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The Bandit Edition
We get this question all the time. So, what year did Pontiac make the Bandit Edition Trans Am? Most people will tell you it was the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am SE because the original cars used to make the 1977 feature film Smokey and the Bandit where dressed up to look like ’77 TA’s. Others will tell you that the 1980 Pontiac Trans Am was the Bandit Edition because that was the car used in the remake Smokey and the Bandit II. The correct answer is: None of the above. Pontiac never officially produced a Bandit Edition. The term is just used as a pop culture reference to a black Trans Am with a Gold “Firebird” symbol on the hood.
For the purist, however, there is a protocol for what can be considered a “Bandit Trans Am.” This 1977 Pontiac Trans Am just listed in our Trans Am Section is worthy of the title. It was posted for sale this week by Classic Car Liquidators out of Sherman, Texas. The Pontiac 400 V8 has a nice throaty rumble through the long tube headers, dual exhaust and aluminum intake. The factory shaker hood adds a classic muscle car attitude, while the 15-inch Trans Am gold wheels, front and rear spoilers, and T/A badging round out the unmistakable styling. Inside the black interior you’ll find bucket seats and a console. It sports power windows and air conditioning. They say the car turns heads and delivers an unbelievable driving experience.
Starting in 1976, the “Screamin Chicken” decal was adhered to the hood of every Special Edition, Anniversary and Pace Car version Trans Am. (Prior to that it was an option you could order.) That held true through the 1981 model year. The iconic black Trans Am with the gold Screamin’ Chicken on the hood was a design Pontiac used for several years just because of the popularity of the Bandit movie. There is some speculation as to what the Bird was really supposed to be. Stories range from an eagle to a Phoenix. The Hopi Indian legend of the Firebird was the inspiration for the idea, according to Bill Porter, Pontiac’s Chief of Design. But right from the begining, Pontiac’s iconic black with gold Bird was the most popular look. It is the one they used in the Smokey and the Bandit movie, making it the most recognized of all the Trans Am’s ever produced.
Click here to watch a walk-around video and hear it run. Then check out all the photos on the ad page. The underneath looks almost as good as the top.
New Listings
New Listings Page
Click this link to see all of today’s new listings.
Linked above are the New Listings to the Cars-On-Line.com website. The page is updated in real time.
Classic Car News This Week
Market Down 16 Percent
According to Hagerty, the biggest collector car insurance company worldwide, the collector car market is down 16 percent since April of 2024. We thought we would check out what that means to our readers. As an example, in 2022 a 1969 Camaro Z/28 with DZ302 engine would have had an average value of about $150,000. Those numbers trended down in 2023 and then in the first part of 2024 were on an upward trend until April of this year. That seems to be where the market started to crumble on Z28’s. Current valuation on ’69 Z28’s comes in around $120,000 for No. 2 condition show cars and $81,000 for No. 3 condition drivers, the kind you might see at your local car shows. We found this Daytona Yellow 1969 Camaro Z/28 in our Camaro Section today. It is being offered for sale at Classic Car Liquidators out of Sherman, Texas. They are asking $84,999. That is a deep discount to the market value because it is a 4-speed. Our readers will note that 4-speed cars get about 20 percent more at auction. That would put this Z/28 at $100,000 in value. So, even with the market down, this Z/28 is a bargain.
Inspect Before You Buy
We were asked to do a pre-purchase inspection report on a 1955 MG TD Roadster. The little red British import car was in nice shape compared to many we see. The inspector rated it as a Class 3 condition car. You can read the report here. So our client was able to make a more enlightened decision about purchasing the TD. Classic TD’s peaked in price back about 25 years ago when they were getting six figure prices for No. 1 condition cars. That was before the internet. This one got a high No. 3 condition rating. Read the report to get the appraisal value.
Buying a collector car without a pre-purchase inspection could be a mistake. The difference between a No. 3 condition daily driver and a No. 2 condition near show car can be a matter of tens of $1,000’s of dollars. You can find out more about pre-purchase inspections here at this link.
