Welcome to our Trans-Am Project called, "Eleanor". She is a '77 Buccaneer Red Trans-Am with black leather interior, which are the same specs as my first '77 Trans-Am.

The section contains, a little history on our project, a few fun things about the red '77 Trans-Am, and photos of our most recent progress.

To see the complete photo history and read some more of "Eleanor's" history you can click the Timeline link.

Mason and I the day we got her home.

I have dreamed of owning another '77 Trans-Am for over a decade now. If you have seen Gone in 60 Seconds, she has been my unicorn, hence her name, "Eleanor".

"It is a dream project to be able to build a car with my two boys!" - Hooper 

"Eleanor" is being restored for my son, Mason.

The greatest thing about our project is this smile!

At the bottom of this page you can view photos of our most recent progress and link to a photo library that details our project from the start.

But First A Little History...

I won't take you all the way back, but I will bring up to speed in a hurry.

After the SCC forum had been up for a little while, a guy by the call sign of "Raven" joined up. He has 2 beautiful birds, a restored '78 Red T-Top with a 455 and a '77 S.E.

"Raven" and I started to talk and I soon realized that I had followed the restoration of his '78 Red T-Top car while I was recovering from a car wreck. This was long before we had even talked and before SCC was founded. I figure I will chalk that one up to destiny.

"Raven" came across another 1977 Trans-Am. He quickly sent me a photo and then a CD full of photos once he uncovered the years of stuff surrounding her. 

Can you spot the Trans-Am in this picture?

You will get to know her as..."Eleanor". She had been sitting in this garage for 12 years just waiting to be discovered.

"Eleanor" Made Pontiac Enthusiast in 2009

I was catching up on my forum reading and while I was reading a post about someone's '75 being in Pontiac Enthusiast and as I read more "Milly" buzzed in to let me know that "Eleanor" was in there too. 

Pages 78-79 Photo #10  

Below is a close up of her photo. I was shocked to see it. There was our baby!  

This photo was taken at the 2008 Nationals.

I hope Pontiac Enthusiast follows the rest of "Eleanor's" story.

Most Recent Progress 1-02-10 

Mason and "Eleanor" ended 2009 with a new set of YearOne 15" x 8" Silver Snowflakes and started 2010 with a trip to a fellow builder for metal repairs. Jim is a master at his craft and we know she is in good hands!

We added a few items to our engine rebuild list as well by scoring a factory 1977 800 cfm carburetor and a spare Edelbrock Performer intake.

You can click on each photo to enlarge it and read the caption. You can select individual photos or click the first one and simply scroll to the next.

On each photo, click the "+" to get a closer look!

"Eleanor's" Timeline

To see the complete photo history and read some more of "Eleanor's" history you can click the Timeline link or the photo below.

We will continue to update her restoration for you.

Great Find at a Car Show!

Here is a book that I recently purchased at the Houston AutoRama show.

We had a great time and I look forward to going back each year!

If you know of other great Trans-Am books, please let us know by emailing us.

Newsflash! 

Mason and "Eleanor" got a new set of YearOne 15" x 8" Snowflake rims, caps and lugs, as well as some new floors and rocker panels for Christmas.

Getting "Ahead" on a Project...

I located a nice set of 1975 6X heads along with an Edelbrock intake for the 400 HP 400 ci engine that will power "Eleanor".

Lady in Red

The Buccaneer red Trans-Am has been one of my favorites ever since I saw the movie Hooper.

She is an eye catching beauty that was and still is featured in ads, TV shows, and movies.

Magazine Ad

TV Shows 

TV shows such as CHiPs, That '70s Show, and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles to name a few.

CHiPs featured above.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles featured above.

Movies

Movies such as The Cannonball Run, Pirates of Silicon Valley, Running with Scissors, Hooper, and Old School to name a few. 

Cannon Ball Run

Running with Scissors

Hooper was as big an inspiration to me as Smokey and the Bandit was so, "Eleanor" will be built to look like that car all the way down to the race motor.

Click the bottom photo above to view a clip of the famous ending scene.
 

To me Old School has one of the best Trans-Am lines ever!

Wife: "Wow, that’s really loud."

Frank the Tank: "Yeah, thanks. Took the restrictor plate off, give the Red Dragon a little more juice. But let’s keep that on the down low, it’s not exactly street legal."

More Images

If you know of more examples of Buccaneer red Trans-Ams please email me some pictures to hooper@screaminchickenchasers.