp to pull so it would not make your car faster its just tougher.

[@bohunkgarage2839]

WHY DOES EVERYONE FORGET ABOUT CATALINAS

[@loucostabile]

:-0

[@79tazman]

That's too bad I wanted to see what that lady was trying to show that the designer liked about that car but never got to see it oh well

[@MYTOYMAKERZ]

79tazman - The designer commented on how much he liked the stripes this could had added to the seats. When new the seats were not made with the stripes and the designer stated to the now owners he should have thought about adding the stripes like they did. If you watch the video again you can see and hear about it.....

[@loucostabile]

I see TOY MAKERZ, answered your ?

[@INNIMA]

Why so big and heavy? you could only have so much hp thanks to regulation of that era.

[@loucostabile]

Hmmm, not sure why so heavy. Maybe smooth stable ride.

[@markchas4554]

He is boosting his horse power a bit. 400 cubic inches and only 200HP.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Mark Chas, Welcome to mid-1970's emissions improvements :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@phillipmckenzie1407]

Mark Chas More like 185 H.P. But nonetheless love this couple hope to have this degree of devotion at their age...though I'm already fairly close.

[@randsonic]

The Can Am base engine was the W72 Pontiac 400. The W72 was factory rated at 200hp in 1977 in the Can Am but in reality the NHRA said it was 260hp. I think the confusion comes because in the Trans Am the W72 was rated at 220hp while the standard Pontiac 400 which had been rated at 185 was now again rated at 200hp. These were some marketing gyrations...All California Can Am's were fitted with the Olds 402 at 185hp...but make no mistake the W72 was a hoss of an engine.

[@JJF1973]

That’s a spoiler, not a wing. Lol

[@loucostabile]

Hi Rob, Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@scarbourgeoisie]

Proof in the pudding that over time, you will eventually look like the person you marry.

[@imonaslot1]

Austin Powers I was thinking exactly this haha!

[@loucostabile]

That's good news for me, my wife is a Hottie :-)

[@peterhogan9537]

If you dont know Jim Wangers you dont know pontiacs .

[@loucostabile]

Hi Peter, Here's my interview with him on the original GTO, enjoy, Lou kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaWoXmudoJuAfpo

[@phillipmckenzie1407]

Peter Hogan JUDGE!!

[@peterhogan9537]

@@phillipmckenzie1407 you got that right.

[@TheRoguelement]

Lou How long did you say you been a "Car Guy" The ONLY "Car Guy" I know who is exactly the opposite even your terminology is off or not at all ....

[@loucostabile]

Hi Michael, Been awhile now. Lou