This Weeks Featured Stories
1957 Eldorado Biarritz
This might be the best deal on a 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible in the world. These special edition classic Cadillacs are in high demand among collectors. And the Eldorado Biarritz convertibles are hard to find. This one is being offered for sale at Unique Classic Cars in Mankato, Minnesota. They just got this one in. It has the Castile Maroon metallic finish with a maroon top. The Cadillac fins and wheel covers help accessorize the classic look. It is amazing to find one for sale for under six figures. You can have it inspected before you buy. But hurry. It will not last long.
Cosworth Vega
Although it was one of the most amazing cars to come out of Detroit in the mid-70s, the Chevrolet Cosworth Vega is barely a footnote in history today. You don’t see them very often. But here is a 1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega that has come up for sale at Flemings Ultimate Garage in Rockville, Maryland. Too advanced for its time, it was little understood by new car buyers in 1975 and 1976. Chevrolet was looking to put performance into smaller packages back then. They turned to Cosworth, a legendary race car builder in England. Cosworth had the idea of using a twin cam racing head in the 2.3 liter Vega engine. A factory aluminum 16-valve electronic fuel injected engine from Cosworth opened the eyes of many a young racing fan when the Cosworth Vega was announced by Chevrolet. Flemings tells us this one is a “survivor” original car that still has just 12,597 miles from new. And they have documents to verify.
2023 Hummer EV
The equipment built into this 2023 GMC Hummer EV makes it a benchmark vehicle for the ages. It is being offered for sale by Online Auto Connection in West Seneca, New York. First of all, the removable Infinity roof creates an open-air experience that few EV’s enjoy. The Infinity roof has transparent sky panels when attached. The Hummer is All-Wheel-Drive and all electric. It has the most powerful EV 3X battery capable of over 300 miles before it needs a recharge. They say it provides up to 1,000 horsepower and is really quick for a big truck. And, yes, it does have the “crab-walk” function. For an all-wheel-drive vehicle with this much power, they say it also provides a soft suspension with GM’s chassis tuning craftsmanship. It has what is called Ultravision with front and rear underbody cameras. It also has power folding heated mirrors, auto dim LED headlights and rocker protectors with assist steps. The list of extras is extensive.
Auctions
Have you been following the auction inventory for the upcoming GAA Classic Fall Auction next month in Greensboro, North Carolina. Held at the Palace in Greensboro, November 7-9, 2024, the GAA Classic auctions are among the best in the country. They have been adding some of their top auction vehicles to our COL listings to promote the three-day event. What we like about them is that you can still buy a really nice collector car here at a reasonable price. Be sure to check out their inventory at the link below. Here are some of the recent additions to their inventory.
1957 Pontiac Star Chief
This rare classic 1957 Pontiac Star Chief Convertible was treated to a complete frame-off rotisserie restoration, according to the auction report. It came with its 347 ci V8 engine with a Tripower as well as factory air conditioning. The Raven Black over White tutone paint was redone to original specification. Everything on the body was restored or replaced including all the chrome. The “all-new” interior was duplicated to exact factory spec, including leather upholstery and new wiring. Note the whitewall tires and OEM spinner hubcaps. It has the 6-way power seat, Wonder Bar radio, power antenna, power steering and new power brakes, with new lines, shocks and springs.
1968 Shelby GT500 KR
A Lime Gold 1968 Shelby GT500 KR Converitble will be sold on Saturday, November 9, at the GAA Classic Fall Auction in Greensboro. Carroll Shelby said the King of the Road (KR) edition Shelby Mustangs were his favorites. This one was a very rare “Home Office Special Order Build With Production Number 3054.” They say it is in MCA Show Quality condition. It is one of only 40 KR convertibles to be produced with a 4-speed manual transmission in the color Lime Gold with these options. It comes documented by a window sticker, Certificate of Authenticity from Shelby and the Kevin Marti Report. The 4-speeds came with a staggered shock setup as some race cars were so equipped. Included in the sale are restoration photos and receipts.
