Thinking about a 77 Trans Am restoration

[Vaux]

I have never done anything like this before, but I am looking for a project and I think this would be fun... I think.

So I was always in love with the Bandit Trans Am, yeah you know the one. It was my childhood favorite car (that and the General Lee) and I thought how awesome it would be if I had one. So I was surfing craigslist and found a few that need work for around 5 grand or less. So I want to turn something like this:

Or this:

Into This:

Well, it doesn't have to be perfect and exact like that one, but similar.

I don't know much about cars, but I want to learn. I want to try to do a lot of it myself, but of course the majority of the body work and paint and parts I would have to purchase. I'm not looking for a show car, but more of a daily driver type and something to have fun with when I am not driving my Camaro. So my questions are, has anyone here done something like this before? How hard is it? How much will it cost you think? I'm interested in hearing some peoples thoughts that have done something like this before. I think I would probably be biting off more than I can chew with it, but right now it sure sounds like it would be fun.

 

[Jerem]

Putting that bird decal on the hood is a mother.

 

[Vaux]

Yeah the more I think about this, the more I think that I would probably be better off finding one that is in better shape for around 8 to 10 thousand, it would be much less work.

 

[boomerang]

You live in Minnesota? Rust is the enemy and you'll never know how bad the problem is until you start tearing into it. Imagine finding you've got to replace floor and trunk pans. If you want to do what you want to do, I would suggest having a shop lined up that can get it up in the air to give it a good looking over before making the purchase.

 

[cbrsurfr]

Spend a little more an a nicer example. Otherwise you'll have 50K in a 30K car.

 

[twinrider1]

How much of this is you wanting to learn how to wrench/do bodywork versus wanting that particular car in good shape?
If it's about the skills, start off with something less expensive/desirable.
If it's about that car, and it is a cool car, I'd just buy something already done.

Whichever car you buy, research other restorations first. Often there are certain parts that are very hard to find. Like on that Trans Am, I think the wheels are pretty particular depending on the year and correct pieces are $$$$.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Those are rust buckets. Finding one with a decent body will be your biggest challenge.

I dig them too though. Good luck!

My favorites were the early 70s models with the big block motor.