The search for a long-lost family Trans Am has uncovered some incredible stories and a VIN that helps tell part of the car’s history.
According to the owner’s son, his father ordered the car new and wasn’t interested in a stock Trans Am. He reportedly sat down with a veteran salesman at Beaman Pontiac and checked every performance-oriented option available. The car’s VIN, 2W87Z7N241666, identifies it as a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am, built at the Norwood, Ohio assembly plant and originally equipped with Pontiac’s desirable 400 cubic-inch (6.6-liter) V8 engine.
The modifications started almost immediately. His father recalled that the car came with true dual exhaust and dual catalytic converters. He later gutted the catalytic converters and added an Offenhauser high-rise intake manifold along with a double-pumper carburetor, fed by two large chrome fuel lines. He also personalized the interior with an aftermarket shift knob and one of the popular chrome barefoot gas pedal covers that were common performance accessories during the era.
The car saw plenty of use. He remembered having the front brake pads replaced under warranty after only 900 miles because, as his son puts it, he “raced the crap out of it.” There was also a professionally repaired accident near the driver’s-side rear quarter panel after another vehicle struck the car.
One story that always stood out involved a nighttime interstate collision. Coming around a curve, he encountered a family stopped on the roadway and was only able to slow the Trans Am to roughly 10 to 15 mph before impact. Despite the collision, he was amazed at how little damage the front end sustained.
Perhaps the most legendary tale involved a speeding ticket. He claimed that he and his wife were once clocked at 147 mph on Interstate 24 outside Nashville, allegedly triggering a law enforcement response that included roadblocks. According to the family, he always maintained that he had no idea he was traveling that fast and was “just cruising.” His former wife, despite their divorce, has consistently backed up the story, although the actual ticket has long since disappeared.
Whether every detail can be documented or not, the stories paint a vivid picture of a heavily modified, hard-driven 1977 Trans Am that left a lasting impression on the family. For anyone who may recognize VIN 2W87Z7N241666, it was originally a Pontiac-built 400-powered Trans Am, assembled in Norwood, Ohio, and it carries a history that its family would love to reconnect with today. Send an email to us at contact@backfirenews.com if you have any tips!
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