2011 Ford “Black Mamba”
There is always a good selection of specialty trucks for sale at the GAA Classic Fall Auction. This lowered custom 2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty Extended Cab is the perfect ride for a collector who wants to be noticed. It has unique body panels and rear hinged doors (suicide doors). The work was done by Hulst Customs in Oregon. It has custom built 10-lug 26” American Force wheels, a hard shell bed cover, carpeted bed liner, heated and cooled 10-way power adjustable front bucket seats. It was built for SEMA in Las Vegas in 2011. The suspension lowering kit is by DJM. Finished in deep black paint, it has a white Katzkin leather interior. They say it has only 7k original miles.
For more buyer inspiration you’ll want to look over the fresh listings from the GAA inventory on our site today. Click here to see the list.
Video Ads
1955 Chevy Bel Air
What makes a top quality Tri-Five? Tony Fleming does a great job explaining how a Tri-Five should be judged. From the paint to the rechroming, Tony gives you a rundown on what to look for when buying a top quality 1955 Chevy Bel Air 2-Door Hardtop restomod. Listen to his explanation of th type of radiator needed for today’s restormods, and what type of power steering unit is required. Click the video window above to get a restomod education.
Have you seen our CarsOnLine.tv Classic Car Video marketplace? To feature your car on CarsOnLine.tv, just add a video to your Cars-On-Line.com ad. Video ads have become the most important development for internet sellers. Just upload your video to YouTube and we’ll embed your video in your Cars On Line.com ad at no extra charge.
Here are a few more ads with interesting videos:
Collector Cars with Low Miles
1972 Chevelle SS
How does this happen? Once again we have a classic muscle car listed with incredibly low miles. Here is a 1972 Chevelle SS which was listed by a private party seller from Wisconsin. He says it has only 21,200 miles from new. This car is over 50 years old and still has only break-in miles on it. He says it has the original SBC motor, a 4-speed and beautiful original paint. He also has the original Protect-O-Plate and build sheet. The opportunity exists to get a highly desirable Chevelle with low miles.
Here are more recent Low Miles additions:
1969 Lincoln Continental, Orlando Classic Cars, FL, 9,000 miles
1972 Mercury Marquis Brougham, Orlando Classic Cars, 15,000 miles
1993 Dodge Dynasty LE, Classic Auto Mall, PA, 7,171 actual miles
1978 Ford Thunderbird Diamond Jubilee, Orlando Classic Cars, 22k miles
2003 Corvette 50th Anniv Convt, Unique Classic Cars, MN, 20k actual miles
2003 Ford Thunderbird, Classic Auto Mall, PA, 29k actual miles
2006 Dodge Magnum SRT-8, Carbuffs, CA, 36k miles
You’ll find these and hundreds more in our Low Miles Section online now.
Project Vehicles for Restoration
1950 Jaguar Mark V
If you’ve always wanted to restomod a distinquished looking classic here is your chance. This is a 1950 Jaguar Mark V classic luxury car with patina. The engine and transmission are currently out of the car. The private party seller says the body is in great shape for its age. Furthermore, he says the upholstery is in “great shape”, headliner looks original. Be sure to have it inspected before you buy just to make sure what parts are there, or might be needed. For instance, he says he has the engine and transmission, but not all the parts to put it back together.
The following are just some of the cars available in the Project Car Section this week:
1964 Jaguar XKE Series 1 Roadster, Beverly Hills Car Club, CA
1960 Mercury Comet, Country Classic Cars, IL
1960 Deutsch Bonnet, Gullwing Motor Cars, NY
1939 Panhard Et Levassor X82, Gullwing Motor Cars, NY
1951 Lancia Aurelia B50, Gullwing Motor Cars, NY
1974 Alfa Romeo GTV, Beverly Hills Car Club, CA
Find hundreds of project cars for sale in the Project Car Section.
