The vehicle falls under the category of “major score”!

Attending classic car shows and parts swap meets is one of the pure joys of the classic car hobby. One gets to meet the most fascinating people with so many life stories.  I get a chance to browse a huge range of vehicles and rummage through an endless sea of automotive parts where one just might find that last missing element for a classic car build.

April 24, 2026, was no exception as the long-running Pate Swap Meet (https://www.pateswapmeet.com/) was being held out at the Texas Motor Speedway. Trying to describe this spectacle takes a big imagination simply because it is ginormous. It takes up the entire West side parking area of the whole racetrack. It is miles and miles and miles of vendors, car sellers, and parts hawkers who want to unload treasured goods to eager buyers. I had been out to Pate several years ago, and this year decided to make a return visit.

After about 10 minutes of walking from the remote parking, I noticed a rather peculiar scene. What seemed to be several healthy, able-bodied men, I was perplexed to see that they were all riding around on scooters. I thought to myself, “Why are these people running around on scooters?”  As I kept walking and walking and walking to the front gate and then scanned the horizon to see endless rows of vendors, I quickly realized people get scooters because they get tired!

I like to walk these events because I don’t want to miss a thing and started scrolling down the first aisle. I had no intention of making a major purchase, I simply wanted to find a few choice vintage gas station and auto memorabilia signs to decorate my workshop. But after about 20 minutes, lo and behold, it was automotive nirvana from the 1970s.

Before my eyes was a very rough Trans Am with t-tops that perhaps might be… the choice ride of fans of the movie “Smokey and the Bandit”.

I am talking about a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am. After walking around the car and examining the information posted on the passenger window, it readily appeared that this was the real deal. A 1977, special edition, Y-82 option code car. I quickly verified that it came with Hurst T tops, and because the current owner had reached out to the Pontiac Historical Society (PHS) to validate the VIN and options, it was exactly what I was looking for. After talking with the very nice owner, who had two other Trans Ams in his collection, and simply needed to unload a third, he explained to me the car was slated to be restored but unfortunately, he just simply did not have the time to get to it and wanted to share it with someone else.

I became more enamored with the car and gave it a close inspection. While the paint and interior were rough, it was a solid car with clean rockers and frame. The paint code was correct, but for some reason, someone had sprayed a dark blue over the Starlight Black paint.  The engine started, and the car would roll under its own power. It was a fully optioned car with power windows, power door locks, power steering, disc brakes… the list went on.

Since I had just arrived at the event, I took down the owner’s number and walked on to explore more rows of oddities, misc. parts and more.   After about 10 minutes of browsing, it happened.  A mysterious tug at my “car heart” began to literally redirect my feet in the reverse direction.  I quickly hunted down the right row and started chatting with the owner once more.

As I was about to close negotiations to buy the car, a Dallas area celebrity popped onto the scene.  It was Richard Rawlings of Gas Monkey Garage fame.  His entourage was in tow, filming segments for his new YouTube channel.   He came across the car, and I quickly thought, “Oh heck no… this guy walks around with several grand in his pocket.  Am I gonna get outbid and lose the deal?” 

Richard glanced at the car and walked closer.  I’m holding my breath.  He began to quiz the owner: “This is a 77, right?  Y82 car?  Hurst T-tops?  Hmm, it’s got all the right stuff.”  He paused, walked around the car, then surmised, “Yeah, a good project, but it’d take 50+ days for my shop to knock it out, and I only give ‘em 35, ha, so I’m gonna pass.”

That’s when I could exhale again.  After a quick snapshot, Richard was off, and I quickly finalized a price.  The seller would even deliver to my house.

The car is currently in clean-up mode, and I’m conducting an initial parts list for a restoration.   I can’t wait to complete it and cruise down the Interstate.