A Father's Dream Project!

Welcome to one of the most in-depth personal restoration stories on the internet today!

Thank you for joining my youngest son, Mason and I on our Father and Son restoration journey of his '77 W72 Buccaneer Red Trans-Am we like to call "Eleanor".

Mason and I the day we got her home January 3, 2009.

We are entering our 3^rd year of this project. There are photos from beginning to present day in the galleries below.

Progress Gallery

We have been working like crazy over the past 2 years and we would like to share some photos with you.

Click on the gallery name to view it.

Gallery 1 - Year 3

Gallery 2 - Year 2

Gallery 3 - Year 1

"Eleanor" has the same color and interior combination as my first '77 Trans-Am called, "Christine", which is the car that Chasers was founded on.

I have dreamed of finding 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 to be able to build a car for my son!" - Hooper

The greatest thing about our project is this smile!

A Little History...

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

After the Chasers forum (SCC Garage) had been up for a little while, a guy by the call sign of "Raven" joined up. He had two beautiful birds, a partially restored '78 Red T-Top with a 455 and a untouched original '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 my car wreck. This was long before we had even talked and before Chasers was founded. I figure I will chalk that one up to destiny.

"Raven" came across another '77 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?

She had been sitting in this garage for 12 years just waiting to be discovered.

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.

We have had a blast building this car! It has been some great family time with my boys and valued time with friends!

Current Status

February 2011 

"Eleanor" has been tucked away in storage since August 2010 and will remain there until she can be worked into our shop.

All of the body work is done and the next step is to block her out and paint her.

We now have a '77 400 c.i. motor complete from carburetor down.

Pieces of the Puzzle...

Christmas 2009

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 2009.

6X Heads

I located a nice set of '75 6X heads along with an Edelbrock intake for the 400 c.i. engine that will power "Eleanor".

'77 Carburetor

Here is the '77 800 cfm carburetor  that I located.

Edelbrock Intake

I was also lucky enough to locate a Edelbrock Performer intakes for our 400 c.i. rebuild.

Thank You

"Thanks for visting our project!" - Hooper and Mason

1977 Trans-Am Vintage Ad