Price Reduced
1969 GTO Convertible
A muscle car collector from Ontario, Canada listed his Matador red 1969 Pontiac GTO Convertible on the Cars-On-Line website some time ago. He only had one photo to give us, since the car was in his storage area at the time of the listing. That hurt his chances of selling. But don’t be fooled. We think this might be a “diamond in the rough..” There are so many newly replaced parts on this car, including a new top. This is the version with hideaway headlights. He was asking $75,000 in U.S. currency. But just yesterday he lowered the price to $60,000. Hurry on this one!
Here are more vehicles with price cuts this week:
| Vehicle For Sale | Original Price | Reduced To |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 Chevrolet Fleetline | $44,000 | $39,000 |
| 1967 Dodge Dart GT Convt | $25,000 | $20,000 |
| 1981 Chrysler Sinatra Imperial | $18,900 | $14,000 |
| 1985 Chevrolet S10 Blazer | $10,500 | $8,700 |
Pro Touring and Resto Mods
Street Rods
See more great deals in the Street Rod Section, or watch the the New Listings page.
Exotic Car Section
Rock n Roll 50’s
Find more in the Off Road Section on Cars On Line.com. There’s even more on the New Listings page!
Corvettes
Specialty SUVs
Find more in the SUV Section online. You can see all the fresh ads on the New Listings page.
Fresh ads appear first on the New Listings page.
Fresh ads appear first on the New Listings page.
You can see all the fresh ads as they are listed each day on the New Listings page.
You can see all the fresh ads as they are listed each day on the New Listings page.
Vintage Motorcars
You can see all the fresh ads as they are listed each day on the New Listings page.
Chevy Muscle
More
Find more on the New Listings page of our website.
Ford Muscle Cars
Find more in the Ford Muscle Car Section, or watch the fresh listings as they appear on the New Listings page.
Check the Mercury Muscle Car Section. Or you can see all the fresh ads as they are listed daily on the New Listings page.
Check the Pontiac Performace Section for more. See all the fresh ads listed on the New Listings page.
Check out the Buick Muscle Car Section. More listed daily on the New Listings page.
Station Wagons
Late Model Sports Cars
You’ll find many more modern sports cars listed by year in the Late Model Sports Car Section.
Late Model Trucks
Scroll through the Trucks & 4x4s Section for more. The newest ads come in on the New Listings page.
You’ll see more for sale in the Customs Section and on the New Listings page.
Convertibles
Replicas
Volkswagen
Imported Sports Cars
You’ll see more for sale in the Pro Street Section, or on the Cars On Line New Listings page.
See more for sale in the Truck Section or watch for fresh listings on the New Listings page.
See more great deals in the Luxury Section or on the New Listings page.
See more great deals in the Mustang Section and on the New Listings page.
Muscle Car Clones
1965 Mustang GT350
Here is a 1965 Mustang Fastback with added GT350 badging and decals to make it look like an authentic Shelby. It has Wimbeldon White paint with Guardsman Blue striping. It is being offered for sale this week by Cody’s Classic Cars in Stanley, Wisconsin. They say the 289 A code motor produces 225 hp and is fed by an Edelbrock 4-barrel. In the ad they say it runs and drives “excellent.” The dash has aftermarket gauges, and it comes with an aluminum radiator, Cobra GT wheels and power steering. It was an older restoration, but they believe it has only 11,767 miles on the redo.
The following are more recently listed Muscle Car Clones:
1972 Buick Convertible, Streetside Charlotte, GA 455 Stage 1 tribute
1970 Chevelle 454, Super Sport Classics, FL, SS tribute
1972 Dodge Challenger, Unique Classic Cars, MN, RT tribute
1970 Chevelle, Classic Auto Mall, PA, SS tribute
Make sure you watch our New Listings page for daily updates. There’s even more in the Muscle Car Section.
