Lot 26059: 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans AM Special Edition

Short answer: Not quite, but really close!

This 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Y84 Special Edition is the spiritual successor to the car from Smokey and the Bandit, but it’s not the exact same year/spec that appeared in the film.

Here’s what the movie car actually was:

• 1977 Pontiac Trans Am Y82 Special Edition (not the Y84 code, which came in 1979)
• 400ci Pontiac V8 (sometimes called “T/A 6.6”) — the movie famously had to dub in more aggressive engine sounds since the actual 400’s tone wasn’t “intimidating enough” for Hollywood!
• The production actually used 1976 models repainted and fitted with 1977 front ends

And here’s what you’ve got:

• 1979 model year — same era, but Pontiac’s final year for this body style before the big 1982 redesign
• Y84 Special Edition code — this replaced the Y82 for 1979-1981
• 403ci Oldsmobile V8 — still powerful, but Pontiac’s own 400 was no longer available
• Updated front and rear fascias compared to the ‘77

The verdict? This is essentially the last evolution of the “Smokey and the Bandit” car — same iconic black-with-gold Special Edition package, same unmistakable attitude, and a car that collectors absolutely treasure as the final installment of that legendary run. If you want the exact movie spec, you’d need a 1977 Y82 with the Pontiac 400, but this Y84 — with its black interior, black paint, and T-tops — is absolutely what Pontiac Trans Am dreams are made of.

Want me to help you find some 1977 Y82 Special Editions for comparison?