Pontiac Can Am

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The Pontiac Can Am is a mid size muscle car based on the LeMans. It was a special edition option package, and was only available in 1977. It was introduced midway through the production year, at the Detroit Auto Show in January 1977 - along with the Sunbird Sport Hatch model. The Can Am was available with two engines, both with the Trans Ams shaker hood scoop as standard equipment. The standard engine was the Pontiac 400 making 200hp (the T/A 6.6 "W72" version, not the base 400, which made 180). The other available engine, (the only one available in California and high-altitude areas) was the Oldsmobile 403 Small Block making 185 hp (138 kW). The Can Am package also included a "duck-tail" spoiler, Cameo White paint and striking orange, red and yellow graphics as well as blacked-out lower panels and window trim. The standard wheel was a color-matched Rally II with chrome trim rings, as shown at right. Many options were available, including the same aluminum "snowflake" wheels offered on the Trans Am, and a steel or glass sunroof. Interior color options were the same as the base LeMans, and included Red, Black and Tan.

The number of Can Ams produced has never been accurately determined, but the number most commonly used is 1,377. According to the Can Am Registry in late 2007, 42 have the Oldsmobile 403 engine. The rest of the cars on the Registry have the Pontiac 400 "T/A 6.6" engine. Buyers can rely on the Pontiac Historical Service (PHS) to determine whether a car is a genuine Can Am, and what options it was delivered with from the factory.

When the Can Am was first introduced to the dealers, Pontiac envisioned producing 2500 units; the response from the buying public was much more than expected and over 5000 orders were submitted. Unfortunately, the mold used to produce the fiberglass rear spoiler broke, and production at Motortown, Inc. (where the LeMans Sport Coupes destined to become Can Ams were sent) ceased. Pontiac upper management, already worried about losing sales of their Grand Prix models (the Can Am and the Grand Prix used the same dashboard and console, so a sale of a Can Am was seen as a loss of a sale of a Grand Prix by some senior Pontiac executives), decided to scrap the project after approximately one half year of production.

There have been some pervasive myths or urban legends regarding the Can Am. It was only available in Cameo White paint, and not any other color from the factory - such as Mandarin Orange or Carousel Red. This rumor continues, despite the facts being well documented via discussions with Jim Wangers, the motivating force behind Motortown. Performance tests back in 1977 were also confusing. Road tests commonly quoted the Can Am as having a 180 hp (130 kW) Pontiac 400, along with a 2.41 rear gear ratio. This was a combination never offered to the public. When built with the Pontiac 400, the Can Am came with the the three speed automatic TH400 and 3.08 rear gears. When built with the Olds 403 engine, the Can Am came with the three speed automatic TH350 and 2.41 rear gears. There were no four speed Can Ams produced. However, one Can Am has been restored and modified with a conversion to a Super T10 manual transmission using all-GM factory parts, from various years of the 73-77 GM A-body.

Performance tests from 1977 estimated 0-60 mph time for the Can Am with the Pontiac engine at about 10 seconds flat, about the same as the previous year's LeMans with the 455, and a 1/4 mile time of approximately 17 seconds. However, the Pontiac 400 is an excellent base for tuning and rebuilding for higher performance. Simple changes, such as a switch to a 3.42 rear gearset, dual exhaust, an "068" grind cam and an earlier Pontiac intake manifold will make a significant improvement in performance for very little money.

The Can Ams pictured above were photographed toward the end of the 30th Anniversary Can Am Reunion held at the 2007 Pontiac Nationals at Norwalk, Ohio. They appear completely stock, save for modern tires.