Deals of the Day
1975 Cosworth Vega
It is interesting the way things developed this week. The same week we have a 1975 Cosworth Vega in our Featured section of the newsletter, we also have one in our DEAL of the DAY. Imagine that. Here is the 1975 Chevy Cosworth Vega which was just listed by the Classic Auto Mall in Morgantown, Pennsylvania. They tell us it is rust free and a true survivor. It has the Cosworth Twin overhead cam 2.0 Liter 4 cylinder with stainless fuel injectors and aluminum headers. That was power like a big block should have. It was harnessed by a 4-speed manual transmission and 10-bolt 3.73 positraction. This historic car is being offered for a very low price. It will be our DEAL of the DAY on Saturday. The asking price is $19,000.
1925 Ford Model T
They say this 1925 Ford Model T Touring car is “parade ready.” It is being offered for sale by Cody’s Classic Cars in Stanley, Wisconsin this week. They tell us it is a nice older restoration in very nice condition throughout. This is a 3-door Touring car. You can see in the ad photos that there is a third door on the passenger side for rear seating. They say it has electric start, and runs and drives well. The engine is a 177 ci 4 cylinder. It was a North Dakota car with refurbished upholstery in “excellent shape.” It also has the original lanterns. It comes with its own custom made enclosed car trailer for transporting. Click here to watch an amazing walk-around video and hear it run. It is nearly 100 years old! It will be our DEAL of the DAY on Sunday. They are asking $14,900.
1957 Ford Thunderbird
Newsletter readers know what we always say about first generation Ford Thunderbirds. “If you can find an early Bird for under $30,000 … buy it.” That has been our slogan for many years. And today we have one just listed by Cruisin’ Classics in Columbus, Ohio. They say their 1957 Ford Thunderbird “Baby Bird” comes with its original sales invoice, bill of sale, service policy and dealer packet. It has a known history. It has its original 312 ci V8, and 4-barrel carburetor. The red exterior is an original color and it has a white hardtop to go with. The soft top is black. They do disclose that the paint is only “driver quality.” The transmission is a 3-speed manual with overdrive. Click here to watch a walk-around video. It will be our DEAL of the DAY on Monday. The asking price is $26,995.
1955 Chrysler New Yorker
At a time when Chrysler was making some of the best cars in America, along came the 1955 Chrysler New Yorker, putting style and grace into the forward look of Virgil Exner. This was a car that wealthy Americans could aspire to. This week a sharp looking ’55 in Coral finish was listed for sale by Classic Car Liquidators out of Sherman, Texas. Just look at the photos on the ad page. What beautiful styling. It has the Chrysler Firepower 331 ci Hemi engine and a 3-speed automatic transmission. The photos show a car that is clean inside and out. It has both power steering and power brakes. It even breathes through dual exhaust. Click here to view a walk-around video and hear it run. It will be our DEAL of the DAY on Tuesday. The price is $24,999.
1966 Mustang Pro Street
A Burnt Orange 1966 Mustang Pro Street appeared in our listings this week. From the Thunderbolt hood to the Weld wheels, you know there is something special about this build. Inside it is tubbed and caged with no back seat. The steering wheel has a Bosch tach on the column, fronting an updated Mustang dash that now has red metallic paint framing around more Bosch gauges and the standard horizontal speedometer. A B&M floor mounted shifter and fuel cell and battery in the trunk give you an idea of where this car has been. Under the hood is a 347 ci V8 stroker motor pulling a 5-speed transmission. As you can imagine, there is more than a little horsepower on tap here. It will be our DEAL of the DAY on Wednesday. The asking price is $13,000. That’s a lotta’ car for the money.
