photos by: the author
Inspired by the Burt Reynolds Movie, Hooper, Steve Dancer’s Trans Am is Ode to His Childhood
They say that objects we desire as children, often become our obsession when we’re adults. As a hardcore Trans Am fanatic and someone who admits being largely inspired by Smokey and the Bandit as a child, your author was instantly captivated by this example when I first spotted it at the Trans Am Nationals, way back in 2015.
Reeled in by those killer YearOne billet snowflake wheels, and then the paint job, it was a car that I had to know more about. Upon closer inspection, I realized that it wasn’t just your average 2nd-gen with a set of killer wheels and paint, however. After being unable to connect with the owner that weekend at the show, it wouldn’t be until recently when Timeless Muscle was finally able to catch up to the man in questions, Steve Dancer.
Steve’s just your average guy; works a day job, lives in a middle-class suburb and grew up during the height of the late-seventies/early-eighties period where Hollywood was making big money by putting a macho man behind the wheel of macho machines.
The times have changed, but for Steve, it was the 1978 action/comedy Hooper, starring Burt Reynolds that did it for him. He credits Smokey and the Bandit as well, but when that red rocket car T/A jumped the bridge in Hooper, Steve was forever a fan at just seven years-old. He even had a birthday cake with a red Trans Am on it as a kid.
Fast-forward to a decade later, and Steve’s first car would end up being a Buccaneer Red ’77 Trans Am. His sole mode of transportation all through high school, he would later repaint it a shade of Cherry Red Pearl, put some other personal touches on it like aftermarket wheels, a few engine mods and ultimately, a motif that read, “Poor Boy’s Dream.”
It was essentially a way of saying that he put most of his hard-earned money into the car, as so many do.
However, tragedy struck in August of ’95 and somebody had rear-ended his cherished Trans Am at a speed of 60 mph, basically crushing the car beyond any reasonable repair, totaling it out. Steve was “crushed” as well, but he immediately began searching for a replacement.
The replacement to the first car was found in April of ’96, still in the hands of its original owner. Optioned much in the same way as his previous Trans Am; Buccaneer Red, hardtop, black interior, etc., Steve struck up a deal and brought the car home. Looking to pick up where he left off with his previous Trans Am, the new car was sent back out to the paint shop at Jeff’s Garage, where it was sprayed the same Cherry Red Pearl and emblazoned with the “Poor Boy’s Dream” motif.
Like the previous car, it also featured a hand-painted hood, Trans Am fender lettering and the slogan on the trunk lid is hand-painted as well. If you’re walking passed the car at a show, you wouldn’t notice until you look closely at the hood bird’s features, and see the brush strokes — it’s really impressive!
If you’re paying close enough attention, you’ll also note the “502” callout on the Shaker hood scoop — suggesting a big-block Chevy mill under the hood. That’s because under that hood bird, indeed lives BBC power. After going round-and-round with the previous Pontiac engine, Steve elected to throw in the towel and go for big power with the simplicity.
Long predating the current LS-swap trend that we’re seeing now, dropping a ZZ502 under the hood of your F-body was all the rage when Steve did it in 1999. Some purists might groan, but let me tell you as someone who got to experience there car first-hand — it’s certainly worthy of the engine bay of which it sits!
With 502 cubic-inches on the ready under Steve’s right foot, the ZZ502 crate engine has a bit more than the 502 hp it left the GM Performance Parts warehouse with, these days. The oval port GM aluminum heads have been massaged by Hutter Performance and a COMP Cams 227/235 duration, 579/572 lift bump stick with a 110 LSA sits squarely in the block.
Hutter also went through the entire bottom end not too long ago; utilizing a forged crank and .030-overbore pistons, Manley connecting rods and a pump gas-friendly 10.5:1 compression ratio. An aluminum Holley intake manifold and low-restriction air filter sit just below the Shaker scoop.
You’ll also notice a billet March Performance serpentine system, and a Be Cool aluminum radiator with a staggered set of push-pull cooling fans. They’re definitely needed, as the big-inch mill puts out an impressive 608 hp and 647.06 lb-ft of torque on Hutter’s Superflow engine dyno.
Rounding out the rest of the engine modifications include a Moroso oil pan, Chevy Performance 8mm plug wires, MSD distributor, Blaster 2 coil and 6AL ignition box. An ARP oil pump driveshaft helps keep the engine lubricated. Doug’s shorty headers Magnaflow mufflers and 2.5-inch diameter exhaust tubing expel the spent gases in quick fashion.
Backing the 600-plus horsepower mill is a modified 700R4 4-speed auto, built by Blood Enterprises and equipped with a Precision 2400-2600 stall converter. It provides Steve with quick, solid shifting characteristics, while having the capability to hold up to the power output and being freeway-friendly. The power is then sent to a Ford 9-inch rearend that houses 3.75 gears.
Now, when it comes to that lowered stance, Steve credits QA1 shocks and Hotchkis springs at all four corners to bring the car closer to the pavement. They also provide an improvement in overall handling and keep the car planted in the corners, aided by the OEM ’77 T/A sway bars.
Aiding in the cat-like stability, are a set of the aforementioned YearOne billet Snowflakes; featuring an 18-inch diameter and 9-inch wide dimensions, front and rear. BFGoodrich KDW rubber connects them with the asphalt, 
with a set of disc brakes all the way around.
The stock units remain in place on the front, while the rear binders came with the Blue Oval rear when it was installed.
On the inside, it’s all pretty standard issue Trans Am; no cage, no overtly spread-out gauge pods… just clean and simple ’77 black vinyl upholstery with custom Trans Am floor mats.
The upholstery was replaced with the help of Steve’s then-girlfriend, later wife, and a slew of YouTube videos! Hey, we say if she’s that willing to go above and beyond to help fulfill your dreams, you better put a ring on it!
Amazingly, the paint that’s currently on the car, is the same coat that was applied over twenty years ago, with only
some touch up work done by K&S Auto Body out of Painesville, Ohio.
The only exception is a Firebird logo etched into the rear window of the car; which was performed by a gentleman who is no longer with us, but frequented the Trans Am Nationals event for years, performing his magic on rear windows and T-Tops for Firebird owners while at the show.
Steve loved the idea, but it was his wife’s convincing to actually have it done while at the event in 2005 — which happened to be Steve’s first year at the show with his beloved T/A!
The overall exception lends itself as a blend of genres; part throwback to ’80s street-machining, part Hooper homage and part modern-day pro-touring car. It’s a mix of retro and modern flavoring but the execution works brilliantly.
In Steve’s mind, it’s his dream car. He has no intention of parting with it, and although he did suggest having the whole car repainted in the near future, we have a feeling that this is basically the final iteration of the Trans Am. We hope, because in our eyes, it’s absolutely perfect.
Rick Seitz is the owner and founder of AutoCentric Media, and has a true love and passion for all vehicles; GM, Ford, Dodge, imports, trucks — you name it! When he isn’t clacking away on his keyboard, he’s building, tuning, driving or testing his current crop of personal projects!