1966 Ford F100
Built in Canada for the Canadian market, this 1966 Ford F100 Custom Cab is an older restoration which presents very well. It was just posted for sale by Cody’s Classic Cars in Wisconsin. They say the original 6 cyliinder engine has been replaced with a 352 ci V8. It has automatic transmission. According to the ad copy it runs and drives “great.” The interior was upgraded with bucket seats and a console. Auxiliary gauges are mounted below the dash. Click this link to watch a walk-around video and hear it run. Cody’s notes that there are some scratches and blemishes in the body. It is a well rounded driver quality truck for making coffer runs. It will be our DEAL of the DAY late next week. They are asking $12,900.
1972 Buick Electra
Country Classic Cars in Staunton, Illinois has a 1972 Buick Electra for sale this week that looks pretty straight and clean in the photos. It may have a few minor flaws in the body, but that big Electra really appears a solid ride. Powered by a 455 ci V8 engine, it has the automatic transmission with power brakes and power steering. power windows, power locks, cruise control, and air conditioning. They say this single family owned car is a true survivor and in all original condition. Look at the photos on the ad page. I think you’ll agree this car is a luxury car worth taking a look at. You should have it inspected before you buy. But from the photos this one should be worth checking out. It will be our DEAL of the DAY late next week. Their asking price is $15,500.
Often there are more cars that deserve to be in the DEAL of the DAY than we can schedule for our front page feature. Here is a list of cars that just missed the cut for the DEAL of the DAY this week. Remember, you saw them here first:
| 1980 Corvette T-Tops | $16,900 | Stanley, WI |
| 1996 Nissan 300ZX | $10,000 | Morgantown, PA |
| 1980 Mercedes-Benz 450SL | $12,750 | Los Angeles, CA |
| 1990 Ford Bronco II XLT | $14,900 | Mundelein, IL |
| 1997 Jeep Cherokee | $18,900 | Holland, MI |
| 1998 Mercedes-Benz 500SL | $20,000 | Morgantown, PA |
| 1986 Mercedes-Benz 560SL | $19,900 | Morgantown, PA |
| 1996 Buick Roadmaster | $12,000 | Morgantown, PA |
| 1982 Mercedes 300 D | $11,900 | Rowley, MA |
| 1978 Cadillac Seville | $19,995 | Charlotte, NC |
| 1987 Nissan 300ZX | $18,500 | Arlington, TX |
Cars for under $10,000:
| 1985 Chevy S10 Blazer | $8,700 | Tullahoma, TN |
| 1994 Corvette Coupe | $7,995 | Pewaukee, WI |
Cars On Line features vehicles here based on their listed price. We are not endorsing these vehicles. We have not inspected or appraised any of the above vehicles. We are only pointing out that these vehicles are priced at a discount to the market. When you buy from a private party the purchase is always “as is” and “where is.” There is no warranty implied or given on any of these cars by Cars On Line. It is your responsibility as the buyer to protect yourself from misrepresentation of any car advertised. We strongly recommend having a vehicle inspected as one precaution before you buy. Click here to purchase a detailed vehicle inspection.
NEW Free Parts Ads Section
… NOW FEATURING PHOTO ADS FOR PARTS
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You can run Parts For Sale ads for FREE! Check it out. Just click go to the Parts Section. Once there, look for the FREE Plan, and click “Get Started Now.” We also have ad plans for vendors at a very modest cost.
Thank You
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DISCLAIMER: Readers should be aware that the editiorial comments made in this newsletter are strictly the opinion of the author, Larry Kolb. Mr. Kolb offers his editorial opinion of the marketability of these cars based on information provided by the sellers. Neither Mr. Kolb nor Cars On Line.com has seen or inspected these cars. These comments are not to be mistaken for advertising, nor should they be considered an endorsement of any product. They are strictly editorial in nature. Neither Mr. Kolb nor Cars On Line will profit from the sale of any of the cars mentioned here. No warranty of these vehicles is implied or given. It is strongly recommended that anyone interested in the purchase of these vehicles should have them inspected before the sale.
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